Is new valve covers different

[katit2]

I was debating between getting my cover powdercoated and getting new one. For the difference and additional work I decided to go with new one.
Got it yesterday and it looks different(paint) from original. Original is yellowish metallic. New one looks very nice gray powdercoated.

I wonder if they did change paint process after seeing them all delaminating? Or I got the same one which will eventually start peeling?

[ross1]

The original had a cosmoline-ish preservative coating.

[katit2]

The original had a cosmoline-ish preservative coating.

Hm. Nope. The one I got came in plastic foam wrap. Completely dry and looks like powdercoated. Also, looks like insides have just little overspray and unpainted metal.

[chislern]

How long have you owned the car? My 1995 525i original cover has the gray finish. Is it possible someone before you finished it themselves with a different color? Just guessing. Cheers, George

[katit2]

New one looks like this:
https://3a663eb0fef48c6d2d60-a88f8eb...43109_x800.jpg

Old one looks like this(but with most paint left over):
http://blobs.autobahnparts.com/media...23308390000000


I'm just hoping they changed something. Old one original, 100k miles. Wonder how long new one will look good.

[bluptgm3]

The original had a cosmoline-ish preservative coating.

Ya, the originals were painted. Then engine bay sprayed with cosmolene like substance.

[moroza]

As far as I can tell, the original valvecover is painted, not powdercoated, magnesium. If yours are painted, I'd guess it'll eventually look like the old one. If it's actually powdercoated I'd expect it to last much longer.

Cosmoline? My Mosin came coated with that stuff, likely sitting since the late 40's and very effective. Considering the major effort required to remove it, I have a very hard time believing BMW would coat an engine bay in anything similar; most of it, especially in nooks and crannies and colder areas, would remain for centuries, nevermind the couple of decades these cars have been around.