(Advise) E70 2010 X5 35D Possible Cylinder Head Gasket

[mamet]

2010/X5/E70 35D
Hello everyone, I am looking for an advise; I have been troubleshooting a leak by the flywheel the led me to this finding. I see what it seems to me coolant in the combustion chamber of injector # 4. does that look like I am in for Cylinder Head Gasket replacement; if so what else should I replace while I am going that route, any DYI that you know of that I can follow along with the side of newTis.

what tool should I get to remove the drive belt (elastobelt) for the air conditioning compressor (M57T2-SCR). the BMW tool is 110331. do you know of any equivalent?

Thanks!

[smassey321]

To replace the AC belt these are the tools.

https://www.tunemyeuro.com/m57-tool-...ing-the-crank/
https://www.tunemyeuro.com/lisle-593...l-for-bmw-m57/

You may want to send your oil to blackstone for analysis.

[mamet]

Originally Posted by smassey321

To replace the AC belt these are the tools.

https://www.tunemyeuro.com/m57-tool-...ing-the-crank/
https://www.tunemyeuro.com/lisle-593...l-for-bmw-m57/

You may want to send your oil to blackstone for analysis.

Thank you! someone has suggested that this liquid could be from the liquid wrench that I sprayed to take out the injector. I attempted to vacuum it out but I wasn't able to. so I used my endoscope camera and I started to mimic the oil behavior seeping down the chamber. I was able to capture a drop of gunk that fell in the same location as the oil. take a look at this video where I had to slow it down and repeat it to show the effect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ues-rLNnXHU

I like this smart idea of oil testing to confirm this finding; Thank you!

[mamet]

Question for you guys, E70 35D, I have what it looks like a leak dripping from the flywheel where the transmission and the engine meet. after further investigation with the endoscope camera, it looks like it's coming from the top and under the exhaust manifold. see the picture and let me know what you think, is this a cylinder head? the leak is watery paste like similar to what you get out of the intake manifold if the rubber seal has failed. if this is the Head, any DIY for M57 engine?

[robnitro]

If it's watery it probably is coming from the valve cover or the intake manifold gaskets or swirl flaps. It's watery because it's ccv gasses which is oil and water vapor mixed.

[mamet]

Originally Posted by robnitro

If it's watery it probably is coming from the valve cover or the intake manifold gaskets or swirl flaps. It's watery because it's ccv gasses which is oil and water vapor mixed.

this is from the exhaust manifold side; the cylinder head cover gasket seems to be fine from that area. it's very clean no dripping. and around the exhaust manifold seems to be clean as well. However, I see residue where the cylinder head meets the block in multiple areas under the exhaust manifold. it's in so tight place that I have to take few parts (turbocharger, the vacuum near the exhaust) to investigate further. my gut analysis thinks there is microscopic fumes escape in the exhaust cycle (see image) due to slight damage to the gasket under pressure.

it's so complicated with this M57 in comparison to other engines where there is no DPF and cooler. I just don't believe the amount of work involved with this task. to take the cylinder head gasket I have to remove the exhaust, engine left support arm, lower subframe to get to remove the DPF to enable remove the exhaust manifold to clear for cylinder head removal. now here is a kicker, to remove the head after all this work you have to remove the cams, to get to the bolts that hold the cylinder head to the engine block which ultimately you will require the need to time it back when re-installed.

from the intake side, you have to remove the usual and so many parts. so Question to BMW engineers if you are reading this, who was on the design committee to make this process such a complicated one, why-why BMW? do you guys consider maintenance and preventative measures in your design? or just put things together and don't care about after the fact as long as you are making x$$$$ in profit.

it's so frustrating; if I was that type of a guy who has the ability to sell something knowing there is something wrong with it without saying anything. I would have put back together and sold it. but I am not that guy. so any pointer is truly appreciated it to get this damn thing back on the road.