Help! white smoke coming from the engine bay!
04-24-2010, 12:43 AM
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My Ride: 2004 BMW 530I, K&N CAI, M-tech front bumper, Sprint-booster, Silver Hella taillights (vehicle is under construction)
I went to my friend's house today about 2 miles away and went back straight to home, so about 4 miles in total distance. When I parked my car on the driveway I noticed that there was white smoke coming from the engine bay. I immediately open the hood and looked at it. I noticed that the smoke was coming from left side of the main engine near the silver pipe located and it smells like something burning. Can someone help me to point out the cause? 
Thank you
FYI: the car is 04 530i with 96k miles on it.
Thank you
FYI: the car is 04 530i with 96k miles on it.
04-24-2010, 06:06 AM
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My Ride: 2007 530i. Purchased 6/28/07. Titanium Silver Metallic, Black Dakota Leather, Dark Poplar Trim, Steptronic, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Bluetooth, Adaptive Control Xenons. 10/30/07 Added OEM 124s with 245/40/18 & 275/35/18 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires. Installed red Cal Covers� from BavAuto. 11/21/07 Added OEM all-weather floor mats (for winter, carpet in summer) and coat rack. 6/26/08 installed M5-style rear spoiler. 6/30/08 put on red reflectors. 8/22/08 Euro turn signal stickers applied. 3/20/09 Installed Shadowline Trim. 3/27/09 Added Matte Black Kidney Grilles from Trinity. 4/03/09 Installed Bimmian Shadow Matte Black 530i Badges. 4/04/09 Installed LED license plate lights from Trinity. 5/01/09 Installed Brabus Interior LED Kit and White Angel Eyes. 5/02/09 Put in Brabus 6K Fogs. 5/14/09 Removed charcoal filter. 5/15/09 Installed light smoke LED side marker lamps from Trinity. 5/21/09 Sprint Booster. 6/12/09 Painted exhaust tips flat black. 6/13/09 Pulled red Cal Covers and painted calipers low gloss black. 6/27/09 RPI Ram Air Scoop from Trinity. 8/15/09 Installed Brabus's silver invisibulbs front and rear. 9/24/09 Installed R-Dash license plate LEDs from Brabaus (John).
Are you sure it was smoke and not steam? Was it raining? Recent car wash maybe? Could be a bigger problem, but best to eliminate the simple things first.
04-24-2010, 09:24 AM
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My Ride: 2004 BMW 530I, K&N CAI, M-tech front bumper, Sprint-booster, Silver Hella taillights (vehicle is under construction)
It was raining here in Northridge about 2 days ago, but I think it wasn't a heavy rain just a few showers or drizzle maybe. And yesterday the smoke has burning smell on it, and was pretty thick if it was just steam. This morning I tried to start the car let it idle for 15 minutes and nothing happened. I'm confused now, is this a sign of a serious problem? or it's just a random thing? 
04-24-2010, 11:13 AM
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My Ride: 2004 BMW 530I, K&N CAI, M-tech front bumper, Sprint-booster, Silver Hella taillights (vehicle is under construction)
04-24-2010, 12:20 PM
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My Ride: 2010(60) BMW 520d SE, Manual, In Sophisto Grey with Cream/Black Interior and Piano Black trim
Have you had a good look round, i.e. taken the engine cover off and had a look?
Sounds like a long shot, but have you thought about you may have fried a little animal or something else small? As i've known that happen before
Sounds like a long shot, but have you thought about you may have fried a little animal or something else small? As i've known that happen before
04-24-2010, 01:04 PM
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My Ride: 2004 BMW 545I
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could be a coolant leak. and while you were driving it splashed on your exhaust manifold which in turn burned the coolant. was it a sweet smell? cause that would be coolant for sure.
04-25-2010, 08:07 PM
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My Ride: 2004 BMW 530I, K&N CAI, M-tech front bumper, Sprint-booster, Silver Hella taillights (vehicle is under construction)
Probably it was a random small coolant leak or a small animal that got fried. I've been driving the car since yesterday for about 60 miles total distance without any problems. Thanks for the help guys. Ill give you an update if things got worst(knocked on wood).
04-26-2010, 09:14 AM
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My Ride: 2004 530i
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I would guess coolant leak, check the rubber hoses leading tot he radiator, I had this happen to me and the leak was small enough that it would only happen when the car was warm and would leak but not enough to drip it just ran down the hose and burned off somewhere. Turned out to be a crack in the rubber hose.
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