[Ins_328]

I'm almost ready to fight myself lol. Picked up the car from dealership couple days ago, drove it 10 miles home, parked it for 3 days until I can register it. Started the car, drove less then a mile and start noticing smoky smell. Stopped, opened the hood and there is oil leaking from it and burnt smell. Can anybody tell me how bad it looks and what needs to be fixed? Don't have any lights on the dash. Pics attached
Dealership was busted by police couple days after so I have to take care of this myself
Odometer is only 35k miles

[Efthreeoh]

Just Google "E90 Valve Cover Gasket" you'll get all the information necessary. The valve cover is leaking oil. The DIY section has several DIYs for it. Common problem with the N52.

[Joebie]

That's a valve cover gasket leak. One of the 3 or so gaskets that WILL leak eventually, so don't beat yourself up too much. it happens to every e90 owner at some point.

Just google N52 valve cover gasket DIY and pic one of the many guides out there to follow.

$50 DIY or $600 at a shop. Not too hard, just time consuming if you've never done it before.

Good luck!

[Ins_328]

Originally Posted by Joester

That's a valve cover gasket leak. One of the 3 or so gaskets that WILL leak eventually, so don't beat yourself up too much. it happens to every e90 owner at some point.

Just google N52 valve cover gasket DIY and pic one of the many guides out there to follow.

$50 DIY or $600 at a shop. Not too hard, just time consuming if you've never done it before.

Good luck!

Is there any harm to the engine? Or as long as I fix it everything should be fine?

[CTinline-six]

If it leaks enough it will start dripping on the manifold and cause smoke and a burning smell.

My 2009 328i did this at 34,000 miles, but it was 9 years old at the time. The cover is plastic, and I would just replace it since it is either leaking or cracked. No point in taking it all apart to find it is cracked anyway. Mine was replaced under the 15 year/150,000 mile SULEV warranty since I have an N51, and they replaced the whole cover because it was cracked.

[Joebie]

Ins_328 since you have a SULEV N51 engine you might actually be able to get this fixed for free at the BMW dealer. Not sure of the details.

[Ins_328]

Already called BMW, thank you guys. Yeah, it dripping on manifold

[Ins_328]

Originally Posted by Joester

Ins_328 since you have a SULEV N51 engine you might actually be able to get this fixed for free at the BMW dealer. Not sure of the details.

Can I drive it to the dealer or I have to tow it to the dealership? It's like 10 miles drive.

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by Ins_328

Can I drive it to the dealer or I have to tow it to the dealership? It's like 10 miles drive.

I would drive it. 10 miles isn't far.

I'm assuming the leak isn't that bad and you don't have the low oil warning ("+1 qt" message on the center display between the gauges).

If the valve cover gasket is leaking, I wouldn't be surprised if the oil filter housing gasket is leaking as well. It's the second of the three common gasket leaks on these engines. It's a $10 part and you could do it yourself in about an hour or two with the right tools, but the dealers usually charge a lot for the work and I don't think it's covered by the SULEV warranty. I'm just throwing this out so you're not surprised if they tell you that it also needs to be fixed. If you're not comfortable doing it yourself, see if you can negotiate and get them to do it for a good price. The oil pan gasket is the other one. If you really have 30 some thousand miles then it likely isn't leaking... yet.

[jarsdad1]

You left us hanging about the dealership being busted.

[Joebie]

The valve cover leaking oil is not a danger to your engine, unless its literally pouring onto the ground, or you run low on oil and ignore the warnings.

If you dont mind the smell, you could daily the car for weeks or months with no real damage besides stained headers and burnt oil smell, as long as you keep the oil level correct.

Drive it all you want, just keep an eye on the oil level and get the leak fixed as soon as is convenient for you.

[ramp]

I recently did mine. A little over 100K miles. Ended up replacing the valve cover as well.

[Gamb1t]

Originally Posted by Ins_328

.....
Dealership was busted by police couple days after so I have to take care of this myself
Odometer is only 35k miles

Never mind the VCG! I want to know more about the dealership by the five-oh treatment!

[Ins_328]

Originally Posted by Gamb1t

Never mind the VCG! I want to know more about the dealership by the five-oh treatment!

They was doing business with flooring planner company. They buying the cars let's say for 10k but bank owns the title until they sell the car. So he bought the car for 10k, sold if for 14k, but he owns bank 11k. And I think he didn't pay off some cars in time so bank just repossessed all the cars from his lot and next day police showed up because people paid him about 80k total in cash for 6 or 7 cars and never received the title nor the car( obviously because bank owned those cars and nobody knows what dealer did with customers money instead of paying off the car to get the title and give the car to customer). At least I got somewhat good deal, paid 12 k for it with 35k miles and 2 owners

[lowrydr310]

Originally Posted by Ins_328

At least I got somewhat good deal, paid 12 k for it with 35k miles and 2 owners

Did you get a title?

[Ins_328]

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

Did you get a title?

Yeah, bank sent me a title, it's on it's way