2018 BMW i440 GC - Valve Cover Gasket leaking

[cvarela]

Hi,

2018 BMW 440i GC (about 2 years and 46K Km /29K miles). Noticed oil on the driveway and took it to dealer, they said the valve cover gasket were leaking and need replacing.

Parts 11-12-8-621-951, 11-12-8-638-124. Covered under warranty.

Discussed with other owners in the coffee room and seems to be a common problem on BMWs.

Checked back with service and its about 3 hours job ($520) + $100 parts ($CDN).

Now how often do these break, should I be looking at replacing these every 2 years / 30K miles ?

Thanks,

Carlos

[Green Label]

I have replaced the gasket plus the valve cover. The high temperature in engine bay caused the valve cover to bent. It happened around 70k miles.
I live in mild conditions, where the summer is not extremely hot.

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

[WoodyC]

That is very low mileage for that to be occurring. Isn't this covered by your warranty:

BMW Canada Inc. (BMW Canada) warrants any vehicle imported by BMW Canada, or sold through the BMW Canada European Delivery Program, to be free of defects in material or workmanship. The warranty period is for 4 years or 80,000 kilometres, whichever occurs first, and begins on the date of first retail sale, or the date the vehicle is placed in service as a demonstrator or company vehicle, whichever is earlier. Please see your authorized BMW Retailer for additional information on coverage and limitations, or log in to My BMW to check the status of your current New Vehicle or Extended Warranty.

[cvarela]

That is very low mileage for that to be occurring. Isn't this covered by your warranty:

Yes it was covered under warranty but I was told the replacement is only covered for 24 months.
The service advisor kept pointing this out (24 months) and I got the feeling he was expecting I would be back after 2 years.
Just wondering if this is a maintenance item that needs to be replaced every few years.

[WoodyC]

Well, all i can say is that I got 117,400 out of my 13 F30 335i without a gasket leak. Had to replace the VC at that point due to a failing PCV.

[White94RX]

Valve cover gasket leaks are common, as are oil filter housing gaskets. What's not common is that age and mileage.

I haven't seen very many B motors with leaking valve covers as of yet. Really only one that I can recall.

[cvarela]

Hi,

2018 BMW 440i GC (about 2 years and 46K Km /29K miles). Noticed oil on the driveway and took it to dealer, they said the valve cover gasket were leaking and need replacing.

Parts 11-12-8-621-951, 11-12-8-638-124. Covered under warranty.

Discussed with other owners in the coffee room and seems to be a common problem on BMWs.

Checked back with service and its about 3 hours job ($520) + $100 parts ($CDN).

Now how often do these break, should I be looking at replacing these every 2 years / 30K miles ?

Thanks,

Carlos

UPDATE: Car is back at the dealer, this time they say its a radiator puncture and they will not cover under warranty.

Contacted BMW Canada and they said there is nothing they can do as it is between me and the dealer and if its not manufacturer defect. No goodwill no nothing.

Any recourse ? Its over $2K to replace the radiator. Found out that rock guards were added this model after mine was manufacturer date but mine does not have it.

Thanks,

Carlos

[dworthy]

I would talk to your Insurance company, as I am sure you have full coverage on that vehicle. This would be a "road hazard" and like getting curb rash or such you will have to pay the deductible and they would pick up the rest, but check to see if your are covered.

[White94RX]

They can warranty it if they wanted to. I did one last week and we covered it under warranty. The fact that BMW issued updated parts, that include a "rock guard" pretty much tell you that it was a design flaw.

I totally understand how it's not a defect, and is definitely a road hazard, but they could do it if they wanted. Call your insurance company if you want.

[cvarela]

Hi,

2018 BMW 440i GC (about 2 years and 46K Km /29K miles). Noticed oil on the driveway and took it to dealer, they said the valve cover gasket were leaking and need replacing.

Parts 11-12-8-621-951, 11-12-8-638-124. Covered under warranty.

Discussed with other owners in the coffee room and seems to be a common problem on BMWs.

Checked back with service and its about 3 hours job ($520) + $100 parts ($CDN).

Now how often do these break, should I be looking at replacing these every 2 years / 30K miles ?

Thanks,

Carlos

Forget to add car was back at the dealer after 1 week. And still oil leaking on the driveway.

This time they replaced:

1 11-42-8-583-896 GASKET SET WARRANTY
1 11-42-8-583-897 GASKET SET WARRANTY
6 11-42-8-585-734 ASA-BOLT WARRANTY
6 07-11-9-907-144 COUNTERSUNK SCREW WARRANTY

What are those ? Thankfully they were done under warranty.

Called the insurance company for the Radiator issue. They will cover it under comprehensible minus $1000 deductible. But that is going to a story for another day after I get the car back as there is more to that story. I want to get the car back before I post full details. I'm keeping these notes for my memoir.

[MauiM3Mania]

What are those ?

The second set of gaskets pertains to the oil filter housing.

I'm keeping these notes for my memoir.

To keep all your facts straight, check the following site for part ID purposes. Part pricing is not always accurate. https://www.realoem.com/

[dworthy]

+1

It's always helpful to plug the part numbers in to see what they replaced: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=8B31-EUR-10_2014_F30N_BMW_340i&diagId=11_6422#11428583896

In a way it looks like they are going after the most common leak points on most BMW motors, and if that doesn't fix it, it seems like they are not really trying to get after the real cause IMO. Of course I am not there to look at the motor, nor am I trying to put the tech under a spotlight for they too have to get cars in and out as quickly as possible.

[cvarela]

The second set of gaskets pertains to the oil filter housing.



To keep all your facts straight, check the following site for part ID purposes. Part pricing is not always accurate. https://www.realoem.com/

I have a question about 1 item on the list:

2 17-11-8-485-042 ROCK GUARD 85.70 85.70 171.40

I took a look at the OEM site and they seem to be in front of the radiator, but I cannot find them. Are they horizontally in front of the radiator ? Car was manufactured in August 2017. I thought they only got added in December. It shows on OEM as part 14:

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...77#17118485042

Complete list of parts replaced, I can see the new radiator and I understand the module mounts.

PARTS------QTY---FP-NUMBER---------------DESCRIPTION---------LIST PRICE-UNIT PRICE-
1 17-11-8-741-830 RADIATOR 685.00 685.00 685.00
1 17-11-9-487-032 MODULE MOUNT, LEFT 93.00 93.00 93.00
1 17-11-9-487-033 MODULE MOUNT, RIGHT 93.00 93.00 93.00
2 17-11-8-485-042 ROCK GUARD 85.70 85.70 171.40

[cvarela]

They can warranty it if they wanted to. I did one last week and we covered it under warranty. The fact that BMW issued updated parts, that include a "rock guard" pretty much tell you that it was a design flaw.

I totally understand how it's not a defect, and is definitely a road hazard, but they could do it if they wanted. Call your insurance company if you want.

Well they certainly didn't want to. Called twice and was told "Too bad, not our fault, working as designed". They did install the new rock guards on my dime, so they know there is a problem and changed it.

Here is the complete list of the repairs that I had to pay:

COMPLAINT: CHECK AND REPORT ON A/C NOT BLOWING COLD AIR
CORRECTION: FOUND FRONT RAD PUNTURED,
REPLACED AND RECHEKED, AC NOW WORKING


PARTS------QTY---FP-NUMBER---------------DESCRIPTION---------LIST PRICE-UNIT PRICE-
1 17-11-8-741-830 RADIATOR 685.00 685.00 685.00
1 17-11-9-487-032 MODULE MOUNT, LEFT 93.00 93.00 93.00
1 17-11-9-487-033 MODULE MOUNT, RIGHT 93.00 93.00 93.00
2 17-11-8-485-042 ROCK GUARD 85.70 85.70 171.40
40 83-51-9-415-964 ANTI-FREEZE 0.71 0.71 28.40
80 83-51-9-415-964 ANTI-FREEZE 0.71 0.71 56.80
TOTAL - PARTS 1127.60
JOB# 2 TOTALS------------------------------------------------------------
LABOR 855.00
PARTS 1127.60
JOB# 2 JOURNAL PREFIX BMCS JOB# 2 TOTAL 1982.60

Seems a little high compared to US prices (BMW of Atlanta has radiator for US$357.66 (https://parts.bmwofsouthatlanta.com/...er-17118741830)
so its twice the price, even accounting for the exchange rate of 1.35. But I guess that is what you get for leaving in Canada.

Very disappointed on BMW CANADA as reading on the threads it seems that US customers are getting it replaced for FREE!

[dworthy]

No luck then from the Insurance company?

[cvarela]

+1

It's always helpful to plug the part numbers in to see what they replaced: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=8B31-EUR-10_2014_F30N_BMW_340i&diagId=11_6422#11428583896

In a way it looks like they are going after the most common leak points on most BMW motors, and if that doesn't fix it, it seems like they are not really trying to get after the real cause IMO. Of course I am not there to look at the motor, nor am I trying to put the tech under a spotlight for they too have to get cars in and out as quickly as possible.

Car is back in the dealer. It was there for 4 days and they told me it was fixed. As soon as I parked on the driveway, I can see the oil leaking. My driveway is light color concrete so easy to see.
I know sometimes is hard to diagnostic stuff but not when oil is dripping, all you have to do is put a newspaper under the car.

Let's see what they find this time.

IMG_20200824_122546.jpg

[cvarela]

Dealer found a leak on the transfer case. Waiting for parts from Germany. 1 month estimated wait.

[cvarela]

Dealer found a leak on the transfer case. Waiting for parts from Germany. 1 month estimated wait.

Got the car back, extra leaks found, replaced this time:

27-10-8-484-617 RP REMAN TRANSFER B

Front differential pinion seal leaking

31-52-1-428-678 SHAFT SEAL

At least the transfer case seems to be a $5000 part + labour.

How often do this fail and need to be replaced ?

Assuming it failed completely, does it affect the transmission ?

Thanks