[KnockingDiesel]

Been doing all the minor repairs and maintenance on my car and noticed a very small oil leak. N52 Magnesium Valve cover, passenger side front corner of it, the bolt was at an odd angle. I reached to see if it was loose and it sure was, it was snapped about even with the surface of the cylinder head.

I noticed the bolt was a really soft metal since it was too easy to drill. When I stuck the extractor in I didn't even need a wrench. So I did some research and found that Aluminium bolts were used to prevent reaction with the mag cover. Can't find a spare bolt. Checked local pic-a-part inventory but all were M54 vehicles. I was planning on doing the valve cover gasket anyway since there was the slightest hint of oil in the spark plug tubes, just residue,no puddle or anything.

With things being as they are I'd rather not spend the money on a gasket kit ($95) since I'd replace Cam Eccentric Sensor ($180) while I'm there. I'm thinking the bolt would buy me some time until the summer.

So does anyone have a spare bolt?

Thanks for reading, any help is appreciated.

[smass]

Unfortunately, the aluminum bolts are single-use stretch bolts. If you reused one, it probably will break quickly. Your bolt has probably been broken for a while so you should be able to make it to the summer. Don't change the eccentric sensor unless there is an issue. They don't go bad often. All 3 of my 2006s are still on the original sensors. My first 330i broke VC bolts in 2009 at 30k miles.

[KnockingDiesel]

Originally Posted by smass

Unfortunately, the aluminum bolts are single-use stretch bolts. If you reused one, it probably will break quickly. Your bolt has probably been broken for a while so you should be able to make it to the summer. Don't change the eccentric sensor unless there is an issue. They don't go bad often. All 3 of my 2006s are still on the original sensors. My first 330i broke VC bolts in 2009 at 30k miles.

Like the valve cover tubes there is a hint of oil within the connector for the eccentric sensor and from what I've read that a common sign of it needing replacement but it has not thrown a code. Like I said I'm planning on doing it early this summer or sooner but time will tell. It's got 2k on the oil change and no sign of oil loss.

Thank you for your advice.

[KnockingDiesel]

Valve cover gasket kit is on its way!