Under the valve cover of a $1900 BMW N54. Want your opinions

[D4700]

I've just bought this 2009 BMW 535xi Wagon with 158k miles for cheap (needed a valve cover, brakes, and two wheel speed sensors - $250 and an afternoon, it now runs great). However, I am a bit concerned about the condition of the top end. Looks like some thick varnish. Should I be concerned about the turbos and timing components? No sludge, from what I can see by peering through the cam trays. If I decide to keep this, I'll be preoccupied with all the accessories failing so an engine problem is the last thing I need!

 

[Kira]

Drive on. You're a capable owner/maintainer. Good score. I love those wagons.

 

[JavierH19]

Little varnish. Some would say deposits here would indicate more in hotter areas like the rings. So do you have oil consumption? if so there might be damage, if not or very little then probably not. Many say m1 0w-40 cleans pretty good for an off the shelf oil. So i'd use that and change at 5k intervals. What about the trans and diff though.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Looks good

 

[Furious]

Just to beat others to it. HPL.

I wouldn't worry too much about it, run a good quality full synthetic oil and drive on, I have seen much worse still running fine.

 

[D4700]

Little varnish. Some would say deposits here would indicate more in hotter areas like the rings. So do you have oil consumption? if so there might be damage, if not or very little then probably not. Many say m1 0w-40 cleans pretty good for an off the shelf oil. So i'd use that and change at 5k intervals. What about the trans and diff though.

My bar is low considering I paid $1900 for a somewhat nice car that I was able to drive an hour home, so I'm elated to say that it hasn't used a drop of oil. I'm going to be driving it 2000 miles back to college in a few weeks, I suppose that will be the real test. The last four times I've made the trip in various sketchy BMWs I haven't had any issues. My luck must be running thin... Might be time to upgrade my AAA membership!

I have a couple jugs of M1 0w40 on the shelf since I've used it in all my other cars with great success. I'm glad to hear that it cleans well.

Condition of the trans fluid, diff oil, and t-case fluid are unknown so I will be changing them out shortly. Any recommendations on transfer case fluid? This is my first XDrive. Thinking of using Valvoline Transfer Case Fluid - Its viscosity seems to match the OE fluid by Rein. Surely they're similar

 

[joekingcorvette]

Congrats on the new to you BMW. I wouldn't worry about the varnish and I believe it should run a long time. I would use the jugs of M1 0w40 you have on the shelf. You paid under $2000 for a BMW and that sounds like a great deal to me.

 

[demarpaint]

I think you did well. I'd grab some Mobil 1 0W40 and treat it to an oil change if it were mine after replacing the VC gasket that you did.

 

[hemitom]

Use your 0w40 , change drivetrain fluids, drive it see what comes up.

 

[OVERKILL]

M1 FS 0W-40 if you are on a budget, which it sounds like you are already leaning toward. If you want faster cleaning, HPL Super Car 0W-40.

 

[addyguy]

M1 0W-40 and motor on.

 

[John105]

Absolutely love the price, and with your capabilities, you'll be fine.

 

[ziggy]

Run Mobil extended performance.bottle advertises clean up sludge in one oil change. Or run I like fram synthetic. Redline has esters. Run it 3000 miles. Drain refill.eventualybgunna remove varnish,virtually all carbon . I seen pics others using super tech semi synth for 3-5000 miles took valve cover off,spotless

 

[The Critic]

Make sure you replace the entire cover and not just the gasket.

 

[FranklinJL]

Looks great for that engine. They all varnish up like that. Just run whatever 40w euro oil you like and your good. 1900 is a great score. Good vehicle

 

[andreigbs]

Great score on a great wagon! More pics are more better

+1 on the M1 0w40 for a few shorter intervals; should clean that right up.

Also, look into BimmerLink and BimmerCode. You'll need a good BMW-specific scan tool to keep that puppy happy.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I've just bought this 2009 BMW 535xi Wagon with 158k miles for cheap (needed a valve cover, brakes, and two wheel speed sensors - $250 and an afternoon, it now runs great). However, I am a bit concerned about the condition of the top end. Looks like some thick varnish. Should I be concerned about the turbos and timing components? No sludge, from what I can see by peering through the cam trays. If I decide to keep this, I'll be preoccupied with all the accessories failing so an engine problem is the last thing I need!

Looks fine based on the age. BMW ran a long interval of 15k miles on these engines.

 

[Slow Car Sport Mode]

https://www.advlubrication.com/ for HPL Supercar 0W-40, as mentioned, watch how much that will clean up. Your M1 0W-40 will work as well but the HPL is a slightly "better" oil; I'd buy the HPL to support a small business and have the superior product (it's in the Top 3 of motor oils and IMHO is presently on the throne, don't see it falling off soon either.)

That's a beautiful car and it's something I've always wanted to do, take a cheap car and give it wings so it can fly.

 

[SaberOne]

For that price and it runs; you already won hands down, regardless of how it looks.

 

[edyvw]

My bar is low considering I paid $1900 for a somewhat nice car that I was able to drive an hour home, so I'm elated to say that it hasn't used a drop of oil. I'm going to be driving it 2000 miles back to college in a few weeks, I suppose that will be the real test. The last four times I've made the trip in various sketchy BMWs I haven't had any issues. My luck must be running thin... Might be time to upgrade my AAA membership!

I have a couple jugs of M1 0w40 on the shelf since I've used it in all my other cars with great success. I'm glad to hear that it cleans well.

Condition of the trans fluid, diff oil, and t-case fluid are unknown so I will be changing them out shortly. Any recommendations on transfer case fluid? This is my first XDrive. Thinking of using Valvoline Transfer Case Fluid - Its viscosity seems to match the OE fluid by Rein. Surely they're similar

Don’t use Valvoline. I think their fluids are great, but that TC is sensitive to what is inside.
Rein is not OE! OE is either Shell or Pentosin. Regardless of price, shell out for actual fluid that is recommended for TC. Differentials will take any 75W90.