1 series part needed

Post Wed Jul 22, 2015 1:53 pm

Not sure of where to post this if anywhere on this site, but I'm after a rocker cover for a 2005 116i

Can anybody help please?

Cheers rob

Post Wed Jul 22, 2015 2:06 pm

Good luck with that. The N45 cam cover is unique and not shared with the more common N42 and N46 because there is no VVT motor. I'm guessing yours has warped or cracked and is leaking? Sometimes, a new gasket and some proper silicon gasket sealer can save them.

Most of them are fu cked now so the chances of a good used one that isn't cracked or banana shaped are slim. A new one is often the only way.

Post Wed Jul 22, 2015 2:57 pm

Yea, £250 ish from main dealers! It's cracked just above the exhaust manifold, and my sis keeps moaning at me to fix the thing as it always smells of burnt oil!

Post Wed Jul 22, 2015 4:31 pm

£250!!?

Robbing bastards. Try a new gasket first.

Post Wed Jul 22, 2015 5:43 pm

Can you not bodge it with some fibreglass mat?

Post Wed Jul 22, 2015 8:20 pm

No. It's the same sort of shit plastic that thermostat housings are made from. They crack in the groove where the rubber gasket sits.

Owning a BMW where the cam cover is cast from aluminium, I'm not affected by any of this.

Post Wed Jul 22, 2015 9:35 pm

Well think it was £247! I would try a gasket first but I only wanna do the job once!

Post Wed Jul 22, 2015 9:53 pm

hows a bloody gasket going to fix a cracked cover!

Post Wed Jul 22, 2015 10:21 pm

its cracked near the gasket area, a new gasket and sealant might work but I don't really want to do the job again (ie new rocker cover) if it doesn't work!

I've called most breakers and no1 has a rocker cover anyway, so might have to weld it if poss!

Post Wed Jul 22, 2015 11:33 pm

I was going to suggest welding it. if you can get it to me Rob, I don't mind giving it a go. As long as I can "V" the crack from end to end then I'd try the rienforced filler rod I have. I'd really need to see it first.

Post Thu Jul 23, 2015 8:23 am

That might be worth a shot! I'll have the car for a few days soon as my sis is going away and there's a couple of bits to do on the car anyway

Post Thu Jul 23, 2015 9:03 am

The cracks eill be across the edge of the gasket mating face that is about 20mm wide. The cover edge is deeply recessed and the rubber gasket fits into that recess. Go to an Audi dealership and buy a tube of their sealer - it's the bollocks. Put a good bead around the cover edge getting plenty into the crack. Fit the gasket into the cover and fit the cover back to the engine. It's worked for me so.....

Post Thu Jul 23, 2015 9:10 am

Simon13 wrote:hows a bloody gasket going to fix a cracked cover!

Because the 10 year old rubber gasket will be heat hardened. They leak at that age anyway.

Post Thu Jul 23, 2015 9:19 am

I doubt it will weld, you need to sand the cracks and clean them with petrol or thinners then as Andy says bollok it with gasket sealer.

So many shite parts

Post Thu Jul 23, 2015 11:20 am

Everything about the N Series engine is shite. Just fucking horrible things.

Post Thu Jul 23, 2015 12:07 pm

I know there shite lumps, had to do chain and guides about a week after she got the car!!

Post Thu Jul 23, 2015 1:48 pm

At least you don't have the nightmare of VVT. They put the 1.6 N45 in the E90 as well - can you imagine how slow that must be? Must be like driving a seventies Ford Transit.

Post Thu Jul 23, 2015 2:18 pm

Can't really imagine that lump in an E90, pretty pointless!

Post Thu Jul 23, 2015 9:03 pm

N42/N46 chain guides break and timing jumps - easily fixed with new guides and set timing

N45 chains stretch - as above but swap chain

Worst engine of all... N43 chain guides break, piece of guide get smashed up and fall into sump. Oil strainer picks pieces and gets blocked. Engine loses oil pressure and eats it's self... Awful engine!!!!!