Valve Cover Gasket Replacement – BMW N52 6 Cylinder

November 16, 2023

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Valve Cover Gasket Replacement – BMW N52 6 Cylinder

It's a known fact that the Achilles Heel of the BMW N52 engine is its valve cover (also known as the cylinder head cover) gasket. It is notorious for leaking...especially in the rear of the engine. These pesky little leaks usually leave oil residue on right side of the engine block that drips down onto the exhaust manifold and starts to smoke when the engine heats up. The good news is the gasket is relatively easy to replace. The following are step-by-step instructions on replacing the valve cover gasket in the BMW N52 engine.

Not sure which engine you have in your BMW? Use our engine finder tool to easily identify it!

Possible Symptoms: Oil leakage around valve cover gasket, usually near the rear of the engine.

This repair can be used on the following BMW models:

2004

325i Sedan, 325i Touring, 325xi Sedan, 328i Touring, 330i Sedan, 330i Touring, 330xi Touring, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 525i Sedan, 525i Touring, 525xi Sedan, 525xi Touring, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 530xi Sedan, 530xi Touring, 630i Convertible, 630i Coupe, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, Z4 2.5si Roadster, Z4 3.0i Roadster, Z4 3.0si Roadster,

2005

130i 5 doors, 323i Sedan, 323i Touring, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325i Touring, 325xi Coupe, 325xi Sedan, 325xi Touring, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Sedan, 330i Touring, 330xi Coupe, 330xi Sedan, 330xi Touring, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 525i Sedan, 525i Touring, 525xi Sedan, 525xi Touring, 528i Sedan, 528xi Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 530xi Sedan, 530xi Touring, 630i Convertible, 630i Coupe, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, Z4 2.5si Roadster, Z4 3.0i Roadster, Z4 3.0si Coupe, Z4 3.0si Roadster,

2006

128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 130i 3 doors, 130i 5 doors, 323i Coupe, 323i Sedan, 323i Touring, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325i Touring, 325xi Coupe, 325xi Sedan, 325xi Touring, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328i Sedan, 328i Touring, 328xi Coupe, 328xi Sedan, 328xi Touring, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Sedan, 330i Touring, 330xi Coupe, 330xi Sedan, 330xi Touring, 523Li Sedan, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 525Li Sedan, 525i Sedan, 525i Touring, 525xi Sedan, 525xi Touring, 528i Sedan, 528xi Sedan, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 530xi Sedan, 530xi Touring, 630i Convertible, 630i Coupe, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, X3 2.5si SUV, X3 3.0i SUV, X3 3.0si SUV, X5 3.0si SUV, Z4 2.5si Roadster, Z4 3.0i Roadster, Z4 3.0si Coupe, Z4 3.0si Roadster,

2007

125i Convertible, 125i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 130i 3 doors, 130i 5 doors, 323i Convertible, 323i Coupe, 323i Sedan, 323i Touring, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325i Touring, 325xi Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328i Sedan, 328i Touring, 328xi Coupe, 328xi Sedan, 328xi Touring, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Sedan, 330i Touring, 330xi Coupe, 330xi Touring, 523Li Sedan, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 525Li Sedan, 525i Sedan, 525i Touring, 525xi Sedan, 525xi Touring, 528i Sedan, 528xi Sedan, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 530xi Sedan, 530xi Touring, 630i Convertible, 630i Coupe, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, X3 2.5si SUV, X3 3.0i SUV, X3 3.0si SUV, X5 3.0si SUV, Z4 2.5si Roadster, Z4 3.0i Roadster, Z4 3.0si Coupe, Z4 3.0si Roadster,

2008

125i Convertible, 125i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 130i 3 doors, 130i 5 doors, 323i Convertible, 323i Coupe, 323i Sedan, 323i Touring, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325i Touring, 325xi Coupe, 325xi Sedan, 325xi Touring, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328i Sedan, 328i Touring, 328xi Coupe, 328xi Sedan, 328xi Touring, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Sedan, 330i Touring, 523Li Sedan, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 525Li Sedan, 525i Sedan, 525i Touring, 528i Sedan, 528xi Sedan, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 530xi Sedan, 530xi Touring, 630i Convertible, 630i Coupe, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, X1 25iX SUV, X3 2.5si SUV, X3 3.0i SUV, X3 3.0si SUV, X5 3.0si SUV, Z4 2.5si Roadster, Z4 23i Roadster, Z4 3.0i Roadster, Z4 3.0si Coupe, Z4 3.0si Roadster, Z4 30i Roadster,

2009

125i Convertible, 125i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 130i 3 doors, 130i 5 doors, 323i Convertible, 323i Coupe, 323i Sedan, 323i Touring, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325i Touring, 325xi Coupe, 325xi Sedan, 325xi Touring, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328i Sedan, 328i Touring, 328xi Coupe, 328xi Sedan, 328xi Touring, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Sedan, 330i Touring, 520Li Sedan, 523Li Sedan, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 525Li Sedan, 525i Sedan, 525i Touring, 528Li Sedan, 528i Sedan, 528xi Sedan, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 530xi Sedan, 530xi Touring, 630i Convertible, 630i Coupe, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, X1 25iX SUV, X3 2.5si SUV, X3 28iX SUV, X3 3.0i SUV, X3 3.0si SUV, X5 3.0si SUV, Z4 23i Roadster, Z4 30i Roadster,

2010

125i Convertible, 125i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 130i 3 doors, 130i 5 doors, 323i Convertible, 323i Coupe, 323i Sedan, 323i Touring, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325i Touring, 325xi Coupe, 325xi Sedan, 325xi Touring, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328i Sedan, 328i Touring, 328xi Coupe, 328xi Sedan, 328xi Touring, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Sedan, 520Li Sedan, 523Li Sedan, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 525Li Sedan, 525i Touring, 528Li Sedan, 528i Sedan, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 530xi Touring, 630i Convertible, 630i Coupe, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, X1 25iX SUV, X3 2.5si SUV, X3 28iX SUV, X3 3.0i SUV, X3 3.0si SUV, X5 3.0si SUV, Z4 23i Roadster, Z4 30i Roadster,

2011

125i Convertible, 125i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 130i 3 doors, 130i 5 doors, 323i Convertible, 323i Coupe, 323i Sedan, 323i Touring, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325xi Coupe, 325xi Sedan, 325xi Touring, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328i Sedan, 328i Touring, 328xi Coupe, 328xi Sedan, 328xi Touring, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Sedan, 520Li Sedan, 523Li Sedan, 523i Sedan, 523i Touring, 528Li Sedan, 528i Sedan, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, X1 25iX SUV, X3 28iX SUV, Z4 23i Roadster, Z4 30i Roadster,

2012

125i Convertible, 125i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 323i Convertible, 323i Coupe, 323i Touring, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325i Sedan, 325xi Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328i Touring, 328xi Coupe, 328xi Touring, 330i Convertible, 330i Coupe, 330i Touring, 520Li Sedan, 523Li Sedan, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan, X3 28iX SUV,

2013

125i Convertible, 125i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 128i Coupe, 325i Convertible, 325i Coupe, 325xi Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Coupe, 328xi Coupe, 330i Convertible, 530Li Sedan, 530i Sedan, 530i Touring, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan,

2014

530Li Sedan, 730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan,

2015

730Li Sedan, 730i Sedan,

Advanced level repair.

Step 1 - Purchase Parts

You will need the following parts and supplies to perform this repair.

Valve Cover Gasket Set

This valve cover gasket set is for those BMWs with the magnesium (metal) valve cover. If your vehicle has a plastic valve cover, you cannot use this gasket set (see part number 11127552281).

Valve Cover Gasket Set

This gasket is for plastic valve covers only on the N52 6 cylinder engine. For engines with a magnesium (metal) valve cover, please see part # 11127581215. This is the same factory valve cover gasket that would be installed at the dealership.

Aluminum Valve Cover Bolts

If your vehicle has an N52 engine with a metal valve cover, then you must replace these aluminum bolts every time the cover is removed. Do not purchase if your valve cover is plastic.

Step 2 - Repair Procedure

Unless otherwise noted, all vehicle repair step images in this article are copyrighted, and used courtesy of BMW of North America, Inc. .

The N52 six-cylinder engine was found in many different BMW vehicles. The following instructions may differ slightly depending on year and model.

1. Replacing the valve cover gasket in the BMW N52 engine

Warning

identify which valve cover you have!

the N52 engine was produced with two different valve covers: a magnesium (metal) version and a plastic verison. If you vehicle has the metal valve cover, you MUST replace the aluminum mounting bolts (see parts list above).

You must remove the acoustic (ignition coil) cover befor starting this repair.

For complete steps on removing the acoustical cover, please refer to our article Engine Acoustic Cover Removal – BMW N52 6 Cylinder Engine

You must remove the ignition coils befor starting this repair.

For complete steps on removing the ignition coils, please refer to our article Ignition Coil Replacement – BMW N52 6 Cylinder Engine

Click to enlarge image

- Carefully unlock and detach the vent hose on the rear of the cover (1). This hose is prone to breaking so use extreme patience when disconnecting.

- Remove the screws (3) and (4) on the Valvetronic servo motor and pull it free from the engine.

- If present, remove nuts (5) and remove secondary air valve (6).

View part diagram for this step

Click to enlarge image

- Remove the perimeter and interior bolts (1) and (2)

- Grasp the valve cover and pull it free from the cylinder head.

View part diagram for this step

Click to enlarge image

- Remove the old gaskets and thoroughly clean the sealing surfaces removing all grease and debris. We suggest using a solvent like CRC Brakleen.

- Install new gaskets (1) and (2)

View part diagram for this step

Grasp the gasket and remove it from the cylinder head cover

Click to enlarge image

- Now is a good time to replace the eccentric shaft sensor gasket if its showing signs of wear. Please see our article Eccentric Shaft Sensor Gasket – BMW N52 6 Cylinder Engine for more information.

View part diagram for this step

Installation Notes:

If replacing the gasket on a magnesium valve cover, use new aluminum mounting bolts and torque in a crisscross pattern starting at the middle of the cover to 7 Nm (5 ft-lb).

If replacing the gasket on a plastic valve cover, torque in a crisscross pattern starting at the middle of the cover to 9 Nm (7 ft-lb).