I would say no you cannot just pull the timing cover to replace the gasket. The reason is you will not be able to get the valve cover gasket to set correctly on to the top of the timing cover. Also the valve cover and sensor seals and valvetronic seals are going to start leaking soon anyways. You should just dive in and pull valve covers replace those gaskets as well as the seals and gaskets. This comes as a kit . ( Restart and reset of valvetronic critical on start up but that’s another thread)
My experience was passenger side was easy. Drivers side had two challenges and one learning point.
First your really need to get heater hoses and divider between windshield cowl out of the way so VC comes off with out breaking eccentric shaft plastic $500 part off. ( Cracked mine but it runs)
The other really tough one for me is a torx bolt holding the driver side timing cover that is block by the alternator. Once you understand this you just take the alternator bolts out move the alternator a 1/2” and you can access the bolt.

The learning point was after i went for a relearn of camshaft position and valvetronic position relearn with the key on key off procedure my restart was a fail. It would run for 30secs and sounded like a bag of bolts in the dryer. It turns out the Vanos was not pushed in tight in the front of the timing cover. Also there are screens on the vanos and you need to really clean these so you get good oil flow.
So my e53 with N62 engine is leak free and runs great..( For sale craiglist SF CA) I think these are great engines but BMW gaskets suck. I replaced the e53 with a 2010 with an n62. I knew my new ride would leak oil and now it is. Not sure to go for this task again and save $2500 (Nick?)

Don’t let this scare you. You can do it. Just plan on 20 hours and have a back up car or pay $3000. Oh forgot to mention you need to check if your model might have the alternator oil bracket oil leak.