DIY: e46 6-cylinder Valve cover gasket replacement

[KSINGH]

Hi

I thought I would do a short write-up of my replacement of the valve cover gasket. I actually did it once before without photos but had to redo it cos the place I sent it to for other work messed up alot of things including not replacing parts :argh:

Anyway here goes.

1. Disconnect the battery terminals as you need to remove the terminals in the engine bay as well. I don't have a photo for that. I hope you know where you battery is located otherwise don't bother doing this type of work on your car.
2. Remove the pollen filter from its housing by turning the three spring loaded screws on the cover.

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6YGzRqgg_Rf0I2Pse6MzrAvzUw68sZTIqi2Mll74bXc?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-...mM/NmFAgEFmqEs/s800/2012-05-10%2022.42.48.jpg" height="600" width="800" /></a>

Now you will notice the LHS engine bay cover is missing. There's a reason for that so please ignore, it should be in, I was just busy with another DIY job at the same time. It should look like this.
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eyPCuUJ_RhKxSEZ6DMWvwDpuIRblr6N1XXJtxo1Xqgg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-...dY/3DiN-7hoEb0/s800/2012-03-20%2017.36.03.jpg" height="600" width="800" /></a>

The pollen filter just slides out. Now mine looks new because I just replaced it during an oil service.
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0PIn5DjYqsfir3AoVgnpcQvzUw68sZTIqi2Mll74bXc?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-...mE/jmxIQCFkQr0/s800/2012-05-10%2022.40.01.jpg" height="600" width="800" /></a>

3. Under the pollen filter housing are two cables. One is the Positive terminal lead that goes to the jump starting terminal in the engine bay and the other goes to the coil packs over the spark plugs. Remove the cover by unclipping it at the four points above and below.
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/E3SjxxFair0iwYRP2JgJWQvzUw68sZTIqi2Mll74bXc?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-...lc/fty_HY2fJS8/s800/2012-05-10%2022.31.06.jpg" height="600" width="800" /></a>

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/LNuVX9ilncDCpmd-A5Hj6AvzUw68sZTIqi2Mll74bXc?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-...l0/bmXHqoTP8h0/s800/2012-05-10%2022.37.00.jpg" height="600" width="800" /></a>

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Z4MMdUL80tg5J2RlANVngwvzUw68sZTIqi2Mll74bXc?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-...ls/qCot_rWiA9w/s800/2012-05-10%2022.36.46.jpg" height="600" width="800" /></a>

Remove the cables and place them on the engine bay covers cos you wanna remove the pollen filter housing next to make space to work.
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1cpfvGuZqdib-sSFQ3x2XQvzUw68sZTIqi2Mll74bXc?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...lU/2RD_AWv84mg/s800/2012-05-10%2022.29.00.jpg" height="800" width="600" /></a>

4. Remove the four screws holding the filter housing in place. Move the rubber seals out of the way on either side and remove the housing.

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TXtkspOf-P5BU1Xz2LoD-gvzUw68sZTIqi2Mll74bXc?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-...lk/oquT78yLNRY/s800/2012-05-10%2022.34.21.jpg" height="600" width="800" /></a>