Hey guys

As a last resort to my fuel mileage issue, I'm attempting a valve adjustment.
Do I absolutely NEED to change the gasket? It's been 20,000 miles since the last adjustment.

I read that some people get 2, maybe 3 uses out of theirs, but others replace it whenever they open up the cover...

I just want to get this done. Can I order the gasket, knowing it won't be here until next week, do the job tomarrow and install the gasket when it gets here? I fear that weather / time, etc will not permit the entire job. Will the leaks be THAT bad if I can not re-use my gasket? Thanks guys!

if it is not old then reuse it, tight it right.
check for leaks, if it leaks throw it away, buy bottle of acetone and tube of silicone (red) gasket maker. Clean surfaces with acetone, apply silicone and it is leak proof!!! Save your acetone and tube with silicone, they are good to do 9 more valve adjustments. :)

I never buy gaskets for front of engine covers, oil pan or head cover. You need head gasket :), intake and exaust collector gaskets.

A new gasket is under $5. Just get one. I decided to get the $12 one last valve adjustment and it leaks. I'm going back to the cheap one.

Well, I did it and the gasket was like brand new.
Last valve adjustment was a little over 20,000 miles ago and when I did it, the valves were ALL too TIGHT...? I thought they get loose over time?

Is this normal?

Valves too tight? Are you POSITIVE they were adjusted properly last time? You're right about normally they loosen up but consider this what-if....what-if the seats were wearing down (rare) or what-if the valve heads were "cupping" which would extend the valve stem slightly, resulting in too tight clearances (very rare). I'd adjust them to exact clearances and check them again in 5K miles or so to see what's happening.

Well, the last job was done by BMW, so I don't know , but I assume they know what they're doing.

All that other stuff just scares me, so I will check again in a few thousand miles.

They were all so tight even the .008 feeler gauge would not fit. :confused

Wow, that's really tight....!!!

I've noticed that mine tend to tighten up over time as well, rather than loosening. I don't know why exactly, but I don't think it's worth getting too worried about.

No worries on the VC gasket either...if it looks ok, tighten it down correctly and hope it doesn't leak. If it does leak, replace it later, it's not that big of a deal.