valve cover gasket repair

[beewhy]

to change the valve cover gasket you use the same procedure for spark plug replacement. Once you remove the plastic cover to expose the coils and plugs. remove plugs also remove spark plug rail by popping it loose (be care not to break the little clips). remove sensors from the clips and slide the wires off the back end of the valve cover.
There are 2 ground bolts on the 1st and 6th coils, remove bolts and two additional bolts in the center between plug holes(refer to pic). Remove all bolts that surround the valve cover.
I used a flat tip screwdriver to gently pry the valve cover off the head. When i removed the cover, the gasket that surrounds the plug holes may stay on or come off with the valve cover( be careful not to get old gasket
in your plug holes). A nice pull with a pair of pliers help to remove this around the plug holes.
The old valve cover gasket is hard and brittle pliers and the flat tip was a big help. Once on the process is in reverse. sorry for such big pictures

[Bill K]

wow, nice pics. this should be a sticky in the How To section

[Bill K]

Forgot to ask, do the spark plugs have to be removed? I did ths once on my M3 about 10 years ago and I dont recall removing spark plugs. I could be wrong though.

[wallyx5]

Nice,I will be doing this tomorrow. Looks pretty simple. Thanks

[beewhy]

Remove all spark plugs along with the 4 bolts (2 bolts for the ground and 2 in the middle 1 i think hooks up to the spak plug rail and the other looks like a relay). IF YOU DO NOT REMOVE THESE BOLTS the valve cover will not come off.

[beewhy]

this is the first time i have seen spark plugs go through a valve cover

[Bill K]

Originally Posted by beewhy

this is the first time i have seen spark plugs go through a valve cover

Are you saying the spark plugs are screwed into the valve cover? When I did my M3 cover, I left the plugs in.

By the way, how do you get the long plastic rail that holds the wiring harness for the coils out of the way?

[beewhy]

I called barvarian and they told me the process and that was a question I had asked them and removing the plugs they said yes.

I used a flat tip screwdriver and gently pry the plastic clips ( there are 4, 2 in the front and back. If you get one loose you can twist the rail and it will pop out.

[ArmyX5]

I replaced my valve cover gasket about two months ago and I didn't remove my spark plugs. I don't think it is necessary to remove them.

[lokomoto87]

Thanks for the tips Boss, I hope to do this this weekend.