[///Mik3]

I'm in the process of replacing my valve cover and when I removed the original 2 of the smaller gaskets in the middle of the cover we're stuck to the head and a couple pieces had broken off. I found one of the pieces and was able to grab it, however from the looks of it there are 2 other small shards missing but I can't seem to find them anywhere. They're probably about 1cm on the long edge. See pics:





How screwed am I? I'm going pick it up tomorrow and try to search again but if I can't locate and remove them is that pretty much game over or should I just throw the new one on and put it all back together and hope for the best??

Any input would be appreciated cause I'm kinda stressing out about it right now.

[porsche959]

I think you need to buy a new valve cover. Couple hundo from what I remember.

[///Mik3]

Originally Posted by porsche959

I think you need to buy a new valve cover. Couple hundo from what I remember.

Well yeah that's the whole reason I'm in there, I'm replacing the whole cover and gasket. I'm just wondering if I'm screwed if those 2 tiny shards from the old one may have fallen in the engine or something

[twinboost_MD]

You should be fine but I'd really get in there with a flashlight.

[///Mik3]

Originally Posted by twinboost_MD

You should be fine but I'd really get in there with a flashlight.

Yeah I gotta find a better flashlight than what I was using yesterday. But I'm kind of afraid I won't find them anywhere. Fingers crossed it's all fine!

[nsjames]

get in there with a flashlight and a shop vac.

but the reality is that it will be fine.

[///Mik3]

Originally Posted by nsjames

get in there with a flashlight and a shop vac.

but the reality is that it will be fine.

So to update, I found one of the shards and just as i went in with a pair of pliers to pick it up, it ended up falling and went down into the hole pictured here:



anyone know what the hole is and where it leads to? I'm assuming the other shard must have also fallen down one of those as well. Am i still ok as others have said I probably am??

[amarredz]

If ur under 150k miles I would just put it back together and bring it to Bmw so they could deal with it under the sulev warrenty

[ctuna]

Where did it say he had a N51?
Most cars sold in Cali where not sulev's

[///Mik3]

Originally Posted by ctuna

Where did it say he had a N51?
Most cars sold in Cali where not sulev's

Correct, mine is an n52. Anyway, I just got everything back together, ran the car for about 10 minutes and then changed the oil. Everything seems fine so far so hopefully I'm ok?

[nsjames]

it fell into an oil galley.
It will go to the oil pan, so you probably got it out in your oil change.

I wouldn't worry about it.

[NinetyEight740]

Originally Posted by amarredz

If ur under 150k miles I would just put it back together and bring it to Bmw so they could deal with it under the sulev warrenty

I am afraid you don’t understand how the super actually works with a statement like that.... but op doesn’t even have a super vehicle.

[amarredz]

Originally Posted by NinetyEight740

I am afraid you don’t understand how the super actually works with a statement like that.... but op doesn’t even have a super vehicle.

I know sulev dosent cover valve cover but some ppl on the forums have gotten away with it, I assumed it was sulev because it was a 328 and where I live the majority of the cars are sulev 🤷🏻*♂️

[nsjames]

Originally Posted by amarredz

I know sulev dosent cover valve cover but some ppl on the forums have gotten away with it, I assumed it was sulev because it was a 328 and where I live the majority of the cars are sulev 🤷🏻*♂️

no dealer is going to fix your valve cover after you take it off.

that's absurd.

I knw professional mechanics that won't work on something that's been taken apart elsewhere, and for good reasons.

once you take it apart it's your baby.

[amarredz]

Originally Posted by nsjames

no dealer is going to fix your valve cover after you take it off.

that's absurd.

I knw professional mechanics that won't work on something that's been taken apart elsewhere, and for good reasons.

once you take it apart it's your baby.

That's why i said put it back together

[nsjames]

Originally Posted by amarredz

That's why i said put it back together

and how does that help the OP who had already dropped pieces of the gasket into the engine?

and you don't think that they're going to notice that it's recently been taken apart and is missing gasket pieces?

the amount of people trying to get free shit from BMW is amazing around here. I've never seen a group of vehicle owners who feel the manufacturer owes them so much.
It's a ten year old car.
own it as such.
If you can't do the work or can't afford to have someone do the work, get out of the brand or buy one with a warranty.

[amarredz]

Originally Posted by nsjames

and how does that help the OP who had already dropped pieces of the gasket into the engine?

and you don't think that they're going to notice that it's recently been taken apart and is missing gasket pieces?

the amount of people trying to get free shit from BMW is amazing around here. I've never seen a group of vehicle owners who feel the manufacturer owes them so much.
It's a ten year old car.
own it as such.
If you can't do the work or can't afford to have someone do the work, get out of the brand or buy one with a warranty.

The "free shit" that owners get gives Bmw big tax credits

[nsjames]

Originally Posted by amarredz

The "free shit" that owners get gives Bmw big tax credits

lol. ok.

continue on then, BMW is a big evil corporation and they owe you everything. They should totally fix your ten year old car with 100K miles on it.

[amarredz]

Originally Posted by nsjames

lol. ok.

continue on then, BMW is a big evil corporation and they owe you everything. They should totally fix your ten year old car with 100K miles on it.

Actually my car is 13 years old with 50k miles on it and no Bmw is not an evil company, that's why we own 4 of them in my household and if they offer me a free repair every once in a while because it helps them with their taxes, I'm gonna take it and I see nothing wrong with that

[nsjames]

how exactly does repairing out of warranty cars benefit BMW financially?

[amarredz]

Originally Posted by nsjames

how exactly does repairing out of warranty cars benefit BMW financially?

The whole point of sulev is for Bmw to get tax credits and when a automotive company makes a sulev car they agree to repair emissions related items, they can't have the tax credits if they don't commit to the program

[amarredz]

Originally Posted by nsjames

how exactly does repairing out of warranty cars benefit BMW financially?

It's a mutual benefit for bmw and their customers, nobody is screwing anyone over