i have a 94 325is and i was changing my plugs the other day with some new bosch platnum +2's and i got the fifth one out and it was dripping with oil. then i took the sixth one out and it was only half as bad. and i've been noticing my car missfiring a little when i shift and the clutch egages and when the engine revs down, it pops a little. or if i'm crusing in fourth and let off the gas, it pops a little bit. Do you guys think this is my problem? i think it needs a new valve cover gasket and some new spark plug gaskets. please give me some advice. -Thanks :idea2
get it to a shop quickly. my advise is do not drive it there either.
oil like that will KILL cylinders dead.
i had a similar problem and the oil leaked into the coil and *BAM*
put...put...put...it died.
then u need a valve job...
trusted shops ONLY !!!!!
Get a valve cover gasket kit, which includes the valve cover gasket and the ones for the plugs. You shouldn't need a new valve cover, but if you want it to look good, go get a new one. This is a pretty common problem and one that is easily fixed.
I just performed this task (Valve Cover Gasket replacement) last Saturday on my '93 325i. It's pretty easy if you have the tools (mm sockets and a "swivel" adaptor for your ratchet socket set).
I used THESE instructions BUT let me warn you upfront, if you purchse the gasket set from these guys, you'll only get the large outside valve cover gasket.
I had an e-mail discussion with them about how they sold their valve cover gaskets incomplete and they added a warning to the valve cover gasket area saying that they lacked the spark plug gaskets.
I ended up having to go to the local BMW Stealer (Hendrick Imports/Charlotte, NC USA) and buying a set that included both the large outside edge valve cover gasket and the inside spark plug gaskets. The BMW gasket set number is 11-12-9-070-531 and it cost me $38.80.
You also need a tube of gasket sealer to use on the area near the Vanos unit and the two rear half moon areas on the cylinder head. I used Permatex SENSOR SAFE Ultra Copper High Temp RTV Silicone Gasket Maker. $4.99 @ Pep boys.
When I removed the plugs I found oil in the #4 and #5 spark plug tunnels. I used a simple paper towel folded up to a width of maybe 1.5" and a long screwdriver to gently push the towel into the tunnel beside the plug to soak up most of the oil in the tunnel.
The job took maybe two hours since I took at least 45 minutes to scrape the old gasket sealer off the valve cover and give it a generous cleaning with a degreaser. I also replaced the plugs at the same time, the fuel filter, removed and cleaned the air box, replaced the air filter, changed both fan belts and as mentioned in a previous post replaced a fuel sending unit located on top of the gas tank along with the O2 sensor.
It was all very easy although the fuel filter is a bitch to get to.
so do you guys think it may have damaged something? it really doesn't run like its on 5 cylinders. it runs pretty smooth but you have to listen carefully for the popping. the other day i i did get on it in 2nd gear bc this truck was pissing me off, so i punched it but only let it get to 4000 rpms. then when i shifted to 3rd, it kinda hesitated. so i don't know. oh yeah, when its cold, it runs kinda rough then smooths out when it gets warm. but i'm not driving it anywhere but maybe to the shop on monday morn. -Thanks guys
sounds to me that your sparks plugs are not tightened down properly.... i don't know what the torque spec is if any,,, but at any rate u may want to double check that...
Originally posted by Speedy-325is@Aug 28 2004, 07:49 AM get it to a shop quickly. my advise is do not drive it there either.
oil like that will KILL cylinders dead.
i had a similar problem and the oil leaked into the coil and *BAM*
put...put...put...it died.
then u need a valve job...
trusted shops ONLY !!!!!
get a clue man... please everyone disregard this post, this guy has no idea what he is talking about. NO leaking valve cover gasket is going to hurt your valves ever... and do you know how much a leaking valve cover gasket would have to leak to fill the spark plug well and then soak a coil? please.. pretty please stop giving people advice if you have no clue. Guys like you make owning BMW's expensive becuase you cause people to panic and run to dealers. do formum members a big favor and keep quiet if you dont know what you are talking about, or at least if you must run your moputhy, put a disclaimer that it is your opinion...
It's amazing what info you can get...just by going to BMW-Forums.com's FAQ's page. Looking under "changing spark plugs on an E36" is the following link:
For those of you who aren't about to take the 45 seconds necessary to jump to the link and read the info...it basically says that oil leaking from the valve cover gaskets into the plug well is not unusual and nothing (immediate) to freak out about. It suggests that you may want to change your gasket however.
For those of you who like to use double-negatives...bottom line is that there are no severe problems if you don't find a dry spark plug well when you go to remove the plugs. :drunk
Originally posted by nycbmw325is@Aug 30 2004, 02:04 PM get a clue man... please everyone disregard this post, this guy has no idea what he is talking about. NO leaking valve cover gasket is going to hurt your valves ever... and do you know how much a leaking valve cover gasket would have to leak to fill the spark plug well and then soak a coil? please.. pretty please stop giving people advice if you have no clue. Guys like you make owning BMW's expensive becuase you cause people to panic and run to dealers. do formum members a big favor and keep quiet if you dont know what you are talking about, or at least if you must run your moputhy, put a disclaimer that it is your opinion...
Aight bro.. for one.. .if your gonna bash... bash.. thats fine.. its a free world ... but dont bash unless you can prove him wrong.. which... I didnt see you did... You didnt say a damn thing in this topic.. besides a bash... so either help us all out... or keep your mouth shut...
You cant half way correct someone... thats just sad.
This is just my opinion... if you have any further more problems.. feel free to PM, Email or IM me at your will.
Thanks,
Les
For the topic at hand... I wouldnt panic.. unless you open the hood and see oil spurting from the cover... some oil is pretty much natural for an older car with an aged gasket... just replace it...not a big deal. Good Luck!
Originally posted by 97alpineM3+Aug 30 2004, 07:40 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (97alpineM3 @ Aug 30 2004, 07:40 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-nycbmw325is@Aug 30 2004, 02:04 PM get a clue man... please everyone disregard this post, this guy has no idea what he is talking about. NO leaking valve cover gasket is going to hurt your valves ever... and do you know how much a leaking valve cover gasket would have to leak to fill the spark plug well and then soak a coil? please.. pretty please stop giving people advice if you have no clue. Guys like you make owning BMW's expensive becuase you cause people to panic and run to dealers. do formum members a big favor and keep quiet if you dont know what you are talking about, or at least if you must run your moputhy, put a disclaimer that it is your opinion...
Aight bro.. for one.. .if your gonna bash... bash.. thats fine.. its a free world ... but dont bash unless you can prove him wrong.. which... I didnt see you did... You didnt say a damn thing in this topic.. besides a bash... so either help us all out... or keep your mouth shut...
You cant half way correct someone... thats just sad.
This is just my opinion... if you have any further more problems.. feel free to PM, Email or IM me at your will.
Thanks,
Les
For the topic at hand... I wouldnt panic.. unless you open the hood and see oil spurting from the cover... some oil is pretty much natural for an older car with an aged gasket... just replace it...not a big deal. Good Luck! [/b][/quote]
Alpina, I did bash this guy, and How should i go about proving that he is clueless? I dont think it is necessary to go into Auto mechanics 101 discourse, or even simply physics. I also dont think that it is necessary to explain that the coil is way up on top of the head, and that your whole motor would have to drowned in oil to have what this guy says occur. It is a well known problem, and I simply tried to put the original poster at ease that there was nothing dramatically wrong with his car. see my folloow up post titled the " good the bad the the ugly with this forum which i am writing now.
duly noted.. I wish i could say it was a typo.. i just got alpina in my head insted of alpine.
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