Rocker cover advice needed

[Z4_ATB]

Got the low oil warning the other day saying 1.0 required, so put 1.0 in and the electronic oil display showed 5/5 full

Went on a ride over the Cat and Fiddle with my cousin on his 2.0 today and coming back we had some spirited driving fun with the final bit really driving hard on acceleration etc - suddenly in an S bend I got a whiff of oil and saw a lot of smoke... pulled over and noticed some smoke coming out of the bonnet so flipped it and looks like some oil is leaking on to the exhaust manifold, but couldn’t actually see any leaks in action - so not sure whether this is just due to me having the oil topped up to its limit and the spirited driving, or if of course I now need to have the rocker gasket replaced, and if the latter, any advice on what me needed/recommended or even a guide?

Thanks

 

[Smartbear]

Could it have been some spillage from when you topped the engine up? Seems a bit of a coincidence :?
Rob

 

[Z4_ATB]

Definitely not as I made no mess at all BUT I wasn’t sure if it was anything to do with it being so full...

Also it was a 60 mile return ride and the last few miles we were redlining so really giving it some

 

[Mr Tidy]

I don't think it is much more likely to leak just because it is full, after all the oil is under some pressure from the pump whatever volume of oil the engine contains.

I think I'd start by cleaning thoroughly all around the cam-cover then next time I used the car see if it's possible to see any leakage.

Good luck finding the problem and getting it fixed.

 

[colb]

Z4 E85 Cam Cover Gasket replacement
When changing the cam cover gasket always best to get yourself a complete set that includes the main gasket, centre plug well gaskets and the 15 round rubber sealing washers for under the cover retaining bolts. All of these go hard and brittle over time from the repeated heat cycles they go through.
BMW advise using gasket sealant only around the half moon shapes at the front and back of the cam cover where the gasket changes direction. I use blue Hylomar sealant on these positions and between the Vanos unit at the front of the cover.
With the round sealing washers renewed it allows them to be compressed to provide a good seal when the retaining bolts are torqued down.
Always remember any leaks that occur from these gaskets will not only allow oil to escape and drip on the hot exhaust and in the case of the centre plug well gaskets allow oil to drown the spark plug sitting in the wells. Any leaks will also allow air to get in the engines vacuum system and cause running issues.

 

[Thrustyjust]

Nice looking car. What splitter is that on the front ?
As for rocker cover gaskets, sure yours is different to the one I just did on mine, but Col is the man for help on this. I would double check by removing the outer cover to see if there is any pools of oil underneath.