Blue smoke and antifreeze smell

[BMWguy]

Thanks Steve I'm glad I got ya thinking. Far as gas, I only use 93 but I must admit here New Jersey I go for the cheapest at the time. (Exxon, Getty, Valero/Mobil). As I listen to the News/Weather it's gonna be 60 degrees, hoping for mild winter weather to milk this thing until early spring.

[X5Sport]

Here's summat possibly a bit off the wall - but............

Could it be that the engine smoke is no more than unburnt fuel as the cold engine starts up on rich mode coupled with slightly skanky air conditioning filters giving a nasty smell for a few minutes perhaps?

My wife's E46 has a nasty smell, not unlike antifreeze as the a/c compressor has not been used and mould may have grown on the microfilters. She is now using the full a/c in Auto mode and this smell has become apparent, but only for a couple of minutes after cold start. Once the system warms up it all stops again. It's being serviced in the next week or so and I'm going to suggest she gets new filters.

Just a thought.

[BMWguy]

Thanks, again I can't say enough about this site. If I understand you correctly it sounds like your smell can be notice insde the vehicle. If you sit inside my X and don't look in the mirrors my truck seems fine (until lately) very slight miss that seems to clear up in a about a minute after running. I drove a Tractor & Trailer for a number of years and you're train to look in the mirrors, that's how I notice the "hint" of blue smoke. After that I would get out to see just how much smoke and detected the antifreeze smell (from the exhaust only).

I'm still holding out for a cure, not looking foward to doing a head gasket.

[X5Sport]

In that case, is the smell just of the cat warming up? They can give off various malodours depending upon manufacturer and whose petrol you use until they are up to temp.

Could be no worse than smoke from enriched mixture on cold start and smelly cold cat? (No comments from the forum, but I bet there will be!!)

[supersteve]

I was thinking along those lines also.

Are you sure it smells like antifreeze???

I get some pretty awful odors from my exhaust too some mornings. Especially after a night of my favorite beer. Not quite a cold smelly cat though. Hehehe

[BMWguy]

Everyone is thinking, great. Guys I'm sure it's antifreeze also please keep in mind the "milkly gunk" the one time on the oil cap. For about a month the wife was taking it on the weekend and she only knows one speed. "FAST". Now that she is ban untill the repair is done I think I can make it until spring.

Guys. How can I tell if my engine is M54? Or what type?

[BMWguy]

Sorry guys. Still looking for the way to determine the engine type. Anyone know? M54? M52? Is it in the VIN?

Thanks

[supersteve]

Go to the real oem web site and plug in your info. It will tell you what flavor engine you have. I believe it's a 54.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/select.do

[BMWguy]

Thanks Steve, very detailed. I must admit I'm a little concern. Also M54 was correct.

[bankerboyz]

I just read this thread and wanted to commend SuperSteve. You have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help a fellow board member in trying to diagnose a problem. Members like you make this board the absolute best. Keep it up my dear good man, keep it up!!!