XSeries-forum

Hi my x5 suddenly started smoking white/ blue smoke from exhaust as if burning oil, the smoke was so bad cars behind had to stop, ive looked online and people are saying it's the crankcase breather valve, or possibly that, trouble is all the videos I've watched on this don't seem to be the engine I've got, I can't find my engine on line, or what looks like it, can anyone help identify this or tell me where the valve is and if there's any shortcut fixes to get me going until I get a new valve, or any ideas as to if it's another problem causing this, any help would be appreciated
Many thanks t

Possibly turbo seals, if you take the engine covers off and release the air intake pipe from the EGR valve top right hand side  at the front looking in the engine bay. Release the large bore intake pipe from it and check for excessive oil contamination.
A blocked breather can cause the engine to smoke, but not usually as sudden as that, they can cause the turbo seals to fail though, due to excess crankcase pressure.
If it's pre 2005 they fitted a bog roll type breather filter which can block up. The later vortex ones can't block up.
The breather is also under the engine covers at the left hand side, nearer the back of the engine. It's a black box with either torque or Allen screws holding the top on.

Thank you for that I'm now going to check that

Your engine is an M57 Diesel.  Most of the videos on line are for the American V8 or Petrol engines.  The unit is similar to that fitted to 3.0D BMWs from the late 90's to around 2003 so you may get hints from looking at the 3/5/7 series which used it.

If the smoke is that bad it would tend to point at turbo seals failing and dumping oil into the exhaust stream.  Oil in the turbo air ducts and intercooler is an almost certain indication that is the issue. 

Thanks all, does seem it's turbo seals then cause there is lots of oil in intercooler/ RFR pipes etc, I haven't checked breather filter as yet, mainly because I'm still struggling to find it , is it a big job to do turbo seals or is it a new turbo I'm looking at ?
Many great full thanks to all

Suggestion - take head... and also re X5-Sport's suggestion . most likely the turbo seals.

The crank case breather is an absolute MUST to replace & get the centrifugal version


*****If the smoke is that bad & being BLUE, it is definitely Engine Oil. If the engine is ingesting this much oil DO NOT DRIVE it at all until the turbo seals have been replaced or the turbo is replaced/reconditioned.
Reason... a diesel engine can do a runaway on engine oil, ie, no matter what you do it WILL NOT stop & the revvs will increase until the engine can literally burst & pistons fly out of the crank-case sides.....

Simply park it & DO NOT run it until you have fixed it.

Note... when you sort the turbo, get a NEW oil feed pipe too, as it is too risky to use the old pipe & disturb some crud in it that blocks the pipe & destroys the replacement turbo - a popular problem by people trying to save 30 bucks & they wipe out the turbo instead..

Look up on you tube at an engine doing a runaway on engine oil..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zx3qKX_Pno
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4rMfrERpG8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnOSRCuZBkY

The turbo oil seals are not a simple job, as the entire top of the engine needs to come off to access.
ie
top cover
inlet manifold
injector rail
injectors
cam cover
**place a freshly washed towel over the engine top end to prevent dirt, bolt & tools being dropped into it**

then you can access the 3 bolts retaining the turbo to the exhaust & manifold & oil feed pipe....
then lift out the turbo.... sounds easy - but it is a balls-ache job.

If you are a VERY good mechanic, you can rebuild the turbo yourself & refit a new stature & seals....
But I would strongly suggest you get it rebuilt professionally & tested for a few $$ bucks more.

It will take 4 hours+ to even get to the turbo if this is the 1st time you have gone this deep into the engine, but I can strip this far in 1 hr having done it a few times lol.

Or remove turbo from below, save shifting diesel rail, injectors, valve cover and whatnot, but is still a faff.

From top:
Engine covers off, air filter hosing off, air filter out, turbo intake pipe out (turbo to maf, one bolt at maf end a swine to get to, I use a 5mm allen key stuck in between fan shroud and a adjustable spanner to turn it, but one the tension gone, can be turned by fingers), turbo compressor pipe off (turbo to cooler, aluminium head with turney flange retainer add 10mm bolt), vac hose off wastegate, oil feed pipe off (engine end only), turbo off manifold (3 bolts out via holes in floor of airfilter lower housing, need to remove 3 rubber bungs and the under clipped in heat shield piece first then use a 12mm multiplied socket)

Then from below:
Riase front or all of car (safely), front undertray off (if you have one, i dont ) aluminium tray / bash plate off, unbolt flex exhaust, undo oil drain pipe from hose, unbolt turbo bracket, slide turbo down and out.

Refit in reverse, and check exhaust manifold whilst your there, if original, it'll likley be cracked. Make sure you prime the new turbo well and leave oil drain pipe out until you confirm oil flow right through the new turbo.

It's a pig on your back, but gets easier with practice lol.