BMW 5 Series E39 - White smoke coming through air vents

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Sun 13 May 2012 10:51
BMW 5 Series E39 - White smoke coming through air vents - Harry Pearce
Hi have noticed this a few times but after longer journeys when stopped at lights white smoke comes through the air vents and a smell of burning. It disperses when I drive off. Could this be a valve cover gasket although I can see any oil leaks... Any ideas would be a great help. The engine is not over heating and I can't see any coolant leaks.
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Sun 13 May 2012 12:31
BMW 5 Series E39 - White smoke coming through air vents - pd

It will be the valve cover gasket - very common on petrol straight 6 E39's. The oil drips onto the hot manifold and burns off and then into the air intake.

Not a big job, just need the valve cover taken off and new gasket fitted.

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Fri 18 May 2012 23:33
BMW 5 Series E39 - White smoke coming through air vents - Harry Pearce

Thanks for this thats excalty what it was

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