[zakster]

Hi All,

Long time lurker here, great community with plenty of valuable info.

My 2007 328i SULEV sedan needs Oil filter housing gasket and Valve cover gasket to be replaced. From reading several posts looks like I have run into a very common problem with these cars. I did see the DIY but don't trust myself doing it.

While searching this forum I found about 15year/150K SULEV warranty for cars sold in CA. I found the owner's warranty manual and it says that my car is covered with that warranty.

My question is are these Oil filter housing and Valve cover gaskets covered in this SULEV warranty? I'm not of a much technical person about cars and would appreciate if someone could chime in. Has anyone replaced these gaskets using that warranty in the SoCal area or anywhere else?

TIA.

[Agentphish]

I don't think so. Check this out. Seems like these warranty only cover emissions control components. If you don't trust yourself to DIY, time to find a good indy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partial...ssions_vehicle

[nycbr]

The valve cover gasket is covered up to 70k on SULEV; not sure about the OFH

[zakster]

Originally Posted by nycbr

The valve cover gasket is covered up to 70k on SULEV; not sure about the OFH

Isn't the SULEV warranty up to 150K miles? Is the 70K a different warranty?

[fun2drive]

Not a chance. Emissions not oil leakage...

[xTaSkx]

Yes, it's covered. Call your nearest BMW dealership about your SULEV warranty and they will cover it. Just make sure you have the vin number on hand since they will need to verify if you have a n51 or not. Also, I am not sure about the oil filter housing but it does cover the valve cover gasket.

[markus037]

i asked the service writer about what is covered since i have the N51 as well. basically the cats, dme, air pump etc.. they wont cover gaskets since its not an emissions related item.

[NGEE]

Originally Posted by markus037

they wont cover gaskets since its not an emissions related item.

I don't know whether they cover it or not, but I'm pretty sure a failed VGC would affect emissions, same as a failed PCV would.

[redline2001]

Originally Posted by markus037

i asked the service writer about what is covered since i have the N51 as well. basically the cats, dme, air pump etc.. they wont cover gaskets since its not an emissions related item.

The SA's have no idea what their talking about. VCG is covered, I had mine covered. Also had my ecentric shaft sensor, and radiator covered by the SULEV warranty. Had to get BMWNA on the dealers ass to get the eccentric shaft sensor done.

[markus037]

are you the original owner?

[pronuncer]

I realize that I am replying to an old thread. But google directs me to it and I would like to share my experience with the valve cover gasket.

My 2007 328i has leaking valve cover gasket, as discovered by the technician when doing the so called complementary multi point inspection during an oil change. The service advisor (Matthew Clark) told me this but also offer to fix it for free. They used SULEV emissions warranty. The dealer is BMW of Monrovia in Southern California. My car is at 69909 miles.

[shamu2789]

Just had the valve cover gasket repaired under the extended warranty for SUlEVs. Sa had no idea the warranty existed. They had to refund my cost from two years ago as well. Bmw really did the owners a disservice with the gaskets. Oil pan gasket was also replaced out of pocket.

[Wilt]

Originally Posted by zakster

Isn't the SULEV warranty up to 150K miles? Is the 70K a different warranty?

It is somewhat confusing in the BMW Warranty and Service book. My best guess is that certain components have 7yr/70K miles, other components have 8yr/100K miles, for any non-SULEV 328i engine. For any 328i SULEV that is within the 12 states covered by the California SULEV policy, get 15 year/ 150k mile coverage.


Cylinder Head Cover Gasket Set is listed as a 8yr/100K covered item for non-SULEV 328i engine, so in the 12 states it is covered for 15yr/150K miles for 328i SULEV engines.

[Alen E90]

I also have an SULEV 328i and when my car's VCG went bad, the dealer fixed it because of the 7yr/70k mile emissions warranty that comes with these cars.

[BMWster]

I just had my VCG and valvetronic eccentric shaft sensor replaced by the dealer under my 2007 328xi SULEV emissions warranty. The warranty is good for 15 yr/150K miles.

[Eagle1oh7]

Housing gasket is easy! All
you need to do is buy new bolts aside from the gasket.

[tlieu]

Thank you so much BMW Forum...

After getting a number of quotes for my oil leaks - anywhere from $1600 at independents to $2990 from BMW dealership (for oil pan gasket and VCG), I found this forum about SULEV warranty and sure enough mine was a SULEV.

I brought it into dealership and they replaced the VCG and valvetronic eccentric shaft sensor all under SULEV warranty at no cost, plus cleaned up all the oil mess and looking nice and new. It doesn't look like the oil pan gasket is leaking so saving ~$1000 at indep to get that unnecessary repair. In anycase - will be paying so attention to make sure this doesn't leak...

Thanks all the good info on here, hope others can benefit. I have a 2008 BMW 328i SULEV with 80k miles at the time that I had this repaired.

[Wilt]

Originally Posted by redline2001

The SA's have no idea what their talking about. VCG is covered, I had mine covered. Also had my ecentric shaft sensor, and radiator covered by the SULEV warranty. Had to get BMWNA on the dealers ass to get the eccentric shaft sensor done.

If your ESS needed replacement, the VCG is included automatically as part of the ESS replacement warranty, because BMW dealer will NOT RE-USE a VCG. But if you simply have a oil seeping cover with out an underlying need to remove/replace the valve cover, good luck!

To further dispell urban legend, this text from the 2011 BMW Service and Warranty book:

"Manufacturer’sWarranty Coverage:
– For 3 years or 50,000 miles, whichever occurs
first:
1. If your vehicle fails a Smog Check inspection,
all necessary repairs and adjustments will be
made by BMW NA to ensure that your vehicle
passes the inspection. This is your emission
control system PERFORMANCE WARRANTY.
2. If any emission-related part on your vehicle is
defective, the part will be repaired or replaced
by BMW NA. This is your short-term
emission control system DEFECTS
WARRANTY.
– For 7 years or 70,000 miles (8 years or
100,000 miles for certain models), whichever
occurs first:
If an emission-related part specially noted on
page 42 as having coverage for 7 years or
70,000 miles (8 years or 100,000 miles for
certain models, on page 47) is defective, the part
will be repaired or replaced by BMW NA. This is
your long-term emission control system
DEFECTS WARRANTY.
...The BMW center will, without charge for parts or
labor (including diagnosis), either adjust, repair or
replace the defective part and other parts
affected by the failure of the warranted part, if
any....

"California Emission Control System Limited Warranty*
This warranty applies to California certified
vehicles distributed by BMW of North America,
LLC (BMW NA) or sold through the BMW NA
European Delivery Program, registered and
operated primarily in California.
BMW NA warrants to the original purchaser and each subsequent owner that the vehicle is:
a. designed, built and equipped so as to
conform with the applicable California Air
Resources Board emission standards.
b. free from defects in materials and
workmanship which cause any part that can
affect emissions to fail to conform with
applicable requirements or to fail a California
Smog Check test or EPA approved short test
for a period of 3 years or 50,000 miles,
whichever occurs first.
c. free from defects in materials and
workmanship in emission related parts, which
are contained in the California Emission Warranty Parts List on page 42,
for a period of 7 years or 70,000 miles (8 years or 100,000 miles for certain models, on page
47), whichever occurs first.

"California Emission Warranty Parts List (7 years or 70,000 miles)
The following components are covered for defects by the California Emission Control System Limited Warranty for a period of 7 years or 70,000 miles, whichever comes first. For certain models, the components are covered for a period of 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. See the table
on page 47 for models which components are covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles.

(in the 7 yr/70K chart under 328i SULEV for OR, PA, WA only, is explicitly the 'Cylinder Head Cover Gasket Set')

California Emission Warranty Parts List (8 years or 100,000 miles)
The following components are covered for defects by the California Emission Control System Limited
Warranty for a period of 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. The period is noted in the
table below:

(in the 8 yr/80K chart under 328i is explicitly called out the 'Cylinder Head Cover Gasket Set')

California Emission Warranty—SULEV (PZEV)
Certain 2011 128i and 328i models are certified
to California’s stringent Super Ultra Low
Emission Vehicle (SULEV) standards and also
qualify as a Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (PZEV)
under the California Air Resources Board Zero
Emission Vehicle program. In addition to very low
tailpipe and zero-evaporative emissions, this
PZEV certification includes a unique warranty
when the vehicle is registered in California,
Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts,
New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode
Island or Vermont. The SULEV (PZEV) models
registered in Oregon, Pennsylvania and
Washington are covered by the California
Emissions Warranty; this coverage is described
beginning on page 38.

(the chart covering SULEV shows 15 years, 150K miles) -- but no itemization of included parts is provided_

In other words, your coverage IS DEPENDENT upon which segment of the BMW Service and Warranty obligations you and your car fall within!!!

[GarlicBread]

I can see not wanting to do VCG yourself but OFHG takes less than an hour