How to: Change N54 Valve Cover Gasket (In Under 5 Minutes!)

Kept it short and sweet for this video, a no-fluff DIY for n54 owners to reference. Hope you enjoyed the video, and thanks for watching!
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Hood Light used in the video: • How to: Change N54 Val... (affiliate)
thebimmerbarn.com

[@friguy4444]

This is the BEST DIY for doing this job on the web!! The ONLY thing I would say is "Don't replace the gasket" "Replace the whole cover!!!" Yes replacing the gasket is good and it might be all you need at the moment BUT the covers will crack and sometimes already are cracked and you can't see it. After a bit more driving the crack gets bigger and then you have to do the whole job all over again. So just replace the whole cover the first time and it will be all GOOD!! Thank you for the hard work in making this great video! It is Excellent!! Oh the "Super Glue" is not needed as these gaskets don't slip out or move around once in place. If by some reason it does I would say use just a little dab of Gasket maker to hold it. GREAT video!! I'm going to follow it tomorrow and do this job on my new to me 335XI.

[@CrankedGarage]

I have owned a bunch of these cars and done this a million times and no u do not have to replace the entire cover, there is no need to spend an extra 3-400 bucks if it’s not needed 😂 bmw owners just love to say the damndest things

[@TheRariza23]

@@CrankedGarageso I should just replace the gasket ?

[@CrankedGarage]

@@TheRariza23 I did and no problems

[@repairvehicle]

When they crack, what mileage or year?

[@mokhdaer5880]

I replaced the cover to mine after changing the gasket after couple of months then the cover cracked up then I had to changed it. it’s only $120 online at A-premium very good website

[@Thanu214]

One thing i would recommend before taking the battery off is to pull out the fuel pump fuse and start the car and wait for it to turn off by itself. theres alot of pressure in the fuel lines and disconnecting them often causes fuel to spray everywhere so doing it this way is much easier but both ways work well regardless.

[@fishonnelson2353]

Well done.. I've done this job a dozen times but you perform an execllent refresher!!!!! Thank you

[@mot8862]

Best N54 valve cover replacement video PERIOD, 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@josefasacothelordofbeats7623]

Very straight to the point. No fluff at all this what I have been looking for thanks fam

[@miaonufrak]

thank you for the great angles, and for keeping it short and sweet! i appreciate you man

[@christophebuisson7536]

Love it, from a professional !! Well done.

[@brandonlink6568]

3:00 an important note on that 10mm deep socket. Both the newer Husky and the Performance Tools brand sockets aren't wide enough inside to fit over the stud, older Husky sockets will but they're shorter than the stud. Before you tear everything apart take an injector ground nut off and make sure your socket will fit or you'll get stuck at the finish line like I just did. It looks like he's using Pittsburgh sockets so I'm gonna go to Harbor Freight tomorrow and cross my fingers.

[@cheese9812]

what is the injector ground nut? can you share a photo or demonstrate where to get the ground nut? meaning take off the nut from the injector itself to test?

[@friguy4444]

Excellent advise!! Thank you!

[@mxracingunlimitedltd7784]

@@cheese9812 its the only stud with a regular 10mm nut on it. Its a bolt for the valve cover and then the top of it is extended up with a stud for the ground wire and that has a nut to keep it on. Its the issue of getting the bolt off once the ground wire and nut are removed from it because you need a good variety of sockets to have a 4"+ long deep socket 10mm. Otherwise you wont be able to get the last three bolts/ground studs off to remove the valve cover. He shows it in the video at 3:00 like posted above..

[@olegkasko92]

literally what happened to me 😭😭 now i’m driving around

[@olegkasko92]

PITTSBURGHG WONT WORK!! Buy the quinn sockets that’s what worked for me

[@expiredlunchables2645]

dang super good job with the video man, very nicely edited and shot

[@uptownphotography]

Nice video. I've never done it before and thinking I might give it a try as the smoke coming from oil on the exhaust manifold is pretty bad (near rear of engine smokes a lot). Thanks.

[@solid1096]

Thanks for the video ! Im going to replace the whole cover because my egr system and pcv is full of oil. I’ve cleaned the manifold + egr. Installed new egr and pcv hoses. Today going to replace the cover and hope its not a smoke machine anymore. Also got bad idle / dying engine from this problem.

[@ilyld2003]

That’s keeping it sweet and to the point!!

[@zero260designlab3]

This was awesome thank you very much. Well done 👌🏻

[@00buck74]

You're a legend. Thanks brotha

[@ravikiran6400]

Great video mate!

[@bobkarry9349]

Love the content! 🫡🙌 Keep up the good fight my friend!

[@backhoejoe5527]

Well Done brotha. Great video.

[@N54.S6]

Man, you're a god.

[@tronn_carter]

Awesome video man, thank you

[@mforlive1367]

i search since years to find a video of valve cover gasket change, i had a n53b30a so everybody says that the injectors must be go out now i see in your video that they can stay in. ❤

[@GPerformance710]

Just replaced my Valve cover & gasket on a e90 n55 , took a solid 8-10 hrs really taking my time , cleaning every part I removed, (Airbox, Intake pipes, & oil grime from it leaking). All done but it was an extensive tedious job imo & I’ve done multiple valve covers on other cars (E46)

[@jnx6650]

Nice work

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Thanks mate!

[@jae350gt]

Thank you!

[@alexxatl2779]

i cracked my valve cover so im adding one to the list of things i have to buy 😢 …you live and you learn

[@fockmale]

I see that you didn't remove the injectors, that makes it lot easier. In that case, Kudos

[@HalBarber]

AWESOME video. short and sweet. What do you replace the PCV hose / Catch Can with?

[@PurpWrld904]

Possible to get a list of all the tools needed for this job?

[@cayopricogtaonline9956]

very very nice❤you made ma day🌶️

[@Vinceshoxs24]

Is this apply for e60 2010 535i? Thanks

[@tenaciousjeebs]

Aren't catch cans a good thing?

[@BIGGEST786]

Do u have video for N55 e90

[@catchthepug8171]

Any torque specs on the bolts?

[@robertkenney6002]

Heard taking spark plugs tubes out first is best

[@SadCityLife]

About to do this in a few weeks. With the valve cover off, are there things to look at that commonly need replacing or upgrading while doing the gasket?

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Great time to change spark plugs or coils, but nothing underneath the valve cover needs to be serviced particularly. Thanks for watching!

[@xx_g3t_rekt__xx603]

@@TheBimmerBarn also good time to check if there is any slack on the chain

[@LuxxMa]

I was told mine needed replacing since my car started whistling. I was quoted around $700

[@user-sb9dy7pn2i]

What brand 10mm deep socket did you use I tried using husky and it didn’t got through all the way??

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Harbor freight socket, with the socket extension halfway pushed into the socket. Put the socket on first, and then the extension and you should be able to break it loose. Good luck!

[@mxracingunlimitedltd7784]

So the final torque for all the valve cover botls (E10's), once the spark plug tubes are in, is what now. The last step? Is it just still 8.5nm or basically hand tight? Thx

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Hand tight I like to say! The bolt itself has a dowel/spacer that keeps it from screwing too far into the valve cover. So once it "stops", just snug it down a little further, and don't over torque it. Hope that makes sense. Thanks for watching!

[@mxracingunlimitedltd7784]

@@TheBimmerBarn Thanks man, I really appreciate the video. I like the simple step to step style video. Easy and quick to watch and remember some things. Im going to start the Valve Cover one day this week. I got a new Elring (oem) Valve Cover and Gasket kit from FCP since its a decent leak and the original VC has 150k miles and is probably all nasty inside anyway for the PCV stuff. I have an aftermarket Metal PCV Valve from one of the Vendor’s in the VC now. Do you recommend a Catch Can setup for FBO/Tuned Car’s? Dual catch cans for low and high side? Im just trying to keep the PCV system working properly and as little oil going into my intake as possible lol Thanks!

[@azopherlittle325]

If I’m replacing my valve cover and gasket, should I replace anything else. I have the tools and the time, should I be worried about doing this I’m semi experienced in doing things to cars, but this would be the most advanced thing I would do. It looks do able and I feel I have the confidence, do you think it is do able for someone like me?

[@V37Jus]

Did you do it?

[@paulsinghish]

Does anyone have the part number for the pvc/catch can

[@dbosnow2203]

Can I do this on the N52 motors ? I'm thinking about buying one tomorrow and would like to know before purchase

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Slightly different procedure, but very similar! The N52 has an eccentric shaft sensor that has to be unplugged and the seal serviced. Otherwise, pretty straight forward, and there's some DIY's out there you should watch too. Good luck!

[@c.c7263]

Torque specs and torque sequence is missing at the end...

[@DavidKarlsson-ti6sb]

If your gasket is leaking, it could well be due to pressure from a clogged PCV unit molded into the valve cover. No good way to clean that out. Check your crankcase pressure before starting, and replace the whole valve cover if the pressure is out of spec and you've already replaced the PCV valve.

[@thorstenwestheiderphotogra7722]

What was that part you put into the bin and did you get a new one or just left it as it is?

[@estavonanjalene]

Rewatched trying to find out what was thrown away.

[@ethanhalpin6790]

Pcv hose I believe

[@jacobhomstead9036]

Is it necessary to buy new valve cover bolts?

[@TheBimmerBarn]

No, but you do have to be very careful applying torque, they snap VERY easily

[@wishfulbuy]

Nice if it could be a 5min job. It took me about 8 hours in a weekend.

[@erikalvarez4516]

If I installed the spark plug tubes AFTER I installed the new cover on will it interfere with contact? My car won't crank over

[@zotiic2588]

probably

[@thomasmurphy3570]

is there clearance to do this without moving the coolant expansion tank??

[@zotiic2588]

on 335s i dont think, but on my e60 i dont have to move it

[@blakeelliott9238]

I broke my vacuum canister nipple now I have low boost is that my problem you think?

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Yes lol, go buy a male-male brass barbed fitting from the hardware store and drill a small hole where the nipple used to be. Insert the brass fitting, epoxy it in, and you've got 'er fixed. Good luck!

[@Snuuupp]

I cant get those last nuts on the valve cover with a Normal deep socket 10.

[@Vinceshoxs24]

Did you figure this out?

[@robertkenney6002]

Lol.. dumb question but now how do you get the trunk latch to re open/reset after pressing it in?

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Unlock the car, grab the trunk handle to release it, as if you were opening it up! No such thing as a dumb question 👍

[@robertkenney6002]

Lol. Thanks. For some reason this panicked me but the battery cable was off lol just one of those simple things that stump ya after leaking over the hood for last 5 hours doing the cover

[@robertkenney6002]

Lol. Thanks. For some reason this panicked me but the battery cable was off lol just one of those simple things that stump ya after leaking over the hood for last 5 hours doing the cover

[@robertkenney6002]

Lol. Thanks. For some reason this panicked me but the battery cable was off lol just one of those simple things that stump ya after leaking over the hood for last 5 hours doing the cover

[@robertkenney6002]

Lol. Thanks. For some reason this panicked me but the battery cable was off lol just one of those simple things that stump ya after leaking over the hood for last 5 hours doing the cover

[@wheelsndiaries]

My cover is stuck so bad from the left under side. I watched so many videos to see if I missed a bolt or something, but I guess it's just stuck. Any suggestions on removing it? 2011 335is

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Just pry it off slowly! Probably stuck from having never been changed

[@wheelsndiaries]

@@TheBimmerBarn thanks, finally got it open. The gasket leaked 3 times within 2.5 years. Got it done by dealer twice. Judging from the continuous leaks and it being stuck, highly doubt they ever changed it. Decided to finally do it myself.

[@chrisplayz9739]

@@wheelsndiaries yea theres no way they changed it, these things usually holdup for abt 75-100k miles, i still got my original gasket from the factory and im at 106k miles but i think its abt time i change my gasket, ima paint the valve cover while im at it

[@fukufaksters5417]

@@chrisplayz9739 when I opened it to replace it, the gasket did look brand new so judging from that I'm assuming it was changed. My shit is leaking oil again after only a few months. Oil keeps getting into the spark plugs. It's just a shit car tbh

[@cheapdrunk8531]

@@fukufaksters5417might need to replace the valve cover

[@melvincaronongan166]

Is any 10mm deep socket will do? Or is it specifically for bmw n54? Thanks

[@TheBimmerBarn]

I use a 3/8 drive 10mm long socket, and it's barely long enough so I have to put the extension halfway in to make it work. hope that helps!

[@gatiyovideo]

Damn bro where u live at lol I need this done

[@lifeSGM]

oh god i hope you kept the fuel lines in the same order

[@robertkenney6002]

Why

[@bkay8570]

@@robertkenney6002 the only one that matters is the 6th fuel feed line. It's shaped a little different and won't fit in other spots. But all the other ones are the same so idk what this guy is talking about

[@n54lyfe9]

How much should I pay a professional to do this the dealer charges 2.2k.

[@TheBimmerBarn]

I think book time is like 5-7 hours, best bet is to find a German-specific car shop and have them do it. Good luck!

[@TjClarkish]

1k total at my local indy shop, better off to diy!

[@Credman1883]

You don't need the catch can?

[@TheBimmerBarn]

I prefer not to use a catch can unless necessary, which usually doesn't happen until running very high boost or single turbo. The car has a PCV system that already acts as a catch can in some ways. Hope that makes sense. Thanks for watching!

[@charliejohnson6416]

Precise it, I snapped two f*cking cover bolts, one taking the cover off and one going on fml. Used an impact to take them off, switch got hit wrong way, then I bought a torque wrench which was faulty 😢

[@michaelyoung4662]

Why did you throw out the pcv/catch can? Just curious

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Just not my preference to run a catch can on a stock turbo car. I'll tune it later, but even then I don't mind the little oil that's burned by the factory system. Beats having to keep track of the oil level in that catch can, I've seen them cause a mess!

[@HardwayLearning]

@@TheBimmerBarnwhat do you use to block off the pcv now that you don't have it connect?

[@crazycarcontent7984]

What are the symptoms of this problem?

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Oil running down the side of the motor and dripping onto the oxygen sensors or catalytic converters. You'll get smoke inside the engine bay, and oil smell from the AC vents. Hope that makes sense, thanks for watching!

[@joesmith9216]

@@TheBimmerBarn I also had grey smoke, I am hoping I can drive it home from the mechanic who wold not fix it for me, any advice there?

[@mattarthurs3571]

Song name? 😂

[@DandyWaves]

Don't use super glue. The gasket will deteriorate fastest to applied points

[@Icepressa]

why would you move the expansion tank and the positive wire lol and not the fuel rail... not required and i do 3-4 of these a day lol this is the first time i saw anybody do it like this

[@smdrightnow2070]

Nvm I'll just pay

[@jaidyn.m]

this is like one of the easiest things on the car 😂😂😂

[@Rellderrick777]

Subscription from me🤙🏾

[@pvtpelnar11]

Do spark plugs need to be removed

[@TheBimmerBarn]

Don't need to be removed to replace the valve cover, but you might at well while you're in there!