Beemermane

Hey everyone!
This is my first ever post after many years of lurking and learning knowledge in the depths of the net. Now, I am fully aware that the search bar is the most valuable tool but I come forth because at this point the riddle has one up on me.
I've been searching and diagnosing since January, still haven't been able to resolve this. I plead to my fellow mates for help in this endeavor.
All the maintenance listed has been meticulously done personally myself, according to all of your countless DIYs. Many of these jobs I've done a few times on E90's (friends, brother). I have also learned some coding and INPA and have already utilized it in a dedicated setup that I posess. Thank you all for these communities and the immense help!


Ok so here's the riddle!

SPECS:
2007 530i with the N52 in it, automatic transmission.
She has 112,000 miles on the dash.



WHAT'S BEEN DONE:
All parts are OEM

Serpentine belt (100,000mi)
Idler pulley (100,000mi)
Belt tensioner (100,000)
Ignition coils (all 6); (100,000mi)
Spark plugs (all 6) (100,000mi)
Fuel injector (only on cylinder 5) (112,000)
Engine air filter (100,000mi)
Cabin air filter (100,000mi)
New rotors, pads, sensors (100,000mi)
Brake fluid (100,000mi)
Battery (IBS trained via INPA); (100,000mi)
Starter motor (at 75,000mi)

VANOS removed and cleaned according to step by step procedures on Pelican Parts site.

New water pump and thermostat (parts are at home just need to install)

Both rear window regulators replaced (lol)

Only drives on Shell premium with a Techron full tank treatment before every oil change.

PCV was serviced as part of recall by BMW in April 2018.

Oil and filter strictly from BMW dealership, every 5000 miles religiously, along with a quart when it asks for it




SYMPTOMS:
Rough idle
Cylinder 5 misfire code in INPA (came back after clearing as well)
Very LIGHT, whitish smoke on startup AND during idle or acceleration. Not water vapor for sure but does not really smell sweet as coolant would have, had it mixed into the combustion... still not ruling that possibility out though.
Ignition coils are all new but I checked them all regardless by swapping each one out with a different one.
Spark plugs have no fouling, the wells didn't have any oil during spark plugs replacement, although I will pull them all just to double check next week!
After fuel injector at cylinder 5 was replaced, symptoms remained.

NOTE:
I'm going to do a compression test done along with a leak down test, next week!
Fingers crossed its not a burned valve or something mechanical...
Will be looking into examining the DISA valve components.
I do need advice on how to properly diagnose and rule out an intake crack at the cylinder being a culprit.
Read somewhere that the Valve Cover gasket could also be something to look out for... how to diagnose?
If anyone could please chime in and kindly steer me in the right direction, maybe show me something I missed, may the Universe bless you!

VIDEO LINKS:

Clear sound of the rough start, almost invisible smoke emanating from exhaust

In this one it visible smokes when I push the pedal

Overall view of the rough running of the motor

raleighBahn

If you haven't done your VCG with that amount of miles I wouldn't be looking for unicorns. The VCG, oil filter housing gasket, and oil pan are the holy trinity. I had to do my VCG for my e90 around 80k miles and for my e60 at 55k (just finished this weekend). Both were causing misfires.

Beemermane

Hmmm... that is a very interesting note raleighBahn, thanks for chiming in!
Did by chance either one of those misfires happen to be only on a single cylinder?

raleighBahn

For the 328 yes and the 535 was multiple. The gasket can leak anywhere, including into the spark plug recesses where you can't see it.

Beemermane

Definitely looking into that...

I JUST realized that the Oil Filter housing on my 530 is the one with the oil cooler attached to it, just like the one on the picture I uploaded....
Starting to have a feeling that this may be it...

You definitely put me onto something here, thanks

t_mo_t

if you replaced your coils with the OEM bosch ones, make sure you clip it properly.. the new bosch coils clips are so thin and flimsy and it wouldnt click the plug nicely... i just changed all 8 for my n62 and it happened to me, so i replaced the new bosch coil clips with the old ones and no misfires... to test it, try using your finger to lift up the clip.. just in my case, but worth to check it out

Beemermane

Alright guys, it has been a long while!
I have SOLVED this issue and I believe this one to be a bit more isolated and rather curious.

So as raleighBahn had suggested, the Valve Cover Gasket was next in line to check. I mean, logically, I've already deduced everything else, thanks to the forums.
I followed our most divine search button to find a comprehensive DIY on the VCG. Ordered the kit and proceeded as soon as it arrived.
What I found inside was flabbergasting!
On the intake camshaft, each cylinder in our engines has TWO rocker arms on either side of it. Both of the rocker arms are held in by a single spring that sits over the cylinder. In my case, ONE of the two ROCKER ARMS had come loose and was dangling all by itself within the cylinder cover. The lifter was left in a semi-open position which was triggering the fault code on cylinder 5 for a misfire all along. The camshaft surprisingly was not damaged. I had to order a special spring removal/installer tool, to remove the spring, reassemble both rockers, reinstall spring via special tool then torque to spec. It was a very straightforward job, didn't get to take many pics since I was working alone and the rocker positioning required both hands.
From there on, I followed the DIY to reinstall the gasket with a new kit, all torqued to spec with new bolts, did an oil change, cleared the fault code with INPA and voila! The engine runs excellent as it has before!

All in all I believe this is an isolated incident, I have searched everywhere and it was not common at all for a rocker to just fall out, since the spring is very tense and without any damage done to intake camshaft or cylinder head.
Thank you everyone for ideas, help and all the input!!




This is the special tool for the Valve Spring

This is what a rocker arm in our motors looks like

utah

Have a E60 with a leaky valve cover gasket. It's next in my to do list. Thanks for sharing.

Beemermane