Valve cover off..oooh that doesn't look right :(

[biggeek]

Thanks for the replies everybody it much appreciated.

Ok, I am a total newbie at this so I was hoping I was overreacting.

I will do 5k oil changes as suggested but i will also do option 1 after the vcg works is done.

[semcoinc]

Please tell me what Brand and grade of oil that was that you were using the last 4 years.

There are several full synthetic oils that I would trust to go 10K miles or even 2 years (with maybe 8K filter changes), so I am curious what it was you were using during this time and 20K miles.

The PO may have had a lot to do with what you are seeing, hard to tell

Mike

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by semcoinc

Please tell me what Brand and grade of oil that was that you were using the last 4 years.

There are several full synthetic oils that I would trust to go 10K miles or even 2 years (with maybe 8K filter changes), so I am curious what it was you were using during this time and 20K miles.

The PO may have had a lot to do with what you are seeing, hard to tell :dunno:

Mike

If the PO was the Original Owner, then the X was under BMW's no maintenance program. No maintenance means BMW believed in 15,000 miles oil change with no monthly intervals. Lifetime transmission fluid so no normal ATF change.

Just change all the fluid while the X is still running.

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by upallnight

If the PO was the Original Owner, then the X was under BMW's no maintenance program. No maintenance means BMW believed in 15,000 miles oil change with no monthly intervals. Lifetime transmission fluid so no normal ATF change.

Just change all the fluid while the X is still running.

Agreed these vehicles should have received oil changes on synthetic every 6-7K max. Makes a world of a difference with the more frequent oil changes. BMWs oil frequency changes is just ridiculous especially with their newer turbo charged mills. My neighbor has a turbo 3 liter BMW that he purchased new and one of the things that bothered him was the oil change frequency that the dealer recommended to him. They would only change the oil every 22K or one year whichever comes first. I recommended to him that he needs to do it every 7K max and his engine will last well beyond the warranty. Its a great re-sale piece that the next owners will consider greatly on a used vehicle purchase. To the original poster, your engine is still good and more frequent oil changes will clear that up.

[V8 00USH]

Originally Posted by X53Jay4.8is

Agreed these vehicles should have received oil changes on synthetic every 6-7K max. Makes a world of a difference with the more frequent oil changes. BMWs oil frequency changes is just ridiculous especially with their newer turbo charged mills. My neighbor has a turbo 3 liter BMW that he purchased new and one of the things that bothered him was the oil change frequency that the dealer recommended to him. They would only change the oil every 22K or one year whichever comes first. I recommended to him that he needs to do it every 7K max and his engine will last well beyond the warranty. Its a great re-sale piece that the next owners will consider greatly on a used vehicle purchase. To the original poster, your engine is still good and more frequent oil changes will clear that up.

Totally agree.....I do mine 6-7k religiously on all my cars. For the cost of a tank of fuel it's worth every penny.

[biggeek]

I am going to the vacum pump seal and upper timing case gasket as well( I am convinced this was the source of my leak)


It's a cap not a hose another difference from the guides and vids


ewww


A good wipe down should restore these


that gunk was on both solenoids in the same place...i left it on the inlet one as a dirty marker... i will wipe these down with no cleaner as it is a sensor




spark look ok but there was a drop of oil on 3 and more on 4


the upper timing seal came off with the last bolt


And the pièce de résistance




well I hope to clean and put back everything over the next couple of days...wish me luck....passengers side( I am in the UK so RHD) will be a bitch because of the webasto so coolant drain first...but hey i should be able to some of those hoses out of the way.

[biggeek]

Originally Posted by semcoinc

Please tell me what Brand and grade of oil that was that you were using the last 4 years.

There are several full synthetic oils that I would trust to go 10K miles or even 2 years (with maybe 8K filter changes), so I am curious what it was you were using during this time and 20K miles.

The PO may have had a lot to do with what you are seeing, hard to tell

Mike

Castrol edge 5-30
Castrol Edge Titanium 0-30
Mann filters

Yeah, I hear you about the PO but I will increase the oil change frequency.

I will be doing an oil change after the vcg job and then again in 300/400 miles then 5k/6 months from then on....I will use cheaper(still meets spec) for the next change and Castrol from then on