BMW Spark Plug Tube Seal 11127831271KT

[BL92]

Hi all
I am lost with the price of this 1?

Is there a reason???

Anyone running them over elring @ $2.74?? ?

[chris719]

I’m a genuine kind of person but even I had to buy Elring after looking at those prices. So far so good.

[Cubieman]

I had the genuine seals leak (maybe a mistake I made), replaced with elring and all is well. The VCG is a bigger deal in regards to genuine then these.

[Shonky]

I have Elring spark plug tube seals in for a few years (from FCP's valve cover set) and they seem fine. $40 ea for genuine is ridiculous

The Elring VCG from the same set leaked after about a year - as above I would definitely only use genuine there from now on.

[PSUEng]

Last time I did the VCG, VR leaked, replaced with Genuine and G2G. Looking at my next valve adjustment here soon, Genuine on the VCG it is, Elring on the spark plug tube seals. I forgot what I used in the past for the 0972 (x13) and 7395 (x2) grommets. What's everyone running for those two? FCP offers "DPH" brand on the 7395, getting good reviews and much cheaper than Genuine. At this price point I don't care about the price, just best quality.

[bigjae46]

They are only $208 now! lol

[Slideways]

Last time I did the VCG, VR leaked, replaced with Genuine and G2G. Looking at my next valve adjustment here soon, Genuine on the VCG it is, Elring on the spark plug tube seals. I forgot what I used in the past for the 0972 (x13) and 7395 (x2) grommets. What's everyone running for those two? FCP offers "DPH" brand on the 7395, getting good reviews and much cheaper than Genuine. At this price point I don't care about the price, just best quality.

I would reuse those if they are not cracked. Recently had two grommets that were leaking after reinstalling the valve cover and it turned out the grommets had some build up of that powdery gunk that you sometimes get on new rubber parts (never cleaned them). Gave the grommets and the VC hardware a good clean, reinstalled and it is no longer leaking. All gaskets sealing the valve cover are from 2011 and none are genuine BMW. IMO, clean and keep reusing until they fall apart lol

Mating surfaces and gaskets need to be completely free of oil and debris to seal properly. Also, spark plug tube gaskets will have an imprint of cylinder head side and that mark indicates how to put them back when you reuse them.

[ATB88]

I would reuse those if they are not cracked. Recently had two grommets that were leaking after reinstalling the valve cover and it turned out the grommets had some build up of that powdery gunk that you sometimes get on new rubber parts (never cleaned them). Gave the grommets and the VC hardware a good clean, reinstalled and it is no longer leaking. All gaskets sealing the valve cover are from 2011 and none are genuine BMW. IMO, clean and keep reusing until they fall apart lol

Mating surfaces and gaskets need to be completely free of oil and debris to seal properly. Also, spark plug tube gaskets will have an imprint of cylinder head side and that mark indicates how to put them back when you reuse them.

Okay I've always wondered about that powdery gunk! I had always figured that it's supposed to be left and they're supposed to be installed as is, that it's some sort of seal conditioner idk. But if they're meant to be thoroughly cleaned before installation... that would explain why my VCG grommets have consistently been leaking smh.

[Flow]

It's talcum powder to protect the rubber gaskets during storage.

https://rubberandseal.com/talcum-powder-and-rubber-gaskets/

[ATB88]

It's talcum powder to protect the rubber gaskets during storage.
https://rubberandseal.com/talcum-pow...ubber-gaskets/

Parts of how this reads makes it seem like the talcum should be left in place when installing the gasket?

[Flow]

Parts of how this reads makes it seem like the talcum should be left in place when installing the gasket?

I'd just wipe it down but not thoroughly clean it.

[PSUEng]

I think we just uncovered the next forum debate after "can I reuse front subframe plate bolts"...

"should I wipe off the white stuff from the VC grommets?"....LOL.

Great insight in the responses, thanks Slideways for the re-use tip. I'll give that a go.

Found a few grommets in spares "pile"...full of white "powder" for visual reference. Not sure of the brand, I forget.

[White_335i]

I would reuse those if they are not cracked. Recently had two grommets that were leaking after reinstalling the valve cover and it turned out the grommets had some build up of that powdery gunk that you sometimes get on new rubber parts (never cleaned them). Gave the grommets and the VC hardware a good clean, reinstalled and it is no longer leaking. All gaskets sealing the valve cover are from 2011 and none are genuine BMW. IMO, clean and keep reusing until they fall apart lol

Mating surfaces and gaskets need to be completely free of oil and debris to seal properly. Also, spark plug tube gaskets will have an imprint of cylinder head side and that mark indicates how to put them back when you reuse them.

Doesn't reusing the 15 washer seals affect the torque setting of the VC bolts because they are compressed over the years)?

[Slideways]

Doesn't reusing the 15 washer seals affect the torque setting of the VC bolts because they are compressed over the years)?

Nope, that torque setting is there so you don't go crazy tightening the nut and go so far as to stripping the stud under it that holds the cam cap. That would be very bad. Hand tight until the nut stops turning is good enough to compress the grommet and have it seal.

I've reused those grommets at least 6 times by now. When I undo them, they spring back to their normal thickness. I believe all of them, except for the two front corner grommets, are Viton. Gonna keep reusing them until they stop sealing or crumble.