Going to do the valve covers on my daughter's V8 530 in the morning. You guys have any do's and/or don'ts? Do you seal any part of it... even just to retain anything while re-installing the covers?

Thanks and Yo,
Rod

Take some pic´s please
// Bror

Do you have this Rod?

http://www.e31faq.com/attachments/att99.pdf

One word of advice: Be very careful when lifting the covers off. Don't get screwed, it's very easy to drop one of the loose screws or screw washers into the engine :eek:

Do you have this Rod?

http://www.e31faq.com/attachments/att99.pdf


rcrad,
Gotta admit I laughed out loud when I opened up your link. Uh... I got it now bro, big smile and thanks.

Bror,
You want pics... I'll take some. Haven't done the the valve covers on my 840 (yet), but figure they're similar.

Koizumi,
I will do my absolute freaking best to take your advice.

Thanks for responding fellas.

Yo,
Rod

The job took all afternoon, but included plugs and an engine detail.
The instructions rcrad posted came in very handy, thanks again. The magnet wand is a must with the washers and clip removal. A pair of hemostats, angle nose tweezers, and of course the mirror.

The job is very basic and straight forward per the instructions. Remove engine covers & cover brackets, coils, and clean plug valley. Next is the clip removal for the sensor modules. The only thing I will say about them is note their orientation. They are installed in what I will call upside down and the small slots on their sides actually clip to the fuel line. Make sure you read the instructions through before starting. The clips are installed in the reassembly process prior to installing the electronic modules. Beyond that, as I said earlier, the instructions are thorough.

Posting pics as requested, hope they are useful.

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/9179/530valvecovers005uv2.jpg
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/6287/530valvecovers008sh1.jpg
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8158/530valvecovers009vy1.jpg
http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/7457/530valvecovers011xw6.jpg
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/8796/530valvecovers018ur1.jpg
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/6160/530valvecovers025mg1.jpg
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/4210/530valvecovers024wn9.jpg
http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/8420/530valvecovers020dn1.jpg
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/3788/530valvecovers032eq5.jpg
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/8441/530valvecovers035jj0.jpg
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/9495/530valvecovers044em0.jpg
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/9206/530valvecovers045il5.jpg
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/9726/530valvecovers052rv4.jpg
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/6683/530valvecovers050hz4.jpg

Pics may be redundant but, oh well... hopefully no leaks.
Setting the half moons on the gaskets is probably the hardest part. The mirror was very useful on two and rough on the other two.

When I do them on my 8 there will be one additional step for sure... powder coating!!!

Yo,
Rod

You are a CooooL Dad, Great job Rod and thanks for posting!

You are a CooooL Dad, Great job Rod and thanks for posting!

Thanks bro ... I got a big smile out of your post...

YO,
Rod

Nice work. Two things for people who do this in the future:

1) Need to put a dot of RTV on the points where the timing covers meet the heads. Be sure to carefully clean the head's gasket mating surface, a scotch brite pad works well, and a new razor blade can be useful.

2) No need to remove the wire harness, the job can be done without touching the injectors (or the harness).

Nice work. Two things for people who do this in the future:

1) Need to put a dot of RTV on the points where the timing covers meet the heads. Be sure to carefully clean the head's gasket mating surface, a scotch brite pad works well, and a new razor blade can be useful.

2) No need to remove the wire harness, the job can be done without touching the injectors (or the harness).

Thank you...
It can be done, but IMO you'll make a mess with the RTV and it's easier access with them removed... just my opinion.
I used RTV and cleaned the valve covers and heads.

Yo,
Rod

Thank you 840Rod nice pics
// Bror

Very welcome Bror... if you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Yo,
Rod

Excellent write up!
You should have repainted the covers before sticking them back on though...

Nice pics from a nice dad.

I wish I had repainted my covers when I did mine. Oh well. All that matters is that she runs like a champ.

I'm definitely smiling at the repaint on the valve covers. Would have taken another day and permission to proceede was not granted :( . Even a couple of friends that stopped over while i was WIP commented that it must be killing me not to paint them. Fellas you know were all in the same boat together... sick (detail) pups. The covers would have required bead blasting or dipping... Had to take the car that night to drop off at my daughters work as it was, YO, all this and Daddy delivery service as well!!

Oh, and I can't take all the credit, my daughter was on the job with me turning wrenches ALL THE WAY. Till she had to go to work anyway, she was there about (5) hours, including scrubbing out the valve covers.

Don't paint Koizumi, powdercoat.

Tx, when I do mine you will see me for the sick detail pup I am.

Yo,
Coool Daddy

Hilarious, and all good Cool Daddy.... congrats to you for a fun family deal.

Thanks rcrad.

Used to be my son in the garage with me, but he's in the ARMY now and currently home on leave (3rd tour in Iraq). His first choice of activitiy while on leave was not sis's car.
My daughter is without a doubt a woman, but very game at working with dad on her car.
Daad... do you have any... you know... latex gloves??? And this solvent is killing my brain cells... don't worry baby ... only the weak ones die.

Yo,
Rod

weak one, lol!

Tell you what, you fly over to the UK to work on my engine, and I'll make a carpc for you!

Tx, when I do mine you will see me for the sick detail pup I am.

Yo,
Coool Daddy

Like this? (mine after a valve-train rebuild..)

I dream of an engine bay that clean

I dream of an engine bay that clean

Me too. My next project(s) will include a good bay cleaning. But only once everything is done.

Tx,

You have an awesome car bro... it's all good, the distributor caps give it alot of detail too.
As far as the detail goes... as I said earlier... same boat... we're what some call... sick.

Yo,
Rod

BTW... my daughter's car above has 215,000 miles on it... one of those infamous Nikasil motors. When a gave it to her one of her firends, that is a boy (3 series owner), told me about all of the problems with these motors, like I had never heard of it. I told him the car has over 180,000 miles on it, and asked him when I should expect these problems to occur... he shut up.

Hey TX, I just noticed the red dipstick and oil cap! Very nice! I gotta get some. Now I regret not getting my valve covers redone when I had the chance.

weak one, lol!

Tell you what, you fly over to the UK to work on my engine, and I'll make a carpc for you!

Sama,

Never know mate, I'm first generation here, relatives in Glasgow and around there. Careful, I might take you up on that.

Cheers,
Rod

Rod,

You come to Italy and do my car, I'll make you a spaghetti dinner with all the fixins'!!lol:redspot

Toy,

With all respect cumpari ... it's the women in Italy that intrigue me ... not the spaghetti...
Big smile.

Yo,
Rod

Now that's some sweet blackmail to get my valve covers done, Thanks!-------)---)


(((Just kiddn Rod)))

hey rod, I'll help with whatever you need mate, just give me a shout if you need anything

Eights,
Where do you live?... I'm in Santa Ana, nearer to So Coast Plaza.

Sama,
I will keep that in mind and do appreciate it. I showed my brother your post and he wouldn't stop telling me I should do that too. It is a big undertaking tho... I have lots of questions just off the top of my head.

Yo,
Rod

I'm in Palmdale, I worked over there for quite a while widening your 22 Frwy and a couple of main blvds, Where the houses are being torn down, Talk about some pissed people, They hated us and we were working for the city?

Toy,

With all respect cumpari ... it's the women in Italy that intrigue me ... not the spaghetti...
Big smile.

Yo,
Rod
I'll look into it for ya:devillook

Hello

its a simple job to change the covers, however read my previous threads.
Best advise is to remove any lose bits, washers, nuts, clips and count everything before hand.

The covers need to be sand balsted or sanded down beforwe painting

Good Luck

Hey Rod (this is JET from work)

Just note on Powdercoating your valve covers, I don't know what yours on your 8 series are made of, but your Daughter's car looks like my '95 M3 (96+ OBDII went to plastic) and it's probably Magnesium. It is VERY easy to warp, just a Hot wash stripper seemd to have caused a warp in my previous cover. Make sure the Power Coat joint knows, it's best if they can bolt it down or something to prevent warping since the PC process requires baking....

And since I have 2 boys with German cars, I know all about working on them... :D

Hey Rod (this is JET from work)

Just note on Powdercoating your valve covers, I don't know what yours on your 8 series are made of, but your Daughter's car looks like my '95 M3 (96+ OBDII went to plastic) and it's probably Magnesium. It is VERY easy to warp, just a Hot wash stripper seemd to have caused a warp in my previous cover. Make sure the Power Coat joint knows, it's best if they can bolt it down or something to prevent warping since the PC process requires baking....

And since I have 2 boys with German cars, I know all about working on them... :D


John... thanks bro... I'll keep that in mind. You can feel free to remind me tho just to be sure I don't get a case of industrial amnesia...

Yo,
Rod

Man thats a clean engine,

will get some pics of mine next week:eyecrazy

Rod, I'm in Fresno just a few hours north of you. If I were seriously intent on wanting YOU to do something like this for me, what would it charge me and how many lobster and steak dinners will I be looking at:D?

Absolutely beautiful job btw! I wish I were as mechanically adept as you...:shifty...

Bro, I'm definitely flattered, but I have to admit this was the first set of BMW valve covers I've ever done. I havene't even checked for leaks yet...

I was looking at a Fresno 8 awhile back and spoke with a mechanic up there he sounded like a decent guy and was from the fatherland. I believe it was BMW Auto Repair by World.

Just food for thought bro, me working on your car might not be a good way to kick off a friendship.

Yo,
Rod

Is this a clean engine bay?

http://lh5.google.com/Ahmed303Laurel/RkZZVFAKlkI/AAAAAAAAAaY/nG6Bb3P7Ngs/Engine02.JPG

I don't know about that man, I'm MORE than certain you could show me a thing or two. Yes, the mechanic you're speaking of is indeed a good guy, and actually he's one of the few who know anything about an E31.

But that's beside the point! You gotta take credit where credit is given(thrown at you)!

... and on that note it would be great to see the pro at work, next time I'm down south I'm gonna holler at ya ;).