Removal and installation the cylinder head cover (BMW 5 Series E28)

If your vehicle's radio is equipped with an anti-theft system, make sure you enter the correct code before disconnecting the battery.

If the instrument cluster displays the wrong language after connecting the battery, refer to Section Anti-theft audio system and instrument cluster language, which describes the procedure for installing the required language.

Removal

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.

2. Disconnect the breather hose from the cylinder head cover.

3. On M20 engines, unbolt and remove the intake manifold support bracket and, if present, the bracket for the engine sensors or idle speed stabilizer (it will probably be necessary to disconnect the electrical connectors of the sensors and stabilizer).

4. On M30 engines, disconnect the air flow meter electrical connector. Remove the clamps from the wiring harness and move it to the side.

5. Where necessary on M30 engines, disconnect the hoses and fittings from the intake air duct hose, then release the clamp and remove the hose from the throttle body. Loosen the air cleaner housing retaining nuts and remove the housing along with the hose and air flow meter.

6. Remove the cylinder head cover mounting nuts and washers.



Cylinder Head Cover Bolt Locations (indicated by arrows) on four-cylinder M10 engines.





Cylinder Head Cover Bolt Locations (indicated by arrows) on six-cylinder M20 engines.

7. Where necessary, disconnect the spark plug wire clamp or cover from the gap adjusting screw and set it aside. It is not usually necessary to disconnect the spark plug wires.

8. Remove the cylinder head cover and gasket. Discard the old gasket. On M40 engines, also remove the camshaft cover.



9. Remove the cylinder head cover from the M40 engine.



10. Remove the camshaft cover from the M40 engine.





11. Remove the cylinder head cover gasket from the M40 engine.

12. If equipped, remove the half-round seal from the valve on the front of the cylinder head.

Installation

1. Using a scraper, remove all traces of old gasket material from the cover and cylinder head surfaces.

Be extremely careful not to damage the soft aluminum surfaces. Special gasket removal solvents are available and may be helpful. Once the gasket material has been completely removed, the gasket surfaces can be cleaned of grease using a rag soaked in a suitable solvent.

2. If equipped, install the half-round seal onto the valve at the front of the cylinder head, then apply special RTV gasket sealant to the joints between the seal and the corresponding surface of the cylinder head cover gasket.

After applying the sealant, install the cylinder head cover and tighten the nuts within no more than ten minutes.

3. Install the camshaft cover (m40 engines), cylinder head cover and a new gasket. Install the washers and nuts; tighten the nuts securely and evenly. Do not overtighten them - they should be tight enough to prevent oil leakage past the gasket, but not so tight that the cover is deformed.



4. The rest of the installation procedure is the same as removal in reverse order.