Agree with what Don wrote as well Jeff. As with Bill R...hard to find a time when we didn't agree about these cars :-) I have mine set to a slip .013" and have considered setting them to .012" as well for the reasons stated. I like .013" for idle quality however and my engine still revs like a drill at higher RPM...pulls hard for a big car with a modest power to weight...so am enjoying the decent idle. Agree that the modest overlap and lift increase of setting the valves fractionally tighter would make it pull even harder.
I love the big six and enjoy talking about it with you guys. I too should consider changing my eccentrics. I haven't looked at them under magnification but if I did, would probably find the same condition as what Don mentioned since our engines have about the same mileage. One last comment about valve adjustment...I find that it is pretty easy to strip a pinch bolt here and there. The threads are not very deep or big or robust. Easy to over torque the pinch bolt with a small 10mm box end wrench. I torque these by feel and generally do not like to ever over torque anything. My biggest concern however is one coming loose and causing disaster so I generally try to get a good sense that I am getting adequate torque on those pinch bolts and that the threads are not stripping.
George....by your package Jeff...I presume it is from Don for safety wire and banjo bolts. Hats off to Don for offering this service to the board....wonderful contribution to this community of bimmerheads.