Common issues & diagnosis
BMW’s plastic and aluminium rocker covers are prone warping and cracking. This is simply caused by age and exposure to the high-temperatures of an engine.
Symptoms of a warped/cracked rocker cover can present as oil leaking—which can also be caused by a worn seal.
Additionally, it is worth noting that the bolt holes on the plastic covers are prone to damage. Over-tightening or cross-threading can easily occur during servicing and repair.
What is the part's function?
The rocker cover is mounted to the top of the cylinder head. It seals the top of the engine and encases the valve train components—including the camshafts, rockers and valves.
In modern BMWs the rocker cover will have integrated pathways for PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) and some will also include components in the engine’s variable valve timing system.
How to determine fitment compatibility
There can sometimes be different variants of rocker cover for the same engine type. It’s worth matching the genuine BMW part number to determine fitment compatibility.
Provide our team with your vehicle’s 17-digit VIN—and we’ll check our stock for a compatible part.
Interchangeability between models
Rocker covers are often interchangeable between model sharing the same engine.