Should've done done that coolant pipe when valve stem seals were done. With everything out at that point, it would have been another 1/2 hr or so labor to cut the old one out and install the new collapsible in.
Oh well, too late now...

Unfortunately, hindsight is always 20/20 as they say.

Sorry to hear of your bad luck.

N62 camshaft
 

Thanks for the good tips. I have 4 seals replaced so far, and am considering your suggedtion. I looked at the bmw manual for camshaft removal and it talks about lifting the cam straight up without tilting, and placing it on special tool #119470(see http://workshop-manuals.com/bmw/7_Se...age-216003.png for foto of tool). Is this because the cam plus intermediary bits are likely to go sproing all over the garage when lifted off? Did you use any special tool to keep it all together or just carefull handling?
Also i did notice that one spring i installed looked a little odd. I had it turned upside down. One end of each spring is slightly smaller in diameter and the spring coils seem farther apart. I believe it is that end that goes up and gets the retaining plate attached to it.
Thanks

what ever you do do not buy the 32 Elring Klinger valve stem kit from AGA tools website. Holy CRAP they are double compared to Pelican Parts or FCP Euro, etc. and their Valve Cover Gaskets are the same. Pelican Parts/ECS Tuning/FCP Euro is much cheaper for all of it!

I have leaky VCGs so I may as well get the Valve Stem Seals fixed same time.

Yes, AGA are more expensive - they buy the good seals, and sell them for a profit. In my case, when I did it, I had no choice. I had the valve stems ordered from ECS or FCP (I can't remember exactly) and they ended up sending the same cr*p I had in the car - not the updated ones as I asked (they probably wanted to unload the crappy stock). So I had to overnight them from AGA, which they did. And overnight it was - the engine was already open, and I couldn't wait another week or so for the Elrings to show up. Time.
All I can say after 2 years doing these 2 repairs is that I have no more smoke, that stupid oil consumption has stopped is non-existent right now, and I have no coolant leaks. It worked for me.

great to hear Dorin. I've got oil consumption but no smokes. leaking VCGs are worse every month now :(

I agree, living in Canada thats worse again; I got all the gaskets and seals in Doru's parts list for one 3rd of the price and the upper timing chain gaskets. That's why we use Xoutpost and thank guys like Doru for there efforts.

N62 guide seals
 

I managed to replace my valve guide seals using the AGA tool kit and was able to leave the cams inplace so did not have to reset timing. Thanks for this forum!
I found that i became way faster after the first few seals:

1. Some of the old seals were hard to pull off until i discovered that if i could grip them with the pliers supplied and twist them a bit, they then came off super easy.

2. I also found that by inserting the magnetic cap provided into the new seal ,with a little grease, BEFORE placing it onto the valve stem, the seal could then be slid down the valve stem without pushing the valve into the cylinder at all.

3. I did not notice the passage way from bank 1 cam area to the timing chain area (finger tip in picture). Spent a not so relaxing hour fishing for a valve retaining plate down there. You want to stuff a rag in that passage.

I have the tool for rent or sale, calgary alberta area.

Thanks for the info this should come in very handy "thanks"
As for the tool I ordered mine last week from AGA so I could do it this long weekend but DHL messed that up. It's a shame I would have bought it, then I wouldn't have go though the DHL customs fiasco. It is being delivered to I think.
Thanks tho that's just bad timing...

Yeah that mechanic did not advise well!!!