E46 Valve cover gasket

[LPM320]

Hi guys.

Abit of advice needed.

I currently own a 2002 320i f/l, which is doing about 140 000km. The time has come for the valve cover gasket to be replaced, which i am going to attempt myself. I have read a few threads on this topic, and still have a couple of questions.

1) Must sealer / gasket maker be used?
2) Do the bolts/nuts that secure the valve cover have a torque values (i.e do they have to be tightened with a torque wrench) or do you just tighten them according to ''feel''?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks guys.....

 

[Sankekur]

According to the service manual you have to use a sealant on the gasket but only on the rounded bits that go on the front and back of the engine, the manual also gives the BMW sealant that should be used, but I have no idea where to get it from and the dealers are of no help (as always). A BMW mechanic recommended just using gasket maker instead.
Yes the bolts need to be tightened to a certain torque, can't remember the exact value, but its something like 20 or 24Nm.

 

[shaunnorth]

i have haynes workshop manual ill get the torque specs tomorow for u

 

[LPM320]

Will do more research into this.

Thanks for the help sankekur.....

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I would really appreciate that shaun.

Thanks.

 

[freerider]

I didnt use sealer at all, torque to 12Nm

 

[Sankekur]

I didnt use sealer at all, torque to 12Nm

Just for clarity's sake this is where you have to put sealant (According to Bentley and the TIS)

 

[LPM320]

Thanks for the advice and help guys.

Much appreciated.......

 

[shaunnorth]

ok hanyes says m5 10 nm and m6 15 nm

 

[mziwa2six]

Hi ,where you able to succesfully install the cover gasket and how long did it take you.

Thanks
mz

 

[msm]

I did mine recently and did not use sealer. Took about 1.5 hours to do the job. Tightened the nuts/bolts by feel - however, I admit this is not the correct way to do it.

Also check the rubber mounts that go around the nuts as some of these tend to be the source of oil leaks as they age. I had to replace 2 of them as they had a fair bit of oil around them and also seemed to contribute to the oil leaks. However, you can only check once they are removed.

NB: Once you have all the bits apart, take a bit of time to clean everything properly. Hence if anything leaks again you can pinpoint it exactly. That's how I discovered the 2 seals around the nuts needed replacing. They were the only ones with a bit of oil again after 1000KM's or so. Once I replaced them, no oil anywhere.

 

[LPM320]

Howzit

I was able to do this sucessfully, and honestly, if you are mechanically minded, its not that difficult.

I used a torque wrench and torqued to 15nm. (I know it s 9-12nm, but i felt it abit less, this is just my personal opinion.) I also applied rtv oxygen free sealer to the front and rear corners of the gasket and around the half moons at the front of the gasket. Just remember to clean all components well b4 starting re-assembly.

This was just my personal experience.


Goodluck!

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BTW it took me about 2 hours

 

[msm]

Howzit

I was able to do this sucessfully, and honestly, if you are mechanically minded, its not that difficult.

I used a torque wrench and torqued to 15nm. (I know it s 9-12nm, but i felt it abit less, this is just my personal opinion.) I also applied rtv oxygen free sealer to the front and rear corners of the gasket and around the half moons at the front of the gasket. Just remember to clean all components well b4 starting re-assembly.

This was just my personal experience.


Goodluck!

---

BTW it took me about 2 hours

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:thumbsup:

 

[StK]

Howzit

I was able to do this sucessfully, and honestly, if you are mechanically minded, its not that difficult.

I used a torque wrench and torqued to 15nm. (I know it s 9-12nm, but i felt it abit less, this is just my personal opinion.) I also applied rtv oxygen free sealer to the front and rear corners of the gasket and around the half moons at the front of the gasket. Just remember to clean all components well b4 starting re-assembly.

This was just my personal experience.


Goodluck!

---

BTW it took me about 2 hours

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Got to be careful torquing to 15nm-I know it doesn't feel very tight but its so easy to thread the holes or the bolts

 

[Kirk]

Does anyone have a service manual for the E46 320i f/l in pdf. if so could i ask for a copy?

 

[AdiS]

Does anyone have a service manual for the E46 320i f/l in pdf. if so could i ask for a copy?

Don't stress. There are so many DIYs and videos online, that you can easily do these simple jobs without one.

 

[Spiro]

what be Kirk needing the manual for ?