02 325xi question re Valve cover and alarm chirp issue

[juiceman619]

I'm SOOOO tired od dealing with leaking warped plastic valve covers !!! ARRRGGGHH !! I've searched without any luck for a "reasonably priced" aftermarket aluminum or carbon fiber replacement and everything I've found is for the M3 only not the regular 3 series.

Also, doe s anyone know of a trick to get my siren to "Chirp" when I arm the alarm ! It used to just barely beep but now nothing. corner lights flash but no chirp.
I read a couple things via google that said you could program the chirp on/off through the key but it didn't work (for me anyway) Dealer said they can do it for $180 !! WTF .... REALLY ?....$180 ?....Thats crazy !

Any input would be greatly appreciated !

Thanks !!
EVS

[RobertDenali]

Get the valve cover from a junk yard.

[juiceman619]

Yeah I've been through that route twice in the last couple years ... with the covers "supposedly" coming from "Low Milage" cars and both started warping and leaking within a few months ....
I'm looking to go with Aluminum or possibly Carbon Fiber (if I can find them)
I can't imagine what BMW was thinking when they designed PLASTIC intakes and valve covers !! Saving that tiny bit of weight was NOT worth the headaches they cause down the road !!

[jclausen]

I haven't had to replace many valve covers and I only use the factory valve cover gasket, but just buy the factory cover and be done with it

[MarcoZandrini]

BMW used a ton of plastic in the E46 to reduce the car’s weight. The clutch pedal is plastic!! Luckily, the brake pedal is metal. I have a 2018 M240i now and I amazed at how light many parts are. I think the engineers took the car to weight watches followed by 20 hours in a sauna! Ok, enough ranting.

Where is the current valve cover leaking? If the leak is where the cover meets the cylinder head I’d buy a new gasket at the dealer. It seems BMW has thickened the gasket a bit. Also, have you replaced the rubber grommets? Are you using a quality high temperature RTV at the half moons? Are you torquing the bolts in a star pattern? Have you looked into “fixing” the cracks? I think someone over at E46Fanatics gas figured out how to fix the cracks.

The low chirp is likely a bad “siren.” It’s item #4 in the link.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=65_0486

[dworthy]

If you need a siren, PM me for I have an extra one in the Garage I can let go. It will be the euro one, so a different tone than what the U.S. cars some with, but it works.

Have you tried to set the alarm off by using the panic mode?

[juiceman619]

If you need a siren, PM me for I have an extra one in the Garage I can let go. It will be the euro one, so a different tone than what the U.S. cars some with, but it works.

Have you tried to set the alarm off by using the panic mode?

I'll have to do a check on the siren and see if it's actuall bad or if it's a programming issue. My keys don't have a panic mode button so not sure I can even put it into alarm mode ???

will ley you know if I need that siren
Thanks

[juiceman619]

Thanks for the reply..... My mechanic is pretty good ... asked him about everything you mentioned and he said yes, yes and yes to using the right gasket, grommets, RTV, and star pattern torquing. Hate to buy another PLASTIC cover as it will most likely just warp AGIAN !
Would really like to find an Aluminum cover if I can.

Thanks !

[dworthy]

Panic mode is holding the trunk release button for 5-10 seconds IIRC, otherwise should be in the owners manual. After the keys wear a bit, you cannot see the writing anymore.

Bad quality plastic will warp on you, and not tightening it down correctly too. I would just look for another plastic one, but do keep us informed if you find a metal one.

[Critter7r]

E46 didn't come standard with an alarm, just remote locking and unlocking. If the alarm wasn't installed, you don't have one. Maybe the faint chirp you were hearing was a noisy lock actuator. My gas door lock actuator makes a faint "scree" when locking.

Something's more likely not right with the installation of your valve cover. The plastic isn't so shoddy that you would get multiple bad covers. If it were an E90, then that would be a different story, because those crack over time more commonly.