A New M104 Oil Leak: "Thrust Pieces?"

[jcyuhn]

Hi All -

I have an innovative new oil leak on the old M104 engine. It's seeping around the so-called thrust pieces. These are the little rubber doohickies which MB uses to seal the bolt holes which secure the valve cover to the engine. In a particularly impressive bit of German engineering, the most leaky one is near the transmission dipstick. The oil seeps by the thrust piece, down the edge of the valve cover, along the head, out the transmission dipstick bracket, and down the transmission dipstick and onto the garage floor.

Any advice or comments on replacing these? Does the valve cover need to be removed, or are they replaced in situ? Any special tricks? I'm hoping it's as straightforward as it appears.

Thanks,

- JimY