Getriebe: Blauer Qualm im Leerlauf

[Tinnemeneer]

Hello,

First I want to apologise for writing in English. I live in the Netherlands and do speak a little german, but not enough to ask these questions (or understand technical answers).
Second, I want to apologise for intruding in your forum as I have a E64 instead of a E65/E66. The reason I come here is that you have had 3 years more to get into problems with the N62B44 engine then E60-E64 owners.
I already asked my questions on an American E60 forum but the answers were not conclusive, so I would like to have your opinion.

In case you wonder; I did ask permission to post this question from the moderators.

So these are my questions;

A week ago when I was in a traffic jam for half an hour my car started to blow a lot of blueish smoke out of 1 exhaust. My first thought was that one of the gaskets had blown but as I always have extra oil (for the engine) and water (for me) in the car I wasn't to worried, so I continued my journey home.

The next day at a BMW dealership they checked the CCV (I check it myself as well the next day, using  BMW CCV Replacement on N62 8 Cylinder Engine - YouTube as a guide), that the vacuum was to high and that the oild level was low.
The also told me I needed a complete engine revision, and that it would cost me approx E 6000,-.

As that is a lot of money to 'invest' in an almost 10 year old car I told them I'd think about what to do.

I already know it is no a uncommon problem with the N62 engine, especially after 150.000km, which my car has done as well (158.000km).
I also know that although -something- needs to be done, but I'm not sure what.

Do I need a complete revision, or is replacing the valve stem seals enough? To be honest, I don't know what valve stem seals are, or how much cheaper is is compared to a full revision.

Some people think a product named seafoam ( Homepage - Sea Foam Sales Company) might help but I don't know if that is available in the Netherlands or Germany.

I also learned that it might have something to do with the valve lift being 0.8 instead of 0.3 when idling. I don't know if that makes sense as I'd expect that both banks of the engine would have the same height and the smoke only comes out of 1 exhaust.

I drive approx 1000km/week and the oil fill light hasn't started burning yet, so the oil useage is most likely lower then 1000:1.

Primary question;
Do you have any advise on what to do?

Secondary questions;

what would it cost to do this in Germany and do you know a good place to get it done near Papenburg or Leer?

If I do need a complete revision, would this be a good time to enlarge the engine to 4.8 or is that just a stupid idea? How much extra would that cost anyway? I know noellemotors used to offer engine enlargements for approx E 15.000,- but that included special crafted parts.

Kind regards,
Martin

[Hisholy]

Hello Martin,

the valve stem seals are down. It's typical for the N62 engine...
It's enough to change them, there's no need to do a complete engine revision.

Kind regards, Stefan

[Tinnemeneer]

Zitat von Hisholy

Hello Martin,

the valve stem seals are down. It's typical for the N62 engine...
It's enough to change them, there's no need to do a complete engine revision.

Kind regards, Stefan

Hello Stefan,
That's a good solid answer.
No hesitation, just the answer.

Any idea what that would cost, roughly?

Say in the order of E 500,-, E 1000,- or E 2000,- ?

Kind regards,
Martin

[Hisholy]

The answer will not please you, in a regular garage between 4000 and 5000 €

[Tinnemeneer]

Hi Stefan,

I'm not pleased at all. :(

The difference in costs compared to a complete revision is a lot smaller than I expected.

Any idea how much cheaper a non-dealer would be? And do you happen to know one ?

I was happy for about half an hour after your first answer, now I'm depressed again.

Martin

[Hisholy]

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