2003 530i Valve Cover Gasket Question
 

I've noticed over the past six months that my valve cover is leaking a couple of drops of oil. I removed the upper plastic housing and re-torque the valve cover bolts per BMW standards. The leak is still there so my next guess is that a new gasket is in order.

Question: Does anyone know how big of a job this can turn out to be? I noticed that the gasket kit has three or four other gaskets included which I'm assuming is something I'll need once I remove the valve cover.

Any help or service drawings would be greatly appreciated.

LS1

Not a BIG job but you have to be very detail oriented when you do it. The smaller gaskets are for the spark plug holes. And when you clean the mating surfaces on the head make sure you ONLY use a PLASTIC scraper. Don't silicone it either, its a good way to ruin a new gasket and create another leak. It shouldn't take more than an hour or so in my experience.

a peace of cake as evil says, jus remove plastic covers and coil packs and all the ten mm bolts clean both the head and cover very well i normally use a brake or carb cleaner and the wipe with a cloth an re-fit and torque.......IREE

rocker gasket leak
 

Timely topic, I have just bought a new rocker gasket for my 2002 e39 530i.
(also front wheel bearings, front rotors, pads and wheel sensors)
thanks for the tips, do the spark plugs have to be removed?
or is that an option while doing the job, if they have to be removed I`ll fit a new set while I am at it.
I have done the all but the rocker gasket, I fitted the l/h/side wheel motion sensor in the hope it might cure the abs / traction control module issue.
It didn`t.
What is it with these modules and also the dash pixel issues, I love Bm`s .. had many over the years. My wife drives an e46. No pixel issues at all..
really surprised to see how many problems there are when I read the forums, and at such low kilometers.
The price we pay.....
thanks again