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      06-16-2019, 11:52 PM   #1
NorthernDancer
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Valve Cover Gasket - 128 N52

At a recent tech inspection for a BMW club driving school, the mechanic said my VCG needed replacing. Initially I was a little upset b/c I knew it was "weeping" on right side of engine but not dripping oil and inspection sheet says no dripping only.
Well I agreed to replacement even tho it was not "dripping" b/c I knew it would have to be done some time anyways-why not now in a good BMW indy garage.
HOWEVER, I was curious to see exactly what was going on under the engine cover:
1. engine cover is held down by 4 bolts. It impossible to remove cover w/o removing the whole cowl cover, that 10 inch depth piece (width is 49 inches). Not too difficult but great care is needed ( 1 or 2 "picks") and a very small flat tip screwdriver were used to open the various clips. But firstly the two covers left and right of cowl cover and the whole cabin filter assy must be removed.
2. Once engine cover off it was immediately obvious I am leaking oil into recesses in the cylinder head right next to the first spark plug. Looks like most oil coming from a front centre connection which may be the eccentric shaft sensor ( and a proper VCG kit will include a new seal for this).
3. I did check #1 spark plug and there is no oil down there.
So, the mechanic was right to insist the VCG be replaced (tho technically not required for tech inspection) and I am glad I agreed to it.

I'll let the garage replace the VCG; I recently did rear brakes and brake flush & I'm old and tired now.
My car is coming up on 11 years but only 97K kms and is winter stored. If your car has over 90K kms and/or you see any evidence of oil "weeping" around the valve cover, I recommend removing the engine cover to see if there is any oil leakage under the cover. I'll try and upload a pic here but I'm usually not successful.
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      06-17-2019, 12:01 AM   #2
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OK, I was "somewhat" successful with pic. Pic is upside down. #1 cylinder coil is pretty much in centre of pic. Off to its left there are 3 recesses. The top 2 (in reality bottom 2) have oil covering their whole bottom. You should be able to see the oil in the bottom (really top) covering just a small portion of the 3rd recess.

If all of this makes little sense, I'll have to stop doing this writing at 1am.
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      06-17-2019, 07:07 AM   #3
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Did you pass tech for your DE day though? Or is it “fix it first then we will pass it?”

Is yours N51? This is covered under the SULEV warranty.
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      06-17-2019, 09:38 AM   #4
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Did not pass tech. Was told VCG needed replacing, (2) serpentine belt tensioner "should" be replaced and (3) third brake light not working. Well 1 and 2 are not on tech sheet. #3 is but I already have a new TBL and will install myself.
So tomorrow garage will do VCG, I will have done TBL and I will insist that they sign off on serp belt tensioner b/c I will do it soon myself (I do have the Conti kit).
As stated in title, engine is N52.
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      06-18-2019, 10:36 PM   #5
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VCG done, cost $608.50 which has a bit of a discount due to membership in our BMW club.
TBL done earlier in day, had to file off metal tab (very easy, 1 medium course file and 1 fine). Also took off plastic ridge on light with dremel tool. Kept original springs but will check at dealer to see if "new" ones are different.
Go Calabogie
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      06-22-2019, 12:50 PM   #6
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Update: HPDE day went almost perfect. I think I had the 2nd lowest horsepower in our group ( a mid 80's 944 Porsche was about 190 or so) but I know the track. So 1st 2 sessions, I was faster than some but by the afternoon I was getting passed more often (11 yr old car, only 230 hp, mostly stock suspension [entry level Koni's on front] MPSS). The car, the N52, the brakes (Cool Carbon) performed flawlessly. I did learn, or re-learn 4 things:
1. hand position on wheel-sometimes reverted to "street" position
2. don't accelerate until apex and you start un-winding
3. hit the damn apex
4. eye ball the apex but look far up the track.

Interesting tid bits:
1. One time I saw the yellow /red stripes flag (debris on track). It was a turtle crossing the track.
2. One newish BMW, owned by a woman, ONLY HAD 4 LUG NUTS ON REAR WHEEL. Car only serviced by same BMW dealer. Winter tires off about 3 months ago AND they also did tech inspection.
3. Guy with a mostly original BMW M235 really complained about how much brake dust always accumulated on his wheels. My Cool Carbon had very little by comparison.
4. One new guy came with torque wrench he had just bought but no socket. We always help out the newbies.
5. No accidents or even incidents; instructors in most cars.
6. Car that impressed me the most=Volkswagen "R". Second would be Nissan GT-R.
Understand this is a BMW Club of Ottawa event but any car can participate.
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      06-24-2019, 04:49 AM   #7
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VCG is a common issue on the N52. Already had mine replaced as have many members of this forum. Now I'm monitoring my oil pan. So between OFHG, VCG and oil pan this is a leaky engine over time
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      06-24-2019, 05:08 AM   #8
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Sounds like fun! I gotta join the Ottawa BMW Group.

Hope it wasn't us that did the wheels.
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      06-24-2019, 06:02 PM   #9
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No, Toronto dealer
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