[johnnybforbacon]

Hi all,
Hoping someone may be able to help....

I have an F31 330D xDrive - (3 litre N57 engine I believe)

Every now and again since the EGR recall (mine hasn't been changed yet..) I pop the bonnet when starting the car to check coolant etc. A few days ago on quite a mild morning, I started the car after it had not been used for a week. I saw very slight smoke coming from the front of the engine. It stopped after about 30 seconds. No warning lights on the dash, no smells, no levels of anything dropped...

I then drove the car for around 150 miles with no other probs or warnings. Have also used it since and each time, popped the bonnet to find no smoke anywhere and no other probs. Any idea what this could have been?

Any help would be much appreciated. Been tempted to take it into BMW but all they do these days is plug it into a computer which will still give me no idea...

Have tried to embed the video of it, but does not seem to work. Try this link to get a better idea - https://streamable.com/uv0lr

[328iX]

I want to guess something leaking slowly has had a chance to build up from sitting and its burning off. I'd take off the engine cover and check around the valve cover or the pcv connections

[Watsey]

The CCV pipe is just to the left of where the smoke is emanating from, so it's possible that something was weeping down onto the exhaust manifold. Did you notice any smell, i.e. exhaust or oil burning ? It could also just have been some condensation which was evaporating as the engine warmed.

At this stage I'd say it's nothing to worry about unless you notice it several more times.

Have a good look around with a torch to see whether there's anything obvious.

[johnnybforbacon]

Originally Posted by Watsey

The CCV pipe is just to the left of where the smoke is emanating from, so it's possible that something was weeping down onto the exhaust manifold. Did you notice any smell, i.e. exhaust or oil burning ? It could also just have been some condensation which was evaporating as the engine warmed.

At this stage I'd say it's nothing to worry about unless you notice it several more times.

Have a good look around with a torch to see whether there's anything obvious.

There was no smell at all. It was a very damp morning and even my front drive way was very slippery so potentially just something laying on it which evaporated? I've checked every time since when starting up and there has been no sign of anything. Hopefully that is all it was but I'll keep checking.

It is booked into BMW at the end of March of which they want £135 just to plug it into the error code machine... Tempted just to not bother..