Anybody else running without an engine cover?

scanspeak · 06-07-2018, 06:04 PM

I recently removed mine on my N52 and from inside the car I hear little difference in noise except at high rpm where it sounds even better.

Now I can keep an eye on oil leaks etc and hopefully it will keep the valve cover a little cooler, making it last longer.

Big Mexican Women · 06-07-2018, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scanspeak

I recently removed mine and from inside the car I hear little difference in noise except at high rpm where it sounds even better.

Now I can keep an eye on oil leaks etc and hopefully it will keep the valve cover a little cooler, making it last longer.

Dust is going to get to the ignition coils faster. I wouldn’t suggest it.

IllSic_Design · 06-07-2018, 10:00 PM

I only do it at the track, so it lets heat dissipate a little faster. Otherwise I can hear the engine(rather injectors) way more and its kind of annoying/embarrassing around town.

Big Mexican Women · 06-07-2018, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IllSic_Design

I only do it at the track, so it lets heat dissipate a little faster. Otherwise I can hear the engine(rather injectors) way more and its kind of annoying/embarrassing around town.

a good vented hood ( a vent towards the front half of the hood exhausting hot air) would be effective for track use along with removing the engine cover.

Otherwise, you may as well leave it on. Maybe useful to take it off in the summer to keep temps slightly lower, but it will barely make any difference.

Phyrexia · 06-07-2018, 10:24 PM

All the N54 doodz take them off.

scanspeak · 06-07-2018, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IllSic_Design

I only do it at the track, so it lets heat dissipate a little faster. Otherwise I can hear the engine(rather injectors) way more and its kind of annoying/embarrassing around town.

I think that's only an issue with the turbo engines.

scanspeak · 06-07-2018, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Mexican Women

Dust is going to get to the ignition coils faster. I wouldn’t suggest it.

Where will the dust penetrate the coils?
Wouldn't periodic maintenance (high pressure air) solve that issue?

hassmaschine · 06-07-2018, 10:31 PM

On the street, i can't think of any reason this is a good idea.

Big Mexican Women · 06-07-2018, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scanspeak

Where will the dust penetrate the coils?
Wouldn't periodic maintenance (high pressure air) solve that issue?

That’s a good point, but it’s still not a good idea to allow dust buildup or water there. The engine cover is mainly there to keep the ignition coils dry and clean.

Not everyone uses high pressure air to keep that area clean. I bet most don’t.

Big Mexican Women · 06-07-2018, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

On the street, i can't think of any reason this is a good idea.

I agree. it won’t do you any good to have it removed unless you got a vented hood.

david in germany · 06-07-2018, 11:57 PM

Sorry, came into this thread thinking it was a V-Tec Thread yo!

scanspeak · 06-08-2018, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Mexican Women

That’s a good point, but it’s still not a good idea to allow dust buildup or water there. The engine cover is mainly there to keep the ignition coils dry and clean.

Not everyone uses high pressure air to keep that area clean. I bet most don’t.

I'm tempted to fabricate some sort of cover just for the coils/wiring and leave the rest bare. I hate engine covers!

GreaseJunkie · 06-08-2018, 08:16 AM

I ran without a "valve cover cover" for nearly two years. Mine was missing screws from the previous owner and would rattle under various conditions (I have the magnesium cover, so the screws are zoosk fasteners and cost $12 apiece) I never had a problem with "dust in the coils" although I use dielectric grease on both ends of the contact points which might help negate that. I recently reinstalled my valve cover cover after paint-matching it to my car, and noticed no change in the sound heard inside the cabin. I'm planning to M3 mod my cowl and add the BMS cowl filters once I can get my header nightmare resolved. I'm hoping that will add a good bit of NVH to the driving experience.

Terraphantm · 06-08-2018, 08:39 AM

Only times I've done it is if I'm testing stuff and don't want to put the car all the way back together.

I don't think the coils being exposed is a big deal though. There are cars with exposed engine coils from the factory.

desertman123 · 06-08-2018, 09:59 AM

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nsjames · 06-08-2018, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phyrexia

All the N54 doodz take them off.

but that's because they always have to take it off to fix the next N54 thing.

I haven't had my cover off in months.

Needbmwpartzz · 06-08-2018, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scanspeak

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Mexican Women

That's a good point, but it's still not a good idea to allow dust buildup or water there. The engine cover is mainly there to keep the ignition coils dry and clean.

Not everyone uses high pressure air to keep that area clean. I bet most don't.

I'm tempted to fabricate some sort of cover just for the coils/wiring and leave the rest bare. I hate engine covers!

That's a cool idea.....pun intended

Post up the pics once you've completed!

Phyrexia · 06-08-2018, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nsjames

but that's because they always have to take it off to fix the next N54 thing.

I haven't had my cover off in months.

LOL fair point.

When I bought my car I replaced my coils after one died and it was apparent that a small rodent had lived under my engine cover for some period of time. So there's that.

I used High Pressure Air to clean that area. Indeed.

Indyeah · 06-08-2018, 01:30 PM

Weight reduction. Don't worry about all the sensitive electronics it was protecting.

Noir · 06-08-2018, 03:53 PM

I like mine on! :]
I do hab a vented good though, all I need to do is get my headers coated then I will be golden :b

The Nightman · 06-08-2018, 04:21 PM

The cover is purely decorative IMO - the coils completely seal the spark plug wells and the cover has no sound insulating foam.

I ditched mine so that I can replace (some of) the coils if they fail on the road.

Eagle1oh7 · 06-08-2018, 04:24 PM

Anybody try running without the hood? Good benefits, super cooling and super weight loss.

06-07-2018, 06:04 PM	#1
scanspeak Lieutenant 354 Rep 511 Posts Drives: BMW E92 325i 12/2007 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia iTrader: (0)	Anybody else running without an engine cover? I recently removed mine on my N52 and from inside the car I hear little difference in noise except at high rpm where it sounds even better. Now I can keep an eye on oil leaks etc and hopefully it will keep the valve cover a little cooler, making it last longer. Last edited by scanspeak; 06-08-2018 at 03:42 AM..
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06-07-2018, 10:00 PM	#3
IllSic_Design Colonel 2124 Rep 2,758 Posts Drives: 09 E92 335i Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Northern California iTrader: (1)	I only do it at the track, so it lets heat dissipate a little faster. Otherwise I can hear the engine(rather injectors) way more and its kind of annoying/embarrassing around town.
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06-07-2018, 10:24 PM	#5
Phyrexia Resident Pedant 503 Rep 792 Posts Drives: '15 335i 8AT Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Limbo iTrader: (1)	All the N54 doodz take them off.
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06-07-2018, 10:31 PM	#8
hassmaschine Major General 3973 Rep 7,215 Posts Drives: "NBO" 330i Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: earth iTrader: (0)	On the street, i can't think of any reason this is a good idea.
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06-07-2018, 11:57 PM	#11
david in germany Lieutenant Colonel 730 Rep 1,815 Posts Drives: 118i, 335i and 328i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Mannheim Germany iTrader: (2)	Sorry, came into this thread thinking it was a V-Tec Thread yo! __________________ 2009 118i Monaco Blue "Maximillion" 2009 335i Saphire Black M Sport "Leopold" Cobb stage 2 aggressive tune, Mishimoto FMIC, Cobb charge pipe, Cobb catted down pipes, Forge diverter valves, BMS inlets and DCI, Cyba scoops and M Individual Audio retrofit and M3 gauge cluster retrofit. 2011 328i Titan Silver M Sport "Franzel" <--Wife's car
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06-08-2018, 08:16 AM	#13
GreaseJunkie First Lieutenant 17 Rep 328 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 330i Black Sapphire Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	I ran without a "valve cover cover" for nearly two years. Mine was missing screws from the previous owner and would rattle under various conditions (I have the magnesium cover, so the screws are zoosk fasteners and cost $12 apiece) I never had a problem with "dust in the coils" although I use dielectric grease on both ends of the contact points which might help negate that. I recently reinstalled my valve cover cover after paint-matching it to my car, and noticed no change in the sound heard inside the cabin. I'm planning to M3 mod my cowl and add the BMS cowl filters once I can get my header nightmare resolved. I'm hoping that will add a good bit of NVH to the driving experience.
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06-08-2018, 08:39 AM	#14
Terraphantm Captain 253 Rep 775 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Coupe Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: N/A iTrader: (1)	Only times I've done it is if I'm testing stuff and don't want to put the car all the way back together. I don't think the coils being exposed is a big deal though. There are cars with exposed engine coils from the factory.
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06-08-2018, 09:59 AM	#15
desertman123 E82 Mudflap Ambassador 2214 Rep 2,219 Posts Drives: '08 128i Join Date: May 2016 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 1992 Honda Beat [9.50] 2008 BMW 128i [10.00] 2014 BMW 528i [10.00]	ticktickticktickticktickticktickticktickticktickti ckticktickticktickticktickticktickticktickticktick tickticktickticktick __________________ My 2008 128i - Sparkling Graphite/Beige - Sport pkg - 6MT - Click me! Parents' 2014 528i - Mineral White/Ivory White - fully loaded Instagram @Andreys_128i and @Honda.Bito
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06-08-2018, 01:30 PM	#19
Indyeah First Lieutenant 141 Rep 374 Posts Drives: E92 328i 6MT SGM Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Phoenix AZ iTrader: (0)	Weight reduction. Don't worry about all the sensitive electronics it was protecting. __________________ BMW Performance Exhaust - 3 Stage Intake Manifold - Active Autowerke Headers & Stage 2 Tune - ST X Coilovers
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06-08-2018, 03:53 PM	#20
Noir Major 883 Rep 1,413 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 330i 6MT Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: San Antonio iTrader: (1)	I like mine on! :] I do hab a vented good though, all I need to do is get my headers coated then I will be golden :b __________________ See you, space cowboy. *Supercharged*
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06-08-2018, 04:21 PM	#21
The Nightman Cometh 1090 Rep 1,308 Posts Drives: Boy's Soul Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Boy's Hole iTrader: (4) Garage List E90 LCI "330i& ... [10.00]	The cover is purely decorative IMO - the coils completely seal the spark plug wells and the cover has no sound insulating foam. I ditched mine so that I can replace (some of) the coils if they fail on the road.
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06-08-2018, 04:24 PM	#22
Eagle1oh7 Lieutenant Colonel 287 Rep 1,710 Posts Drives: '11 328i Sedan Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Chula Vista CA iTrader: (0)	Anybody try running without the hood? Good benefits, super cooling and super weight loss. __________________ DONE: Seibon CF Hood, M3 Rep, MSport rear w/DD CF Diffuser, M3 Rep Skirts, Seibon CSL trunklid, Forgestar F14 18s w/Michelin PSS, Eisenmann catback, AA Headers, BPC Stage 2, Charcoal Delete+revMotor+AFE Drop In filter FUTURE MODS: LED headlights, CF rooftop, M3 Suspension Conversion, Dinan CAI Mod
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