Sucks. Sorry to hear that. What did they quote you for the repair?? I took my car to the dealer and they ran the car thought the ringer. Leak down test and all. After they told me the problem they pretty much said they can't promise it will fix the problem and that I may have to rebuild the engine. I am now driving the car around like that, white plum of smoke after any long light or traffic jam. I refuse to fix it but, now when it's really cold out, the car starts harder than a diesel engine. For now I stopped driving the car. I really don't know what the heck to do. Still owe 10 grand on the car. What a shame and loss for me. Guys on this site say it won't get worst but, I don't feel like that when I'm in the car. Feel like its gonna die anyday.

What they quote you for the repair?

Oh and by the way, nobody will take the car like that in terms of trading it in. If you tell them that is. I went to my local dealer and they didn't bother to run the engine long enough to find out. I'm seriously thinking of putting liquimoly in there and trading it in to the same guys who sold it to me. Idk gotta think about that one.

jeez that's rough......I stated I was honest but I have to say if they sold it to you with the problem they deserve it back...problem is they will probably dump it on some other sucker :confused:

The quote is a work in progress I only have what seems an estimate/ general description of the work as it is outsourced to another mechanic and am waiting on something more detailed from him.

4k for the following:
Sub contract R&R cylinder head work (valve stem)
Remove cylinder heads,
Send for rebuild,
Replace valve stem seals,
Refit cylinder heads with all new gaskets
.

Update:

My mechanic has put a different grade of oil in my engine due to the higher mileage and the associated internal leaking issues. This has helped curb the amount of smoking after idle quite dramatically compared to before. I believe the oil is Martini 10w 40.

I am sure someone very technical could provide an explanation on why not to use alternate grades of oil, but I am happy to be the guinea pig on this one. So far so good.

Given everything else that keeps breaking in this car at the moment an engine rebuild is just out of the question for me until it really needs it!

Julez,

Mate I've got the same deal - After extended idle I get a massive amount of smoke that is only cleared by revving the hell out of the engine (which I enjoy :P). I am ordering replacement valve stem seals and Pressure Regulator valves and will be replacing them within the month.

I will update you whether that works and can give you a detailed write up if you want to tackle it yourself.

Andrew

Maybe your dealers are reluctant because they do not have a reliable machine shop to send them too. We have sent out quite a good amount of cylinder heads to have the valve seals replaced, but only in E65s, E60s, and E63s. Havent seen any E53s that needed it yet (+1 for us!) but I can tell you that every single oil burning problem has been fixed by replacing the valve seals. They also
clean the entire head and install new retainers. They look brand new when we get them back and have had no problems.

Andrew,

Sorry to hear you may have joined the club. Good luck with the repairs though:thumbup:

I reckon a write up would be an awesome resource for this site....can't say I'd be ballsy enough to do it myself. Computers I can fix & build, cars on the other hand, I love em but just not experienced enough with them to do major work.

I am curious to know how many Ks were on your X when it started smoking?

It's been since I bought it with 160,000km's on it.

Wow that sux. Subscribed to see the fixes implemented.