How to Replace the Valve cover Gasket on a BMW 4 Cylinder ( N20) 

I work at a Toyota dealer and this got dumped on me. X3. THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU, THANK YOU for making this video and actually taking the time to do the good editing and all that. My install went flawlessly by the way.

This was a great video, watched it once, made sure I had the tools and knocked it out in 4.5 hours. The hardest part was the vacuum pump in the back. Patience is key on that part. One note is to not close the trunk after disconnecting the battery, I had to jump the car from the front to pop the trunk.

Very good tip on just replacing the valve cover, glad I didn't waste my time reinstalling to have it come right back leaking.

super duper helpful!!! thanks for the oil cap tip at the end!!

This video is incredible and makes me thankful I purchased a warranty because I’m never touching the N20 . I love my BMW, fantastic ride, great tech but I’m pretty sure the one in my garage will be my first and last. Way, way, waaay too much plastic.

Well-edited video with rich information. Thanks.

Just another thank you. I did a valve cover replacement on my ‘14 320i this evening and this video was a great reference.

Great video. Figuring out whether to do this myself and it looks simple enough, even if a little 'fiddly'. Thanks so much!!

Glad you made this video. Pooping the valve cover from back and pulling to front made it come off easily. Keep up the good work and making helpful videos. Now just putting everything back together now.

I did this this weekend. Thanks so much for this video. It made the job doable.

Super helpful to watch this before working on my BWM

Nice lesson even foreigners !! Moreover, Lot of tips !! Super thx !!

Thank you for the video !! Just replace the valve cover on my X1 with your help :)

I want to do as much work on my N20 as much as possible when it inevitably starts to have issues. Doesn't seem too scary yet, just time consuming. Thanks for the informative videos!

Tools: Ratchet 10 mm socket E-18 torx socket Trim clip removal tool 17 and 14 wrench E- 8 torx socket T-30 torx bit WD-40 spray T-40 torx bit Bit ratchet E-10 torx socket Replacement part: BMW Valve Cover - Genuine BMW 11127588412

Very easy, thanks for posting.

I just completed it for an F10 N20 528i. Very similar setup, thanks for the video. One thing I would recommend to show how to remove the vacuum gasket on the valve cover, must took me for ever to remove it with out damaging the cover.

Thank you soooo much for this video I was about to spend a pretty penny for this to be done to my BMW then I came across this video 👏🏾👌🏾👍🏾 Thank you 🙏🏾

Excellent video - well-produced, clear explanations and narration, nice close-ups of the tools, and great tips on related things to watch for. Thank you for sharing your expertise - I appreciate it!

Bidding the job right. Will be using this video if I get the job! Looks like a good video.

thank you so much for the video! amazing, i’m pretty experienced and completed this job in 2 hours, your video was a great help!

Thanks for the video, I will try to do it this weekend. I followed your recommendation and bought the entire valve cover. I replaced the battery, alternator, drive belt, and tensioner watching youtube videos and reading the bentley book, but replacing the valve cover will be by far the hardest mechanical work I have ever done.

Excellent video!

Just completed this job after watching your video. This was a lot easier than it looks I guess people get intimidated by the amount of parts that’s being removed

awesome workmanship. love the step by step explanation.

MADE my Day

Thank you sooooo very much very helpful.

Nice video you have good experience on BMWs thank you .

Great explaining

Great video, Thank you so much for your time spend. God bless.

Hey man. Thank you so much for this video. I was able to do this myself and it went perfect so far. The only thing I would add is that in order to remove the two screws that holds the vanos actuator and the screws on top of the wiring harness holder you have to use an E6, which I didn’t have, so I had to run to the auto parts to get it. Besides that, great explanation!

You're a life saver!!

Awesome, very informative.

thanks it was very helpful video

very good video.. thanks

Not a bad process at all. Thanks for sharing,

SOOOOOOO happy my shit was stil under warrenty.

I was going to attempt to do this myself...hell no after seeing this

if you're doing this make sure you buy a new valve cover mine cracked once I took it out now I I ended up ordering a new one yesterday ill put it in once it arrives but overall this was a great video very informative I just wish it wasn't fast forward though but its easy to figure it out honestly. Trust God watch the video and do it

Help a lot Thanks

This video made it easy.

Hey Mike you really have something special going on with this BMW channel of yours, because your the only guy I can find on RU-vid that has a PROFESSIONAL BMW technician channel! Keep up the good work really I appreciate it a ton! Also if you made a video on how to replace a timing chain on a N 20 motor you would be a God in my book! hahaha

great video

I really appreciate the production of this video! We're to the point of having removed the old cover... hopefully it all goes back together as planned. For a very rusty DIY mechanic with aging eyes my biggest challenge were the darn electric connectors... maybe a quick video on just connectors? Thanks again!

Wow Mike that was very interesting, you certainly have great talent and know what your doing.

If you are ever in Jacksonville FL... I owe you multiple Beers 🍻🍻🍻 😊 thanks

@Mike - Thank you for the detailed walkthrough. What kind of lube do you recommend to use for vacuum pump?

It's quite a beautiful engine 😊

Wow your the best thanks

good job

Mike, great video and very detailed. Where u at? I would take my F30 to u for service in a heartbeat!

With the plastic chain guides failing on these engines, are there any inspections you recommend when the cover is off? I'm so disappointed with BMW and this engine. Can't get rid of the car fast enough. I'm doing the valve cover due to an oil leak over the exhaust manifold, and then selling it! But great video and a big thanks!

Thaís vídeo as VERY informative...have you ever consider to do an OIL PAN GASKET replacement on this same engine?

Классная работа👍

Can you post a tool list. Awesome video

Hello Mike gracias por su video podrías crear uno con un bmw z4 2.0i la tapa que instalo era Mitzone? gracias por todo.

BMW just quoted us $1600 for this. Now i see why. I love my small block old school engines. 10 minute valve cover gaskets.

Can you do more n20 related video. I have coolant leak to the turbo. Can you do that one ?

You sound very knowledgeable, I love my N20 wrapped in the F34 chassis. I’m having this done at the dealer….bummer 😅

I'm about to do this on my 328i I'm a little scared to touch that engine because has so much plastic on it, but hopefully everything will be ok. After watching this video I feel more comfortable.

Mike. Morning sir so i watched this video and it gave me the cofidence to do this myself and it turned out great. The only problem is in your video I did not see a tube that when to the black stem off the vaccum pump. So now for some reason there is oil mist or spraying from that vaccum pump is there a reason why its doing that if you can please let me know i do thank you sir

Thanks to your video, I've diagnosed that my Vacuum Pump Seal is the leaking culprit. I am having difficulty finding just the seal, however. I would like to avoid having to purchase a whole new pump or a new valve cover. Do you know the part number?

Nice video

Mike how much for installing new time chain on 2012 528i the chain is in good condition I just want to install new one

Hi Mike, how can we obtain the torque related info for this particular BMW ?

ty

Hey can you do a timing chain replacement on N20 video?

Great Video! I am having drivetrain malfunction issues with my BMW 2013 528i xdrive N20. The engine and turbo has been replaced. I also replaced the lpfp and hpfp. I also cleaned the MAF and replaced air filter. However I am still having drivetrain malfunction issues; code 11A002, 11AC02, and 213601. I also did an OBD reading and the codes were P0087. Any suggestions on what I should do to fix this drivetrain malfunction?

Hi there, two very important things that were missed. When reinstalling the High pressure fuel pump (HPFP) it is very important to MANUALLY crank the engine so that the exhaust camshaft is at bottom dead center (BDC or lowest point). You do this so that the piston of the HPFP is at it lowest point, if not you will brake the piston of the pump when torquing the bolts. New HPFP kit was $300 OEM Bosch. Also you need to bleed out air from the fuel rail to prevent a no start issue due to lack of fuel delivery to the injectors.

A how to that time lapses through all the how to...

Note to self: hold on to your E39 530i.

Thanks for a great video! Question for you, when you put in the vacuum seal, what lubricant did you apply? Any recommendations? And when you close the valve cover, do you use a torque wrench? Lastly, on top of the gasket, do I use a high temperature gasket maker/sealer? Thanks

Excuse me Mike, I have a big doubt about the fuel lines's o rings, when you took it off you did not talk about replacing the o rings so I wanna now If I do the job do I need to replace the o rings for the fuel lines on the 14mm and 17mm??? I would appreciate your answer 🙏

Are there any issues with eccentric shaft sensor reinstall like the older n52 engines? I just did my N54 VC and it looks less involved than this one! Lol

what kind of power tools were you using?

This is a much harder job than on the N52, but its really not any worse than the N53. Shame that things got so complex here.

I enjoyed watching your video. Do I have to empty out the engine oil before replacing the valve cover and gaskets? Thanks

Great video, from South Africa. Do you have a video on spark plugs and air filter change on the N20...my motorplan reached 5 years I have 101000 kms on it and would like to do my own service. Would love to know how to...I did see from this video how to take the top of and get to the spark plugs, the air filter? Keep it up and god bless!

great video ..how mush estimate price for labor in regular shop

Here for the timing chain!

So glad I sold my 2013 528I Xdrive at 25K. These engines sound like diesels and are a nightmare when over 60K

I wish you would of shown how you popped off these connectors so easily I’m at removing fuel line assembly and I can’t figure out how you disconnected it so easy

Thanks for sharing your time and expertise! Very well done. I noticed oil pooling around cylinder #4 when replacing my plugs and coils so this video will be a godsend. Thank you. One question. Im having my oil pan replaced with an aluminum one because i noticed an aggressive oil leak under the car. I assumed, without inspecting the pan with the covering underneath blocking visibility, that so much oil had to be from a more aggressive leak than what i saw up top. But during operating pressure, could that valve seal leak actually be expelling the entire oil leak issue? If so i imagined i would see more oil pooled around the injector/coil area and not just the small pool that was there. Also, theres no oil burning odor or smoke. Any thoughts? And thanks again!

When installing the high pressure fuel pump, how important is it that you crank the piston lobe to its bottom? Seams to be the main thing to do in all of the HP pump replacement videos. I just finished up this job on my 328i yesterday. It threw a code that I haven't cleared yet but I hope I didn't damage the pump. Car seems to run ok.

My car is 328i 2014 and sounds just like yours I feel it like diesel.. Is that normal noise?

Mike, Can you do me a favor..? Make a list of all I will need... to replace, what seal did you use, etc... Thanks

@5:30 mark you use the t30 to remove bolts for what part? I dropped the bolt and need to replace it. 😅😅 btw used this video and replaced valve cover. Vid makes it smooth like butter.

Hi Mike, for the valve cover new part are you using BMW original part or aftermarket? its URO a brand you can recommend. Many thanks for this very helpful DIY

Just had this done at a BMW dealer, $1400, love the car but damn expensive for repairs

What's the torque spec for the valve cover bolts?

Hi there, excellent DIY, doing this soon on my X1, can you tell us the torque for the bolts?

Where i can buy the valve cover ?

Hi mike this engine is it a 320 or 318 or 328

How many Nm to use when tightening bolts?

Great video! Where are you located?

The canister in top with the larger yellow ! triangle, is that like an oil separator or something? And is it serviceable?

Can you do a oil cooler housing gasket next on the N20 engine?

I see the timing chain guide is the old type might break at anytime... Why not change it together ?

hoy hice el trabajo y quedo de puta madre, gracias por tu ayuda

Does the valve cover for N20 and N26 is the same?!