Valve stem seals?

[swansea v6]

My 160,000 mile E36 323i has started to smoke a little when started. The smoke is white with a hint of blue and only occurs if the car has been laid up over night, or around 8-10 hours. There isn't a lot of smoke and the car uses no oil or water??? Could it be the valve stem seals??? Or any other ideas??
Car runs perfect with no lumpy idle or hesitancy

[SuperchargedVR6]

Plugs getting oiled up over time?

If no oil or water being used at all, are you sure it's not just steam?

[swansea v6]

Only had the car two months, I changed the plugs then and they were rather sooted, will check again this weekend? There is a def bit of blue smoke in there? But does not do it at any other time?

[SuperchargedVR6]

Maybe the guide / seal wear is just starting to get bad enough to cause oil burning, but not so much as to affect the oil level yet.

What you've described is a classic guide wear symptom though.

If there are any hills around your area, another test is to over-run down one in 3rd gear and then boot it at the bottom. If you get a cloud of blue smoke out the back, definitely guide seals!

[swansea v6]

Cheers will try that!!

[TheEnd]

Nikasil bore wear or a clogged crank case breather is more common.

[swansea v6]

Any tips on cleaning crank breather?? (PCV I guess )

[Mr2Mike]

TheEnd said:

Nikasil bore wear or a clogged crank case breather is more common.

That wouldn't cause the symptoms described by the OP i.e. blue smoke only on start up after the car has sat for a lengthy period. Those are classic symptoms of worn stem seals and possibly guides as well.