Recommend a valve cover gasket + do I change the bolts?

B

bearded_ed

Member
Hello everyone.

So my valve cover gasket is leaking - I am 99% of it anyway. I foolishly re-used the gasket when I took it off as it only had a couple hundred miles on. Leaking from the back of it by the looks of the smoke I get sometimes. (Inconsistent leak)

So I need a new gasket.

I think I got the X8R kit last time but that was for VANOS stuff too.

Will any gasket kit do or do we have a preferred one on this lovely forum?

Finally, am I meant to replace the bolts? I had to replace one last time because I lost one.... Just checking that the bolts aren't possibly the cause of my issue as well.
 
I fitted a Febi Bilstein valve cover gasket set back in April'17 and it was fine. I have recently done a VANOS rebuild and used the X8R kit and the gasket included was by Elring which seemed equally as good quality so I fitted it and so far so good. Don't forget some decent silicone RTV for the 'half moons'. The stuff in the X8R kit is Chinese so I didn't use it. I have some by JB Weld which is good stuff. Also on both occasions I didn't replace any bolts and that doesn't seem to have caused any problems. The bolts are only a low torque, 8Nm iirc. Torque them all down evenly in a crisscross pattern starting in the centre of the cover :thumbsup:
 
If the bolts are steel you can reuse them :thumbsup:

(the early N52 uses aluminium bolts which must be replaced)
 
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BT52-EUR-03-2004-E85-BMW-Z4_30i&diagId=11_2172
If yours is fitted with the rubber washer seals under the cover retaining bolts/nuts its good practice to change these as well as the main gasket, they go hard with age and have an effect on how much pressure they apply to the main gasket. I use Blue Hylomar around the half moon shapes at the front and back of the cover and between the vanos, it ensures a good seal where the gasket changes direction. If you look at the main gasket you will see its ribbed across its width, these compress to achieve the seal, main runs of gasket shouldn't need any sealant on there just the half moon areas. Elring and Payen brands are ok, just check whats included in the pack, some do come with the round sealing washers for the cover bolts/nuts.
 
The Elring gasket set in the full X8R VANOS rebuild kit comes complete with the spark plug hole gaskets x 2 and 15 x rubber washers for the cover bolts (circled in red). As Colb says make sure you get these in whichever gasket kit you go for :thumbsup: 20200611_203808.jpg
 
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