High mile diesel maintenance quicksand scenario

[devlinsky]

It all started so innocently.
A delicate smell of burned oil. Having lived with BMWs for more than a decade, I knew, that the things will get interesting in no time.

Quick diagnosis - leak from the valve cover gasket. Easy, right?

Wrong. It's an M50d, no easy answers here.

So, gasket is just a minor culprit. I have friends at the dealership, so they were kind enough to quickly tell me, that it's most likely the cover that cracked - not just the gasket.

Oh, by the way - in order to replace the gasket and valve cover - you have to take the engine out. At that point there was only one thing to say:

"Well, that escalated quickly"

Because this car has around 150k miles and we take the engine out, it is an outstanding opportunity to change all three timing chains with all the bibs and bobs around.

And all the gaskets around.
And check all three turbos.
And all vacuum lines.
And all plastic piping.
And...
And...

And since the engine is out, and the car has 150k miles... It's a great opportunity to replace all crankshaft bearings - 22, to be precise.

It can't be too expensive, can it?

[BDO]

At 150k miles, surely replacing the car is a more sustainable option?

[turboawd]

You have to take engine out to replace valve cover? Wow