rusteee

Yea I'm not convinced 100% that it is stem seals, neither were they i don't think, it is just a process of elimination and they said its very common. Yea I've been trying that, once the car is running it doesn't smoke at all, whether sitting at lights, then floor it, or sitting in traffic. I cant get a scenario to say 'yes it will definetly smoke when I do this'. It seems to be, once sitting for an hour or so after taking for a good drive, then on start it will have a small puff of smoke, but not every time. It can go a few days with nothing, then all of a sudden puff a bit out? Drive me nuts. Running 5w30 Total in it through the last 2 changes, thats pretty standard for these engines isn't it? Edit: Oh and yea cheers for that scan, I bought a full set of O2 sensors and put them in not long after that to eliminate any hassles.

Yea sorry been meaning to get back to you about that. Can't find it, must have got lost in the transition from waikato to auckland or still packed away in a box that has not been opened Yea these engines do have some absolutely stupid flaws, but still fantastic for what they are. Wouldn't bother going any older unless buying an E34 as a toy, which is always an option =)

Cheers for the replies. Yea, my only deciding factor of writing the car off was the fact I've only owned it since March this year, and spent 7.8k on things just to keep the car running, nothing to make it that little bit more awsome like suspension or brakes hahaha. Incl gearbox, torque convertor, belts, pulleys, hoses, thermostat, radiator, bushes, battery, water pump, 02 sensors, gaskets etc etc as you get with owning a 540. Even though I love the car to bits, I was just not too sure whether its worth throwing any more at it. If it was done, at least then I know what I've got. Will ask them for a leak down test, then go from there. Really want get torque convertor sorted first though.... Would love to have the engine out and just work away on it slowly while the cars not needed.

Thats incredible

Yea but then I'd most likely run into the same hassle? This one was really healthy, full service history extremely well looked after had everything done in time like radiator valley pan gasket, hoses, oil changes etc etc, so it cant be through lack of service, its done 170,000kms but i didn't think that was overly high given the beast you have had done well over 200 and still going strong (not that thats the same thing lol). Really want something I know is not going to (or at least prevent as much as possible) sh*t itself all the time. It still runs perfectly well, its just that initial 1-2 second smoke every now and then that pisses me off, and the fact it went from not smoking to smoking in no time. I'm happy with the people who are working on it, very reputable and have done a lot of work on all my cars. Would have had Ray do it but hard to get the car there. Just out of interest, what sort of price can you pick up an M62 for?

Just an update. Been humming and haaaring on what to do with this. They are putting it down to most likely being valve stem seals? They did suggest wrong grade oil and (unlikely) PCV valve, but definetly not the oil seperator. Has anyone had there valve seals replaced? Seems odd that it was an over night thing. Around $3500 for the job, does that sound reasonable? I realise there is a lot of work to be done with that. I suppose if it had that done, it would pay to do all the other PCV, seperator etc while engines apart. Might suggest a cylinder leak down test, had one done a couple of months ago for peace of mind, but who knows.

Looks awsome!! Well done

Dreams are free, would have had it done instead of the auto/torque converter replacment, but it was in pretty hot demand I think there were already 3 people waiting on it, and I couldn't wait that long. v8 manual would be awsome!!

HA ha, yea na, even as parts this car is immaculate and worth a good couple k, but hopefully wont need to go down that track. Im not convinced the seperator is buggered. Done another few 100 kms again today and didn't smoke once, not even after sitting hot, or cold start... so maybe it was residual? When it smoked the last time on Friday, it was pretty minimal but enough to see. Will keep an eye on it. Has to go into panel beaters on tuesday as someone hit the back corner of it. Torque converter is getting pretty noisey too, trying to organise the repairs on this thing it is a goddam mission, still fantastic cars to drive none the less =)

Hmm yea its a bugger of a thing, was usually doing it when hot, not really on cold start. Surely they would have been able to pickup that it is faulty if thats the case? And over filling with oil wouldn't have contributed to this?

Yea I know whats involved in chaging it, I'd rather cut my losses and call it a write off in that case. They said they tested the the PCV/crank case ventilation system and found no problem? Would it not smoke everytime as well as when driving if it has failed? or have some sort of tell tale sign that its failed? The smoke is no where near the amount it had been. Hasn't smoked once today done about 500kms, it seems erratic

Just an update, no oil in intake. Ended up taking it back in to be checked out. They had a good look over and could not fault anything, PCV was good, valve stem seals etc good and they couldn't get it to smoke. They were very good about it, dropped the oil and re-filled to correct level with new oil, left it over night an re-checked. Picked it up today and took it home, sure enough an hour later smoke out the exhaust. Not too sure what to do from here.

Yea, gonna go out and have a quick look at it now see what I can find.

Cheers for the replies, Yea not much luck at all hahaha, all in the fun of it though I suppose. Still have to get the gearbox issues sorted, but really want this issue sorted first. They did not do a full oil change, I don't even know why they touched the oil as it only went in for water pump etc, and because it was already at max level (which I usually check once every 2 weeks or so) i questioned when he said they added a litre because it was down?... My first thought was that it had been cooked without me realizing? headgasket/head cracked, but then its not showing the typical signs, not losing any coolant, no mirky oil, no moisture residue on cap, and it doesn't smell like burning coolant. Doesn't affect the performance in anyway it seems, still smooth power/idle etc.

No, havn't had a look in the manifold yet. All I've done is drain the excess oil hoping that was it. Was good for a day, then sat for bit, from cold start yesterday gave a short puff of smoke (not as bad as has been), but still enough to make me cringe.

Smoke is white with a very very faint blue tinge to it. I don't know much about the CCV system but did do a bit of google. One of the first things I did was the dip stick/ oil cap test, but it doesn't seem to be abnormal.

Hi Guys Hoping for a bit of knowledge on the m62tu. Done 171,000kms, recently had the water pump done (no overheating, just a slow leak out on the driveway), Coincidentally, upon getting the car back, every so often, especially when taken for a drive, left sit for 30 mins or so, it will pour out smoke from the exhaust for 2-3 seconds on start up only. Does not smoke when hot sitting at idle, or taking off at lights etc as far as I can see, only start up, and not every time. Now they did over fill it with oil for some reason by just over a litre and I had driven a good 200 odd kms before I noticed. I have since drained out the excess (took 1.2l to get back down to the dipstick full mark). My question is, with those symptoms, is it more likely to be valve stem seals like they suggested, or something along the lines of oil seperator? Just seems strange that its never smoked at all, and never lost oil besides a small valve cover leak, then overnight it turned to this. Cheers

Nice looking ride!! Love the E39's, what engine?

My 540 started off with a small high pitch trans noise esp when shifting gear, sounds much like your vid, which went away once warm. Got worse, turned out the torque converter was poked, sent a few bits through the trans and took that with it. It seems pretty common with these boxes. HellBM sorted it pretty quick =) If it is the torque converter, get it done now. As they say, stitch in time....

Hmm I seen a guy test driving the new version of these last week at one of the sites I was working at, he has this exact car I wonder if its his? He looked about 17 years old!! And the new one was gonna set him back $550,000 =0

Oh that sux man hopefully it wont be too bad to fix, doesn't HellBM do good collision repairs?

Cars looking awsome!! Love that colour. My insurance tried to do the same 'its not genuine' parts on my last car when they were going to replace the front kit with some chinese knock off, anything to save a buck. Sometimes good to get a little angry with them hahaha

Cheers for the interest. Sorry was just picked up.

Hi guys I purchased an Ipod and auxillary interface unit for my E39, but turns out to be the wrong plug. Made for E39, E46 X5 etc 2000 onwards, as long as your unit has the flat pins type plugs (not the round like mine). Has ipod cord which will charge as well as interface with steering wheel controls etc, and 3.5mm input for phones and MP3. Details from here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/121297625388?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 Paid $102 landed from Ebay. Still in its box, hoping someone can make use of it $50? PM if interested Cheers

Hi Andrew I have a 540I Msport as well, sounds pretty similar spec. Mine had 160k on it when I purchased it back in Feb, is extremely tidy, NZ New, full service history, had all 4 new tyres, and a heap of preventative maintanence done to it before I purchased it (picked up in the pre purchase). I Paid 10k which is prob in the higher end of the market looking at what these go for, which is insane amount of car for the money. So anything around or below that seems to be the going market rate. Seems to mainly depend on whether its NZ New or import, whether it has a service history and overall looks and condition (apart from mechanically sound). Trademe will give you a good idea on something to compare yours too.