Possible Valve Stem Seal Failure

[evnmopwr]

Hi Guys

Started noticing Much larger than normal oil consumption and Mainly. Bluish smoke out of the exhaust Especially when pulling away from a stop after coasting down hill.
Also noticed, When the car is idling for a while, and you rev it, you get the smoke

Engine is the BMW E46 330i (M54)

Now my question would be the following:

1. Best way to replace the Valve Stem seals?
- Can it be done without removing the head? ( I seen the50skid do it on his with a home made tool and some rope )
- Is it better to remove the head to have it done.

2. If i remove the head to have it done,:
- What Head Gasket would be recommended? ( I always use Elring on my VW Projects )
- Which Valve Stem seals to use? ( Original BMW? or are there others like on ECSTuning has Updated Supertech ones. )

Car starts and drives Perfectly.
11.1l/100km Consumption currently
98% preventative Maintenance up to date (Aside from the CCV + 4 hoses)
Oil is changed every 12000km (last 4 oil changes used the WOLF 10w40 Brand oil)
Current mileage is 228 000km With a FULL service history

I still plan on Pulling the plugs to see what they look like and doing a COmpression test etc to rule out piston rings
I have planned on doing the o2Pilot mod but i think this would be pointless right now as it wont fix the issue if the seals is damaged.

Any advice on further tests to do to be sure where or what the issue is?
Any answers/Guidance, from those who have done this job already or from those who know someone who done it, would be appreciated.

Thanking you all in advance

 

[evnmopwr]

Here is what the plugs look like currently
Crusty as F!
These only have about 30 000km on them and were due to be replaced April 2022.

 

[Blue Shirt]

I would start by replacing the CCV before thinking about valve stem seals. The M54 is not prone to wearing out the valve stem seals but the CCV is a known weakness causing high oil consumption.

 

[Blue Shirt]

I have an M54 with 320000 km and no smoking problem but with new CCV which reduced the oil consumption significantly.

 

[evnmopwr]

I would start by replacing the CCV before thinking about valve stem seals. The M54 is not prone to wearing out the valve stem seals but the CCV is a known weakness causing high oil consumption.

Would it cause the same symptoms as i described though?

Will definitely Get those swopped out first with a new set of plugs
Will advise what the outcome is

 

[evnmopwr]

I have an M54 with 320000 km and no smoking problem but with new CCV which reduced the oil consumption significantly.

would you Suggest an Agents only part?

 

[Steph745]

Don't hear about worn stem-seals on an m54 much, but symptoms sure sound like it. If is was an n46 or n62 nobody would really question. Check the CCV as suggested as this is a very common failure point. Do you maybe not want to do a compression test (or leak down) as well before you take off the heads?

 

[Blue Shirt]

would you Suggest an Agents only part?

I used the GW part, there is practically no difference with the oem part.

 

[evnmopwr]

Don't hear about worn stem-seals on an m54 much, but symptoms sure sound like it. If is was an n46 or n62 nobody would really question. Check the CCV as suggested as this is a very common failure point. Do you maybe not want to do a compression test (or leak down) as well before you take off the heads?

yes i do plan doing the COmpression test to rule out piston rings

 

[evnmopwr]

Something to note.

So the symptoms described above was done yesterday after a drive so car was at operating temperature.
Car has been parked from around 5pm yesterday (Saturday) till 5:30pm today (Sunday)

I started the car now, Cold start, and there was absolutely no smoke on start up.
idled for like 5min and Revved the car up a few times and no smoke at all.

So is it the Valve stem seals or is it not. LOL
Will do the compression test first. will see for a Leak down tester to do that too

will go buy the CCV and Pipes tomorrow from GW and will take it from there
Appreciate the replies

 

[Tinuva]

I am also leaning towards the piston rings, well known to get worn on M54 engines.
The proper fix is to replace them. Have you done the O2pilot mod yet?

 

[Blue Shirt]

I am also leaning towards the piston rings, well known to get worn on M54 engines.
The proper fix is to replace them. Have you done the O2pilot mod yet?

It is mostly the oil scraper rings that get stuck due to sludge build-up.

The O2 pilot mod is useless on a blocked CCV or with perished diaphragm. Best to replace the CCV with new and do O2pilot mod at the same time.

My high-miler had high oil consumption and blue smoke on start-up which all disappeared when I did the above repairs.

 

[Tinuva]

It is mostly the oil scraper rings that get stuck due to sludge build-up.

The O2 pilot mod is useless on a blocked CCV or with perished diaphragm. Best to replace the CCV with new and do O2pilot mod at the same time.

My high-miler has high oil consumption and blue smoke on start-up which all disappeared when I did the above repairs.

Fair enough. On mine I don't have the blue smoke, only the bit of white smoke after idling and the high oil mileage.

 

[individj]

Something to note.

So the symptoms described above was done yesterday after a drive so car was at operating temperature.
Car has been parked from around 5pm yesterday (Saturday) till 5:30pm today (Sunday)

I started the car now, Cold start, and there was absolutely no smoke on start up.
idled for like 5min and Revved the car up a few times and no smoke at all.

So is it the Valve stem seals or is it not. LOL
Will do the compression test first. will see for a Leak down tester to do that too

will go buy the CCV and Pipes tomorrow from GW and will take it from there
Appreciate the replies

this makes me think that its not the seals

 

[Nikhil]

Replace your CCV

 

[evnmopwr]

I am also leaning towards the piston rings, well known to get worn on M54 engines.
The proper fix is to replace them. Have you done the O2pilot mod yet?

Have not done it yet

 

[evnmopwr]

It is mostly the oil scraper rings that get stuck due to sludge build-up.

The O2 pilot mod is useless on a blocked CCV or with perished diaphragm. Best to replace the CCV with new and do O2pilot mod at the same time.

My high-miler had high oil consumption and blue smoke on start-up which all disappeared when I did the above repairs.

So my next Question now would be:
Which to buy? lol

GOLDWAGEN:
CCV - MotoEuro - R305
Pipe 1 - MotoEuro ( Front to tappet Cover ) *NO STOCK* - R220
Pipe 2 - MotoEuro ( to Dipstick ) - R240
Pipe 3 - MotoEuro (Across Intake) - R256
Pipe 4 - MotoEuro ( Curved bended 1) "NO STOCK* - R220

Masterparts:
CCV - Febi -R533
Pipe 1 - to Dipstck Febi - R195
Pipe 2 - upper febi - R291

BMW Dealer
CCV - R3842 (Including the 4 pipes)

I have all the parts for the O2Pilot Mod so will definitely be doing it once CCV is replaced

 

[evnmopwr]

this makes me think that its not the seals

I have to agree. Day 2 and no smoke.

oil level is still the same

 

[Blue Shirt]

So my next Question now would be:
Which to buy? lol

GOLDWAGEN:
CCV - MotoEuro - R305
Pipe 1 - MotoEuro ( Front to tappet Cover ) *NO STOCK* - R220
Pipe 2 - MotoEuro ( to Dipstick ) - R240
Pipe 3 - MotoEuro (Across Intake) - R256
Pipe 4 - MotoEuro ( Curved bended 1) "NO STOCK* - R220

Masterparts:
CCV - Febi -R533
Pipe 1 - to Dipstck Febi - R195
Pipe 2 - upper febi - R291

BMW Dealer
CCV - R3842 (Including the 4 pipes)

I have all the parts for the O2Pilot Mod so will definitely be doing it once CCV is replaced

If you are careful enough when removing the old CCV and you don't break any of the pipes, just re-use them and replace only the CCV.

You may have to replace the rubber piece at the bottom which drains into the oil pan via the dipstick (common failure) but you can use any fuel hose of the correct size there.

It is possible to remove & replace the CCV without taking off the manifold, I have done it 4 times already (on 4 different cars) so normally the upper pipes don't come off and are OK to re-use unless they are also blocked (easy to check).

There is a trick to how the CCV must be rotated to remove it once all pipes to it are disconnected, but once you figure that out, the job is relatively easy.

 

[Nikhil]

So my next Question now would be:
Which to buy? lol

GOLDWAGEN:
CCV - MotoEuro - R305
Pipe 1 - MotoEuro ( Front to tappet Cover ) *NO STOCK* - R220
Pipe 2 - MotoEuro ( to Dipstick ) - R240
Pipe 3 - MotoEuro (Across Intake) - R256
Pipe 4 - MotoEuro ( Curved bended 1) "NO STOCK* - R220

Masterparts:
CCV - Febi -R533
Pipe 1 - to Dipstck Febi - R195
Pipe 2 - upper febi - R291

BMW Dealer
CCV - R3842 (Including the 4 pipes)

I have all the parts for the O2Pilot Mod so will definitely be doing it once CCV is replaced

I would personally go the dealer route since the OEM one has lasted that long. You going through all the effort so replacing the pipes at this opportunity is a good idea vs having them break in a few months time.

MotoEuro parts are crap quality I would only use it as worst case.

OEM
Febi / Meyle