Help - smokey M5
Discussion
A year ago I bought a '95 M5 touring which has been getting a bit smokey of late. It's definately oil smoke and is getting quite noticable (especially when driven enthusiastically). I love the car and don't want to sell it - any thoughts on what's wrong? I'm not sure if it needs a top end rebuild or if one or more of the piston rings are worn. Any advice/ideas of costs most appreciated.
Do you see the smoke all the time, or only under hard acceleration.
If the latter then don't worry too much as every one I have chased (on track days obviously) has done the same!
Check your oil consumption regularly and if it is using more than 1L per 2000 miles then it needs investigating (mine uses 1L per 3000 miles).
Is the service history complete, and has it had the valve clearances done regularly, as if not you could be letting unburnt fuel through which could look like you are burning oil.
If the latter then don't worry too much as every one I have chased (on track days obviously) has done the same!
Check your oil consumption regularly and if it is using more than 1L per 2000 miles then it needs investigating (mine uses 1L per 3000 miles).
Is the service history complete, and has it had the valve clearances done regularly, as if not you could be letting unburnt fuel through which could look like you are burning oil.
It is most smokey under hard throttle but does seem to be smoking even at idle. The exhaust outlet is absolutely black and it does seem to be using quite a bit of oil 
It does have an FSH but the last service was a year ago. Still got two green bars left but I'd better give Munich Legends a bell...
>> Edited by mikeyh on Thursday 11th December 09:31
It does have an FSH but the last service was a year ago. Still got two green bars left but I'd better give Munich Legends a bell...
>> Edited by mikeyh on Thursday 11th December 09:31
What's the mileage on it?
Mines on 138k and it doesn't smoke except when I'm booting it! If the dealer hasn't done all the valve clearances all the time (and some don't know how, I know) then this could be a problem. Your service history should let you know where, when and what services were done!
Do you have the old MOT as this should have an emissions report.
Finally, have you changed the location you regularly get fuel from lately?
Check out www.m5board.com/vbulletin/index.php for access to more M5-ers!
Mines on 138k and it doesn't smoke except when I'm booting it! If the dealer hasn't done all the valve clearances all the time (and some don't know how, I know) then this could be a problem. Your service history should let you know where, when and what services were done!
Do you have the old MOT as this should have an emissions report.
Finally, have you changed the location you regularly get fuel from lately?
Check out www.m5board.com/vbulletin/index.php for access to more M5-ers!
Thanks M-Five. It has only got 70k miles and has been serviced regularly by a main dealer in Germany and then by Munich Legends for the past 3 years. The last service was an inspection II carried out by ML 12 months ago. I have booked it in for a service early Jan. Barney at ML thought that the smoke could be as a result of a Lamba sensor failing and the car overfuelling. He seemed to think this was quite common. Have you heard of anything similar?
>> Edited by mikeyh on Friday 12th December 08:55
>> Edited by mikeyh on Friday 12th December 08:55
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