Very faint white smoke coming from passenger side of engine bay.

TheShadow · 01-28-2019, 09:15 AM

Yesterday i went for a nice drive and got the oil temp up for about 15-30miles. Came home and popped the hood to see very very faint white smoke coming from the right(passenger side) of the engine bay. The smoke was completely gone after about 1 minute. Oil level is still at max and no CEL's or errors. The smoke is so subtle and faint that I cant even capture a video of it and only noticed it when i popped the hood.

Any idea what this is?

Lmw160 · 01-28-2019, 09:35 AM

If you're driving a turbo N55, there's the possibility it's an o-ring on the turbo. Mine had the same symptoms. Talk to your service advisor, they seem to be aware of the problem.

TheShadow · 01-28-2019, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lmw160

If you're driving a turbo N55, there's the possibility it's an o-ring on the turbo. Mine had the same symptoms. Talk to your service advisor, they seem to be aware of the problem.

Is it replaceable under cpo warranty? Yes I drive a n55 turbo

XutvJet · 01-28-2019, 10:40 AM

Likely your valve cover is leaking and the oil is dripping onto the downpipe and smoking.

perryo91 · 01-28-2019, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XutvJet

Likely your valve cover is leaking and the oil is dripping onto the downpipe and smoking.

This. Try diagnosing the cheaper option first dude

Turbo is more expensive

If you can, get under the car carefully look behind the engine for oil. I saw a fresh spot through a little gap (i didnt take off the under tray) and took it in. Warranty VCG.

JaredG_F30 · 01-28-2019, 11:07 AM

This!! Look for leaks around the valve cover where it mates to the head and look for oily residue on the turbo side of the block.

Quote:

Originally Posted by XutvJet

Likely your valve cover is leaking and the oil is dripping onto the downpipe and smoking.

TheShadow · 01-28-2019, 12:05 PM

Is there anything you guys can see? I think it might be VCG too but I don't see any leaks? The light smoke was coming from this side. I'll take some better pictures when I'm home but I just drove to work and school and there was no smoke

perryo91 · 01-28-2019, 01:38 PM

Yeah those drops on the cat are what my car had...

I got mine replaced under CPO (the gasket not the cat).

Just take it to your dealer and tell them "fix plz"

Lex G · 02-15-2019, 03:03 PM

Hello, my 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 has some smoke coming from the engine bay recently. It has around 65k miles. I took it to BMW service and they can't detect/can't find what is wrong. Help please.

:

Rebound · 02-16-2019, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheShadow

Is there anything you guys can see? I think it might be VCG too but I don't see any leaks? The light smoke was coming from this side. I'll take some better pictures when I'm home but I just drove to work and school and there was no smoke

I don't see anything either. I think you should remove the beauty cover and keep it off (I keep mine off all summer), and when you see or smell the smoke, grab a picture.

If you've got the tools and skill, you might want to pull out the spark plugs, particularly the two closest to the firewall. A leaking VCG can sometimes leak oil into the spark plug opening, soaking the insulator in oil. You'd be able to tell pretty easily if oil's leaked inside there, maybe just from pulling the ignition coil off the plug.

schaltgetriebe · 02-17-2019, 08:44 AM

TheShadow ,

What is the mileage on your N55? VCG usually start leaking at 80k miles or super hot earless in the South.

TheShadow · 02-17-2019, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schaltgetriebe

TheShadow ,

What is the mileage on your N55? VCG usually start leaking at 80k miles or super hot earless in the South.

47k miles

TheShadow · 02-17-2019, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rebound

I don't see anything either. I think you should remove the beauty cover and keep it off (I keep mine off all summer), and when you see or smell the smoke, grab a picture.

If you've got the tools and skill, you might want to pull out the spark plugs, particularly the two closest to the firewall. A leaking VCG can sometimes leak oil into the spark plug opening, soaking the insulator in oil. You'd be able to tell pretty easily if oil's leaked inside there, maybe just from pulling the ignition coil off the plug.

I dont really have the tools atm, i am not sure but the smoke is so faint i cant even really grab a picture of it. The oil level is STILL at max, I don't know what its. All i know is after a good amount of driving i notice a small faint white smoke deep down on the passenger side of the engine bay for about 1-2 minutes before its completley gone. Ive already scheduled a appointment to get it checked out. Just paranoia is what i probably have, i baby this car to the max

OldCrow7xx · 02-19-2019, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XutvJet

Likely your valve cover is leaking and the oil is dripping onto the downpipe and smoking.

This is exactly what happened to me- plastic valve cover on 63k MRSP vehicle makes you wonder right?

I had it replaced and the mechanic said it would keep smoking for a while because its impossible to clean all the oil molecules off the metal surfaces.

It still smokes when I drive the car really hard and I am not sure if he actually fixed it or if something is still leaking again?

TheShadow · 02-19-2019, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldCrow7xx

Quote:

Originally Posted by XutvJet

Likely your valve cover is leaking and the oil is dripping onto the downpipe and smoking.

This is exactly what happened to me- plastic valve cover on 63k MRSP vehicle makes you wonder right?

I had it replaced and the mechanic said it would keep smoking for a while because its impossible to clean all the oil molecules off the metal surfaces.

It still smokes when I drive the car really hard and I am not sure if he actually fixed it or if something is still leaking again?

I'll let you know what happens I'm going to the dealer Monday

TheShadow · 02-25-2019, 12:18 PM

UPDATE:

Took it to dealership and it was indeed VCG leak, they are replacing it under warranty! This was at 47k miles. So you guys in the 40k range be on the look out. He said they use some kind of cleaner to remove any remaining oil and that after the test drive they are gonna check for oil leaks once more

01-28-2019, 09:15 AM	#1
TheShadow Lieutenant 302 Rep 526 Posts Drives: 335i M sport Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: louisiana iTrader: (1)	Very faint white smoke coming from passenger side of engine bay. Yesterday i went for a nice drive and got the oil temp up for about 15-30miles. Came home and popped the hood to see very very faint white smoke coming from the right(passenger side) of the engine bay. The smoke was completely gone after about 1 minute. Oil level is still at max and no CEL's or errors. The smoke is so subtle and faint that I cant even capture a video of it and only noticed it when i popped the hood. Any idea what this is?
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01-28-2019, 09:35 AM	#2
Lmw160 Private 17 Rep 60 Posts Drives: 12 335i Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Vancouver,BC iTrader: (0)	If you're driving a turbo N55, there's the possibility it's an o-ring on the turbo. Mine had the same symptoms. Talk to your service advisor, they seem to be aware of the problem.
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01-28-2019, 10:40 AM	#4
XutvJet Major General 5551 Rep 5,369 Posts Drives: 2011 Cayman Base, 2016 M235 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Kansas City iTrader: (-1)	Likely your valve cover is leaking and the oil is dripping onto the downpipe and smoking. __________________ The forest was shrinking, but the Trees kept voting for the Axe, for the Axe was clever and convinced the Trees that because his handle was made of wood, he was one of them.
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01-28-2019, 12:05 PM	#7
TheShadow Lieutenant 302 Rep 526 Posts Drives: 335i M sport Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: louisiana iTrader: (1)	Is there anything you guys can see? I think it might be VCG too but I don't see any leaks? The light smoke was coming from this side. I'll take some better pictures when I'm home but I just drove to work and school and there was no smoke Attached Images
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01-28-2019, 01:38 PM	#8
perryo91 Captain 373 Rep 937 Posts Drives: 335 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida iTrader: (1)	Yeah those drops on the cat are what my car had... I got mine replaced under CPO (the gasket not the cat). Just take it to your dealer and tell them "fix plz" __________________ Hi
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02-15-2019, 03:03 PM	#9
Lex G Enlisted Member 2 Rep 41 Posts Drives: BMW ActiveHybrid 3 Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Smoke from engine (AH3) Hello, my 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid 3 has some smoke coming from the engine bay recently. It has around 65k miles. I took it to BMW service and they can't detect/can't find what is wrong. Help please.: __________________ Lex G
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02-17-2019, 08:44 AM	#11
schaltgetriebe New Member 0 Rep 13 Posts Drives: F30 335i 6speed manual Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	TheShadow , What is the mileage on your N55? VCG usually start leaking at 80k miles or super hot earless in the South.
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02-25-2019, 12:18 PM	#16
TheShadow Lieutenant 302 Rep 526 Posts Drives: 335i M sport Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: louisiana iTrader: (1)	UPDATE: Took it to dealership and it was indeed VCG leak, they are replacing it under warranty! This was at 47k miles. So you guys in the 40k range be on the look out. He said they use some kind of cleaner to remove any remaining oil and that after the test drive they are gonna check for oil leaks once more
	Appreciate 0 Quote