Time for valve stem seals... 2005, 4.4i, 113,000 miles

[Purplefade]

As I said to X5only, I was going to try and video the entire job and then do some editing... but the garage owner won’t let me... he said I was totally cool to pic as much as I wanted to, but no video... I’m still pushing the issue a bit, but being nice enough to lend me his entire garage so that I can pull the X right into the middle and setup all of my LED lighting and shelving to lay everything out on... I’m not going to push too hard ☹️

[andrewwynn]

Use time lapse mode. No video just a picture every second or two.


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[X5only]

Yep, as Andrewwynn says. I cannot reiterate this enough:take as many pics as possible before you make the next move as you work. It saved me in reassembling things back together exactly the way they were before. At times one gets too confident, stops work for the day, and then the next work session becomes a hustle as you put things together.

[SlickGT1]

Originally Posted by Purplefade

Ha! “Devil gasket”, “Masturbate with a cheese grater” - you guys crack my ass up, that’s historical!

I know it’s a total bitch... but I have the slightest bit of dampness that I managed to track back to what I think is that mofo bracket... so I figured... while I was in there I might as well do a little suffering... TRUST ME, if I get everything cleaned up nicely and I find it to not be that gasket - I will happily forego that torture for when it’s absolutely necessary!!

With FCP being so easy to return to, I figured I would err on the side of have and not need vs need and not have... and then have to wait. That said, for what the odds and ends parts set me back, I’ll shelve them until I do need them since it really isn’t if, it’s more when...

Very true. That gasket is cheap as a beer. How do you like buying a $5.00 gasket for 10 hours of work? I made a write up on this by the way. It’s a bitch, especially with both axles having to come out. Some people having a nightmare when their axles are stuck in there, I was very fortunate that my originals came out with a regular crow bar love tap.

It’s a devil gasket because BMW gave us the horns by using cheap shit in a spot that is protected by the Jesus bolt. The Jesus bolt is the one that it right behind the diff. As in, Jesus, which mofo put this forking bolt right behind the diff?

[Quicksilver]

I didn't go thru all the post responding to the OP But I did have this problem.
I did find this info but replaced the CVC diaphragms before reading the solutions listed here.
https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...lem-fixed.html. My blue smoke is gone for the time being.
Who knows you may find a simple fix also.

Originally Posted by Purplefade

Hi guys, being a do it yourselfer, I think it is time for me to tackle the dreaded valve stem seal replacement job on my 4.4i.

I’m definitely open to suggestions but at 113k miles and smoking like a mosquito fogger after idling for even a few minutes (nice big plume of white smoke) I think it’s time to bite the bullet.

I have replaced all of the CCV components, bumped my oil to 10w40 synthetic and still smoking after any kind of “minor” idle time.

Strange thing is that it came on quick, like one day I didn’t notice it and the next day POW, smoke, and it only seems to be getting worse.

No loss of power, no rough idle, no codes, nothing but smoke and sticky tail pipes.

Thoughts?

[Purplefade]

Time laps! I like that, I think that may just work! - Good Call!!

Quicksilver, I’ve been through the CCV and actually replaced the diaphragms once and then all of the tubing and diaphragms a second time... I was hopeful but to no avail...

With the CCV being clean and new, I jumped up to thicker oil and restore, that actually worked for a bit but when the extended idle smoking came back... it came back with a vengeance!

Sitting at just under 115k and looking at all of the posts here and elsewhere... I’m sad to say, I believe I have fallen victim to cheap VSS from BMW ☹️

I have even gone through the majority of the vacuum lines, etc, just as a what if scenario and everything seems solid. I hate to say now that I have everything I’m committed... but planning to keep the X for as long as I possibly can, it’s nearly inevitable that I will be doing them sooner or later, so... painfully... I think now that I have everything that I’m just going to dive in and do them.

As for that mondo pain alternator gasket, if I can absolutely confirm that it is dry - that little sucker isn’t getting done... yet

[Purplefade]

I officially have everything ready - the pain and suffering will commence this coming Tuesday!

I will keep the masses posted on my progress for sure - wish me luck!

[X5only]

All the best, Purplefade, we got your back, have fun . Be careful of the spring keepers, they tend to fly out and play hide and seek .

[EODguy]

Originally Posted by Purplefade

I officially have everything ready - the pain and suffering will commence this coming Tuesday!

I will keep the masses posted on my progress for sure - wish me luck!

Good luck and make sure you have all the little extras.....

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[Purplefade]

Originally Posted by EODguy

Good luck and make sure you have all the little extras.....

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