Cleaned my Valve cover - improvement?!

[e34.535i.sport]

As you probably know I'm in the process of adjusting my valve clearances and I got a bit sidetracked when about to take the cover off... I decided to take a wire brush to it because it was looking terrible! I think it looks a bit better now!

BEFORE:
http://img26.picoodle.com/img/img26/3/8/7/f_Image022m_702198c.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/8/7/f_Image022m_702198c.jpg&srv=img26)

DURING:
http://img33.picoodle.com/img/img33/3/8/7/f_Image023m_f34a284.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/8/7/f_Image023m_f34a284.jpg&srv=img33)

http://img29.picoodle.com/img/img29/3/8/7/f_Image024m_64833a2.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/8/7/f_Image024m_64833a2.jpg&srv=img29)

GETTING THERE... ... ...

[e34.535i.sport]

http://img34.picoodle.com/img/img34/3/8/7/f_Image025m_d6a545e.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/8/7/f_Image025m_d6a545e.jpg&srv=img34)

DONE!

http://img37.picoodle.com/img/img37/3/8/7/f_Image026m_f4481a4.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/8/7/f_Image026m_f4481a4.jpg&srv=img37)

I'm very pleased with how well it looks without using anything other than a wire brush and some elbow grease... Although I think that's the end of my wire brush:
http://img34.picoodle.com/img/img34/3/8/7/f_Image027m_f74cf7f.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/8/7/f_Image027m_f74cf7f.jpg&srv=img34)

[whiskychaser]

Wire brush? Victor Meldrew comes to mind:D

[repenttokyo]

did you block the throttle body with a cloth before you kicked up all that dust and grime?

[E34-520iSE]

Take it off, hit it with some engine degreaser, clean it again, warm it up then spray it with hi-temp paint - it'll look brand new & the crackle finish will last for many years. I did mine bright red 2 years ago and it still looks great now. Once that's done you can do the fan-shroud, the inlet manifold........

Cheers,

Shaun M

[e34.535i.sport]

did you block the throttle body with a cloth before you kicked up all that dust and grime?

No but it's pretty sh*tty as it is so a little bit more shouldn't hurt... :D

The butterfly circle thing was closed if that helps. :p

[M20Turbo]

Time for paint......

[Rus]

I wire-brushed, primed and painted mine in satin black. It came out quite nice and has stood up to the engine heat for nearly three years. Black is also easy to touch up with a sharpie if you happen to ding the paint :-p

[Paul in NZ]

i would do paint mine silver i think,or maybe even try a poish and clear!?

[e34.535i.sport]

I bought some black engine paint today but i'm trying to decide whether to use it or not... as it looks pretty good now!! Anyone with any pics 2 help me decide??? If ido paint it do I defo need primer and if so will it need to be a high temp one???

[E34-520iSE]

This is my red cover, I've just took this pic 2 mins ago - I painted it 2 years ago, and it still looks like I have just sprayed it (my phone cam isn't that good). All I used was hi temp paint, no primer is needed. Heat the cover up as hot as you can, warm the spray can too, then spray away. Put thin coats of paint on to build the crackle finish up nicely without runs & spray marks. Don't forget to thoroughly clean that thing first or any grease spots will make the paint peel.

HTH,

Shaun Mhttp://www.geocities.com/stereowizard2004/red_engine.jpg

[Jon K]

Hey man - I just powder coated another 535 valve cover. I have to send one to a guy in Hawaii (ugh I wish I could get to the post office for him!) and I received another one from Ebay and coated it wrinkle black.

If you're interested...

http://blowneuroz.com/525/Powder%20Coating/m30cover1.jpg

[M20Turbo]

Nice work Jon..... just curious what you charge?


Hey man - I just powder coated another 535 valve cover. I have to send one to a guy in Hawaii (ugh I wish I could get to the post office for him!) and I received another one from Ebay and coated it wrinkle black.

If you're interested...

http://blowneuroz.com/525/Powder%20Coating/m30cover1.jpg

[Jon K]

I charged him $60 - $65 for blasting/coating he supplied his valve cover.

I have a whole other valve cover for sale already coated for $120

[e34.535i.sport]

Hey guys I painted it! I was actually thinking about your work Jon - lets see what you think about it... pics to follow!!!!! It actually looks a bit like it's been powdercoated but it was just a cheap paint from the local place... ... ...

http://img32.picoodle.com/img/img32/3/8/8/f_valvepaintm_16f6a86.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/8/8/f_valvepaintm_16f6a86.jpg&srv=img32)

And back on the engine!!!
http://img29.picoodle.com/img/img29/3/8/8/f_valvepaint1m_834ebc9.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/8/8/f_valvepaint1m_834ebc9.jpg&srv=img29)

I'm well pleased with it... It looks even better in real life. INTAKE MANIFOLD WATCH OUT - YOUR NEXT!!!!

[E34-520iSE]

Nice one!

ATB,

Shaun M

[e34.535i.sport]

Nice one!

ATB,

Shaun M

You inspired me to have a go so thank you!!!!! :D

[Jon K]

The paint looks good - the problem is it doesn't last very long :( I had painted my M50 cover a long time ago after spending hours stripping it down. The heat gets pretty intense and eventually the paint will peel.

The aluminum/magnesium covers absorb oil and it releases with heat (like when the engine runs) and thus it vapors out ("out gassing") and lifts the paint. When you powder coat the part, you "out gas" it @ 550F+ for about an hour basically boiling anything out of it that might release during engine running. Then you powder it - much more durable!

[bubba966]

Need to do my M60 covers at some point as the cosmoline is looking nasty nowadays. The rest of the engine bay looks good, just the cam covers that are nasty.

[e34.535i.sport]

The paint looks good - the problem is it doesn't last very long :( I had painted my M50 cover a long time ago after spending hours stripping it down. The heat gets pretty intense and eventually the paint will peel.

The aluminum/magnesium covers absorb oil and it releases with heat (like when the engine runs) and thus it vapors out ("out gassing") and lifts the paint. When you powder coat the part, you "out gas" it @ 550F+ for about an hour basically boiling anything out of it that might release during engine running. Then you powder it - much more durable!

I can't argue with that! I actually scratched it a tiny bit putting the afm back on, but was able to touch it up easy enough.

I'd love to have mine powdercoated but it's more £££ than I can afford - got to pick the engine mounts up tomorrow! :D

[sneekens]

Hey guys I painted it! I was actually thinking about your work Jon - lets see what you think about it... pics to follow!!!!! It actually looks a bit like it's been powdercoated but it was just a cheap paint from the local place... ... ...

http://img32.picoodle.com/img/img32/3/8/8/f_valvepaintm_16f6a86.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/8/8/f_valvepaintm_16f6a86.jpg&srv=img32)

And back on the engine!!!
http://img29.picoodle.com/img/img29/3/8/8/f_valvepaint1m_834ebc9.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/3/8/8/f_valvepaint1m_834ebc9.jpg&srv=img29)

I'm well pleased with it... It looks even better in real life. INTAKE MANIFOLD WATCH OUT - YOUR NEXT!!!!


Nice JOB!!! Can't wait to see the Intake manifold...

Btw, did you buy new bolts for your valve cover? How much torque for valve cover bolts?

[632 Regal]

cant powdercote these can we... ;)
Need to do my M60 covers at some point as the cosmoline is looking nasty nowadays. The rest of the engine bay looks good, just the cam covers that are nasty.

[sneekens]

Btw, my engine bay... stock dark gray valve cover, intake manifold and the oil canister..

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g118/refinish_line/screenshot_01-2.jpg

[e34.535i.sport]

Btw, my engine bay... stock dark gray valve cover, intake manifold and the oil canister..

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g118/refinish_line/screenshot_01-2.jpg

Hey there... The torque is supposed to be 10nm... I haven't got a torque wrench that goesw that low so I sorta guessed! I took a not of the effort it took to undo them and went off that?! Yeah I got new domed nuts from the dealer so they looked nice! The old ones have got some yellowy stull on them that doesn't want to come off without a fight!

You bay is looking really good - how the hell do you get your plastic/rubber parts to shine like that?!!! Mine look terrible and are resisting cleaning!

[sneekens]

Hey there... The torque is supposed to be 10nm... I haven't got a torque wrench that goesw that low so I sorta guessed! I took a not of the effort it took to undo them and went off that?! Yeah I got new domed nuts from the dealer so they looked nice! The old ones have got some yellowy stull on them that doesn't want to come off without a fight!

You bay is looking really good - how the hell do you get your plastic/rubber parts to shine like that?!!! Mine look terrible and are resisting cleaning!

Thanks for the torque info...:) Btw, we used Mothers Protectant for most plastic and Silicone spray for some plastic parts but mostly for rubber stuff... Clean it every week, then next thing you know, its clean... We had the same problem before till we cleaned it frequently.... Good Luck!

[e34.535i.sport]

Thanks for the torque info...:) Btw, we used Mothers Protectant for most plastic and Silicone spray for some plastic parts but mostly for rubber stuff... Clean it every week, then next thing you know, its clean... We had the same problem before till we cleaned it frequently.... Good Luck!

Every week - I don't know about that! I don't even clean the outside every week LOL! I do need to though, mine looks very shabby and the 'new' valve cover looks out of place! :(

[E34-520iSE]

It's best to keep it clean or it'll end up all tatty like mine did :-(. Here it is now:-

http://www.geocities.com/stereowizard2004/half_primer.jpg

[bubba966]

cant powdercote these can we... ;)

I'm talking about parts 1 & 4 here
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=HE63&mospid=47410&btnr=11_1229&hg=11&fg=15
which are magnesium.

Parts 3 & 5 are plastic and not powdercoatable. Neither is the intake or engine cover. Not sure what you thought I was looking to powdercoat...

[Jon K]

Bubba if you want them powder coated let me know

[Jon K]

Just got some done doing some stuff today

http://www.blowneuroz.com/525/Powder Coating/covers.jpg

All of those items are for sale :)

[e34.535i.sport]

Just got some done doing some stuff today

http://www.blowneuroz.com/525/Powder Coating/covers.jpg

All of those items are for sale :)


I wish I didn't live on the other side of the world from you... :(

[bubba966]

Bubba if you want them powder coated let me know

Will probably have to find a used set of rocker covers to coat so that the car isn't off the road too long.

Would also love to get my headers ceramic coated at some point.

Just need to find someone that's got a dead M60B40 to get those pieces from...

[Jon K]

Will probably have to find a used set of rocker covers to coat so that the car isn't off the road too long.

Would also love to get my headers ceramic coated at some point.

Just need to find someone that's got a dead M60B40 to get those pieces from...

No problem keep me in mind if you want it done

[bubba966]

No problem keep me in mind if you want it done

Will do.