Smoke from engine bay 3.0si

Diesel_d66 · 07-24-2015, 09:23 AM

hi guys

I dont post much, but i read this site often. I am the owner of a 07 3.0si, purchased last year with 48k miles.

Yesterday as I parked my car from my drive home from the commute, I smelled smoke and saw some from the passenger side of the engine bay. I took some pics. Looked to me like leaking oil was burning off as it hit the hot metal. Any suggestions or ideas what this could be? is this common? appreciate the help.

car temp was normal (right in the middle of the gauge) and the electronic dipstick showed full. The oil was changed 3k miles ago.

GuidoK · 07-24-2015, 09:26 AM

Your valve cover gasket is leaking.
(that's my guess at least)

pokeybritches · 07-24-2015, 09:30 AM

+1

It's a common maintenance item at your car's age/mileage. I would go through an independent shop rather than the dealer. The dealer will charge several hours labor for a fairly easy job.

Diesel_d66 · 07-24-2015, 01:11 PM

thanks!

any ideas what this would cost to fix (labor and parts)?

Westersund · 07-24-2015, 02:36 PM

The part itself is very cheap, it's the labor that cost more. I did it myself on my E34 M5 and the gasket cost about 45$ from the BMW dealer and it took about 4 hours. But I was cleaning in the engine bay and changing spark plugs as well. Changing only the gasket will take about 1½ hour is my guess, maybe 2.

GuidoK · 07-24-2015, 04:09 PM

1 hour tops...
The gasketset itself on ebay is $35-50
This is a very very simple procedure:
http://workshop-manuals.com/bmw/z_se...ver_%28n52%29/

The only thing I don't know if it's really necessary to replace the aluminium screws. Best to keep them on hand.

Oh wait, they have a special repair set of screws with # 11120409288 ($30 or so..)

07-24-2015, 09:23 AM	#1
Diesel_d66 Private 8 Rep 71 Posts Drives: '07 MR Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Baltimore iTrader: (0)	Smoke from engine bay 3.0si hi guys I dont post much, but i read this site often. I am the owner of a 07 3.0si, purchased last year with 48k miles. Yesterday as I parked my car from my drive home from the commute, I smelled smoke and saw some from the passenger side of the engine bay. I took some pics. Looked to me like leaking oil was burning off as it hit the hot metal. Any suggestions or ideas what this could be? is this common? appreciate the help. car temp was normal (right in the middle of the gauge) and the electronic dipstick showed full. The oil was changed 3k miles ago. Attached Images
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07-24-2015, 09:26 AM	#2
GuidoK #buildnotbought 10647 Rep 4,854 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i ESS TS2+ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tinkering in the garage iTrader: (0)	Your valve cover gasket is leaking. (that's my guess at least) __________________ Z4 3.0i \| ESS TS2+ supercharger \| Quaife ATB LSD \| Brembo/BMW performance BBK front/rear \| Schrick FI cams \| Schmiedmann headers+cats \| Powerflex/strongflex PU bushings \| Vibra-technics engine mounts \| H&R anti rollbars \| KW V3 coilovers/KW camber plates \| Sachs race engineering clutch \| tons of custom sh#t
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07-24-2015, 09:30 AM	#3
pokeybritches Colonel 479 Rep 2,782 Posts Drives: ESS/G-Power Z4M, VF Z4, 996tt Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (12) Garage List 2006 BMW Z4M [10.00] 2006 BMW Z4M [8.50] 2003 BMW Z4 3.0i [9.00]	+1 It's a common maintenance item at your car's age/mileage. I would go through an independent shop rather than the dealer. The dealer will charge several hours labor for a fairly easy job. __________________ VF Engineering Z4 3.0i, ESS Z4M, G-Power Z4M, 996 Turbo
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07-24-2015, 01:11 PM	#4
Diesel_d66 Private 8 Rep 71 Posts Drives: '07 MR Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Baltimore iTrader: (0)	thanks! any ideas what this would cost to fix (labor and parts)?
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07-24-2015, 02:36 PM	#5
Westersund Captain 496 Rep 869 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Hallstahammar iTrader: (1)	The part itself is very cheap, it's the labor that cost more. I did it myself on my E34 M5 and the gasket cost about 45$ from the BMW dealer and it took about 4 hours. But I was cleaning in the engine bay and changing spark plugs as well. Changing only the gasket will take about 1½ hour is my guess, maybe 2.
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07-24-2015, 04:09 PM	#6
GuidoK #buildnotbought 10647 Rep 4,854 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i ESS TS2+ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Tinkering in the garage iTrader: (0)	1 hour tops... The gasketset itself on ebay is $35-50 This is a very very simple procedure: http://workshop-manuals.com/bmw/z_se...ver_%28n52%29/ The only thing I don't know if it's really necessary to replace the aluminium screws. Best to keep them on hand. Oh wait, they have a special repair set of screws with # 11120409288 ($30 or so..) __________________ Z4 3.0i \| ESS TS2+ supercharger \| Quaife ATB LSD \| Brembo/BMW performance BBK front/rear \| Schrick FI cams \| Schmiedmann headers+cats \| Powerflex/strongflex PU bushings \| Vibra-technics engine mounts \| H&R anti rollbars \| KW V3 coilovers/KW camber plates \| Sachs race engineering clutch \| tons of custom sh#t
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