Hole in my Valve Cover

Bmill160 · Mon, Jul-23-2012, 07:16:21 PM

I was driving home from work the other day and turning into the high school where I coach on the side, and I started blowing white smoke behind me and from under the hood. I popped it out of gear and pulled over immediately and shut the motor off (smoke is never good...)

When I lifted the hood, there was oil spatter all over the inside of the engine bay. I keep my engine detailed so it was very quickly obvious where the oil was coming from. A portion of the VCG was protruding from its seat and I was assuming (and hoping) that I just blew the VCG.

I had the car towed to a local high end sports car dealer and when we took the cover off, we found a large hole had been ripped in the valve cover right above the timing chain. Has anyone seen this before or have any ideas why it would have happened?

From some reasearch, I'm seeing either VANOS hub tabs being ripped off or a similar failure. We don't know the extent of the damage yet but I wanted to reach out for advice. We've owned BMW's forever and this is my second M, but this should NOT happen...

Bmill160 · Mon, Jul-23-2012, 07:24:46 PM

Here is the picture...

Hrvat · Mon, Jul-23-2012, 07:28:05 PM

Looks like your cam bolts backed out or vanos tab broke off. Hopefully you pulled over right away and your engine isn't toast

Post 50 http://m3forum.net/m3forum/showthrea...+change&page=5

intelone · Mon, Jul-23-2012, 07:32:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hrvat

Looks like your cam bolts backed out or vanos tab broke off. Hopefully you pulled over right away and your engine isn't toast

Post 50 http://m3forum.net/m3forum/showthrea...+change&page=5

Yes sir, that's the thread right there.

///M3Fresh · Mon, Jul-23-2012, 08:17:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hrvat

Looks like your cam bolts backed out or vanos tab broke off. Hopefully you pulled over right away and your engine isn't toast

Post 50 http://m3forum.net/m3forum/showthrea...+change&page=5

Quote:

Originally Posted by intelone

Yes sir, that's the thread right there.

Have either of you guys taken the VANOS or the cam gear bolts off an S54 and looked at the parts your claim to be failing?

It could be the Exhaust hub tab(s) that might have broke and cased this. I highly doubt it is the Cam gear bolts as they dont have anywhere to go. If they do I would image (when all 6 break, all at once) it would cause much more serious damage than that. Also his sproket is still in place, therefor at least once cam gear bolt in on there and the ones that broke (if any that did) are trapped behind the intake hub.

Either way OP sorry to hear this, keep us updated!

Firstboost · Mon, Jul-23-2012, 08:22:23 PM

I theorize a broken exhaust hub tab that got caught in the timing chain, caused the chain to jump/snap and hit the valve cover causing it to break.

deadlysyns · Mon, Jul-23-2012, 08:26:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firstboost

I theorize a broken exhaust hub tab that got caught in the timing chain, caused the chain to jump/snap and hit the valve cover causing it to break.

+1,

you will probably need a another engine.

05m3smg · Mon, Jul-23-2012, 08:31:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firstboost

I theorize a broken exhaust hub tab that got caught in the timing chain, caused the chain to jump/snap and hit the valve cover causing it to break.

This happened to me.

Also broke the guide on the front of the timing that i had to replace.

Not a very cheap repair. Guide was cheap.

what my valve cover looked like

RedM3/4 · Mon, Jul-23-2012, 08:31:26 PM

Agreed. Key thing to find out is if the cams are still timed. If they are not, you may have bent valves or worse. If they are may just need a new hub, cover, and depending on miles/condition, possibly a new gear and/or a new chain. Plus, you may want to look for the tab piece that broke off the hub in the oilpan. Or risk leaving it there.
Search on Vanos hub.
Consider getting a DR Vanos cyro treated replacement hub, or even Turbotoy's new hub design.

ADS

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firstboost

I theorize a broken exhaust hub tab that got caught in the timing chain, caused the chain to jump/snap and hit the valve cover causing it to break.

intelone · Mon, Jul-23-2012, 08:30:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///M3Fresh

Have either of you guys taken the VANOS or the cam gear bolts off an S54 and looked at the parts your claim to be failing?

It could be the Exhaust hub tab(s) that might have broke and cased this. I highly doubt it is the Cam gear bolts as they dont have anywhere to go. If they do I would image (when all 6 break, all at once) it would cause much more serious damage than that. Also his sproket is still in place, therefor at least once cam gear bolt in on there and the ones that broke (if any that did) are trapped behind the intake hub.

Either way OP sorry to hear this, keep us updated!

I have replaced my cam bolts myself, and occasionally looked at my tabs when I adjust my valves. F*ck I"m at 170k, and my vanos tab should have sheered off three three times over by now. There's no consensus on when it goes, so I just don't worry about the tabs. Nor do I worry about the bolts, because it has been replaced personally. I'm just merely agreeing for the OP to take a look at the thread. Its quite similar and relevent in this case, instead of the usual, "umm there a search button." I wasn't agreeing to internet diagnose the problem to be the the cam bolts, just a possibility.

Mon, Jul-23-2012, 07:16:21 PM	#1
Bmill160 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 16 In the garage: '01 BMW ///M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Columbus	Hole in my Valve Cover I was driving home from work the other day and turning into the high school where I coach on the side, and I started blowing white smoke behind me and from under the hood. I popped it out of gear and pulled over immediately and shut the motor off (smoke is never good...) When I lifted the hood, there was oil spatter all over the inside of the engine bay. I keep my engine detailed so it was very quickly obvious where the oil was coming from. A portion of the VCG was protruding from its seat and I was assuming (and hoping) that I just blew the VCG. I had the car towed to a local high end sports car dealer and when we took the cover off, we found a large hole had been ripped in the valve cover right above the timing chain. Has anyone seen this before or have any ideas why it would have happened? From some reasearch, I'm seeing either VANOS hub tabs being ripped off or a similar failure. We don't know the extent of the damage yet but I wanted to reach out for advice. We've owned BMW's forever and this is my second M, but this should NOT happen...

Mon, Jul-23-2012, 07:28:05 PM	#3
Hrvat Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 148 In the garage: '02 BMW ///M3 Reputation: 0	Re: Hole in my Valve Cover Looks like your cam bolts backed out or vanos tab broke off. Hopefully you pulled over right away and your engine isn't toast Post 50 http://m3forum.net/m3forum/showthrea...+change&page=5

Mon, Jul-23-2012, 08:22:23 PM	#6
Firstboost Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 451 Reputation: 0 Location: East Bay	Re: Hole in my Valve Cover I theorize a broken exhaust hub tab that got caught in the timing chain, caused the chain to jump/snap and hit the valve cover causing it to break. __________________ 2006 M3 ZCP Tiag AA Gen 6 ~ KWV1 ~ Custom DME w/CSL SMG ~ ST60 CURRENT 2001 S2000 W/F22 - Full Race GT30/J's Racing/Mugen/WORK XSA/AEM EMS 395RWHP 274TQ SOLD

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