Grab the oil filler cap & rock back & forth (towards rear & front of engine). Also lightly tap with a rubber mallet on the corners of the cover. Do not pry it as you risk damaging the aluminium head which is quite soft & the fact that it is stuck on you will more than likely snap part of the valve cover as the plastic is very brittle (don't ask me how I know)

Good Luck!

 

Your valve cover probably has some gap at top front corner due to warpage.
You may use a thin flat screw driver to stick in there and lightly tap it to break the seal.

 

+1

I have used a thin plastic wedge tool to break loose several valve covers.

Typically after 8 years, the rubber will turn hard and get stuck to the metal.

 

I normally just keep pushing and pulling until it gives. It seems like its going nowhere, but every movement weakens it a bit more, until it starts to move easily.

Be careful when it does start to move, the (once but no longer) rubber gasket may 'shatter', and then you drive yourself nuts trying to collect small black plastic bits from around the cams.

 

This was top advice! I eventually got it off by remembering what you said.

I was able to make a foothold at the front Vanos area. I used my blue trim pry tools.
I used the widest part to spread the force across more surface.
Eventually, I was able to grab a few key points, and used a combo of my fingers and some pry trim tools, and I just kept slowly rocking.
Once there was a slight give, I kept at it, slowly and surely, until it started to give around the perimeter. A little more each few tugs.
It feels like you're going NOWHERE, and it's not budging, but just try to get a break in the front, and then keep at it. It's like slowly breaking a large tree branch.

I will post a few pics tonight, for future n00bs who get stuck.

 

I've tried all the obvious. Tried grabbing the oil fill hole. Tried prying the section next to fuel rail.
I was pushing with my weight to the point the car was rocking back and forth.
There is simply nowhere to pry or grab, either.
I have a very strong feeling this is going nowhere, or I am going to crack something.
Ugh, am ok with giving up on this job, and paying a pro to do this.

 

I tried reinstalling the coil boots, just to see how that works.
Is the boot supposed to bounce back like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aa4jNs_7qo

 

we can't see the video (it looks like you posted an 'edit' link)
the coils will snap in. move them back and forth a bit to allow air to escape past them

 

oh I see the video now (a little different from my bremi coils)

that seems normal there is a spring in the coil tube, it's to make good contact with the spark plug

 

Am I wrong in assuming that since you have removed the coil packs, you did get the valve cover off? Wouldn't that have to be off to access the coil packs?

 

No, just the trim cover. You have to remove the coils to be able to remove the valve cover.

 

Thanks. Got it.

 

Every video I have seen does not look like mine.
In other videos, the coil pack just seats down firmly.
The do not bounce out like a Jack in the box.

Man, I am kind of stressed out right now.
I don't even care about the valve cover gasket anymore, I just want to put everything back and crawl into bed.

Am I supposed to just hold it down and bolt it in?
It totally does not feel like anything is connected.
I don't think the car will run like this.

 

just try it imo you're not going to break anything

coils are pretty simple. they shoot thousands of volts down the end on command and that's it. Either the voltage is transferred to the spark plug and the car runs, or nothing happens


your coils didn't behave like this coming out because the rubber boot was fused to the spark plug after being on there so long

 

Relax, bolt the COPs (Coil-On-Plug, not coil pack) in and see if it starts. Mine didn't push back that much, but they did push back, they didn't just click in. There is a spring that pushes back, probably the more it pushes the better.

 

I have not changed spark plugs in a BMW before so I am just throwing this out since these sit on top of the spark plugs

Did you change the spark plugs?

If you did does BMW use the screw cap on top of the plug? Some cars use it some don't.

If you have an old plug maybe you could see if it seats on the plug out of the car?

 

Does the coil fit on another spark
plug? Does another coil fit in cylinder 1? Did you remove the spark plug at some point? Then drop it in without screwing back in?

 

Back to the coil boots. No, I did not remove the spark plugs.
I pulled off, then immediately tried to push back on, and I got the bounce.

I am thinking the boot is not seating onto the tip, but is just getting "mushed"
Then when I let go, it just pushes back. Should I dab a bit of dielectric grease into the boot?
Maybe that will help it slide on, and not get mushed?

 

I found this piece under the valve cover. It fell off the striped engine covers (not the valve cover)

 

it belongs to the first engine cover and fits near the corners there are 4

 

Yes, you need the dielectric grease, but that's not why.

 

If you want the valve cover and gasket to come off easier just run the engine up to temp. Makes life much easier.

 

I installed the coil plugs, and am done.
I did not try to start the car yet.
They did not seem to bounce out as dramatically as my video.
I kept it pressed down with a finger, and bolted them down.

 

Use a "HAND HELD HEAT GUN"

 

That coil plug issue was not an issue.
Car started and did not throw a code!
I will go for a longer drive tomorrow and see if the engine smokes after the drive.

 

I hope it's not something stupid like a PO using anything other than RTV the last time it was replaced.

I've seen people "fix" VC's with epoxy/JB Weld before. If it was bolted down before fully curing, that would be an issue.

Is the entire VC stuck evenly? Another option would be to take a razor blade and slowly work your way under the old gasket with multiple passes. (Wear a work glove if you do this.)

 

I went for a drive and popped the hood. No smoke!! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. Thanks for the help...