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Thread: M62 Valve Cover replacement

  1. #1
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    M62 Valve Cover replacement

    I am refreshing my M62TU (valley pan, VANOS, timing chain guides, etc.) and had planned to add a powder coated set of valve covers. Bought a set from the junkyard so I could swap at time of build but they are delaminated. The yard sez the're all like that, hmmmm? Mine could be better but the consensus I get from 3 shops has been replace with new (of course they would say that). What experience have you guys had with reusing old vs. new. New are $700 each!

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    Quote Originally Posted by claylakem6 View Post
    I am refreshing my M62TU (valley pan, VANOS, timing chain guides, etc.) and had planned to add a powder coated set of valve covers. Bought a set from the junkyard so I could swap at time of build but they are delaminated. The yard sez the're all like that, hmmmm? Mine could be better but the consensus I get from 3 shops has been replace with new (of course they would say that). What experience have you guys had with reusing old vs. new. New are $700 each!
    I PM'd you for an option.


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    All the old M62tu valve covers look like crap at this point, but a competent powder coating shop should be able to take care of them. A proper shop will sandblast all of the old finish off, soak it in a solvent, and bake all of the oil out in an oven prior to powder coating.

    My X5 4.6is had some pretty grotty old valve covers but my powder coater was able to make it look awesome. The key is to get a textured finish— a smooth finish will never look good on a beat up old valve cover.

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    Those look great! I guess the key is to start with vc's in good shape. Did you have any delamination or missing pieces? How many miles without a leak?

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    are slow
    You're supposed to delaminate them to the primer IIRC.

    Mine's in not too bad shape, but I like the gold flaking
    Last edited by XAlt; 08-22-2017 at 04:09 PM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by claylakem6 View Post
    Those look great! I guess the key is to start with vc's in good shape. Did you have any delamination or missing pieces? How many miles without a leak?
    No missing pieces but the valve covers were in awful shape as on any high mile M62tu. The engine had 213k miles on original valve covers as far as I know. It's been a few thousand miles since I did the chain guides/valley pan/valve covers, no leaks at all. Using an appropriate amount of RTV and having clean surfaces is the key to not having leaks— powder coating just looks good and keeps the valve covers from degrading further.

    A more extreme example are the valve covers on the 04 Range Rover that I owned earlier this year. That engine had 160k on original valve cover gaskets and it leaked out of literally every crevice. The valve covers were the roughest I'd ever seen. My powder coater guy said it was a real rough process cleaning up the valve covers, but he got a pretty decent result, all things considered.







    It's not ideal, but for how little powder coating costs vs. buying new valve covers, I'll take it!
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    Tip - everything Danny said but be sure to have the PC'rs bake them multiple times. Baking the oil out is critical or the powder won't bond. As he says - use anything textured to cover imperfections. Warning the covers aren't aluminum they are magnesium so the shop should know that and know how to handle them without creating sparks and fire.
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    These were done right. Sandblasted with aluminum oxide. Baked to cook off the oil. Powder coated and stayed in the oven between 375-400F by a shop that does this professionally.


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    I don't use a textured finish but fill in any spots with Marine JB Weld.
    The regular JB Weld won't stand up to the temps required to cure the powder.

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    Interesting Jim. Did not know that. Interesting technique.
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    For that ultimate show worthy finish!
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    Quote Originally Posted by philly98540 View Post
    For that ultimate show worthy finish!
    Maybe. But, definitely for pride of ownership.


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    I had no issues re-using mine. You can tell they are a bit worn out, but I'm not modeling for SEMA either, I'm happy

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    Powder Coated Valve Covers

    Received and installed from John. Good job and thanks.
    Engine_9_17jpg.jpg

    Quote Originally Posted by M5XTu View Post

    These were done right. Sandblasted with aluminum oxide. Baked to cook off the oil. Powder coated and stayed in the oven between 375-400F by a shop that does this professionally.


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    That textured/hammered metal look on the VC looks fantastic.

    Question though, how do i go about identifying what shops nearby can work with magnesium covers and know what they're doing? Specifically central massachusetts area?
    Looking for an e39 Touring black carpet set, including the rear cargo cubbies and side sections!
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    Basically you have to call around and see what they can do. If they don't say up front they do a pre bake, they don't know how to do these.
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    They need (or you) need to wash them good with acetone before they get baked out.
    Bake out temp should be 50 F higher than the powder cure temp. I bake out at 450F.
    After bake out they again need to be washed with acetone or a solvent that will wash away oil.
    Heat them up again to drive off any solvent.
    Might be over the top, but that's how I do it.

  19. #19
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    well, just called central mass powder coating
    bottom line is for 2x magnesium valve cover units, textured black finish, prebake and proper cleaning...
    $350 and a one week turn around time.
    that seems extremely expensive and very long...right?
    Looking for an e39 Touring black carpet set, including the rear cargo cubbies and side sections!
    ALSO looking for 540i 6speed manual transmission sets (2001+ pedals with switches, driveshaft, gearbox), for the 6speed swap! Probably not for a while....

    GN92489
    540i msport touring; jet black on grey
    Progress Thread (general)
    Progress thread (touring specific)


  20. #20
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    WAAAAY toooo much. Pass! Less than $100 near me.

    If you can ship. This is my local guy that knows how to do it.http://boneheadperformance.com
    Last edited by philly98540; 11-10-2017 at 12:26 PM.
    98 540i 6, 525 whp, 120 mph 1/4, V3 Si S/C'er @16 psi, W/A I/C, Water/Meth, Supersprint Headers, HJS Cats, 3" Custom Exhaust, UUC Twin Disc, Wavetrac LSD, GC Coil Overs, Monoball TA, AEM FP, Aeromotive FPR, AEM Failsafe AFR/Boost, Style 65's w/275's, M5 Steering Box, Eibach Sways, M3 Shifter, Evans Coolant, 85 Deg Stat, PWM Fan, 10" Subs, B.A. speakers, Grom Aux/BT, Still Rolling as my DD!

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    Definitely don't ask any of the guys you know that live in the area to give you suggestions or references. That probably wouldn't work at all.
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  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by joekitch View Post
    well, just called central mass powder coating
    bottom line is for 2x magnesium valve cover units,...
    Are you certain these vc are magnesium? My painter told me they were sintered aluminum.

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    Quote Originally Posted by geargrinder View Post
    Definitely don't ask any of the guys you know that live in the area to give you suggestions or references. That probably wouldn't work at all.
    well, i was thinking they'd drop some recs if they had any .
    also i thought you were like way North shore
    Looking for an e39 Touring black carpet set, including the rear cargo cubbies and side sections!
    ALSO looking for 540i 6speed manual transmission sets (2001+ pedals with switches, driveshaft, gearbox), for the 6speed swap! Probably not for a while....

    GN92489
    540i msport touring; jet black on grey
    Progress Thread (general)
    Progress thread (touring specific)


  24. #24
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    speaking of which, do people also powder coat their upper and lower timing covers?

    also, do these powder coats tend to keep oil from sticking to them? so they're easier to clean?
    Looking for an e39 Touring black carpet set, including the rear cargo cubbies and side sections!
    ALSO looking for 540i 6speed manual transmission sets (2001+ pedals with switches, driveshaft, gearbox), for the 6speed swap! Probably not for a while....

    GN92489
    540i msport touring; jet black on grey
    Progress Thread (general)
    Progress thread (touring specific)


  25. #25
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    What oil? There no oil on the outsides of M62's.
    98 540i 6, 525 whp, 120 mph 1/4, V3 Si S/C'er @16 psi, W/A I/C, Water/Meth, Supersprint Headers, HJS Cats, 3" Custom Exhaust, UUC Twin Disc, Wavetrac LSD, GC Coil Overs, Monoball TA, AEM FP, Aeromotive FPR, AEM Failsafe AFR/Boost, Style 65's w/275's, M5 Steering Box, Eibach Sways, M3 Shifter, Evans Coolant, 85 Deg Stat, PWM Fan, 10" Subs, B.A. speakers, Grom Aux/BT, Still Rolling as my DD!

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