S65 Valve Cover Replacement, HydroDip, Repaint?

[IanMan]

Sorry to hijack. Just got done with wrinkle paint.

[wfdeacon88]

Bumping this before I have a panic attack. Anyone have any recommendations on the best "budget" fix for this situation with the Valve Covers (including a cost estimate)? 2009, 100K miles.. Before I knew anything about this valve cover issue, I did my plugs, rod bearings, etc... but after having a small oil leak I started researching the valve cover gasket and then checked under my cap and saw this. I just dropped $5K into other maintenance items this month, so would like to avoid another $2K bill replacing both valve covers entirely... thanks!


if you have a moment deansbimmer I'd appreciate your expert opinion!

[buddalun]

Originally Posted by M3CRZY

Has anyone done there's in red or other brighter colours ? cos the Audi's RS5's V8 is in red , looks so good .

Malek@MRF Looks like the MRF car has red covers. Maybe powder coated?

[deansbimmer]

Originally Posted by wfdeacon88

Bumping this before I have a panic attack. Anyone have any recommendations on the best "budget" fix for this situation with the Valve Covers (including a cost estimate)? 2009, 100K miles.. Before I knew anything about this valve cover issue, I did my plugs, rod bearings, etc... but after having a small oil leak I started researching the valve cover gasket and then checked under my cap and saw this. I just dropped $5K into other maintenance items this month, so would like to avoid another $2K bill replacing both valve covers entirely... thanks!


if you have a moment deansbimmer I'd appreciate your expert opinion!

Nothing groundbreaking here... Yours are just deteriorating just like every other cover nearing those miles. It's the point of this thread. Either replace them or refinish them. They're magnesium- they can be refinished just like any other material. You just need to be aware of the hazards of doing so I.E. glass bead blasting only. Nothing to it.

[MPower7]

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

Nothing groundbreaking here... Yours are just deteriorating just like every other cover nearing those miles. It's the point of this thread. Either replace them or refinish them. They're magnesium- they can be refinished just like any other material. You just need to be aware of the hazards of doing so I.E. glass bead blasting only. Nothing to it.

What is your thought on replacing the whole cover vs just the gaskets?

[Solo_M_Tech]

I guess I decided to do something a little different...

I replaced my covers with new, powdercoated the satin black, then did the splatter with high temp paint. 2 years old now and still looking new.

photo is from my TA replacements 6 months ago.

[pbonsalb]

Mine weren’t bad at 10 years and 95k miles so I left them alone. If I have the car in another 10 years and do them again, I’ll buy new or refinish, or if they have to come off for some other reason in the meantime — like a mechanical failure or I build or rebuild the motor. Underhoid cosmetics are not my priority. I had only a tiny bit of flaking just inside the filter cap neck so I had no concern about the existing coating causing issues.

[deansbimmer]

Originally Posted by MPower7

What is your thought on replacing the whole cover vs just the gaskets?

The coating flakes off of the gasket groove leaving a poor surface for the new gasket to seal to, = poor seal quality and oil leaks soon after unless you fill the groove with sillycone to assist the seal. A replacement cover eliminates all of that. If you can swallow the cost it's obviously the better solution.

[wyatth]

Originally Posted by IanMan

Sorry to hijack. Just got done with wrinkle paint.

Cool. Any installed pics?

[wuzupfoo]

well im glad I stumbled on this this morning. I have been mystified why Im seeping oil all over. I replaced the cap since it seemed to be primary cause but its still leaking. Now I know why cause my engine looks exactly like yours wfdeacon88

*boo* thought I spent all the money I needed to "maintain" the car and was looking for new "fun" mods..

[SAMM3Y]

I had mine blasted and cerokoted they came out really good, have replaced all the hardware will install them tonight. In the end the dyi cost over $600 for hardware and coat, I hope it lasts..

[Richbot]

I think I'd have to do

[ec_E92]

Originally Posted by SAMM3Y

I had mine blasted and cerokoted they came out really good, have replaced all the hardware will install them tonight. In the end the dyi cost over $600 for hardware and coat, I hope it lasts..

More pics! I'm dropping mine off this week to have the same color Cerakote done. Want to see how it turns out installed

[SAMM3Y]

Originally Posted by ec_E92

More pics! I'm dropping mine off this week to have the same color Cerakote done. Want to see how it turns out installed

Ask and thou shall receive..

[GORDON.M3]

Originally Posted by Solo_M_Tech

I guess I decided to do something a little different...

I replaced my covers with new, powdercoated the satin black, then did the splatter with high temp paint. 2 years old now and still looking new.

photo is from my TA replacements 6 months ago.

I'm thinking of doing the same thing... the inside of my factory valve cover isn't the prettiest so I think of replacing it completely then taking it to a powder coater to do the exterior of the surface.

[Solo_M_Tech]

Originally Posted by GORDON.M3

I'm thinking of doing the same thing... the inside of my factory valve cover isn't the prettiest so I think of replacing it completely then taking it to a powder coater to do the exterior of the surface.

For me it was the best route since my factory covers were trashed inside and out. I found a set on Ebay that were brand new and cheap ( relatively) and picked them up.

[ec_E92]

Originally Posted by SAMM3Y

Ask and thou shall receive..

You are the man, I'm definitely going the same way. Also interesting to see you're going without the coil pack covers - was contemplating the same thing.

Good look with the matched strut bars!

[SAMM3Y]

Originally Posted by ec_E92

You are the man, I'm definitely going the same way. Also interesting to see you're going without the coil pack covers - was contemplating the same thing.

Good look with the matched strut bars!

I was gonna paint them wrinkle black so left them off for now.. I'm just testing the latest round of servicing I've done on the car before it goes back under the knife for rb's and motor mounts next week. I have an all black ess kit for it so it should look good with the red covers when it's done. Thanks

[alfalfa]

Originally Posted by SAMM3Y

I had mine blasted and cerokoted they came out really good, have replaced all the hardware will install them tonight. In the end the dyi cost over $600 for hardware and coat, I hope it lasts..

Which color is it from cerakote?

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by SAMM3Y

Ask and thou shall receive..

Would look even better if your oil cap was not on there backwards

[SAMM3Y]

Originally Posted by Scharbag

Would look even better if your oil cap was not on there backwards

You mean the 710 cap? Hmmm

[Jonzny]

Can't you just paint these with a rattle can using high temp paint?
Assuming you can use paint stripper to strip the old coating