e39 heater problem looming....

[physprof]

got a 528i se auto...10 yrs old 120k on it now and in last couple of years a few the well know engine heating/cooling maladies have afflicted it; couple of sensors and pipes etc replaced.

recently when idling or stopped in traffic with the heating function on climate control the smell in cabin is a bit like ingress of oil/engine smell.... (internet needs scratch n' sniff really) - the smell seems to go away on the move and definitely not due to picking up smell from third party, happens when sitting on driveway.

any suggestions to guide independent on repair rather than get stiffed for several hours of "diagnostic" labour far less if it has to go to dealer. heater element? heat from engine contamination?

cheers

[physprof]

physprof said:

got a 528i se auto...10 yrs old 120k on it now and in last couple of years a few the well know engine heating/cooling maladies have afflicted it; couple of sensors and pipes etc replaced.

recently when idling or stopped in traffic with the heating function on climate control the smell in cabin is a bit like ingress of oil/engine smell.... (internet needs scratch n' sniff really) - the smell seems to go away on the move and definitely not due to picking up smell from third party, happens when sitting on driveway.

any suggestions to guide independent on repair rather than get stiffed for several hours of "diagnostic" labour far less if it has to go to dealer. heater element? heat from engine contamination?

cheers

bump....

[David87M3]

oil leak in engine? there will be less air movement at speed thus masking the smell??? just a guess.
can you smell the smell if you lift the bonnet?

[Fox-]

Rocker cover gasket? Allows oil to leak onto the manifold, which burns it off and makes a smell.

[physprof]

looks like this might be the problem....oil leak... had to do a top up and in daylight noticed this at front of engine....

so where from - rocker gasket??

see pics below




and from side...


and down on heater pump(??) - oil .....

[< FORZA WEST]

Can see from pic number 2 that the leak is from the gasket, can just see the pinch directly under the bolt where the cover meets the head.

Chances are the gasket wasnt quite seated corrctly last time it was off.

You require a new set of cam cover gaskets.And then a steam clean.

[physprof]

[quote=< FORZA WEST]Can see from pic number 2 that the leak is from the gasket, can just see the pinch directly under the bolt where the cover meets the head.

Chances are the gasket wasnt quite seated corrctly last time it was off.

You require a new set of cam cover gaskets.And then a steam clean.
[/quote]

good spot....last service was dealer...any redress for poorly located gasket?

car is on last green light 'till oil service - worth getting it in ASAP or cleaning the mess up, watching the oil level closely and hanging on another 1000 miles till service due??


ta...

[Fox-]

I doubt it was done during a service as you wouldnt remove it during a service. The M54's certainly are prone to this happening once they get to about 120k miles so it's not suprising the M52 does it as well.

It's cheap and easy to fix.

[physprof]

Fox- said:

It's cheap and easy to fix.

phew!

[< FORZA WEST]

as FOX said the dealer wont have taken the cam cover off at service or any of the services...Its normally only off during remedial work ie vanos,cam,head gasket or even cam cover gasket.

It is a cheap repair unless a dealers doing it!

[physprof]

Word of thanks.

Gasket replaced - 70 notes - 10 days ago and all seems much better.