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      01-27-2020, 03:26 PM   #1
Alecb0929
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How concerned should I be about this valve cover gasket leak?

This is my first M3, and first BMW for that matter, and I have been monitoring a slight valve cover gasket leak over the past few months that I have owned the car. My indy mechanic told me to do that, and I do understand that S65's tend to weep a little oil especially at 66k miles. Should this require immediate attention or should I continue to monitor it until changing the gasket is more convenient? Any additional opinions would be great!
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      01-27-2020, 03:37 PM   #2
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I would keep monitoring it. If you're OCD about a clean engine, you may want to do it sooner. Is your oil consumption high?

Definitely price out the difference options for replacement. One can get the new valve covers with all the associated hardware to just replacing the gasket and spark plug tubes.
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      01-27-2020, 03:59 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drrust View Post
I would keep monitoring it. If you're OCD about a clean engine, you may want to do it sooner. Is your oil consumption high?

Definitely price out the difference options for replacement. One can get the new valve covers with all the associated hardware to just replacing the gasket and spark plug tubes.
The car has never left a drop of oil on the ground and I haven't noticed any significant progression of the leak yet. No smoke or weird smells either. With regard to oil consumption, I suspect my oil level sensor is acting up, as there was a little hiccup on a road trip I had a month back where the oil level jumped around and I added a half quart as precaution, you can read all about that in my last post.

While I like a clean car, the main concern is mechanical condition.
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      01-27-2020, 05:07 PM   #4
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Sell car immediately.

Just kidding. Mine sweats more than that but doesn't leave any on the ground and I don't have any oil consumption issues. Just wipe it and monitor it as others suggested. Save up for the service but nothing immediately concerning.
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      01-27-2020, 06:27 PM   #5
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For planning purposes a shop will charge about 3 hours per side. Below are relevant threads.


Advice for powder coating the valve covers https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1679580


Valve Cover Leak? https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1515340
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      01-27-2020, 06:29 PM   #6
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Your leak isn't bad. The really bad ones have oil leaking out of pimples on the valve cover surface.
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      01-27-2020, 06:31 PM   #7
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Part out?
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      01-29-2020, 02:57 PM   #8
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If it's bad you will notice drops of oil on the ground every time you park your car for a few hours. At that time you should fix it.
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      01-29-2020, 10:10 PM   #9
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Mine have been weeping for 16k miles, including 3,000 miles in 3 days (cross country). I'm at about 4,500 miles since my last oil change, I've only had to add a half quart since.
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      01-30-2020, 09:17 PM   #10
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It's already seeping down to the header area. If you don't smell the oil in stoplights yet you will.

I'd replace
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      01-31-2020, 01:11 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow View Post
It's already seeping down to the header area. If you don't smell the oil in stoplights yet you will.

I'd replace
I plan on getting in done when I get the chance, I don't want to let things get out of hand. You seem more mechanically inclined than me, how would you suggest doing the job? Just replace the gasket or should I also repaint the valve covers while I'm at it?
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      01-31-2020, 01:31 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alecb0929 View Post
I plan on getting in done when I get the chance, I don't want to let things get out of hand. You seem more mechanically inclined than me, how would you suggest doing the job? Just replace the gasket or should I also repaint the valve covers while I'm at it?
You'll need the valve covers as well. The magnesium is probably flaking which is why it's leaking in the first place

Lots of people have been successful powdercoating the valve covers and then using new gaskets. Personally I just got new valve covers and gaskets vs powdercoating

It's not complicated to do, just take your time. Remove the intake plenum and the valve covers are easy to remove after that
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      01-31-2020, 01:56 PM   #13
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OP, you've kept it clean and it comes back yeah? So its not only a sloppy oil fill.
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      01-31-2020, 02:28 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Helmsman View Post
OP, you've kept it clean and it comes back yeah? So its not only a sloppy oil fill.
Eh, if so it a really slow leak. I wiped it clean in an area and it hasn't come back much at all, and like I said I've been driving it a couple months for about 1.5k miles. I bought it with the leak, I guess its what I get for looking at a car at dusk. The car is at 66k, is it normal for the covers to go bad this early?
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      02-03-2020, 05:40 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alecb0929 View Post
Eh, if so it a really slow leak. I wiped it clean in an area and it hasn't come back much at all, and like I said I've been driving it a couple months for about 1.5k miles. I bought it with the leak, I guess its what I get for looking at a car at dusk. The car is at 66k, is it normal for the covers to go bad this early?
Not sure there is a general rule but seems some start leaking early while some keep together for a long time. Quite often the oil fill cap sweat a little hence my suggestion to make certain it's not dripping from that that ends up further down.
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      02-03-2020, 07:58 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Helmsman View Post
Not sure there is a general rule but seems some start leaking early while some keep together for a long time. Quite often the oil fill cap sweat a little hence my suggestion to make certain it's not dripping from that that ends up further down.
Yeah I'm aware of that one, I'm pretty sure that my cap is the updated version and my valve covers look to be in pretty good condition compared to others I've seen. It's almost certainly coming from the gasket itself.
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      03-06-2020, 02:17 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow View Post
You'll need the valve covers as well. The magnesium is probably flaking which is why it's leaking in the first place

Lots of people have been successful powdercoating the valve covers and then using new gaskets. Personally I just got new valve covers and gaskets vs powdercoating

It's not complicated to do, just take your time. Remove the intake plenum and the valve covers are easy to remove after that
You wouldn't happen to know if they powder coat both side of the valve cover? How about the surface that touches the gasket?
How much are replacement valve covers?
Thanks!
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      03-06-2020, 02:52 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aus View Post
You wouldn't happen to know if they powder coat both side of the valve cover? How about the surface that touches the gasket?
How much are replacement valve covers?
Thanks!
.
the replacement is over 1k but includes the gaskets.

Make sure you replace the gaskets and the spark plug gaskets/tubes while you're in there

The powdercoated ones I have sitting around are powdercoated on the outside. I'm not sure if the inside and the mating surfaces are just sandblaster or what.
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      03-06-2020, 03:26 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aus View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow View Post
You'll need the valve covers as well. The magnesium is probably flaking which is why it's leaking in the first place

Lots of people have been successful powdercoating the valve covers and then using new gaskets. Personally I just got new valve covers and gaskets vs powdercoating

It's not complicated to do, just take your time. Remove the intake plenum and the valve covers are easy to remove after that
You wouldn't happen to know if they powder coat both side of the valve cover? How about the surface that touches the gasket?
How much are replacement valve covers?
Thanks!
.
Note the linked threads in an earlier post. There is one going over powder coating.
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      03-16-2020, 04:02 PM   #20
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What about dirt coming into the valve area?

Because when it gets hot, it expands gases, which forces oil to go out by the gasket.

On the other hand, when it gets cold, it compresses, sucking air through the gasket, which may arrest some dirt, right?
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      04-06-2020, 02:24 PM   #21
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Mine was like that. I kept an eye on it and planning to replace now that it's leaking onto the exhaust and you can smell it coming through the air vents. No oil dripping yet though.
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      08-10-2020, 08:43 PM   #22
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Similar question from me - the car had a PPI from a BMW shop (but not one I'm intimately familiar with in terms of reputation) and they did not mention anything, but I just took the car to a dealership and they said it was the valve gaskets and $1200 to replace.

I had inspected this pretty closely when I bought the car, the driver side seems perfect but the very back bolt shown below is crusty, and some oil definitely dripped onto the header, but I can't say I've ever noticed a smell? (Maybe I just am still getting used to the new car smell and I think oil smells nice?)

The thing that I'm not clear of, if the gasket was the culprit, wouldn't a lot more oil be spraying out on the surrounding pipe? Would the bolt head be that likely to collect crap?

The finish on the valve covers themselves seems to be perfectly fine compared to some of the horror shows I've seen in other threads with everything bubbling off. Car only has 52k miles.

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