Smoke engine bay smelled like melting plastic/ electrical

[salnj]

2002 x5 3.0
As I pulled to the driveway and outting the car in Park Noticed smoke from under the hood. Opened the hood and the smoke is coming from under the air filter intake on top of the radiator. No app errant leak fro the area and smelled like burning plastic or electrical. Removed the air filter intake and same no apparent radiator leak. Checked the hoses and all good.
Checked forum and people mentioned following:
Vcg- no aparent leak. I checked around with my fingers.
Oil separator-Oil dipstick and cap found yellow substance. I check them once a weak I guess that is the start of a bad oil separator.
Coolant all hoses intact.

If anyone have any insight to this issue please let me know.

Thanks Sal

[Riba]

If it smelled as you described, why are you suspecting oil or coolant leak? I would take a closer look at the alternator.

[salnj]

Originally Posted by Riba

If it smelled as you described, why are you suspecting oil or coolant leak? I would take a closer look at the alternator.

Since the smoke was coming from the radiator area I figured I will check. That was what i thought 1st till i realized the smell is not coolant.

Would the alternator cause smoke?

[BavarianE39]

Any oil on the metal splash guard under the car, possibly your Oil filter stand gasket ?

[salnj]

Originally Posted by BavarianE39

Any oil on the metal splash guard under the car, possibly your Oil filter stand gasket ?

I will check in the morning

[Riba]

This reminds me that some time ago I had something similar happen to me, not with an X5 though. I heard a muffled noise while on the highway, and when I pulled over there was a strong smell of burning plastic and thick white smoke coming from under the hood. After it cleared up I inspected the engine area and could not find anything.
I continued on, and the car ran fine for a long time after that incident. I never actually figured out what has happened there, but eventually I concluded that a plastic bag might have stuck to the exhaust and burned away. I had no other explanation. Of course exhaust in X5 is nowhere near radiator, but maybe it wasn't really originating from there.

[4.8isX5]

Check your pulleys, i had the same thing, maybe yours didnt fubar as bad as mine did but there was a weird burning smell coming from engine bay didnt know what it was until i found it..

heres some pics from my thread..

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...yesterday.html

[salnj]

Originally Posted by 4.8isX5

Check your pulleys, i had the same thing, maybe yours didnt fubar as bad as mine did but there was a weird burning smell coming from engine bay didnt know what it was until i found it..

heres some pics from my thread..

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...yesterday.html

Checked Exhaust and no sign of burned bag.
No oil drip on metal pan
pulleys and belts are all good no sign of wear or striped pulleys

Looking under the air-filter housing found a loose hose but have no idea what it is.

[salnj]

Picture of loose hose

[upallnight]

Electrical smell and smoking coming from the air intake on top of the radiator, most likely the aux fan has given up the ghost. Go to the fuse box behind the glove compartment and pull the 50 amp, yes that right the 50 amp fuse and see if it has popped. If it has popped the fan is toast.

Or you can disconnect the electrical plug for the aux fan and use a volt meter to test for voltage. If none of the thick wires on the connector have 12 volts you found your problem. Key does not have to be in the ignition as voltage is present all the time.