Valve cover gasket replacement gone wrong

[ecwx215]

There are plenty of tutorials and videos out there about replacing a valve cover gasket but I wanted to point out one of the pitfalls that doesn't get mentioned often so hopefully others don't end up experiencing this!

The 2 stud bolts in the front (near the VANOS) are VERY fragile and will easily snap if they're over-torqued or cross-threaded. I mistakenly over-torqued both bolts and they ended up snapping. The worst part about it was that half the bolt fell into the engine but luckily the timing chain caught it from going down any further.

Now I'll have to spend my weekend removing the other half from the block and replacing the bolts. I'm crossing my fingers that they can be removed with a nice pair of flat nosed pliers instead of tapping them out.

PS... The snapped bolt runs for a pretty penny...: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...32-11127830859

[heinzboehmer]

Jesus christ, $25 for a bolt. Glad it didn't fall all the way into the engine and you were able to retrieve it pretty easily.

As long as the stud didn't bottom out on the threads, you should be able to spin it out pretty easily. Good luck!

[cobra]

I have heard about people breaking these before so you're not the first one!

I personally only tighten the valve cover bolts until they're snug. The tension and friction from the gaskets is enough to keep them from moving. Plus the cosmetic cover on top keeps those particular ones from turning.

[jet_dogg]

I was prepared for a revelation.

[sapote]

The 2 stud bolts in the front (near the VANOS) are VERY fragile and will easily snap if they're over-torqued or cross-threaded. I mistakenly over-torqued both bolts and they ended up snapping.

Well, I don't think those two bolt/studs are any more fragile than the other ones. People making the mistake of over-torqueing the VC nuts trying to stop the oil leak. No, orver torqued won't help as there is a spacer and so the over-torqued nuts don't compress the gasket any more.

[George Hill]

Happens all the time on those two particular ones, I've replaced more than few already this year, whenver I part out an engine I always save them.

IF they unscrew with the valve cover nut I ALWAYS run a tap/thread chaser over the stud threads and cylinder head threads. Then run it in by hand very gently, if it gets tight I'll remove them and clean the threads again.