Cost of upper and lower timing cover repair?

flatlander · #1 01-26-2012, 03:52 PM

Does anyone have past history with the timing cover repair on the V8?

I've got an oil leak coming from the timing cover. Dealer checked it out and said that its a big job. Head gaskets need to come off, they said. Quoted $5300.

Is that right? Anyone with experience on this one?

flatlander · #2 02-25-2012, 08:25 PM

Bump

steelheader · #3 02-25-2012, 08:46 PM

well the head gaskets dont have to come off and it depends where the oil is coming out ,at the top would be cake but the front timing cover is three pieces 2 tops and a main part . Call a few BMW shops if Your in north chi town there has to be a few good indy shops up there with all the bimmers running around o and if its a v8 make sure they do the timing chain guides while there in there .

DallasGV · #4 02-25-2012, 08:58 PM

Not sure why they said the head gasket needs to come off?? When I replaced the guides and chains I had to repace the upper and lower gaskets and shaft seal as well - I will say that the 24 hours for replacing the guides I was quoted before I decided to tackle the job was accurate.

Have you found out exactly where your leak is? If it's leaking from the upper timing covers or the shaft seal it should be around 8-12 hours. If it's leaking from the lower timing case then everything on the front of the engine has to come off and you may as well replace the guides, chains etc., while you're in there.

flatlander · #5 02-27-2012, 02:46 PM

Thanks guys.

I've not tracked down the source yet. Spent about 4 hours cleaning her up yesterday. Had to take a lot of stuff off to get room. Then sprayed it down with degreaser. There was a lot of oil around the VANOS solenoids. I've had iterations to replace those gaskets and the internal check valves behind the solenoids.

The upper covers were covered with oil to the point I could not tell if they were leaking. The dealer had said they were, along with the lower cover.

A BMW mechanic friend said that the job was time consuming and the main difficulty was getting the main crankshaft bolt off. Something around 400 lb-ft of torque required.

Now that she's cleaned up I'm going to put it on ramps and let it run until I can spot the leak.

DallasGV · #6 02-27-2012, 10:18 PM

The crankshaft bolt a.k.a. the Jesus bolt - I created a slew of new curse words wrestling with that F'n thing. From what I've read some are easier than others and if you decide to do the lower timing case yourself I would suggest that you take it to an indy and have them "loosen" it first...I definitely would if I had to do it again.