Getting valve cover off

[mpieklik]

Hi folks.
I have a 2006 X5 4.4 with the N62 motor. I'm replacing the valve cover gaskets and am having a hard time getting the cover off. I took out 13 bolts, various wiring harnesses, the coils and the valvetronic actuator motor. I've been able to break free the top front corner, but it feels like something else is holding the cover in place somewhere else. Anyone know if I need to take anything else off to be able to get the cover off? I'm worried about prying too hard since the cover does not appear to be made out of metal but the high-temp composite instead.

My bentley manual only covers the 6cyl and the M62 version of the motor, so it's no help.

Matt

[giodog2000]

[4.8isX5]

Did you take the back valve cam sensor plug off and take that out as well?

As from a 4.8 vid i watched sometime before be sure to pull as straight up and even as possible as well not to damage position sensor i believe.

[mpieklik]

Originally Posted by 4.8isX5

Did you take the back valve cam sensor plug off and take that out as well?

As from a 4.8 vid i watched sometime before be sure to pull as straight up and even as possible as well not to damage position sensor i believe.

Nope, did not take that out...was not sure if it needed to come out. I'll give that a try, thanks for pointing it out.

Matt

[admranger]

Check out the N62 valve seals thread with the all german auto special tool video. He talks about taking the valve covers off in the first video, iirc.

[Gurjit]

i did mine awile ago and its a pain in the ass

just make sure you got the 2 sensors in the back and all the bolts out, try not to pry only 1 side causing ur cover to crack or bend

the only thing holding it is the 4 spark plug tubes which are the hardest part of this job, the seals are extremely tight and hard to pull off, @ around 30$ a piece I changed all 8 of mine because 1 or 2 were leaking due to a stealership doing this job several years back and they changed 3 of the spark plug tubes and left the rest original

just keep tilting it back and forward, it will come off

now when you install it make sure u lube the tube seals because I cracked my valve covers trying to push them back on

[Whitecat]

Originally Posted by Gurjit

i did mine awile ago and its a pain in the ass

just make sure you got the 2 sensors in the back and all the bolts out, try not to pry only 1 side causing ur cover to crack or bend

the only thing holding it is the 4 spark plug tubes which are the hardest part of this job, the seals are extremely tight and hard to pull off, @ around 30$ a piece I changed all 8 of mine because 1 or 2 were leaking due to a stealership doing this job several years back and they changed 3 of the spark plug tubes and left the rest original

just keep tilting it back and forward, it will come off

now when you install it make sure u lube the tube seals because I cracked my valve covers trying to push them back on

Thanks for those advices, i'm going for the same job (valve cover gasket) while we are there, any specific that we should changed ?(preventive)

Thanks

[Gurjit]

The tube seals 8 of them, and check ur timing chain guides for signs of the plastic wearing out

And on the outside change ur valvetronic oring, spark plugs, the cam sensor seals 4 of them, and both ccv valves and upgrade to the new ccv tubes

[Whitecat]

Originally Posted by Gurjit

The tube seals 8 of them, and check ur timing chain guides for signs of the plastic wearing out

And on the outside change ur valvetronic oring, spark plugs, the cam sensor seals 4 of them, and both ccv valves and upgrade to the new ccv tubes

Wow ! I thank you very much for this !! I'll pass it to my INDY ..this is too big for me

To OP : best of luck

[Brandon002]

This video is about replacing the timing cover gaskets, but goes in to great detail on removing and installing the valve covers.

DIY BMW Timing Cover Gaskets N62 engine - YouTube