Bad valve guide seals or worse?

JIM E92 · 09-15-2008, 03:26 PM

I just took delivery of a BMW Certified Pre-Owned '07 328 Coupe last week. This weekend I noticed that after sitting for more than a couple hours the car will spew a pretty nasty cloud of white and blue smoke upon start up. I'm certain this is not just condensation. It's occurred with ambient air temps at 80+. The car seems to run a little rough at cold idle. Seems to misfire when cold. The oil sensor says oil level is at 4/5th. There are no faults indicated on the dash. It actually just passed smog certification today. I observed it during the test. There was no visible smoke of any kind when it was on the rollers. The blue smoke at start up makes me think that maybe the valve guide seals are bad. I have no idea why there would be white smoke with it. Maybe bad head gasket? I have made an appointment with the local dealership. This is a-little frustrating for me knowing that this may cost me some time.

Bartman619 · 09-15-2008, 05:54 PM

If the car is CPO and you still have the remaining warranty on your car then you should be fine and BMW will have to repair it. I have a 2007 328i e90, and sometimes there's some steam from moisture coming from the exhaust after startup. This goes away after the car is fully warmed up. Hopefully there's nothing wrong with your car. Whick dealer did you bring it at? I hope it's not BMW of SD.

JIM E92 · 09-15-2008, 06:38 PM

I'm sure if theres a problem BMW will cover it under warranty. It's just a hassle for me. I know what water vapor condensation from normal combustion looks like. This smoke is not that. It's partly blue smoke and has a very distinct smell of burning motor oil. I bought it from BMW North Scottsdale.

nicknaz · 09-15-2008, 06:53 PM

do you run the engine at idle at lot before driving off? I experienced something similar with my last car (tons of smoke when driving off after idling for a few minutes) It went away when I drove the car (gently) right away after start up

JIM E92 · 09-15-2008, 07:23 PM

Nope, I drive off within 30 seconds of starting up.

JIM E92 · 10-07-2008, 03:44 PM

So it turns out that the cylinder head needs to be replaced. I bought this car as CPO from BMW North Scottsdale. I'm very disappointed that they did not catch this problem in the CPO inspection process.

Bartman619 · 10-07-2008, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JIM E92

So it turns out that the cylinder head needs to be replaced. I bought this car as CPO from BMW North Scottsdale. I'm very disappointed that they did not catch this problem in the CPO inspection process.

Sorry to hear about the problem with your car. I was hoping it was something minor. Hopefully they fix it right the first time. Where are you having it fixed ?

JIM E92 · 10-08-2008, 11:23 PM

BMW San Diego. Anything I should know about them?

lipek · 10-09-2008, 11:33 AM

i go there all the time, and a part from the fact that they wash my car when i ask them not to

, they are pretty good

Dr Dre · 10-09-2008, 11:48 AM

I had the same problem before which was due to 0-30w oil. Once it was replaced with 10-40w it hasnt come back.

09-15-2008, 03:26 PM	#1
JIM E92 Lieutenant 15 Rep 410 Posts Drives: 2007 328 Coupe Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sandy Eggo iTrader: (0)	Bad valve guide seals or worse? I just took delivery of a BMW Certified Pre-Owned '07 328 Coupe last week. This weekend I noticed that after sitting for more than a couple hours the car will spew a pretty nasty cloud of white and blue smoke upon start up. I'm certain this is not just condensation. It's occurred with ambient air temps at 80+. The car seems to run a little rough at cold idle. Seems to misfire when cold. The oil sensor says oil level is at 4/5th. There are no faults indicated on the dash. It actually just passed smog certification today. I observed it during the test. There was no visible smoke of any kind when it was on the rollers. The blue smoke at start up makes me think that maybe the valve guide seals are bad. I have no idea why there would be white smoke with it. Maybe bad head gasket? I have made an appointment with the local dealership. This is a-little frustrating for me knowing that this may cost me some time.
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09-15-2008, 05:54 PM	#2
Bartman619 Captain 24 Rep 701 Posts Drives: Bimmer Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: SDCA iTrader: (2)	If the car is CPO and you still have the remaining warranty on your car then you should be fine and BMW will have to repair it. I have a 2007 328i e90, and sometimes there's some steam from moisture coming from the exhaust after startup. This goes away after the car is fully warmed up. Hopefully there's nothing wrong with your car. Whick dealer did you bring it at? I hope it's not BMW of SD.
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09-15-2008, 06:38 PM	#3
JIM E92 Lieutenant 15 Rep 410 Posts Drives: 2007 328 Coupe Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sandy Eggo iTrader: (0)	I'm sure if theres a problem BMW will cover it under warranty. It's just a hassle for me. I know what water vapor condensation from normal combustion looks like. This smoke is not that. It's partly blue smoke and has a very distinct smell of burning motor oil. I bought it from BMW North Scottsdale.
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09-15-2008, 06:53 PM	#4
nicknaz Lieutenant General 3187 Rep 10,509 Posts Drives: C6Z Join Date: May 2008 Location: NorCal iTrader: (0)	do you run the engine at idle at lot before driving off? I experienced something similar with my last car (tons of smoke when driving off after idling for a few minutes) It went away when I drove the car (gently) right away after start up
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09-15-2008, 07:23 PM	#5
JIM E92 Lieutenant 15 Rep 410 Posts Drives: 2007 328 Coupe Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sandy Eggo iTrader: (0)	Nope, I drive off within 30 seconds of starting up.
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10-07-2008, 03:44 PM	#6
JIM E92 Lieutenant 15 Rep 410 Posts Drives: 2007 328 Coupe Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sandy Eggo iTrader: (0)	So it turns out that the cylinder head needs to be replaced. I bought this car as CPO from BMW North Scottsdale. I'm very disappointed that they did not catch this problem in the CPO inspection process.
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10-08-2008, 11:23 PM	#8
JIM E92 Lieutenant 15 Rep 410 Posts Drives: 2007 328 Coupe Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sandy Eggo iTrader: (0)	BMW San Diego. Anything I should know about them?
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10-09-2008, 11:33 AM	#9
lipek Second Lieutenant 13 Rep 218 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	i go there all the time, and a part from the fact that they wash my car when i ask them not to, they are pretty good __________________ [B]Electric Red/Black leather,aluminum, 6MT, sport package, 19" Beyer Multi Staggered Chrome rims/w BF Goodrich - g-Force T/A KDW (New Tread),debadged, fujita intake,muffler delete,rouge eng ssk,3000w alpine 12" sub/w 1000w alpine digital amp,smoked led tail lights.
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10-09-2008, 11:48 AM	#10
Dr Dre New Member 0 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 2006 323i e90 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Perth, Australia iTrader: (0)	I had the same problem before which was due to 0-30w oil. Once it was replaced with 10-40w it hasnt come back.
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