2002 4.4 Valve Guides, got me...

[Rockit]

Went to change the valve covers and found the right bank top timing chain guide broken. The car was rattling intermittently on start up....it was sounding like a lifter.....than sometime a bunch or rattles like vanos. It only did it for a second every 50 starts.

The E53 only has 88k on it. Someone mentioned in millions of posts I've read they break due to age....they are right.

If you have nothing to do this summer and you have 2-3 solid days off and the BMW tools this may be worth the fix before it gets you. ...because it will.

The E53 V-8's are an absolute ticking time bomb. Just like the radiator expansion tank the plastic guides fail the same way...should be recalled.

I'm going to do it myself and going to hate every minute.

[tmv]

The job is not too bad, but time consuming. Make sure you time it right.
Might as well do the vanos seals too
Beisan Systems - Procedures - M62TU Vanos Procedure

[TiAgX5]

Using non-approved oils can increase TC guide wear.

Iffy Lube shops don't carry BMW approved oil, yet many go cheap (and wear items that cost big $s to repair! ).

Do you have full service history on the X, showing all oil changes were done right?

Did the VC gaskets last week (almost 11 yrs and over 180k), upper guides still look new, cam lobes still show manufacturing grind lines.

Pic shows incorrect 1-1-05 date, pic was taken 5-2014.

[Rockit]

It's not worn......it's broken.