Smoke from back of engine

[DJM_1706]

Afternoon all,

Started the car the other day, and could smell and see smoke coming into the cockpit. Quickly switched it off and opened the bonnet, saw smoke coming from the rear of the engine bay towards the driver side.

Used a friend’s BMW OBD reader, no error codes at all. Car seemed fine after. Had a major service done yesterday, continued to be fine, until today when I was driving on the motorway, came off at the junction and saw the same sort of smoke coming through the rear of the bonnet.

Anyone know what this could be? Smelled electrical.

 

[flybobbie]

OK check around the oil filter housing, common problem.
Mot said oil leak didn't say where, under tray and engine had film of oil.
So i looked obvious place, filter housing.
So replaced it.
https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2061082&hilit=oil+filter+housing#p2061082
Also servotronic seal can leak oil onto exhaust, i would think then you would see smoke.

 

[DJM_1706]

Had another look today, what you’re saying seems to check out, think I found a small leak of oil and it dripping down onto something causing it to burn.

 

[B21]

Had another look today, what you’re saying seems to check out, think I found a small leak of oil and it dripping down onto something causing it to burn.

Cam box gasket fails or cam box gets a crack..due to slant of engine oil always drops on the hot headers ..Simple’s

 

[DJM_1706]

This oil leak looks like it could be the culprit. Seems a screw could be loose allowing it to seep out once hot.

 

[Pondrew]

As it had a service recently, it's worth checking the oil filler cap.
I had the exact same symptoms on our last E89 and found that the garage had damaged the oil filler cap (they denied it of course). It had one of the 'wings' broken off (someone dropped it and stood on it is my guess) which was enough for oil to seep out under load/ pressure and of course it found it's way onto the exhaust manifold.