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Sorry about the soft pictures, I don't have a tripod here.
Big, Big Time Poster
take a look at my spark plugs please (compression test results are up)
Ever since I got my E34 a year back its burnt oil and smoked when I first start it. It lasts only a few seconds and its gone. There is no smoke while driving. Sometimes if I start the car and don't throttle a bit to burn the oil in the cylinders properly, the spark plugs foul up and one by one stop functioning. This is a big problem during the winter, I have to change my plugs every two weeks! They have worked fine for months now that the weather is better, but fouled up again a few days back.
There is no smoke while the car runs. No smoke during throttle. Only for a few seconds after ignition.
I always use highest octane fuel, hoping it will burn hotter and keep the plugs clean.
My logic is that if it was bad piston rings it would always smoke but that's not the case.
Do I just have bad valve seals?
Last edited by infurno; 07-18-2007 at 08:37 PM.
Big, Big Time Poster
Sorry about the soft pictures, I don't have a tripod here.
4 Grand Master
The horror! THE HORROR! OMG! No freaking way... You got a monster leak... not just a freakin valve seals. What is your current mileage?
Big, Big Time Poster
sorry, I forgot to give some car data.
258,000 miles
m20, 1990 525i
4 Grand Master
Woo, these look like something off the Titanic.
Bad valve guides will make it smoke when you get off the throttle at high speed and when starting. Rings when under power.
Your pcv could be at fault. Don't know what engine you have.
A compression or leakdown test will help figure this out. Shouldn't be hard to spot with that much crap on the plugs in two weeks.
"The gas pedal wouldn't go to the floor if it weren't meant to be there"
Big, Big Time Poster
OMG......WTF... that could be a problem
bilstin HDs, eiback prokit, K&N instert, DEPO fogs, sound system, zimmerman rotors, metal master
Green Beret Special Ops
that is McNasty! Looks to me like your engine is plain worn out. It's time to either re-ring the pistons, change the valve seals, or replace the engine with something a bit younger.
95 E34 530I V2.37
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Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
John F. Kennedy
Big, Big Time Poster
Boy, worst plugs I have ever seen. Looks like mineral deposit from water/coolant.
(SOLD) 92 525ia M50 | NGK plug | JVC AR560 | EAT chip | California
Major Contributor
Big Time Poster
It always amazes me how bad an engine can get and still keep running. At 250K you're overdue for a valve job, at least. Bottom end of BMW engines is pretty tough--my local indie/guru says he generally sees the bottom on customers' cars to last till the second valve job is due. But the way to tell is with a leak down test to see that the rings are still OK. Then pull the head for a valve job, which will include new valve seals and head gasket. Toss in a new water pump too, while you're there...
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