BMW 5 Series E39 - white smoke and ripped air intake hose

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Sat 15 Feb 2014 16:29
BMW 5 Series E39 - white smoke and ripped air intake hose - spark900

Hi there, i have just found my e39 523i is guffing out white smoke or steam from the exhaust. i had a look under the bonnet and found that the air intake hose is ripped quite badly. anyone know if this is the likely cause?

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Sun 16 Feb 2014 17:03
BMW 5 Series E39 - white smoke and ripped air intake hose - Peter.N.

Is it only doing it when cold or all the time? Steam is normal with a cold engine on a cold day but if its doing it all the time I would chech you coolant level you may have a failing head gasket.

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Sun 16 Feb 2014 18:57
BMW 5 Series E39 - white smoke and ripped air intake hose - spark900
Hi thanks for replying, yes thats what im dreading. It smokes when up to mid temp but no coolant or oil loss, the oil looks a bit browner than id expect.
I did find the air intake boot has a large split in it and i was hoping this may be something to do with it?





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Mon 17 Feb 2014 19:07
BMW 5 Series E39 - white smoke and ripped air intake hose - Peter.N.

I can't really see how the split in the hose can cause it, just means the air is being drawn in through the split as well as from the filter.

If you are not loosing coolant its unlikely to be the head gasket, could be water laying in the exhaust system if its been left standing for any length of time or you have driven through some deep water.

Is it turbo?

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