» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | 1999 M3 Swap 09-07-2023 10:10 PM 05-02-2024 08:18 PM 6 Replies, 331,011 Views | | | | | | 08-14-2013, 02:02 AM | #1 | Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Apex, N. C. Posts: 18 | Oil in spark plug well? I have a '97 ti with M44. I inherited it in April, at which time I replaced the plugs & wires. This weekend after changing teh oil, I went to re-torque the plugs & discovered that there was about 1" of oil in the well where the #2 plug is, and a smaller amount in the #1 well. My first thought was valve cover gasket, but I am now thinking that isn't it. The engine is running fine, no codes on the OBDII. Any ideas where the oil is coming from or what to do about it? | | | 08-14-2013, 04:47 AM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 | Valve cover gasket and seal kit.. Takes about 1 hour... If you mechanical bit longer if not.. Dave __________________ Dave - PDX 1995 318ti - Active Black and Tan. 2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | 08-14-2013, 12:58 PM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Globally Posts: 1,162 | You hit the final nail on the coffin when you said Valve cover gasket. I'd start there. | | | 08-17-2013, 11:38 PM | #5 | Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Apex, N. C. Posts: 18 | Thanks, I'll order the parts & have a go at it. | | | 09-13-2013, 03:42 AM | #6 | Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Florida Posts: 8 | I know I'm late, but I agree it is your valve cover gasket. This was my #2 about a week ago: So i pulled the cover and you can see where the gasket was letting oil leak it wasn't that hard to do. If i had to do it again, i'd pull the battery and tray first. That was really the only thing I removed to do it. It took a while because i was figuring it out as I went. Most difficult part was getting to the bolts along the sides, and then keeping the gasket in place when putting the cover back on. I'm a girl so I [probably] have smaller hands than you, and it was still a tight fit for me lol. Good luck! | | | 09-14-2013, 06:07 AM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 | I also learned before you try and remove the old gasket stuff shop rags down in the cavities, the gasket gets brittle and shatters. Dave __________________ Dave - PDX 1995 318ti - Active Black and Tan. 2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | 10-02-2013, 10:30 PM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: texas Posts: 150 | I'd put a bead of silicon around those holes, the design on the head gasket is not the greatest... | | | 10-02-2013, 11:58 PM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | Quote: Originally Posted by bimbim I'd put a bead of silicon around those holes, the design on the head gasket is not the greatest... | A gasket that probably lasts +150,000 miles is not the greatest? You only need RTV in 4 spots. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 10-03-2013, 04:28 AM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: texas Posts: 150 | Replaced mine twice, now I have 159000, I'm sure most of the subscribers don't have that many mile when they complain about leaks. | | | 10-03-2013, 12:55 PM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | Quote: Originally Posted by bimbim Replaced mine twice, now I have 159000, I'm sure most of the subscribers don't have that many mile when they complain about leaks. | My newly acquired 95 probably has the original. My M52 needed a gasket at +250,000 miles. Guess YMMV. __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 10-03-2013, 04:00 PM | #12 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fl Posts: 1,353 | I am guessing BimBim meant to say valve cover gasket not head gasket... after all, there are no spark plug seals in the head gasket. __________________ SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! www.BimmerBum.com ALL NEW! 318ti Specific Parts For Sale www.facebook.com/BimmerBum BMWCCA #132203 95 318ti Club Sport 98 318ti Active S50 Swap | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |