Vavle Cover Gasket leaking?

[Scorpius]

I recently began smelling oil through my vents, I also noticed when I did my Crankcase ventalation replacement that oil was down on what I assume is the block (looks like a pancake iron). I washed it off for the most part, but it's all back again. It must not be too bad cause i don't have to fill up the oil often yet. However I don't want leaks.
So....is this a valve cover leak? If so...how difficult is it and any DIY's on it anywhere?

Thanks,

[danewilson77]

Waffle...I thought.....typically was an indication of oil filter housing gasket leak. You are talking about drivers side of block, correct?

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[kayger12]

Waffle...I thought.....typically was an indication of oil filter housing gasket leak. You are talking about drivers side of block, correct?

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

This-- it's your oil filter housing gasket.

[danewilson77]

$2 part....probably 2 hour repair.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[jreyes19]

yup as stated above ^ +1
I am happy for you though
while the valve cover gasket isn't too expensive
it is a pretty time consuming DIY
good luck

[Scorpius]

yup on the drivers side, i was wondering how the valve cover could leak over there considering it's angled upwards. However...If i recall looking at the oil filter housing, i don't recall seeing any leaks around it.
Anyone got pics maybe i'm not looking in the right place or something? DIY for it?

[WOLFN8TR]

Here ya go. It's right above the alternator next to the power steering reservoir.

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee438/WOLFN8TR/BMW/IMG_6430.jpg

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee438/WOLFN8TR/BMW/IMG_6422.jpg

The Oil Filter Housing is in the upper left corner. Photo taken from underneath the driverside. It was leaking pretty bad.

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee438/WOLFN8TR/BMW/IMG_6412.jpg

[Scorpius]

ok holy smokes. This looks like what i need to do. this appears to be the best DIY i can find. Seems like some people remove darn near everything to get to it. This one looks like the essentials only.
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=659100

Of course...you would figure this goes out right after i've done my CCV, woulda been much easier to do this and that at same time :-(.
oh well...i think i'm going to wait on this one until 10k more miles for the next oil change, cause from the looks of it...i may as well make a day of it and do the following:
1. New belt
2. Gasket for oil filter housing
3. new idler pulleys (how many are there that i can/should replace..they are all original)
4. new belt(s)
5. hell...got my tools out...may as well hit the valve cover gasket while i'm doin all this, if i don't...it will go 2 weeks after i finish this one ;-)
6. (optional) - MAYBE do the light weight pulleys....hell...it's all torn apart right ;-)

[Scorpius]

So...would this be the correct shopping list?

Part Number Description
Price
Qty
Total
11 12 1 726 537 Valve Cover Bolt Rubber Seal - sold individually (for my 2004 330i)
$1.00

$15.00
remove item (http://bavauto.com/shop.asp#)

.................................................. .................................................. ..


11 12 0 030 496 Valve Cover Gasket Set (for my 2004 330i)
$34.95

$34.95
remove item (http://bavauto.com/shop.asp#)

.................................................. .................................................. ..


11 12 7 526 447 Gasket Ring - Oil Filler Cap - Located Between Valve Cover And Plastic Coil Cover (for my 2004 330i)
$3.95

$3.95
remove item (http://bavauto.com/shop.asp#)

.................................................. .................................................. ..


11 12 1 726 089 Plug Cover (for my 2004 330i)
$2.95

$5.90
remove item (http://bavauto.com/shop.asp#)

.................................................. .................................................. ..


11 42 1 719 855 Gasket - Oil Filter Housing To Engine Block (for my 2004 330i)
$3.95

$3.95
remove item (http://bavauto.com/shop.asp#)

.................................................. .................................................. ..


32 41 1 093 596 Power Steering Hose Seal Ring - 14mm inside diameter - 20mm outside diameter - many applications (for my 2004 330i)
$0.95

$3.80
remove item (http://bavauto.com/shop.asp#)

.................................................. .................................................. ..


SS M12X1.5 Magnetic Oil Drain Plug (for my 2004 330i)
$29.95

$29.95
remove item (http://bavauto.com/shop.asp#)

.................................................. .................................................. ..


11 28 1 437 475 Belt - Serpentine 6k x 1538 (for my 2004 330i)
$33.95

$33.95
remove item (http://bavauto.com/shop.asp#)

.................................................. .................................................. ..


11 28 7 512 762 Air Conditioner Belt (for my 2004 330i)
$16.95

$16.95
remove item (http://bavauto.com/shop.asp#)

.................................................. .................................................. ..


11 28 1 748 130 Belt Deflection Roller Pulley - Water Pump / Alternator (for my 2004 330i)
$47.95

$47.95
remove item (http://bavauto.com/shop.asp#)

.................................................. .................................................. ..


11 28 7 512 758 Tensioner for AC Belt (for my 2004 330i)
$118.95

$118.95
remove item (http://bavauto.com/shop.asp#)

.................................................. .................................................. ..


11 28 1 427 252 Tensioner for Water Pump / Alternator Belt - Only for Mechanical Belt Tensioner - pulley included (for my 2004 330i)

[danewilson77]

Where's all the vanos parts? Spark plugs?

New suspension? Might as well swap it out and drop it while your in there...hehe

[echo46]

Three pulleys.

[danewilson77]

Three pulleys.

Yesireeeeee......2 tensioners, and one deflection/idler.....well then of course there is the water pump, alternator, PS pump, etc too...

[echo46]

Dane, by the time your done he will have replaced the whole engine:)

[danewilson77]

Dane, by the time your done he will have replaced the whole engine:)

Of course...hehe

Should drop while he's in there as well.....and do brakes. Ha!

[echo46]

Full interior refresh as well.

[danewilson77]

Full interior refresh as well.

I was assuming that was already complete.:shifty

[Scorpius]

Dane, by the time your done he will have replaced the whole engine:)

Well considering over 160k miles on the car...If I have to remove the belts to take off this darn oil filter housing just to replace a $5.00 gasket...I may as well replace those tensioners that are probably about due to start chirping on me...the VCG has a slight leak, may as well do it too, looks like a simple 30 minute job for the VCG.
spark plugs...done 5k ago.
vanos...eh...it's not making any trouble for me, so i'm going to leave it be until it does.

[Scorpius]

Anyone have a link to DIY's for the AC tensionor replacement at the bottom left of the engine? Seems all the DIY's i run across people are just changing out the other two tensioners to the right of the waterpump and then they are doing only the roller, not the entire piece with the spring.
Also looking for torque values on all of the bolts i'll be removed, including the 6 bolts for the oil housing unit and the valve cover gasket bolts.

[danewilson77]

Very easy. Just relax tension, and remove belt. Then remove single long bolt to remove tensioner. I would have to look at Bentley for torque spec.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[Scorpius]

ok....did my valve cover job yesterday. WARNING: if you use the hanes manual it is NOT 18 ft pounds on the bolts. Imagine my terror when it sheered off and i'm thinking crap....that's down in the block. LUCKY....a dealer across town had the studs in stock so i bought them all just in case i had stressed any. So...i have 6 extra if you need one ever. Actual value is like 89 inch pounds. Needless to say...just ordered my bentley manual. Done with hanes..This isn't the first torque value they've shown me wrong on. Just the first one i didnt catch before doing the job.
Anyhow...I did manage to do my first video for youtube. Check it out, hopefully it's not tooooooooooo long. But i wanted to provide for all skill levels confidence to do the job.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugPUqjjKRz8

let me know what you think :-) (be gentle please...lol)

[WOLFN8TR]

Nice DIY Video! Thanks

[quikryptonite]

Great Video! I think I can do that. How long did that take you? How much more work is it to fix the VANOS related problem?

[ELCID86]

Any preference over Elring for $25 or BMW for $45?

[Vas]

Any preference over Elring for $25 or BMW for $45?

I had bought this
http://www.ecstuning.com/ES17830/

and then 15 of these
http://www.ecstuning.com/ES1876905/

[danewilson77]

Victor Reinz? Never heard of Elring.

It's not a toy, it's a Droid > Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

[Hermes]

I've heard about Elring. Personally, I would just spend the extra $20 for peace of mine and get the BMW one

[ELCID86]

I've heard about Elring. Personally, I would just spend the extra $20 for peace of mine and get the BMW one

That's what I was thinking. Thanks.


Thumbs, iPhone, Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1).

[mLuMaN83]

Here ya go. It's right above the alternator next to the power steering reservoir.

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee438/WOLFN8TR/BMW/IMG_6430.jpg

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee438/WOLFN8TR/BMW/IMG_6422.jpg

The Oil Filter Housing is in the upper left corner. Photo taken from underneath the driverside. It was leaking pretty bad.

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee438/WOLFN8TR/BMW/IMG_6412.jpg


Boy, I don't miss that job at all. After the cooling system overhaul and the OFHG, it took 2 hours to get the freakin alternator back on. The dam bolts just wouldn't line up! I had nightmares for days.

[ELCID86]

Victor Reinz? Never heard of Elring.


Amazon's listing has this "Made by ELRING KLINGER or VICTOR REINZ". http://www.amazon.com/BMW-Gaskets-ELRING-KLINGER-VICTOR/dp/B007HO4HVA/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1387457826&sr=1-1&keywords=victor+reinz+bmw+e46+valve+cover

[danewilson77]

Ok. I think I've done nearly 10 vanos jobs and have used VR in every one.

It's not a toy, it's a Droid > Sent from my S4 > Mason, OH

[ELCID86]

I guess if I ordered from amazon is a toss up on which one they send (unless they are actually the same).

[echo46]

I, too, always use VR.

[bjbstewart]

ok....did my valve cover job yesterday. WARNING: if you use the hanes manual it is NOT 18 ft pounds on the bolts. Imagine my terror when it sheered off and i'm thinking crap....that's down in the block. LUCKY....a dealer across town had the studs in stock so i bought them all just in case i had stressed any. So...i have 6 extra if you need one ever. Actual value is like 89 inch pounds. Needless to say...just ordered my bentley manual. Done with hanes..This isn't the first torque value they've shown me wrong on. Just the first one i didnt catch before doing the job.
Anyhow...I did manage to do my first video for youtube. Check it out, hopefully it's not tooooooooooo long. But i wanted to provide for all skill levels confidence to do the job.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugPUqjjKRz8

let me know what you think :-) (be gentle please...lol)

Freakin' awesome - about to do this project, this is invaluable! Thanks!