Smell of burned rubber or oil coming from engine area - help

[Suzanne 74]

Hello all, sorry for being so embarrassingly atechnical on a forum like this. My 2001 automatic 530i recently started smelling of burned rubber (I initially thought) or oil (I now think). It would only do it occasionally so I wanted to have it looked at soonish but it's now gone so bad that I'd rather not drive it till a mechanic looks at it.

There is actually some smoke coming from under the bonnet after driving it for 10+ minutes - when facing the car it seems to come from under the main engine block on the left side.

None of the warning lights has come on and the car hasn't overheated. It has only been used in automatic mode and for city driving lately.

I first thought it could be the drive belt or something touching a tyre (as I thought it was rubber) but now there's smoke I fear it's something else.

Does anyone have an idea what this could be? (yes will have a mechanic look soon but am still very curious to hear your diagnoses...).

Thanks!

Edited by Suzanne 74 on Wednesday 10th February 15:27

Edited by Suzanne 74 on Wednesday 10th February 15:27

[dougc]

Have a look and make sure nothing is stuck to the exhaust manifold or system itself.

I had exactly the same problem when I ran over one of those thick plastic bags on the motorway that sand comes in. It stuck to the hot exhaust, melted on and then got stuck when the car cooled. Every day for about 3 weeks after that the car reeked of burned plastic whenever the exhaust got hot.

Not saying thats what it is, but its worth checking anyway...

[Shropshiremike]

Maybe an oil leak from one of the rcam cover bolts/gasket dropping onto hot exhaust? Engine is canted to left and exhaust is on that side?

[sparkythecat]

Leaking rocker cover gasket is likeliest cause. It's a fairly common fault on these engines. The gaskets go brittle with age. The problem can be exaggerated if you park on a slope.

[matt21]

rocker cover gasket I would bet my hat on...just went on my 2000 530iA

part 35 quid, fitting a morning or 1.15 hours at an indy.

[Pickled Piper]

What the last three people said.

pp

[Pickled Piper]

What the last three people said.

Gasket is between £20 and £40. Should be an hours labour tops to get it changed

pp