Hey guys, took the car to the shop for the producing the white smoke after idling for a bit. They almost immediately say its the CCV's or valve seals. They look at the CCV'S and they're fine. So they say it must be the valve seals.

Here's what I can't get past:

I can disconnect the mass air...fire the car up, and there will be no smoke. I believe this sends the car in a fail safe mode...cuts air and fuel, but regardless no smoke.
I can also pull the dipstick where there's a very small opening and vent the crank case that way...no smoke ever, doesn't matter how long it sits.

It seems that if it were the valve seals, it would do it all the time. Can anybody explain why the smoke goes away when I vent the crank case via the dipstick?

 

You have a sealed system.
When you vent the crankcase you are introducing a leak into the system aka vacuum leak thus disturbing the system. Don't over complicate it. Replace your valve cover gaskets.
White smoke means that it's burning oil and blowing out of the exhaust. Enough of that and your Lamba probes will get fouled and need either replacing or cleaning and that's a lot of fun.

 

How do you clean o2 sensors??

 

[QUOTE=AchtungE60;1497954]You have a sealed system.
When you vent the crankcase you are introducing a leak into the system aka vacuum leak thus disturbing the system. Don't over complicate it. Replace your valve cover gaskets.
White smoke means that it's burning oil and blowing out of the exhaust. Enough of that and your Lamba probes will get fouled and need either replacing or cleaning and that's a lot of fun.[/

Has anybody replaced there valve seals? Or have most just lived with it. What about a DIY?

 

Why would you change valve cover gaskets due to white smoke? Possible vacuum leak, just like CCV'S

 

you replace the entire gasket valve seals and all. You asked I told. Do what you want. White smoke means oil is leaking into the cylinders. Check a spark plug.

 

Yea, I asked and you said replace you valve cover gasket. I've never seen a motor get oil into the combustion chamber via the valve cover gasket. Of course, if I go through the trouble of changing the valve seals I would use a new valve cover gaskets etc....

 

And this is what I meant. Perhaps we are talking about two different things. I am referring to the gaskets/seals that separate the plug chambers from the valve cover. Oil can leak into the plugs and find its way into the cylinders. When it combusts you have white smoke.
I know this is not your engine but as an example....

RealOEM.com BMW E46 328i Cylinder head cover

#16 is what i am referring to.

 

There are numerous threads on other forums regarding the fact that the 545 does a poor job of dealing with carbon build up to the point that Sea Foam doesn't work, the heads need to be removed (one guy claimed he could do this service while the heads were on the car though). Supposedly the 550 does a better job of dealing with this due to the oil cooler, but somehow I doubt that. The same issues will appear in both cars eventually.

 

I have this issue on my 06 550i. At 117k, I'm debating whether to unload the car or save up for the repair.
It will be valve stem seals and most quotes run $3,000-$8,000 to repair. God help us with these N62 engines!