I have owned an 04 530i for about 2 months and have noticed blue smoke coming from the tailpipe on three separate occasions. Here are the details:

Mileage: 49K
When it occurs: After sitting for at least one day and only at the initial start, no daily repeats.

I can clearly see the smoke from the rear view mirror and now look for it each time I start the car.

Does anyone have any ideas/solutions/tips??

Thanks
Doug

 

white smoke = burn water, blue smoke = burn oil. does it happen after engine heated up?

 

No it just happens after the initial start up.

 

Let me tell you how that is similar to my 1999 Ford Mustang Cobra. After I would let the car sit overnight or for several hours (8 or more), I would get the same puff of blue smoke on initial start-up. The dealership would constantly tell me that is normal. I know that blue smoke is not normal and that is a sign of burning oil. The car had low miles (around 26K) and I took great care of this car (synthetic oil, 3K oil changes (yes I was stupid)). They did not want to fix it.

After alot of bitching and complaining (and a few calls to Ford HQ), they decided to check it out. What happened was the car had worn valve seals. This would allow the oil to leak past them and pool in the head. Then, when the car was started, it would burn off quickly and leave that puff of blue smoke. The seals were replaced and the car didn't do that again.

I'm not saying that you car has this problem but it seems very similar to what I went through. The Cobra had a DOHC motor with 4 V per cylinder and I think the motor in my car is also DOHC. I'm not sure of the 6 cylinder motor though.

Henry

 

Guys,

Blue smoke (i.e. oil smoke) from the exhaust at start up is a classic case of worn valve guide seals. As described, the oil seeps down into the wells where the valve springs are and seeps into the inlet/exhaust ports while you are asleep.

Particularly if your car is under warranty, I would get it checked out. It will be an expensive job. If the car is outside warranty, and the smoke isn't too bad, then I would live with it.

Mike

 

-> BMW Service

 

Yes, as stated above: Worn Valve Guide Seals. Get it to the dealer ASAP before you break 50K miles. Also, did you get a CARFAX report on the car before you bought it? If not, you might want to get one now. Worn seals at 49K seems a little premature to me, so maybe there something more going on that a report might uncover.

 

Thank you to everyone for the replies, I will see my SA as the car is still under warranty and I have this corrected.