Reinstalling valve cover

nuron · 07-31-2016, 10:22 PM

Anybody have any advice? All the wire looms are out of the way, I've notched off the plastic piece on the passenger strut tower, pulled off the weather strip on the firewall, and the area is wide open. I've even removed the rear mount bracket that the plastic shield bolts on to (people say they don't usually install the rear two bolts so I figured it was okay)! All the videos I've seen show people angling the cover towards the driver's side and guiding it in. That breather valve port on the back is the only thing getting in my way! If only BMW lengthened the firewall by an inch then I'd be good.

the dope steez · 08-01-2016, 06:47 AM

On the e box there is a plastic tab that sticks out that provides no real purpose. You can snip this off with side cutters to get about another half inch of room.
Find a friend, one to work the front while you finagle the back. The angle is hard to explain but yes angling towards the drivers side at first is how it should work the best. it will go just be patient and don't get pissed off and break something. If it's not going for a couple minutes, stop and have a beer and retry again in a bit.
Once you get it back on chances are the gasket will become unseated. Lift the entire cover about an inch and feel all the way around to make sure it is seated properly.
Good luck!

5tony · 08-02-2016, 08:17 AM

It sounds like he already notched the e-box tab. I also ended up notching the hard plastic tray at the firewall to make some more room. Don't need to take much out, and it is totally hidden by the rubber gasket when you reinstall it.

the dope steez · 08-02-2016, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5tony

It sounds like he already notched the e-box tab. I also ended up notching the hard plastic tray at the firewall to make some more room. Don't need to take much out, and it is totally hidden by the rubber gasket when you reinstall it.

Ah probably. He said he notched plastic off the passenger strut tower so wasn't sure if that's something different I hadn't heard of

nuron · 08-06-2016, 12:23 AM

Thanks for the words of encouragement! I spent four hours trying to angle and position the VC and eventually gave up and made this thread. Slept on it and tried again next day and it was on in under 5 minutes! Broke the breather hose so now I have to remove the intake manifold to replace it haha. I removed the expansion tank hose to make room and about a cup of coolant came out. Do I have to do any bleeding procedures to make sure air didn't get into the system?

5tony · 08-06-2016, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuron

Thanks for the words of encouragement! I spent four hours trying to angle and position the VC and eventually gave up and made this thread. Slept on it and tried again next day and it was on in under 5 minutes! Broke the breather hose so now I have to remove the intake manifold to replace it haha. I removed the expansion tank hose to make room and about a cup of coolant came out. Do I have to do any bleeding procedures to make sure air didn't get into the system?

I just added distilled water and ran it without bleeding at all.

07-31-2016, 10:22 PM	#1
nuron Private First Class 80 Rep 199 Posts Drives: '07 328i Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Washington iTrader: (0)	Reinstalling valve cover Anybody have any advice? All the wire looms are out of the way, I've notched off the plastic piece on the passenger strut tower, pulled off the weather strip on the firewall, and the area is wide open. I've even removed the rear mount bracket that the plastic shield bolts on to (people say they don't usually install the rear two bolts so I figured it was okay)! All the videos I've seen show people angling the cover towards the driver's side and guiding it in. That breather valve port on the back is the only thing getting in my way! If only BMW lengthened the firewall by an inch then I'd be good.
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08-01-2016, 06:47 AM	#2
the dope steez Captain 404 Rep 808 Posts Drives: F30 335i M-Sport Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Shredmonton, Illberta iTrader: (0)	On the e box there is a plastic tab that sticks out that provides no real purpose. You can snip this off with side cutters to get about another half inch of room. Find a friend, one to work the front while you finagle the back. The angle is hard to explain but yes angling towards the drivers side at first is how it should work the best. it will go just be patient and don't get pissed off and break something. If it's not going for a couple minutes, stop and have a beer and retry again in a bit. Once you get it back on chances are the gasket will become unseated. Lift the entire cover about an inch and feel all the way around to make sure it is seated properly. Good luck!
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08-02-2016, 08:17 AM	#3
5tony Lieutenant 147 Rep 500 Posts Drives: '21 M5/'15 X5 35i/'88 M3 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (1)	It sounds like he already notched the e-box tab. I also ended up notching the hard plastic tray at the firewall to make some more room. Don't need to take much out, and it is totally hidden by the rubber gasket when you reinstall it. __________________
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08-06-2016, 12:23 AM	#5
nuron Private First Class 80 Rep 199 Posts Drives: '07 328i Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Washington iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the words of encouragement! I spent four hours trying to angle and position the VC and eventually gave up and made this thread. Slept on it and tried again next day and it was on in under 5 minutes! Broke the breather hose so now I have to remove the intake manifold to replace it haha. I removed the expansion tank hose to make room and about a cup of coolant came out. Do I have to do any bleeding procedures to make sure air didn't get into the system?
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