Is it Time to Let it Go?

[realast8]

Hi Everyone,

I have a 2008 X5 4.8 with 170k kms. I've been burning oil for some time now and it has gotten to the point where I am adding 1 litre /5k kms. Also when I idle for a few minutes, I get a huge puff of smoke when I drive off.

Is this an easy fix or should I move on to a newer car? I really love the look of this truck and would prefer not to get rid of it but if I'm headed for bigger issues, I'm willing to let it go.

Any advise?

[604nguyen]

Sounds like your valve stem seals are shot. I had mine replaced at 85,000kms last March (luckily under warranty). My dealer out here in Vancouver told me it would have been at least a 10-15k+ job outside of warranty.

Mine was burning a liter of oil every 2000kms, and blew thick smoke after a prolonged idle.

My repair included engine removal.
Re and re of valve cover and timing cover , and cylinder head gasketS.
Cylinder heads sent to machine shop for re machining
Replace each individual valve seal. (and replaced any bent valves as required)

my car sat in the shop for 2 months.

You may as well replace the coolant valley pipe while you're at it since the engine is already half dismantled.

hands down, this has to be the least reliable car i've ever owned. I visit the shop more often than my dentist.

[omgboost]

There is a forum member on another board (maybe he's here too) that does valve stem job for $2500. Takes a weekend to do the job. His day job is a master tech at BMW dealership. Look around and see if you can find a indy to do it for cheaper than the stealership.

[Bigtimekegger]

sounds like similar symptoms that I had recently.... my opinion is that if you do not fix the valve stem promptly... as in my case it was never completely fixed properly... the engine will eventually blow as it begins to run hot. In my case it was a 30k plus job, after the cylinder head cracked... likely because of BMW failing to fix the valve stem properly the first time.

[maddie]

My car is at the dealership now cost me 10k to fix with 51000 miles. thanks for the warranty at 1st they were reluctant to pay for the repairs stating its a BMW issue, there whats the repair look like
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BMW
EXPAND/MODIFY OPERATIONS
E70 X5 I l
OP NUMBER 1134190 TOTAL $ 9034.85
MODIFIER
. OPERATION VALVE STEM SEALS LEAKING
. DESCRIPTION : 5UXZV8C59CL425152
. HOURS 50. 00 LABOR: 7500.00 SPG LABOR CODE :
PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION REQ AVAIL PRICE TOTAL
. BMI 1- 7-567-765 CYLINDER HEAD GASKET 2 3 140 . 95 281. 90
. BM82-14-1-467-704 COOLANT 2 123 24 . 98 49. 96
. BMI 1-34-0-039-494 REPAIR KIT VALVE SEA 2 2 92 .26 184 .52
. BMI 1- -7-566-289 PROFILE-GASKET 1 2 51 . 62 51. 62
. BMI 1- -7-566-288 PROFILE-GASKET 1 2 51. 62 51 . 62
. BMI 1- -7-566-290 GASKET 2 3 9. 60 19.20
| 10 . BMI 1-12-7-566-281 GASKET 2 3 12 . 64 25.28
| 11 . BMI 1- -7-548-459 SET OF GASKETS 4 4 13 . 51 54 . 04
| 12 . BMI 1- -7-564-346 CENTRAL SCREW 4 15 9.88 39.52
| 13 . BMI 1- 7-572-792 O-RING 1 3 7.19 7 . 19
. BM33-41-1-133-785 COLLAR NUT 2 20 17 . 43 34 . 86 |
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BMW
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