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s54 Valve cover gasket recommendations

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alane29
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s54 Valve cover gasket recommendations

Post by alane29 » Mon Jan 23, 2023 5:38 pm

Hello

Planning on replacing the valve cover gasket as its seeping a little , Any recommendations for the gasket OEM or another make


Thanks
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maupineda
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s54 Valve cover gasket recommendations

Post by maupineda » Mon Jan 23, 2023 8:15 pm

OE Orginal. I have used ElRing and it leaked shortly after. Same for the fastener grommets. the clamping of the fastener against the grommet is what makes the seal. and you can reuse the original one a couple of times too.

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s54 Valve cover gasket recommendations

Post by alane29 » Mon Jan 23, 2023 9:13 pm

Thanks

I had been looking at a Victor Reinz set comes with gaskets & gromets for £51 , will price the BMW one .Not bothered about saving money just want the one that does the job
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s54 Valve cover gasket recommendations

Post by maupineda » Mon Jan 23, 2023 9:30 pm

Yes, you will regret if you find a leak and have to do it all over. that was my case.

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s54 Valve cover gasket recommendations

Post by XMetal » Tue Jan 24, 2023 7:12 am

maupineda wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2023 8:15 pm OE Orginal. I have used ElRing and it leaked shortly after. Same for the fastener grommets. the clamping of the fastener against the grommet is what makes the seal. and you can reuse the original one a couple of times too.
maupineda wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2023 9:30 pm Yes, you will regret if you find a leak and have to do it all over. that was my case.
Agreed. I ran into the same issue with the Elring gasket/grommets and eventually have to redo it with the OE gasket and grommets. Just go OE and be done.

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s54 Valve cover gasket recommendations

Post by Beedub » Thu Jan 26, 2023 7:57 am

ive got an el-ring set in the shop but ive always gone O.E due to being told they leak. Not something i want to deal with..... do you guys use alittle sealant around the half moons at the back ?
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s54 Valve cover gasket recommendations

Post by maupineda » Thu Jan 26, 2023 1:25 pm

Funny thing, I did with the elring one, however it did not leak from there but from the area above the exhaust cam sensor, I even try and apply sealant there and it did not work, i was even worrying the issue was my aluminum cam cover had warped. Then I read in E46 forums how many had had issues with aftermarket ones.

With the OE one I used nothing anywhere and has been leak free for 2 years.

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s54 Valve cover gasket recommendations

Post by Beedub » Thu Jan 26, 2023 3:49 pm

does the oe gasket set now days come as a kit including the spark plug gaskets, cam cover bolt grommets , and the washers for the oil drain? i cant actually remember as its been so long since i ordered one, i need to get a new set ready for the valve adjustment this year.
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s54 Valve cover gasket recommendations

Post by maupineda » Thu Jan 26, 2023 4:42 pm

Some companies such as ECS, FCP, etc have put kits together, but if you buy from the Dealer, you need to pice out your kit (gasket, grommets, spark plug gaskets, etc.

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s54 Valve cover gasket recommendations

Post by grannyknot » Thu Jan 26, 2023 4:46 pm

alane29 wrote: Mon Jan 23, 2023 5:38 pm Hello

Planning on replacing the valve cover gasket as its seeping a little , Any recommendations for the gasket OEM or another make


Thanks
Whether you go with aftermarket or OEM be sure to follow BMW's torquing sequence specs, off the top of my head it is done in 3 steps, each progressively tighter.
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s54 Valve cover gasket recommendations

Post by Slideways » Tue Feb 28, 2023 7:54 am

I still have the same Victor Reinz gasket for 50k+ miles and have had the valve cover off at least 5 or 6 times in those miles. Usually, I'll apply fresh Drei-bond to the half-moons in the rear and where the VANOS meets the cylinder head every other time the cover comes off. It stays leak free other than some light sweating which is pretty typical especially if you don't wash the engine bay.

It is surprising to hear that multiple people have had issues with the Elring gasket. They make the head gasket, oil pan gasket, VANOS gasket and a few other S54 gaskets for BMW.

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