Valve Cover Gasket?

[JamesT89]

Hi there BMW people

First post here but I reckon I'm in the right place... I've had a search on the search button and couldn't find much about this subject so I hope its ok to start a new post

So I've got a 05 plate 320D Coupe with 145,000 miles on the clock (Think that classes as an E46?). Over the past few months I've noticed smoke coming through my vents when the car is stationary or going really slow, I can stop this by simply turning the heating off but its Baltic at the minute out there and my windscreen loves steaming up in the rain. I've done a bit of google searching and I'm led to believe that its the valve gasket cover that needs sorting, trouble is all 3 of the mechanics I know haven't a clue how big or small a job this is, and cant give me a price, its also now Christmas so they'll be shut and booked up etc

My last couple of MOT's have mentioned that I've a small oil leak but it said it doesn't seem anything to worry about at this current time, and also I've noticed that I'm leaving big clouds of blue smoke behind me at traffic lights around . I've been topping it up with oil whenever I see the light come on which has been about every 2-4 months. I've been getting oil services every 7k miles

Apart from this it seems to be absolutely fine.. I don't reckon its worth much anymore probably only a few hundred quid so I'm really not sure if its worth trying to get it fixed.

So after all that has anyone got any experience of getting a job like this fixed and can give me a rough estimate on what id be looking at paying or is it one of them where you'd need to see it to know the extent of the work?

Regards to you all and I'm sorry if this is something that's been covered 100's of times

[helix402]

Cam cover gaskets don’t leak very often on old diesel BMWs, at least not usually till past 200k miles. Even then it’s rare. Smoke from old BMW diesels is often due to a failing turbo or a blocked crankcase breather.

[JamesT89]

Sounds like it’s time to get rid then! Thanks very much squire you’ve made this an easier decision for me

[Bertrum]

If you have smoke in the cabin it’ll be oil leaking from the rocker cover gasket at the back of the engine, it runs along the back edge a drips off the corner onto the exhaust. (Left rear of engine) it’ll smoke as it burns off when hot.

Changing the gasket is a fairly involved job as you have to remove the injectors to get the cover off, some of the bolts are also really awkward to get too. I did mine recently and it took a couple of hours to complete. I was lucky though as my injectors came straight out, they can be stuck.

You’ll be looking at a minimum 2 hours labour plus parts. Gasket set £40 ish and copper washers for the injectors £5.

Smoke from the exhaust accelerating is probably the turbo seals.

[JamesT89]

Brilliant knowledge thanks very much. I’ll pass this on to my mechanic mate and see what he says