Low mileage for the year.

Assume if you are the original owner, you do not drive very far to and from work?

I would monitor the engine temperature to see if the thermostat is soft AND make sure you "Manage" the yellow Mayo in the engine.

From the looks of your picture, your engine oil is in BAD shape. A cold running engine that is not driven long enough to properly warm up the oil can cause oil to be contaminated in as little as 1000-1500 miles in the Winter months.

Management is actually pretty easy. It involves a few times a week popping the hood in the morning and checking the underside of the oil fill cap and also pulling the dipstick and check the engine oil color. The engine oil should never be BLACK if the crankcase is getting warm enough. If there is yellow Mayo under the oil fill cap, make sure the engine is running at the problem temperature. Typically 96C-105C depending on the configuration of this engine. I do not know it as well as the N62 in the E70 which runs TOO hot in my opinion and it typically has an operating temperature of around 105-110C.

Management also means pulling the oil fill cap after coming home with a very warm engine and removing the oil fill cap and letting the crankcase vent openly overnight while the engine cools. The only trick is not forgetting to reinstall the oil fill cap. Sometimes I suggest putting the oil fill cap in a plastic sandwich bag, dropping the drivers window about 1/2" and then rolling the bag end up in the window with the bag on the outside so it is starting you in the face when you go to get into the car.

Good luck, hopefully the repair is not bad, hopefully no cracked valve cover(s) or other damage, but I would like to see what the oil looks like in the engine an what the upper valvetrain looks like if the valve covers need to be removed.

My guess is this is a big time Mayo motor?

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2008 4.8i Black with Tabacco. Black Y-spoke wheels and shadowline trim.