M54 engine without valve cover

[Quattro Pete]

I'm having my valve cover gasket replaced because it started leaking (it was very brittle and literally snapping into pieces when it came out). I snapped a shot of the engine while the valve cover was off. 52k miles on this engine.

WARNING to dial-up BITOGers: large image!

 

[VK56VD]

Is that sludge on the top of the pic?

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: Spartuss
Is that sludge on the top of the pic?


Looks like a baffle over the intake cam. Has a bit of varnish on it, but so does the top of the baffle on my Corolla. But everything else looks nice and clean! Thankfully it doesn't look like some of those other bimmer motors we've seen here.

What oil and OCI?

 

[Quattro Pete]

When I got it at 30k miles (2 years ago), I dumped a bottle of AutoRX in there since I wasn't really sure how often it had its oil changed - probably once a year. I've been using GC 0w30 in it at 5-6K mile OCI.

 

[bmwtechguy]

looks very clean! Normal coloring/deposits on the top of that cam cover/baffle where it has no exposure to oil flow. These engines do run hot, but I would think that these gaskets should last longer than they do. I just changed one of these on a '02 325 Ci with about the same mileage. Gasket very brittle as well. Theirs also had an ARX treatment with subsequent 4oz ARX each oil change with Schaeffers 5w30 or Maxlife syn 5w30. 7500 mile oci and engine was clean inside as yours is.

 

[sprintman]

That sump size needs 1 1/2 bottles RX but one is better than nothing.