BMW M54 front timing cover removal (VANOS untouched!)

e46 325i 330i e39 525i 530i m54 lower timing cover removal without removing head or VANOS
abrupt ending because my phone ran out of storage
hope this helps someone xx

[@mohammedsheikh1974]

Thanks so much brother I was looking everywhere for this video

[@lukemccann95]

I have been looking for this video as im just about to go through the same thing. Thanks mate!

[@bigdeal87]

Why does the oilpan have to come off? Tought its enough to just remove the bolts that goes into the timing cover like the top ones? Thx

[@owenlee4585]

the timing cover is squeezed in between the oil pan and the head and is bolted into both. You can simply loosen the oil pan, shouldn't need to completely remove it. I've seen a video where they did it that way.

[@lukemccann95]

Any tips to get it back on and lined up properly? snapped my chain guide trying to get it on so need to wait for a new one now haha

[@owenlee4585]

according to a forum post i saw, the BMW TIS says to orient the dowel pins in the timing cover so that they are sticking out toward the engine, then tap the cover on. I do not have TIS access to verify that but it seems logical, so that’s what i’ll be doing. I’m unsure of the tightening order for the bolts so i will be tightening them in gradual steps. Use light rtv on the surface that contacts the head gasket. Let me know how it goes for you

[@owenlee4585]

update, i got access to the BMW TIS. Installation steps are as follows, directly quoted (with editing for clarification) from the TIS: Drive alignment pins into timing case cover until they protrude approx. 2 to 3 mm (on mating surface side) Secure new seals to timing case cover with a little grease. Ensure sealing faces are clean and free of seal debris. Apply Drei Bond 1209 sealing compound (refer to BMW Parts Service) at following points: (1) A bead at the transitions to the cylinder head gasket on the left and right. (this is ON the block, on the left and right sides of the timing chain hole.) (2) Thinly and evenly to the entire sealing face of the timing case cover to the cylinder head gasket. A bead at the transitions to the cylinder head gasket on the left and right. Thinly and evenly to the entire sealing face of the timing case cover to the cylinder head gasket. Install timing case cover, insert all screws (ONLY FRONT BOLTS) and initially tighten to approx. 5 Nm. Drive in dowel pins from front until flush. Fully tighten all screws in alternate sequence (ONLY FRONT BOLTS) Once all screws have been tightened down, retighten them in a second operation. Insert screws, tighten screw connection for timing case cover to cylinder head. TIGHTENING TORQUES: M6 - 10Nm; M7 - 15Mn, M8 - 22Nm, M10 - 47Nm hope this helps!

[@Darkaccent]

​@@owenlee4585 thanks so much for posting this!

[@owenlee4585]

@@Darkaccent update for you and any readers, I would recommend tightening the bolts that come through the head BEFORE tightening the front bolts on the timing cover. This should help "suck up" the timing cover and minimize the difference in height between the main oil pan mating surface of the block and the oil pan mating surface of the timing cover. Don't forget to put some RTV over that seam also. Even after that process, the bottom of my timing cover is about 0.3mm lower than the bottom of the block. It may be a result of the RTV that I put at the block-to-head seam as outlined by the TIS. I will update when the car is running and confirm whether the oil pan leaks or not.