Smoking Engine fix! How To Valve Cover Gasket 2001 BMW 330i E46 M54

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Valve cover gasket replacement on my 2001 BMW 330i!
Shes comin along slowly but surely!
Thanks for watching
#BMW #Bimmer #330i #ccv #e46 #overhaul #diagnosis #automotive #mechanic #DIY #DayOffDIY
Sealant I used:
amzn.to/3IJXpY6

[@tcphoto]

I've done the VCG on both my M54 and N54 and it's just a tedious project and well worth taking your time. Once it's done, you'll eliminate the burnt oil smell.

[@DayOffDIY]

The N54 isn’t too bad either. Parts are on the way! It’ll be the third E46 I’ve done a VCG on just on this channel. Done many in years past at a bmw shop

[@ScooterTraveler]

I for one enjoy a clean mating surface as well. Another enjoyable video.

[@DayOffDIY]

lol! Thanks for all the support!

[@flipvdfluitketel867]

If you do this, do the VANOS seals. All E46s are old, and without direct comparison you don't realise how much low end torque an engine has lost.

[@DayOffDIY]

good idea, next time i tear into the top of an M54 ill try to do that

[@Ondra_]

Awesome video ! thanks man :)

[@DayOffDIY]

Thank you for the comment! I appreciate you!

[@elihnyc]

New subscriber here. My 2005 330i ZHP sedan has been smoking and smells like burned oil. Smoke is on the rear, passenger side of the engine bay. Used this video to help with my VCG replacement done this past weekend as I was pretty confident this was the cause AND the prior owner tells me he's never done the VCG (car is at 100k miles) Not difficult but did take a lot of time as I was super careful. Car is still smoking and still smells like oil is burning...maybe not as bad as before, a little difficult to tell. Car is running beautifully so I'm hoping it's just excess oil I missed during the cleaning process burning off. Thanks for posting this.

[@DayOffDIY]

You made my day! Im happy to hear I could help in some way :) thanks for the sub and the comment afterwards!!!

[@DayOffDIY]

hopefully its just excess oil burning off, sometimes it takes a while

[@elihnyc]

@@DayOffDIY Yep, that was it. While the engine was cold I cleaned all the hard to reach areas that I missed when I did the job. There was definitely excess oil caked on. I ran the car for about 25 minutes, highway speed, two days in a row. Returned the second day and no more smoke. Super helpful video. Thanks again.

[@DayOffDIY]

@@elihnyc super pumped to hear that! Glad you’re all fixed up. Eating smoke through the AC vents is not fun lol

[@Vanader]

Cool music

[@DayOffDIY]

thanks! Im happy with the new source

[@MsDee-ok8ej]

Thank you for sharing. How much does this repair cost (approximately).

[@J_Morty]

Scares me to use scotch brite on Alu gasket surfaces. Also a bit scary to spray plastic with brake kleen. However, as long as you are confident in your work and you know it won't cause issues in the future, 👍

[@DayOffDIY]

never had any issues with it over my 10 years wrenching on BMW, one day it may bite me but so far so good! scotch brite is very mild.

[@hobbybymyself870]

Great video mate! Just one question. Did you not notice that pieces of Old silicone which Been scrapped they did fel into engine? IM not a pro mechanic i dont know if that is acceptable or just oil filter will do the work and hold this pieces on. Just asking

[@DayOffDIY]

Some small pieces did indeed fall down! Happens a lot when cleaning gasket surfaces. In my opinion as long as it’s small and soft the oil filter will be able to pick it up with no concern

[@Vanader]

Gimme the link for the silicon

[@DayOffDIY]

I gotchu! www.amazon.com/Elring-non-hardening-temperature-resistant-sealing-compound/dp/B01N0X8M8G/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=curil+T&qid=1668054908&sr=8-1

[@emerg2470]

Hey just gotta say your vids are really informative and detailed. It's quite easy to understand what repairs you are doing to your cars. But I do have a question myself, I have a pre-owned 14 bmw x1 drive 28i 4cyl twin-turbo, I think. I believe that I'm getting poor gas mileage, I drive around town within a 10mile radius, often just 2 way trips and find that I have to pump every 3 days. From a few videos about bmw I've seen, I hope that it is a faulty fuel filter, would you have any idea as to what it could potentially be ?

[@DayOffDIY]

Hello! Im not familiar with this issue, never replaced a fuel filter for this type of symptom on the N20 from what it sounds like you have. any check engine lights present? Thanks for the support!

[@emerg2470]

@@DayOffDIY thanks for your reply. No there aren't any check engine lights on, and it has been scanned by a technician that was recommended to me. But it did not show any check engine lights present or concerning about emissions. I'm just confused as to why the gas mileage seems less than average.

[@DayOffDIY]

@@emerg2470 interesting. how many miles are on the vehicle?

[@emerg2470]

@@DayOffDIY about 80k miles currently. I appreciate your suggestions.

[@DayOffDIY]

@@emerg2470 One thing that comes to mind, is that on the N54 and N55 i used to do a lot of carbon cleaning off the back of the valves. I think i recall doing some N20 engines too, its possible it could have heavy carbon build up on the back of the valves. You can pull the intake and look or you can pull a spark plug and look with a boroscope down the cylinder and see if theres carbon showing on the intake valves. just an idea. Did it start to run poorly suddenly? or has it been a gradual decrease in mileage over time?

[@javierpnd3625]

What’s the torque ?

[@JonHo714]

I think missed a spot of silicon sir, oh wait, just my dirty phone screen.

[@DayOffDIY]

Your Honess! thanks for watchin. I miss you too much. Can you keep your eyes out for a broken BMW for me? has to be less than 10 yrs old and under 120k miles ;)

[@topnews1007]

If the valve cover gasket still leaks you will need to change the valve cover it self Because of to many heat cycle

[@DayOffDIY]

No doubt, I have seen that before, even some hairline fractures on the exhaust side before too

[@DayOffDIY]

Thanks for the comment!

[@ulucio86]

What the hell is a value cover gasket???????

[@topnews1007]

@@ulucio86 the damage one in your engine clown 🤡🤡

[@Aardvark49]

Does disconnecting the battery cable on right wheelwell do same thing as disconnecting the battery itself? Like if you needed to do some alternator work?

[@DayOffDIY]

That’s correct! The battery power runs up the body to that junction on the right side strut tower. Disconnecting it there disconnects power to the alternator 👍🏻

[@sammykayali4698]

I just did a VCG today with the help of ur video but a pill sized piece of the old gasket fell into the head should i be worried? Or will it be fine ?

[@DayOffDIY]

Thats awesome to hear sammy! congrats! and dont be worried by the gasket, itll be no match for the valve train, im sure itll pass through eventually or get caught by the filter

[@sammykayali4698]

@@DayOffDIY thanks for the answer car seems to be running perfect hopefully it doesn't cause any damage

[@DayOffDIY]

@@sammykayali4698 i dont think it will. Ive lost lots of gasket material that way with no issues

[@MitkePetkov-kl7zl]

👍

[@DayOffDIY]

😊

[@yusufsesay6648]

Does this apply to the 2001 325i is the 325i reliable more then the 330i?

[@DayOffDIY]

Both equally as reliable! and both are the M54 engine, one my all time favorites :)