[Coreythorny]

Hi all.

Shortening a very long story, we’ve been down in Pairs for 4 days and drove my car (X4 F26 35d). On boarding the tunnel the car started smoking and burning oil. This was after a ~250 miles drive down. The level has now dropped from full (max) to between max and min.
The car has been faultess the past 3000 miles. Oil was changed 3000 miles ago when I bought the car, (genuine BMW grade Castrol) and the level has not dropped once in that time.

Breakdown took over and the car went to BMW Calais to be plugged in and found no codes just confirmed it’s burning oil etc. So said it’s likely something more severe.


My initial thought is a failed turbo, we did 3 hours down to Folkestone just sat at 70/75. Car still drove fine, no obvious noises etc.


The car will now be towed to the garage I purchased it from as I have full warranty. Again, kudos RAC breakdown.


My question is, any common faults, or would you suggest a turbo failure?


Thanks all.

[Coreythorny]

Apologies for the poor spelling, it was wrote on a very choppy ferry crossing from Calais - Dover.

The car is a 2015 now on 68k miles if that helps.

I’m reading a lot on wastegate issues, intercooler pipes but these seem to come up more on the X5?
Plus I don’t think it can be this as they wouldn’t cause oil to burn surely?

[TheCoolX3]

Bad Turbo would be my first guess. Next would be valve stem seals or rings

[Coreythorny]

Yeah.

It will be 10-14 days until the car arrives back in the UK.

From the driving style before it happened I’m expecting high pressure (small) turbo to be the culprit. I’ve been digging loads and can’t find any common faults that would burn oil, no mention anywhere of valve seals failing on the 35d engines.
Found lots of wastegate problems and vacuum issues but obviously that cause oil to get past.