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Thread: Mysterious smoke

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    85
    My Cars
    1998 E36 328i

    Mysterious smoke

    Hello, new owner of a 98 328i and I sometimes get mysterious smoke from the tail pipe. Its not blue at all, and it doesnt really smell of much. I don't loose coolant, theres no oil in the water or water in the oil and the car has not overheated at all on me and ive gone pretty hard on it. The smoke usually only shows up sometimes when I come to a stop and will go away once moving again. Im pretty mechanically inclined but I can't seem to find my problem. Any suggestions?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Posts
    11,751
    My Cars
    98 328IS 03 325xi
    Condensation, weather related?

    Gave away my BMWs, driving a VW and an Audi now.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Japan
    Posts
    54,655
    My Cars
    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3
    It is probably already cold in Canada, white smoke is condensation from the exhaust.
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    85
    My Cars
    1998 E36 328i
    Ya its pretty cold here but I dont see hwo it could be just condensation. It will do it when I am stopped at one light then a few stops later it won't. I also forgot to mention I got the code for the sap P1421

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Posts
    11,751
    My Cars
    98 328IS 03 325xi
    The sap just pumps air into the exhaust to help warm up the cats. My money is still on condensation. Does it do it when the car is fully warmed up and the exhaust pipes are hot all the way to the tips?

    Gave away my BMWs, driving a VW and an Audi now.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    85
    My Cars
    1998 E36 328i
    Ya it does, I can drive the car hard for a while then head home and it'll still do it. Also as dumb as it sounds I know for a fact its hot all the way back because i was showing someone the golf tee mod and burnt my finger on the butterfly valve showing the difference with the valve open and closed.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Japan
    Posts
    54,655
    My Cars
    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3
    The exhaust can be hot at the tip. but it takes a long time to blast all moisture out, I also drive a E32 750, we E32 owners call it in winter "smoke machine", it always blows white smoke in winter.
    Also it depends if you only drive short distances usually or longer ones, a few miles to work is not enough to blow out all moisture.
    As you do not have any probs with coolant level, no problem.
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    85
    My Cars
    1998 E36 328i
    Thats what i was thinking but I just really dont like having all that smoke from my baby

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Albuquerque, NM
    Posts
    214
    My Cars
    '77 turbo 320i, '07 Subi
    worn valve guides and/or valve seals.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Austin, TX
    Posts
    2,181
    My Cars
    S54 E36 M3, E32 740il
    Does it occur while decelerating or while sitting stopped?

    -Josh: 1998 S54 E36 M3/4/6 with most of the easy stuff and most of the hard stuff. At least twice. 271k miles. 1994 E32 740il with nothing but some MPars. 93k miles.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    9,079
    My Cars
    1997 328i
    You can take a video if you want, but it's most likely condensation. If your REALLY worried then do a compression test.
    Attn. NEWBIES: Use the search feature, 98% has already been discussed.
    Click the search button, select "search single content type", select the "e36 sub forum" specifically, try the "search titles" then try the "search entire posts".

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    85
    My Cars
    1998 E36 328i
    only really when stopped, sometimes acceleration

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