Valve Cover Gasket
 

Well,

Another problem with the X5. Thanks for alpac who suggested that I check the valve cover gasket. Sure enough, it's leaking. The shop also thinks that the valve cover itself may be cracked.

They also seem to think that there is excess oil in the #2 cylinder which is a bad sign. Anyone experience all of these problems.

Sadly, I'm near the end of the road on this one... Love the car, but just tried of the lack of reliability.... Got lots of thinking to do this weekend, but I may be headed back to a Nissan or Lexus. Enough of the German stuff.

:yawn:

How many miles on your X? what have you replaced so far? Usually most the big issues with the X (valve cover gaskets, Oil separator, CV boots/joints, cooling system. etc...) occur between 60 and 90k. After that you are fine for some time. So depending on your mileage and what you have already replaced you may be better of keeping it.

alpca thanks for the information. The car is a 2004 and has 55,500 miles on it. I did have one big issue which was a cracked head at 48,000. BMW replaced it under warranty even though the car was 4 months past the 4yr limit.

In the last 4 weeks I had to replace the front brakes, both front outer CV boots, and now the valve cover. What else do I have to look forward to?

Rear brakes, window regulators, thrust rod bushings, coolant expansion tank, radiator, water pump, valley pan gasket (or any other cooling system component), final stage resistors and so on. Unfortunately, you are getting into the meat of the mileage where issues arise. I had over $7,000 worth of repairs done under warranty from 65,000 to 100,000 miles.

I had my valve cover gaskets replaced at 65,000. Now my indy tells me that the dealer should have replaced the upper timing cover gaskets and vanos solenoid gaskets while they were in there becuase it wouldn't have been much more additional labor. Now these items are leaking and it requires pulling the valve cover gaskets to get to these other gaskets.

Just did mine at 132kms...things happen! Don't give up on the X just yet!

Valve cover gasket replacement is pretty easy and straight forward. You can pick up an valve cover gasket and the valve cover at pelican for about $220. It can be changed in a couple of hours at the most. The only other thing is the oil separator. I blew my head gasket because of the oil separator. That's a bi...h to do. I had mine done at the indy shop for about $350 modified part and labor. There is nothing like an "X"

You must have the 6IL engine not the V8. Changing the valve cover gaskets on the V8 is not that difficult but is pretty time consuming, 4 to 5h job for most indy.

Every one of those is a standard service item. Unlikely it needs a cover, just a gasket kit. People seem to forget cars of a few years ago and have become spoiled. It was only 10 years ago that valve cover gaskets were part of a 6000m or 12000m service, pads lasted 15000m and cv gaiters were about a 3 yearly job, so at 55000m and 5 years old you are doing ok.

the issue I ran into was a warped head as well. I ended up changing the head gasket cover, it was still leaking and then I ended up doing it again thinking I screwed up the first time. It still leaked, so I replaced with a new head. No leaks, no burning oil smells...love it. You may not have to change it, but for an additional $150, I would do it. Mine had a 116K when I changed it, yours has a lot less mile. Like X5girl said....you may not have to change it.

Word to that. Car companies make a lot of money off parts so most of them are designed to outlast the new car warranty and not much more.