Leak at upper timing cover?

[fishhouse4]

Just noticed a leak on my "new to me" 06 4.8is while preparing to replace my CCV breather valve and hoses.

I knew it was losing oil - added little over a quart soon after purchase (about 2 months) and it's low again. Never saw any leak on ground until a few small drops very recently at random times (and I'm not 100% convinced that wasn't power steering fluid/ATF due to some residue on the PS reservoir and hoses as well). Never any low oil light - so it's not been that low.

Anyways, I saw oil pooling on several level surfaces on the drivers side directly under the CCV hose area. While idling I can see it slowing bleeding out in the little valley/dip at the very top of where the upper timing case cover meets the block (and under the cylinder head cover. This is driver side, very top left of timing cover.

I borrowed this pics from another thread (https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...ve-covers.html) and added arrows and comments on them to highlight the location of the seepage.

Location of leak:



Closer view:



Can I try to just tighten those bolts? Don't have any external torx sockets at the moment (size 20 I believe).

If I need to replace the gasket, what sort of task is this for DIY? I read you can replace without pulling the valve cover, correct (https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...-covers.html)?

And just as important, what else should I replace while in there?

Thanks in advance for any tips and input!!!

[itscoo2pyopants]

i dont think the upper timing gaskets can be replaced without pulling the valve covers. i would not just tighten the bolts to get the leak to stop.

DIY is pretty straight forward. remove the cabin air filter housing, the fans up front. that should give you plenty of room. i did it a few years back. i would go ahead and replace the valve cover gaskets, upper timing gaskets, and o-rings for vanos solenoids, cam position sensors, etc. when i did mine, all of the above had residue. take your time and go slow, especially when removing the valve covers. the eccentric shaft sensors in the back are made out of plastic, you have to go up and over them. very easy to break the "ears" off of them. i believe they are $500 each!! if you break em..

keep an eye on your oil level, dont depend on the sensor to tell you if the oil is low. on other BMW's i had, dipstick would be bone dry and no "low oil light" from the sensor.

[RuskiE39]

Check the Vanos solenoid gasket. Mines leaking ALREADY and I did the timing cover gaskets less than a year ago.

[bcredliner]

As long as you use a torque wrench and do not over torque the bolts you can try tightening the bolts. The gasket may have been installed without adding silicone sealer where the cover meets the valve cover. That will cause a leak. If you change the gasket use an OE or OEM gasket.

[X5only]

It's very difficult to change the driver side upper timing cover without removing the valve cover. I tried it and the gasket got damaged and I just gave up. Passenger side is easy without removing the valve cover. Out of curiosity, is the driver side exhaust smoking after extended idling and then the engine is revved hard?

By the way, it's nice to see pics of my engine used here

[RuskiE39]

Why would you even try replacing the gasket without removing the valve cover... sounds idiotic and half assy to me

[NorCalDave]

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.

[fishhouse4]

Originally Posted by X5only

It's very difficult to change the driver side upper timing cover without removing the valve cover. I tried it and the gasket got damaged and I just gave up. Passenger side is easy without removing the valve cover. Out of curiosity, is the driver side exhaust smoking after extended idling and then the engine is revved hard?

By the way, it's nice to see pics of my engine used here

LOL yea thanks for the pics! I could never get my phone in there with decent lighting to show the problem area. Found your post and they were perfect.

I was actually going to message you directly after reading that you had similar issues - to see if you had any advice to share.

Is yours fixed now?

I had white smoke yes (not 100% if it was only drivers side...I assumed it was both). However I resolved it this week - read more here: https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...m-fixed-5.html

[fishhouse4]

Originally Posted by NorCalDave

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.

Ugh...not what I wanted to hear...

Going to weekend DIY it for sure. $3k aint happen, that's for sure. Have a buddy with a nice home shop (SnapOn dealer so he's got all the fancy tools that I don't).

Ordering all the gaskets, valve gasket kit, o-rings, etc this weekend with plans to do it next weekend. Going to replace plugs and belts while I'm in there. Next weekend should be fun!

[CharlesATL]

On a 2002 E53 X5, how many bolts are on the upper timing cover and how many solenoids need to be removed to get cover off to change gasket? Do the solenoids screw in or just fit?

Charles