Several weeks passed now, all good. The next thing that went wrong was Front Prop Shaft, had a clacking tapping noise as I had before which seemed to disappear after the broken link rod on suspension was changed. Happened at low speeds and disappeared at cruising speed. Checked the forums and most l...

My latest problem with 4.8 M Sport. Had a noise as per the title but didn't happen all the time. Was I thought coming from the passenger rear wheel area. First diagnosis by garage was a snapped link rod on rear suspension, which was snapped, had both replaced as cheap. Noise was still there though, ...

Seems that most of the oil leaks and coolant leaks are from common area's, mine has had the majority of them. Costly to sort all of them but at least the forums etc helped me identify them. The worst one was the smell through vents one, which if the original garage had changed the valve cover gasket...

Finally got car back today ! Not only was the gasket split when replaced last but rocker cover was warped and damaged too. Apparently warping of cover is common on older cars. Some forums and garages recommend changing the covers at same time as gaskets. Be aware though that a new cover from BMW is ...

Well, hopefully got to the bottom of the leak! Took car to a BMW Specialist, who found the following: The nearside valve cover gasket which was changed over a year ago due to oil leaks, hadn't been fitted correctly and had been split at the back right hand corner. Oil was leaking out onto the hot ex...

Point taken ! Right of course.

Good idea about deliberately putting oil etc on hot manifold, did think of it before the split washer bottle was replaced but was convinced it was the bottle so didn't do it. Will try it and will still put in UV dye when it turns up, I tried to get under car a little while ago but it was too tight t...

Just had a quick look about and as far as I can see there is only one timing chain but it has an upper and lower cover and gasket. It's at the front of the engine could it possibly get onto manifold and smoke appear to be at the back?

Great reply and very helpful, one of the timing chain gaskets has been changed but I will have to check with garage which one. Oil was leaking from it onto the alternator and ruined the alternator. Could well be the other one seeping I suppose, would it be easy to see with the dye do you think. Is t...

Guess what ? Thought was all sorted but with new washer reservoir hasn't cured the damn problem. Still getting the smell, narrowed it down to coming from the nearside rear of engine, sniffed around yesterday and nothing drivers side but strong whiff on passenger side at back of bonnet. What on earth...

Will give it a go, hope all sorted!

Well, some will laugh at this and some will give me some sympathy I hope. A lesson learnt about the beloved X5. No oil anymore from back of engine but still that awful smell. Took car to a 3rd garage for a totally independent investigation. Had a phone call after 3 days to come and pick it up. Hoora...

Good suggestion to check this, had the crank case breather hoses checked for degradation a while ago and were ok. Car has had this leak since I bought it 1.5 years ago, Changed the valve cover gaskets just after purchase because they were both leaking and the timing chain covers, also leaking. One v...

BMW X5, E70 4.8 M Sport. Changed valve cover gaskets twice, still got a horrid burning oil smell coming through vents. Gaskets changed with the recommended rtv where required. Before last gasket changed, bank 1-4, found a little oil at back of engine under the area around the valve cover, could just...

Good point, gasket came with new screws and washers. Had the timing chain gasket failure a while ago, oil all over alternator, wrecked it.