N52 Magnesium Valve cover...issue?

Scott_M25 · 08-28-2024, 12:38 PM

I'm in the process of changing the valve cover gasket on our 2006 330i which we've owned and taken care of since 2009. This is a first major maintenance job I've done on this car.

I got the valve cover off and was cleaning it and noticed this "blow out" on the #6 cylinder "sleeve" that the ignition coil slides onto.

I don't think it will affect the functionality of anything, nor cause a leak, but I have no idea what would cause this. Based on the "white" area around #6, it looks like this got pretty hot at some point.

Any insight and advice would be appreciated!

Name: 330 Valve cover 2.jpg
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Name: 330 Valve cover 2.jpg
Views: 38
Size: 1.48 MB

Name: 330 Valve cover 1.jpg
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Size: 1.30 MB

NCBimmerDriver · 08-29-2024, 08:26 PM

You should be fine, just try to get the coil over it without breaking off the rounded lip area or the coil may not sit well to connect to the plug.

Efthreeoh · 09-02-2024, 06:16 AM

Have you looked at the #6 coil body? That hole is common to the magnesium valve cover when the coil insulation breaks down and begins arcing to the valve cover.

If it were my car, I'd replace the #6 coil at a minimum, or all of them if they are the original factory coils. I'd also fix the valve cover using a Dremel tool and epoxy.

08-28-2024, 12:38 PM	#1
Scott_M25 Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: 2013 X3, 2015 M235, 2006 330 Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Illinois iTrader: (0)	N52 Magnesium Valve cover...issue? I'm in the process of changing the valve cover gasket on our 2006 330i which we've owned and taken care of since 2009. This is a first major maintenance job I've done on this car. I got the valve cover off and was cleaning it and noticed this "blow out" on the #6 cylinder "sleeve" that the ignition coil slides onto. I don't think it will affect the functionality of anything, nor cause a leak, but I have no idea what would cause this. Based on the "white" area around #6, it looks like this got pretty hot at some point. Any insight and advice would be appreciated!
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08-29-2024, 08:26 PM	#2
NCBimmerDriver Registered 2 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2006 330i, 2002 325I Join Date: Aug 2024 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	You should be fine, just try to get the coil over it without breaking off the rounded lip area or the coil may not sit well to connect to the plug.
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09-02-2024, 06:16 AM	#3
Efthreeoh General 19083 Rep 19,670 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	Have you looked at the #6 coil body? That hole is common to the magnesium valve cover when the coil insulation breaks down and begins arcing to the valve cover. If it were my car, I'd replace the #6 coil at a minimum, or all of them if they are the original factory coils. I'd also fix the valve cover using a Dremel tool and epoxy.
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