Answer
Jun 29, 2025 - 02:28 AM
Great question — and what you're seeing is a pretty common situation. The valve clearance specs in our manual are:
- Intake: 0.18 – 0.26 mm
- Exhaust: 0.27 – 0.35 mm
These numbers come directly from BMW’s OEM service software — the same platform used by dealer technicians. So you can rest assured that the specs are accurate and factory-authorized.
The reason for the difference is this: the values printed on the emissions sticker are slightly more generous, because they're meant to reflect operational tolerance ranges under different real-world conditions. The manual, on the other hand, provides the ideal cold-adjustment values for when you're actually servicing the engine — specifically with the engine cold (below 35°C).
So yes, our manual lists slightly tighter clearances, but that’s 100% normal and expected. BMW’s emissions sticker gives a range that still meets regulatory requirements even if valve lash increases over time. Technicians always aim for the manual’s spec when adjusting valve clearance cold in the shop.
Hope this clears it up — and rest assured, if you're using our manual, you're working with the same information used by the pros at the dealership.
