[vannos]

To all those people who have done Valve Cover Gasket replacement on N51 engine – have you had issues starting after replacement?

Last year I did the replacement with help from a “mechanic”. After we put everything together the car won’t start. It started throwing codes with SES light. First it looked like valvetronic motor re-learn issue. Eventually we got the car to start but with SES light and fault code pointing to bad eccentric shaft sensor. We had closed the cover by then so didn’t want to open and change the sensor, but we cleaned the connector. The SES went away and car ran fine for some time. The light is back now and I am dreading changing the sensor.

Any experience car not starting after replacement? Things to watch out for?
Also, have people changed the valve cover (not just the gaskets)? It’s approx. $400 so just replace it pro-actively? Thoughts?

[bkwld]

N51? I might be wrong but SULEV warranty should cover VCG and ESS.

[nuron]

i would post in the general tech forums--you'll get more responses there.

[ihernandez7910]

ouch. should of brought it to me. hard to say what wasn't plug back in correctly. or what failed at the time of the vcg replacement

[Stage5Lurker]

Originally Posted by bkwld

N51? I might be wrong but SULEV warranty should cover VCG and ESS.

depending on what state the car originated in the Calif federal emissions warranty is 15yrs or 150k miles. And all of above would be covered.

[Needbmwpartzz]

Did you plug your injector wires back in correctly,how about the ground wires in head?
Eccentric shaft sensor?
Did you pull or damage anything shifting things around?
Sounds like eccentric shaft sensor is going?

[vannos]

thanks for the responses. Looks like eccentric shaft sensor is going bad. Will change soon.

I checked on 15 yr 150,000 mile warranty. The dealer said -- this car is a California car so warranty is only valid in CA not WA. Even though WA is a SULEV state. I checked with BMWNA and they said the same thing. Something to the effect that 15 yr, 150,000 doesn't go to WA. If anyone has had any luck with the local Dealership I would like to hear.

[bkwld]

WA is SULEV State. You shoud insist they check further.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1114580

[vannos]

Originally Posted by ihernandez7910

ouch. should of brought it to me. hard to say what wasn't plug back in correctly. or what failed at the time of the vcg replacement

sent PM

[Stage5Lurker]

Originally Posted by bkwld

N51? I might be wrong but SULEV warranty should cover VCG and ESS.

Anything emissions related is covered.

[Stage5Lurker]

Originally Posted by vannos

thanks for the responses. Looks like eccentric shaft sensor is going bad. Will change soon.

I checked on 15 yr 150,000 mile warranty. The dealer said -- this car is a California car so warranty is only valid in CA not WA. Even though WA is a SULEV state. I checked with BMWNA and they said the same thing. Something to the effect that 15 yr, 150,000 doesn't go to WA. If anyone has had any luck with the local Dealership I would like to hear.

They're wrong. If the car is from Cali, and subsequent owner (that's you) is covered by the emissions warranty.
I had problems with Bellevue BMW. I went in there with all relevant info highlighted. Still tried to say no. So what you do is read the warranty again. Read it carefully. Then call BMWNA again and reiterate that the warranty applies to you bc of the subsequent owner line. If and when they agree, walk in there with them on the phone and put em on speaker and let them hash it out. Get sneaky.
I hit Bellevue with a bad yelp/google/reddit review and went to Seattle. They gladly honored the warranty and had a loaner waiting. Most of the dealerships are owned by different companies. Autonation owns Bellevue while Lithia is Seattle. PM me if you have any other questions. I went thru this and will help anyone who is facing this in our area.