I had been told my LOWER TC Cover gasket was leaking and believed that for a long time. It turned out there were several leak points but none from the Lower Timing Chain cover gaskets. The upper Driver side was leaking as well as Valve Cover gaskets and the oil filter housing lines to and from the block and their O-rings.. I also had power steering hose leaks . If you're forced to have a shop do it it ran me around $1,000 for the oil leaks where just the Upper timing chain cover gasket was done
pasted from an invoice;
REPAIR ORDER
Print Date : 02/17/2009
1995 BMW - 540i
MFG Date : 12/13/1994
Last Service : Current Odometer : 273438 Previous Odometer : Elapsed Mileage :
Engine : 4.0L, V8, VIN (3)
LABOR - INSPECT FOR LEAKS
11 12 9 069 872 Valve Cover Gasket Set without Washers 1.00 29.51 29.51
11 12 9 069 871 Valve Cover Gasket Set without Washers 1.00 29.51 29.51
11 12 1 437 395 Valve Cover Seal Washer 22.00 1.12 24.64
11 14 1 433 305 Timing Cover Gasket Set 1.00 12.40 12.40
11 14 1 433 306 Timing Cover Gasket Set 1.00 12.24 12.24
12 13 1 730 521 Spark Plug Connector 8.00 13.44 107.52
3199. Spark Plug BKR6EQUP NGK 8.00 14.78 118.24
7402 Spark Plug FR 7 LDC+ 8.00
LABOR - TIMING CASE COVER 578.00 578.00
LABOR - POWER STEERING 51.00 51.00
Estimated Parts $25.00
Subtract $67.00 to use Bosch FR 7 LDC+ Spark plugs instead of the NGK
189099107 Cleaning Solvent - Aerosol 14.39oz Can 3.00 5.44 16.32
Revision # 1, Previous Estimate Amount - 13.60, Additional Cost - 1004.38, Revised Estimate - 1017.98
Parts: $375.38, Labor: $629.00, Sublet: $0.00, Taxes & Fees: $0.00
Date-02/17/2009, Time - 05:14PM.
Parts : $ 375.38 Labor : $ 629.00 $ 0.00 Total : $ 1,004.38
that was for both sides... the oil filter lines were done at another time and were a few hundred dollars, power steering was around $600. I also had a Transmission selector shaft seal leak and had that repaired as well for a few hundred but had a UUC short shift installed then too and since the exhaust connecting flange was broken when the exhaust was removed for that a little more ..oh there were other things done as well . Water Pump+ T-Stat, a new pulley, new serpantine belt, new lower oil pan gasket, resealed the Intake manifold and a new Intake manifold cover and gasket. new throttle body gasket.... think about things which you can replace while doing this leak that you'll most likley end up needing if you plan on keeping and driving it.
Interestingly enough I rolled past 320,000 miles last night. Just about 50K miles since this work with no leaks so I consider myself to have been fortunate it wasn't the Lower.