2005 X5 4.4i exhaust smoke

[electricalserv x5]

The 2 bad things about the n62 engines are the valve stem seals and the intermediate leveler................check the other post about the Levelers .............how many miles on your x5?

[electricalserv x5]

Originally Posted by Franklin_12

I have a 2005 BMW X5 4.4i that recently started smoking at idle. It recently passed inspection and all systems seem to be fine. No lose of power or engine lights. At idle the car smokes a little and then when I step on the gas after being at a light it smokes briefly then stops. Actually the car is running great right now. Any ideas what could be the problem?

How many miles on her?

[Franklin_12]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

By tank you mean the expansion tank? Can't find where it is wet with your hand after it cools down?

Yes expansion tank... I can tell it is coming from the bottom of the tank. See photo

[Franklin_12]

Originally Posted by electricalserv x5

How many miles on her?

She just broke 83,000 the other day.

[electricalserv x5]

Originally Posted by Franklin_12

Yes expansion tank... I can tell it is coming from the bottom of the tank. See photo

I don't see how that is going to effect smoke in your exhaust? Either your valve stem are shot or You CCV has failed...............

[electricalserv x5]

Originally Posted by Franklin_12

She just broke 83,000 the other day.

Lucky You , You can check a bunch of things but I would.
Check the CCV and clean them
Check the cold start [see if your engine misfires]
How often do You change Your oil? and what kind? [Use Castrol Titanium and change every 4k miles.
On cold start let the engine warm up just a bit[ these engines are all about the oil flow[trust me]
I know this is my second x5 [had the 4.6is] and just make sure the simple things are correct .They are hot running engines, they like to run but when up to temperature.
Good luck.

[Franklin_12]

Originally Posted by electricalserv x5

Lucky You , You can check a bunch of things but I would.
Check the CCV and clean them
Check the cold start [see if your engine misfires]
How often do You change Your oil? and what kind? [Use Castrol Titanium and change every 4k miles.
On cold start let the engine warm up just a bit[ these engines are all about the oil flow[trust me]
I know this is my second x5 [had the 4.6is] and just make sure the simple things are correct .They are hot running engines, they like to run but when up to temperature.
Good luck.

She has had crazy problems with cold weather engine misfiring. I have read that this is a problem that basically cannot be fixed. I just recently had the thermostat and coolant thermostat replaced and this is when the new problem began to take place.

[electricalserv x5]

the misfiring is the intermediate levelers [basically the motor on top of You heads and where they connect to the head cams ] with the low miles You should be okay[for real] check your plugs and replace them[really not hard to do ] .
Good luck.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by electricalserv x5

I don't see how that is going to effect smoke in your exhaust? Either your valve stem are shot or You CCV has failed...............

Of course it won't OP had two problems losing coolant and smoke. The smoke could have been coolant smoke. Now that coolant smoke has been eliminated and it is not black smoke that leaves oil smoke.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by Franklin_12

UPDATE:

Added coolant today and when I got home I checked for leaks. It is dripping coolant one drip every second. I looked and it seems to be coming from the tank but I can't full see where. Any suggestions? This seems like it would be a job that I can fix myself.

Replacing the expansion tank is straightforward with basic tools. Have at it.