valve stem seals

manfrmbklyn23 · #1 12-28-2011, 10:41 PM

2004 X5 4.4i 91,000m

After idling for 5 min or more my car will let out a huge cloud of smoke. The dealer says my valve stem seals are shot and there’s no sure way to guarantee the repair will fix my problem as it could possibly be a bad block as well. I have to add oil every 2 weeks or so. My question is, can I continue driving it like this or will the engine just seize up on me one day? I really don't want to pay to have it fixed as I was told it can be $7k and up repair bill. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

julezw · #2 12-28-2011, 11:33 PM

My car has been smoking for over a year now. Got the diagnosis from dealer of stem seals. My car is fine. No loss of power or response, just occasional smoke and embarrassment.
It's pretty frustrating that they can't even be certain of how to repair these issues. My dealer didn't even want discuss it with me as though it was taboo. They probably just dont want to do risky repairs

So I'm just gonna keep topping up the oil till I find out some new info. Oh and my car is practically identical to yours on make and mileage. I wonder whether its an inherent fault of the year of manufacture?

manfrmbklyn23 · #3 12-29-2011, 12:19 AM

Thanks for the info. I feel the same way. I almost thought I wrote your post LOL. I hate the embarrasment. I work in NYC and every one just can't stop looking at my car when it smokes. I read in another forum that liquimoly motor oil saver can stop the smoking for a while and works well. I think I will have to research that better before I try it.

julezw · #4 12-29-2011, 01:01 AM

Haha, comforting to know I'm not alone. I have never been to NYC but I imagine the traffic would really get your X smoking. I have used a seal rejuvenator oil additive like liquimoly. I used an Australian brand, Nulon. It worked for 1-2k kms and then the smoke returned. To my knowledge you can only add one treatment per oil drain, so I'm waiting till the next to try Liquimoly

manfrmbklyn23 · #5 12-29-2011, 01:06 AM

Yes the trafiic is a nightmare and gives me anxiety to know that I am going to polute the whole street. I tell my wife we look like exterminators when we drive by. Ah ha, so you still get oil changes? I am technically due for an oil change soon but, I second guess getting one as I am constantly pouring in new oil myself. Do I really need to change the oil? I am racing to the store to buy liquimoly.

julezw · #6 12-29-2011, 01:23 AM

Exterminators, that's a funny one. Well you still have to change the oil filter and drain out the oil in the process so I suppose you can see what the oil looks like and take it from there? I hope the liquimoly works better than the Nulon

Blue4.8is · #7 04-25-2013, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manfrmbklyn23

Yes the trafiic is a nightmare and gives me anxiety to know that I am going to polute the whole street. I tell my wife we look like exterminators when we drive by. Ah ha, so you still get oil changes? I am technically due for an oil change soon but, I second guess getting one as I am constantly pouring in new oil myself. Do I really need to change the oil? I am racing to the store to buy liquimoly.

I used liquimoly motor oil saver that i got from autohausaz.com . No luck. Still smoke. I also changed my CCVs and Use a heavy weight oil. Still no luck.

candymaine · #8 10-03-2013, 01:36 PM

same issue. I swear the dealer KNEW about this issue when they sold it. I had it checked out but nothing came up on computer as an alert.
now... smoking after idle and the huge plume of smoke... makes drive thru at starbucks impossible. trying to find the humor. dealer quoted 7k to fix.
sucks. I really liked this truck ... not sure what I am going to do with it.

A B Able Truck · #9 10-04-2013, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by candymaine

same issue. I swear the dealer KNEW about this issue when they sold it. I had it checked out but nothing came up on computer as an alert.
now... smoking after idle and the huge plume of smoke... makes drive thru at starbucks impossible. trying to find the humor. dealer quoted 7k to fix.
sucks. I really liked this truck ... not sure what I am going to do with it.

A lot of reading but good info/debate on this issue;

545i Blue smoke after idle, Valve seals? - Page 12 - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums

Bulk · #10 10-09-2013, 07:13 AM

I actually never replaced my Valve Stem Seals. I replaced every piece of rubber that connects to the valve covers (There's a lot). Issue is almost completely fixed. Every once and a while after sitting for a very long time I'll let off a very small puff of smoke and I still have that slight oil smell to the exhaust but it's no where near the issue I used to have. I think one day I'll replace the valve stem seals just cause but for now it's very liveable