my valve cover gasket has a leak and im changing it. but i have no clue how... can someone help me out? also does anyone know about how long the work takes? any help is appretiated. thanks.

Here's a simple step.

1. You have to remove the plastic cover first by unscrewing two bolts.
2. Disconnect all wires from the coils by pulling the clip upward.
3. Remove the coils.
4. There are two ground wire by cylinder 3 and 6. You have to remove them too. Noting the position of the ground.
5. Remove all the screws that holding the valve cover.
6. Remove and change the gasket.
7. When installing new gasket, put a light silicone gasket between the timing and the head to cover the gap.
8. Installation is reverse removal.

Tools needed:
10mm socket
8mm socket (for the ground)
Silicone gasket

Hope this help. If i missed something, maybe other guys here can fill you up.

Here:

http://www.geocities.com/e36rulz/DIY.html

You will find the valve cover gasket change in there too. Better bookmark that page while you're at it.

:) valve cover gasket replacement (http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-valve-cover/E36-Valve-Cover.htm)

pelican parts great tech article on how to do it with pictures

alright thanks everybody.

Keep another thing in mind, don`t know if it had been mentioned.
The black powder coating on the cam cover can sometimes crack or delaminate from the metal cover. Look very carefully at all the gasket mating surfaces when you have the cover off. If this black coating is cracked or delaminated the oil will pass through this crack and you may still have an annoying leak.
Guaranteed that your cam cover gasket needs changing from 1995 since it is probably hard as a rock by now but just make sure to look for any delamination in the powder coating on the cam cover mating surfaces.
andrew

As mentioned in the article, replace the rubber grommets under the bolts, because they also function as gaskets, and replace the o-ring on the breather fitting. Be careful removing the fitting, and if the hoses feel soft, replace them too.

Related to P901911's post, use a razor blade to scrape the gasket surface of the cam cover. Remove all of the paint.

There's probably oil in several of the spark plug bores, so you'll need to clean the plug boots thoroughly with contact cleaner.

Here's an extra tip from the pros. The cowl drain hose, located on the bulkhead behind the cylinder head, tends to clog with dried leaves and similar debris. This can cause water to enter the e-box, damaging the DME control unit. With the cam cover off, it's very simple to remove and clean that drain. Cover the open head with a rag so you don't get debris in the engine.