head gasket

[sal_park]

Have a look at my thread

What engine ?

Get a cylinder compression test done.

Get a coolant pressure test done.

change the boots on the plugs. (bad rubber here can cause the white smoke, although this wouldn't explain coolant loss).

If you're going to do it DIY get hold of a bentley.

For the M50 you'll need (at least) the following tools:

Cam locking tool, Cam timing tool, thin torx and torx set

[Ferret]

Have a look at my thread

What engine ?

Get a cylinder compression test done.

Get a coolant pressure test done.

change the boots on the plugs. (bad rubber here can cause the white smoke, although this wouldn't explain coolant loss).

If you're going to do it DIY get hold of a bentley.

For the M50 you'll need (at least) the following tools:

Cam locking tool, Cam timing tool, thin torx and torx set

Never bothered with the cam tools, straight edged steel rule did for me
However, I'll concede I've never done a VANOS engine - I've heard they can be... tricky.