01 BMW 325Ci w/ valve cover off

[SMB]

Here is my friend's E46 325Ci with valve cover off.
200,500 miles
Since he owned it (163,000 miles) until today used only M1 0W-40 with OCIs of 8-10K miles
The VANOS gasket was leaking and we changed it.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: SMB
The VANOS gasket was leaking and we changed it.

The Vanos seals or the valve cover gasket?

If it was the Vanos seals, was it a big job? I've seen DIY instructions on the web that seemed fairly complex.

 

[Brybo86]

most pics look good... but what is going on with all the gunk in the last picture?

 

[cchase]

Looks like it had long OCI's but at least no huge sludge buildup like we've seen in some of these.

 

[V8man]

I wonder what oil was used before 163,000 miles.

 

[chubbs1]

With that engine and those kind of miles I think that is in pretty darn good shape. We always want to see shiny metal like a brand new engine but that just isn't "real world" with a lot of engines. Thanks for the pics!

 

[SLCraig]

Originally Posted By: V8man
I wonder what oil was used before 163,000 miles.


That is the big question. I assume had M1 0w40 been used the entire time there would be very little if any discoloring at all.

 

[wirelessF]

I'll be doing the valve cover gasket on my aunts 04 BMW 325i on Friday. Hope it does not look like this.

 

[SMB]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: SMB
The VANOS gasket was leaking and we changed it.

The Vanos seals or the valve cover gasket?

If it was the Vanos seals, was it a big job? I've seen DIY instructions on the web that seemed fairly complex.

There is a gasket just underneath the VANOS unit that was leaking badly. We also changed the VANOS seals (o-rings) while we were there. It was time consuming but not complex. You can do it just follow the DIY instructions like I did.

Originally Posted By: Brybo86
most pics look good... but what is going on with all the gunk in the last picture?

There was a tiny bit of sludge on the cover. I am thinking the previous owner used dino oil.

Originally Posted By: V8man
I wonder what oil was used before 163,000 miles.

That is the big question. I assume had M1 0w40 been used the entire time there would be very little if any discoloring at all.


I will ask the PO and post here if he knows.

Originally Posted By: wirelessF
I'll be doing the valve cover gasket on my aunts 04 BMW 325i on Friday. Hope it does not look like this.


Please post pictures.

 

[rshaw125]

I would wager that the Mobil 1 0W40 has been cleaning. Maybe a lot dirtier when the car got it's new owner.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: rshaw125
I would wager that the Mobil 1 0W40 has been cleaning. Maybe a lot dirtier when the car got it's new owner.


Yup. I bet the original oil was the BMW 5w-30. I've posted many pics of this family of engine apart........ We have two in the family.

My sister's '03 330i:

It has roughly 120,000Km on it?

My wife's '00 328i:

It has closer to 300,000Km on it.

 

[SMB]

Nice pics. What oils were used in both engines?


Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: rshaw125
I would wager that the Mobil 1 0W40 has been cleaning. Maybe a lot dirtier when the car got it's new owner.


Yup. I bet the original oil was the BMW 5w-30. I've posted many pics of this family of engine apart........ We have two in the family.

My sister's '03 330i:

It has roughly 120,000Km on it?

My wife's '00 328i:

It has closer to 300,000Km on it.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: SMB
Nice pics. What oils were used in both engines?


Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: rshaw125
I would wager that the Mobil 1 0W40 has been cleaning. Maybe a lot dirtier when the car got it's new owner.


Yup. I bet the original oil was the BMW 5w-30. I've posted many pics of this family of engine apart........ We have two in the family.

My sister's '03 330i:

It has roughly 120,000Km on it?

My wife's '00 328i:

It has closer to 300,000Km on it.


I don't know. Though with my sister's, we can safely assume it was BMW 5w-30 up until she started running M1 0w-40 in it.