[stephenkirsh]

So I finally got the car back on the road.

I think the problem was simply 2 of the 3 bolts on the exhaust cam cover. One was over-torqued and it snapped off. The other was under-torqued and worked itself loose.

Eventually the high oil pressure in that area cut through the o-ring for the cover, and that's what blew oil everywhere.

I don't think the VANOS oil line failed, but since the motor is at 93k, I changed it to a flexible line from Bimmerworld anyway.

Raj at Beisan Systems sold me replacement o-rings and the OE bolts.