[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Hey I'm not the usual person to skimp on parts and usually only get OE or Genuine if OE is not avail but in the case of the valve cover, it's price being 400$ USD really hurts to spend that much on a plastic piece.

I'll probably still end up buying that one but I'm curious if anyone has had no issues with a cheaper non BMW brand?

Also does anyone know the part number for the 2 aluminum bolts that hold the injector/ignition wiring harness to the engine.

Update: I'll get genuine cover. Anyone can help for the bolts that holds the wiring harness?

[Fallenangel123]

Having recently replaced my valve cover, I have to say the quality of the BMW OEM valve cover is junk. Unfortunately reading around suggests that after market valve covers are even worse.

How ever, I have recently read about "M18 Performance" - Aluminium N54 Valve cover. It seems promising. I would look around for reviews of that and see what people are saying. Being aluminium at least it wont crack.

[WatchWolf34]

An aluminum alternative would be sweet.

When I replaced mine I often read that aftermarket covers were usually far more thin than the OEM and more liable to crack either upon being torqued down or in a much shorter time period.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by WatchWolf34

An aluminum alternative would be sweet.

When I replaced mine I often read that aftermarket covers were usually far more thin than the OEM and more liable to crack either upon being torqued down or in a much shorter time period.

Originally Posted by Fallenangel123

Having recently replaced my valve cover, I have to say the quality of the BMW OEM valve cover is junk. Unfortunately reading around suggests that after market valve covers are even worse.

How ever, I have recently read about "M18 Performance" - Aluminium N54 Valve cover. It seems promising. I would look around for reviews of that and see what people are saying. Being aluminium at least it wont crack.

Yeah but I don't really want my allu cover to cost me more either. I probably won't have to change it again in the future.

I agree if the genuine part is already somewhat bad I imagine and non genuine part will be worse. Guess I'll just get OE part, anyways I have lifetime warranty on it compared to have it bought elsewhere guess it will surely pay off.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

So anyone know the bolts PN that holds wiring harness? They are aluminum so I don't want them to snap on me even though it's just for holding the cables. RealOEM shows 2 PN but the wiring harness diagram is kind of shitty looking so I am not 100% sure.

[mweisdorfer]

For something that important, I'd stick with OEM.

[eyelobes]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

So anyone know the bolts PN that holds wiring harness? They are aluminum so I don't want them to snap on me even though it's just for holding the cables. RealOEM shows 2 PN but the wiring harness diagram is kind of shitty looking so I am not 100% sure.

I'd like to know as well, one of mine was snapped at the head when i took the cover off to check spark plugs, luckily i need to cahnge whole cover because i'm at 106k miles and I imagine the PCV system is all clogged internally

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by eyelobes

I'd like to know as well, one of mine was snapped at the head when i took the cover off to check spark plugs, luckily i need to cahnge whole cover because i'm at 106k miles and I imagine the PCV system is all clogged internally

Cross referencing RealOEM and NewTIS seems like it would be PN 13627530413. NewTIS shows torque spec for a M6 bolt and RealOEM shows a M6 and a M8 bolt for wiring harness PN 12517566507.

The only thing I don't get is RealOEM only shows 1 bolt QTY even though there is 2. Guess I'll just have to order 2 of the M6 bolt and I'll see once I get them. Or could take one out before and measure thread diameter.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by eyelobes

I'd like to know as well, one of mine was snapped at the head when i took the cover off to check spark plugs, luckily i need to cahnge whole cover because i'm at 106k miles and I imagine the PCV system is all clogged internally

Update actually, I took looked at my valve cover and did a "scouting" of the job and took one of the wiring bolts and mine are actually M6 steel... lol? RealOEM says both bolt options are AL, I suppose alluminum.