Valve stem seals, coolant pipe & coolant hoses replaced - some pointers
 

I finished changing the valve stem seals, the coolant pipe and while in there, I also changed all the cooling related hoses.
I won't be doing a DIY, I will just make some pointers touching on some very good DIY's and youtube vids, which aren't specifically for the e53 N62.

If anyone wants to tackle the job, here are the parts you will need:

If doing the coolant pipe:
O-ring coolant pipe p/n 11531710048 (x1)
Valley pan cap seal p/n 11147507278 (x1)
Return pipe p/n 11511439976 (x1)
Intake manifold steel gasket p/n 11617521181 (x2)
Throttle body O-ring p/n 13547510433 (x1)
Your choice of coolant pipe - I opted for the more expensive AGA pipe, which has Viton O-rings, as opposed to the cheaper options, which don't (and will probably fail as well).

If doing the valve stem seals:
Throttle body O-ring p/n 13547510433 (x1) - not necessary to buy twice if doing both jobs
Right upper timing case seal p/n 11147506424 (x1)
Left upper timing case seal p/n 11147506425 (x1)
Solenoid big O-ring p/n 11367513222 (x4)
Solenoid small O-ring p/n 11367546379 (x4)
Vacuum pump O-ring p/n 11667509080 (x1)
Valve cover seal right p/n 11127513194 (x1)
Valve cover seal left p/n 11127513195 (x1)
Repair kit valve stem seal p/n 11340029751 (x2)
Eccentric shaft sensor seal p/n 11127518420 (x2)
Camshaft positioning sensor O-ring p/n 12141748398 (x4)
Valvetronic O-ring p/n 07119903596 (x2)
Optional:
Valvetronic spacer torx bolt p/n07129900465 (x2)

I also purchased all the cooling hoses, including the rear ones from the firewall to heater valve, firewall to coolant pipe rear, and from heater valve to auxiliary pump. Plus all the front hoses.

To tackle both jobs, I started by removing the intake manifold using this awesome DIY, which is for a 6 series, so there are a few things we don't have to do, and some others we have to. We don't have to remove the braces (we don't have them), we don't have to take the big wiring cable from the ECU box. Also, removal of the air box, microfilter housing etc is a bit different, but this is a very easy and straightforward job. However, you want to remove the cables form the battery, because you will need to remove the positive cable from under the hood. Here is how it looked just before removing the wiring harness around the intake manifold:

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...psf27713aa.jpg

Here is the old pipe cut:

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps604f428c.jpg

And here is the AGA expandable pipe installed:

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps76cecc86.jpg

Some pointers:

• Don't forget to change the original O-ring at the back (#4 in the below diagram):

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=11_3251

• Before installing the pipe, do a dry run without O-rings, expand the pipe - the front of the pipe will touch just before the WP (inside). Mark the pipe where it enters (front), so you know where it will be when expanded - the front O-ring will make expanding the pipe a tad hard, and you might not know 100% if it is fully expanded or not. The pipe HAS TO TOUCH the front metal part.

Now, onto the valve stem seals. To remove the valve covers I followed this DIY which is very good - again this is for a 6 series, so there are few steps you don't need to follow. However, for the right side, for a e53, you need to remove the washer fluid tank and the right part extending from the microfilter housing On the left side, you need to remove the same extension of the microfilter housing - it encapsulates the brake fluid reservoir, the horn & the brake booster. Another thing is, when following the AGA procedure of servicing the valve stem seals, I think Martin is working on a 7 series, which has maybe more room on the left side than the e53. I found removing the heater hoses AND the hook that holds them in place is a must (the heater valve is also coming out). As a note: if you replace the heater hoses, hose #7 in the diagram below comes out only after you remove the left valve cover. Remember to replace the hose BEFORE you put valve cover back. The lower part of the hose is steel, and you won't be able to bend it.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=64_1412

This is the vid from AGA how to replace the seals:
BMW N62 Valve Stem Seal AGA Tool - Instructions - YouTube
At 15:34 of this vid it tells you how to place the keepers. This can be confusing at first. So here it is: the fat side of the keepers should face DOWN in the keeper tool. They will face UP, once you install them on the valve stem. Be careful here. The AGA tool kit is a must short of pulling the engine. I found 3 tools to be very important: One is a long needle nose pliers, a long needle nose pliers with bent jaws and a thin magnet. You will also need a short version of the long jaw needle nose pliers. The different needle nose pliers will be helpful in different spots where you need to pull the old valve stem seals. The needle nose pliers with rounded jaws did NOT work for me (like the ones in the AGA vid). Here is what I mean:

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...psd121ce4a.jpg

Thin magnet:

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps0085e963.jpg

Of an important note is what valve stem seals you purchase. Buying BMW OE seals can be a hit and miss. You could end up with the improved version, or you could end up with the exact ones you just pull out, which will start failing 60k later. What you want (I talked with Martin) are the Elring Klinger seals. These have the rubber part made out of Viton - the original ones were made out of ordinary rubber - and also the internal design is different, making them permanent fix. here are some shots:

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...pse6401fb7.jpg

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps00c85b2c.jpg

Here is a shot working on bank1:

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps5e3f13eb.jpg

And another one:

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps0897492d.jpg


When replacing the seals, also make 100% sure you are at TDC on the cylinder you are working on. The reason is, as you work on one valve, and you move to the next, you might lose compression. Like this:

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps276302c5.jpg

Notice I have 100 psi pressure, but now I have high compression loss. This happened on many cylinders. here is what I found works best. Don't fret, just carry on and do what needs to be done. The valve might slide down, but you can pull it up gently with the needle nose pliers of your choice. The valve usually will stay, and you can place the keepers, etc without the use of compressed air (the valve won't fall down, because it's held by the piston at TDC). Here are a few shots with the valve stem slid on top of the piston, then pulled up with the pliers:

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps42112f8a.jpg

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...psc4752cc3.jpg

Sometimes though, the valve would slide down as soon as I touched it, making it impossible to place the keepers back. At that point, I used compressed air, although the compression wouldn't hold. But it was enough pressure to hold it up.

Bank 2 is a different story. The space is tight, and you need as much room as you can muster by removing also the heater hoses, the hook that holds them, and the heater valve. To remove the hook that holds the heater hoses, you first have to remove the lower cam sensor on top of the left valve cover, otherwise it won't come off. Also, with the hook in place, it will be a bear to remove the valve cover.
This here is the culprit:

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...psadb8442f.jpg

This is the cam sensor that has to come out first (remember to install it last when replacing everything back):

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...psa6fe2365.jpg

Here are a few shots where the screw of the heater hoses hook is, and how tight the space is (intake):

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps2745dbbd.jpg

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps2745dbbd.jpg

here are some shots working on the exhaust, on the same bank2 (tight):

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps51008593.jpg

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps095fc136.jpg

How it looks on the valve stem:

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps4f0f5132.jpg

Almost every seal and every gasket were shot at 100k miles, including the upper timing gaskets and the solenoid seals. Take a look:

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...psa1e0f6eb.jpg

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps38fbbbd4.jpg

For the upper timing gaskets I followed this vid: DIY BMW Timing Cover Gaskets N62 engine - YouTube

I want to mention the fact that the left side is more difficult than the right side, because the alternator has to slide out. There is one bolt that holds the left upper timing cover right behind it. To slide the alternator, the TIS states to remove the lower pulley, the 2 bolts that hold in place the alternator and slide it out.
The truth is, you want to remove the tensioner as well, and also the bracket for the electrical wires, to be able to wiggle the alternator up and down. Don't remove the upper bolt, just loosen it. Remove the lower bolt. The alternator has an "U" bracket - one side you see at the front, one side is behind, you cannot see. Now you have to slide the alternator sideways - as you stand in front of the engine from left to right. A rubber mallet might come in handy. Once you see the front bracket clearing the backside where it was mounted, you can slide the alternator out. You can leave the electrical connections on. Once you have replaced the gasket and the solenoid O-rings, you can place back the bolts that hold the upper timing cover on, tighten the one that is behind the alternator (10 Nm), except for the 2 bolts that hold that electrical wiring bracket. Put some grease on the front and rear end of the alternator "U" bracket, place the upper bolt and only slightly screw it in (a few turns), so now you can slide the alternator back in place - from right to left in a pendulum motion as stand in front of the engine. Then tighten the 2 screws with the electrical bracket. It will make sense once you tackle the job.
Later today I will post all the tightening torques from TIS (and what I used). The ISA screws that hold the VVT plate to the engine are very fragile, I remember the tightening torque isn't much, just 6Nm, but one snapped while I torqued it down. This is the reason I mentioned to have 1 or 2 handy in the parts list.


Torque values (TIS):
Alternator bolt (x2) M10 - 16mm: 43 Nm
Pulley (x1) torx : 45 Nm

Valve cover gasket:
Cap nut (x8) M7 - 10mm: 15 Nm
Screws (x5) M6 - 10mm: 10 Nm

Oil rail and fasteners after valve stem seals done:
A few M6 - 10mm bolts & nuts: 10 Nm
Oil rail bolt (1 / bank) M8 - 13mm: 25 Nm

Eccentric shaft sensor:
ISA screws (x3) M5 (torx) 6 Nm

Valvetronic:
Torx bolts (x4 long + x4 short) M5 6Nm

Upper timing case:
Bolts (x8) M6 - 10mm: 10 Nm

Vacuum Pump:
Torx bolts (x3) M6: 10Nm

Forgot to mention: Put rags around the side you are working on to cover any gaps between the engine bay and the engine (see pic #8). Parts can and will fall, and if they fall outside the engine, you might never find them, especially the keepers, which are very tiny. There are also nooks & crannies below the engine where these can get lost. At the front of the opened engine, you can see the timing chain - cover that part also, really tight. When I was almost done, one spring plate slipped out of my hands and went inside that opening. I fished for about 4 -5 hours. There is absolutely no space, and you have no visual, and I was lucky to find the part (lodged between the chain and the crank - there's where the magnet "clicked").

Another update: When I started the car, it had a clack-clack-clack sound on bank1. Exactly like sewing machine. No codes. Phoned Martin from All German Auto, and he told me that he saw a vehicle that was doing the same thing after the repair. He said that vehicle had one of the intermediate levers out of alignment/misplaced. So I opened bank1 up and I found not 1 but 3 springs that didn't sit in the correct position on the intermediate levers. I have no idea how this happened, but it did. Now everything is back and normal. Take a look at this pic, and see where the spring ends (bottom). It does not sit in the "V" groove as it should. So after each of the intakes are done, make sure you double-check that the intermediate levers are also sitting correctly.

http://i380.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps465f98cc.jpg


Addendum: I was asked a question about TDC - if the flag is up, is this TDC? The only way to know 100%, is to look at the valve stems. One could be at the end of the exhaust cycle, and then the exhaust valves will stay open (remember the cycles of the 4 strokes engine). If you read my post, I mentioned I had 2 - 3 cases, where I lost compression (doing the exhaust valves). This is the reason why. And no, the valves will not fall down in the cylinder. They are still resting on the cylinder.

Great right up and tips on the job. I'll most likely be doing this in 2015. At least the seals, for the middle pipe is it better to replace when im doing the seals or can be done later? If im thinking right valve covers dont need to come off just the top of the intake plenum so should be easy diy later on...

Bookmarked this. Invaluable info. I don't have any smoke from tail pipes since replacing the two ccv diaphragms. But bought a 2005 x5 4.4i (n62) a couple months ago from a dealer in Houston with 109,000. As such got no maintenance history on the truck. Looks like a fairly nice vehicle and drives well besides a few normal suspension needs on a used BMW.

Anyway, did the newer n62's come with the updated valve seals? Reason I ask... I am going to be doing upper timing cover gaskets (I bought lowers too, but really don't want to mess with the Jesus bolt). Also going to be doing most of the rubber seals at the same time along with valve cover gaskets and alternator bracket seal (wtf designed that?). Don't want to have to re-do all that in the event of valve seal failure.

Awesome Doru! I'm not looking forward to this job at all. Having three vehicles and two drivers means I can wait until the coolant pipe starts leaking or the valve seals do and I get the nasty smoke effect.

Which valve seal is which in your pic? Is the reddish one the good one?

What kind of time commitment are we talking about here? I'm guessing if you have all parts and tools, and don't mess anything up it's a solid 12 - 16 hours for an amateur doing it for the first time. Definitely not a summer project in Vegas!

Thanks again for the great write up! Look forward to the torque values.

I need to go to the links and print them out b/c sometimes people let the pics die in the ether...I hate little boxes with a red 'x' in it. Already subscribed to the thread!

Not that i know of... Mine is an 06 and is an issue... Same with my buddys 4.8is 06 as well.

Do it while your in there.

Crap... what I was afraid of...

Maybe I'll get the valve covers off and have a gander in there and see if I can see if the seals have been done with the updated units. I'm looking for the bright red ones correct?

I have plenty of other cars in the driveway so if I have to order the seals and associated parts after opening it up... I can wait for the parts to show up.

The updated valve steam seal design showed up way after E53 production ended.

Excellent write up Dorin this will be hugely beneficial to many members!

Thanks for the detailed write-up. Far as I can tell, I don't have issues with either since I still have low miles. But might need attention in future.

Great write up and images. Thanks for sharing. By the way what cam lock down tool are you using?

The updated valve seals are red. There are also some OE updated valve seals which have the same color as the old ones (dark brown), and probably the same bad rubber (no Viton). The only way to distinguish the updated ones from the old style is to look inside. The new style have a longer rubber "neck" clearly visible in pic #7.

It took me a long time, I was in no rush. I also did a complete cooling overhaul and the cooling pipe. I did a few screw-ups, and had to retrace my steps and re-do a few things.

You will also need a step stool or a small step ladder. Working on the last 2 cylinders / bank won't allow you to work otherwise, even if you're tall.
Cylinders #4 & #8 are the worst - especially the closest valves to the firewall. You will have restricted access, restricted movement and restricted visual. Also, very taxing on the back.
I cannot set a guesstimate on time. If tackling this job, one should start with cylinder #1 to get familiar, and where is good visual, and very little effort to work on. Once bank 1 (or 2) is done, and you move to the next, you can start with the hardest (rear cylinder #4 or #8).
Some valve stem seals can be changed in less than 15 minutes, some take considerably longer. I had a few where the frustration level grew and took me close to 1 Hr/seal, but these were only 2 or 3. Also the quick ones were the ones where I had good visual, and good working position. So I cannot commit on the time.

I updated my original post, and torque values are posted.

Excellent thread. I am sure quite a few of us will be doing this.

Where did you get the special seals? I am approaching 90k on my car. So I think I will be there soon.

How does the car feel after this?

I was using the AGA valve stem seal tool set, so no cam lock down tool (it's not needed). You don't mess with the engine timing when doing this job.

If you take the head off (how the dealer would might do it = $$$$), even then I don't think you need a cam lock down tool, because the camshafts will come out as well as everything else.
You will need a big, clean working surface to be able to lay out neatly and in the correct order all the parts. For example, the rocker arms are marked, and they can be all different. If one is bad, you cannot use the p/n for a new one. The p/n will be used in conjunction with the number found stamped on the rocker arm and specially ordered from Germany. They have individual tolerances and don't match. Look up the TIS, and you will see what I mean.
The springs on the intake valves are all marked with a brown paint stripe. I believe this is so you don't mix them with the exhaust springs (this is just a guess).
Then after you're done, and put everything back, you still have to do the timing.....

Nothing really special about the seals. The brand you want is Elring Klinger. They 100% guaranteed to be updated. Dealer OE seals are hit and miss. Some are updated, some not. And even then, if they are the dark brown colored ones, with the modified / correct inside, they still use the old rubber (which is not Viton).

I updated the first thread with a hiccup that could have been a major disaster - there's a pic at the end. Martin from AGA was great help to point me in the right direction, took his to phone me and explain what could be the problem, after I left him a message.

As it stands right now, the car engine is running better than when I purchased the car. No more smoke, pulls very hard. Very happy.

How's everything holding up after this repair? Looks like I'm on the hook to tackle this one myself. Do you still have the AGA valve stem seal tool kit?

No more issues since the fix. I still have the tool kit, and I'm holding on to it. There might be some other N62 equipped car joining the stable.

How much will you charge me if I bring my poor N62 to you Doru?? I am more then willing to help with the project, just don't want to tackle it without an expert assisting me :)

Are you willing to rent out the tool for a friendly fee?:D

I don't like borrowing tools, but to make it worse, you're in the US, I'm in Canada. We (both) will be charged customs and the Canada Post is not cheapest one either (every time I purchase stuff from the US, the shipping rates are ridiculous cheap compared to if shipping from Canada - no matter Canada Post, UPS, Purolator, etc)

I am just finishing this job. It's not necessary to remove the head....just the camshafts. Having done the first 5 seals with the camshafts in place using the AGA kit, and the remaining 27 with the camshafts out, I must say I would NEVER again do this with the cams in. The visibility and working space is so poor the job would have taken 5 times longer with the cams in, and the risk of dropping keepers so much higher. I rented the timing tools from bimmertoolrental.com and it took less than an hour to set the timing correctly (working slowly and deliberately)

Otherwise, this is an excellent writeup

how hard is it to do the intake seals? did you have to remove intermediate rockers?

correct stem seals?
 

is this the correct stem seal ?
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...it-11340029751

its just they are very inexpensive not sure why.

Do yourself a favor and order the valve stem seals from BMW. The composition of the updated seal from BMW is much better than the ones your are looking at.

i will look into them thanks "they look pricey" you are on about the seals that are for the n63 correct, also they should work on the n62 since the n62 work on the n63 :thumbup:

Yes

Jamesy, these are the ones.
They seem pricey because 1 (one) is a set for 1 bank. You need 2 sets.
One set has 16 seals.

All new valve stem seals fixed my bad smoking habit.
Now the coolant pipe and/or valley pan is leaking.
Should have a tight engine after that repair.

Greg didn't you have your indy do the valley pan and coolant pipe seals when you performed the valve stem seal repair? Hope he didn't use victor Reinz gaskets?

I asked him if we should do the valley pan and pipe during the valve stem
triple bypass.
He said let it go till it starts to leak.
Johnathon told me that it could last another 5 years.
It lasted 3 months.
That didn't take very long.....

Oh boy

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!!!

I agree Doru, i should have mentioned that i also replaced coolant pipe , with stainless steel part. And new plugs, coils, and even tubes.
Oh yeah, and enough seals to feed a polar bear for a year!

Need some help guys just did my stem seals and now i have a misfire on 7, checked every and found i have no compression at all in cylinder 7 :dunno: .
could it just be that the lifters need to brake in. did both TDC with leak down test inlet stroke and outlet stroke just to be sure and same results about 10psi out of 80psi.

any ideas thanks....

I wonder if the problem might be with an intermediate lever spring out of position, as Doru mentioned in his initial post? I checked mine before putting valve cover on and had two out of place! I am not sure if that could cause rocker arm to slide off of ball stud and keep intake valve from closing properly? Doru or AGA might know.
Hope it works out for you.

Yeah I checked them they were fine I may take the cover off and have a look. But I'm 99% sure they where connected. I was also getting cam timing codes at the start with many misfires now it's just #7.

I should also mention there was no air escaping thought the throttle body or oil filler cap so I'm gessing it's the outlet valves that are open, i couldn't tell at the tailpipe.

Not sure how but it looks like a keeper poped out and also the retaining clip broke off on the rocker, this could have happened when I took it off originally not sure. This could have ended badly with a bent valve stem few. So if any one gets a misfire I suggest doing a leak down test before messing with plugs coils etc.

All back together running sweet "few" not sure how I snapped a rocker arm clip but lucky I caught it..

I need to tackle coolant crossover, & am very concerned about valvetronic solenoid relearn. can someone update the pics in this tread so they are visible? also any now tricks to Valvetronic solenoids to not have errors?

What browser are you using? Chrome and Firefox both have an extension that fixes photobucket issues.

tried both chrome and firefox. still not seeing any images

You have to add the extensions. Google photbucket firefox extension... install it. Done.

Big thanks to blakamin btw. I was unaware this fix (temporary I'm sure) existed. I will be downloading everything I can to PDF...

;)