Need help on E46 M3 S54 Timing cover replacement

[cobra]

So you did this without pulling the head, and no leaks huh. Does TIS recommend pulling the head because the assumption is the cover won't seal with the old HG?

Yea, the head gasket is a multi layer steel with thin rubber coating that extends over the timing cover. However the timing cover is only keeping oil in that is at low pressure sloshing around, so it's fine to just use sealant. The few millimeters that it needs to slide onto the dowel pins was not an issue in my case.
It's not the correct order of operations, but it works fine.
I would not try this with the oil pan installed.

[tenta997]

I would highly consider pulling the oil pan off.

You might be able to sneak the t/c out and back on but you are going to be dragging it down the whole length of those gaskets. If the oil pan is off it only has to move forward a bit and then it can drop down and out, additionally you only have to worry about the HG at that point.

IF you do decide to leave both on then I would suggest removing the crank seal so you don't have to fit that as well. **Edit, and I second above, consider pulling the front end off.

lol surely I'll remove the oil pan, with that thing on it's impossible to get the job done, ok the front end...I'll consider about that, surly it would be way easier to work on the timing cover. Maybe I'm just too lazy lol

[tenta997]

If I recall correctly, I used a tiny screwdriver to get the sealant to cover the gasket top/bottom/middle surfaces fully.

However, George Hill makes a good point, I did this job with my oil pan off during a rod bearing job. I think you will have a harder time doing this with the pan installed since now it's squished top and bottom with a rubber gasket on the bottom, with risk of damaging that. You might have to remove your oil pan to do this properly

right so it would be leak down test first, if pass then oil pan off then the TM, sealant on top/mid/bottom of the head gasket and carefully slide TM on and off.

[tenta997]

Just rip the front end off

lol that's way more enough room

[tenta997]

I'm all about being lazy but I would not consider leaving the oil pan on to do this job. The oil pan gasket has a soft rubber inner ring which will almost certainly tear when you pull the timing cover off. I would never reuse an oil pan gasket for that reason.

On an S65, the oil pan gasket is all metal so that could, in theory, possibly be reused.

lol I don't know why this job was considered without removing oil pan, it's impossible to leave it on there to get the job done.

[bigjae46]

lol I don't know why this job was considered without removing oil pan, it's impossible to leave it on there to get the job done.

Won't stop someone from trying. MOAR RTV!!! lol

[cobra]

You will need a special tool to install the front main seal, which I uploaded a 3D printable file for here on the forum