[blackISaColor]

This past weekend I started on the valve cover gasket replacement, everything was going smoothly until I removed the valve cover.
I got to the eccentric shaft sensor seal :



Mine was melted pretty badly, my attempt at taking off the gasket in 1 piece was a failure. I had to scrape the old gasket out for hours using a plastic trim removal tool, it pretty much came off in tiny pieces.

Here's the insert where I need to insert the gasket:

Small dent on cover, idk if this is considered damaged:

Gasket:




I for the life of me, cannot get this gasket into that insert. I haven't got close at all. I've tried lubing the gasket with oil, I've tried using a 30mm socket, I've exhausted everything that I could think of.

Any help would be appreciated, my car has been sitting since the weekend

[hassmaschine]

are you sure you've removed the original seal entirely? that "ring" looks like it could be part of it.

also that new seal looks damaged. I would use a different one, you don't want to do this again when it leaks.

[Gamb1t]

Hmm.... the Pelican Parts image is for the post-2006 N52. Your VCG set-up is different than that. IIRC I don't remember this is one of the step for the 06 N52 based on previous threads. But then again, I passed this job off to my indie. So who am I to say.

[blackISaColor]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

are you sure you've removed the original seal entirely? that "ring" looks like it could be part of it.

also that new seal looks damaged. I would use a different one, you don't want to do this again when it leaks.

I will take a look at it right now, I thought that was part of the cover itself. And yes, I've embarrassingly damaged the new seal by trying to force it in. Thanks for the feedback!

[blackISaColor]

Originally Posted by Gamb1t

Hmm.... the Pelican Parts image is for the post-2006 N52. Your VCG set-up is different than that. IIRC I don't remember this is one of the step for the 06 N52 based on previous threads. But then again, I passed this job off to my indie. So who am I to say.

Thanks for the response! Every video I watched before doing this job has that step where they removed that seal pretty easily. And installed a new one pretty easily. I've been embarrassed to post anything because I know this shouldn't be that difficult. At least I hoped.

[Efthreeoh]

OP, the ESS seal removal on the metal valve cover is a PIA. As Hass stated earlier, the outer steel ring of the old seal is still in the head. Get a hacksaw blade and cut the band, then pry it out.

[blackISaColor]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

OP, the ESS seal removal on the metal valve cover is a PIA. As Hass stated earlier, the outer steel ring of the old seal is still in the head. Get a hacksaw blade and cut the band, then pry it out.

You guys are the absolute best, this has been giving me headaches. Thanks everyone!!

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by blackISaColor

You guys are the absolute best, this has been giving me headaches. Thanks everyone!!

Thank Hassmachine, he called it right off the bat.