Did the oil change this morning and I am no specialist but it does look like it to me! :(
What do you think:
http://img133.exs.cx/img133/2019/dsc005782lu.jpg

The oil had 6k, I didn't got any overheating although I drove it hard a couple of times lately. :(
Car always beens serviced by BMW until I got it and total 55kmiles now.

Ludo

Did the oil have any sign of milky emulsion globules in it? Has there been recent inexplicable coolant loss?

If the answers to both are no I'd suspect that what you see under the filler cap is simply combustion condensates and not as a result of a head gasket leak. It does suggest that the car isn't seeing enough sustained driving at speed to keep those condensates boiled out of the oil. The valve cover and filler cap are the coolest parts of the engine and watery stuff will condense and collect there. Seeing it there isn't a problem, but that probably means that there's sludging occuring also, which isn't good.

In a urban driving cycle that has little highway speed driving the engine usually isn't run long or hard enough to fully come up to temperature. And this is problem is worse in winter than in summer due to low ambient temperatures. It takes somewhere around 20-30 minutes at highway speed to do that with moderate ambient temperatures. Only then is everything hot enough to boil out the condensates. The nicest thing you can do for your Bimmer (or any other car) is to take it "out for a walk" a couple of times a week.

If your driving pattern is primarily an urban cycle it probably makes sense to shorten the oil/filter change interval.

I agree with the above post. I had the exact same symptoms in my M52TU 2.8L and it wasn't the head gasket. The problem went away when I drove the car on the freeway for 30 minutes each week at "high speed." I wouldn't worry too much about it and just watch coolant use. Keep in mind, though a little lost of coolant is normal, even in a sealed system.

Did the oil have any sign of milky emulsion globules in it? Has there been recent inexplicable coolant loss?

If the answers to both are no I'd suspect that what you see under the filler cap is simply combustion condensates and not as a result of a head gasket leak. It does suggest that the car isn't seeing enough sustained driving at speed to keep those condensates boiled out of the oil. The valve cover and filler cap are the coolest parts of the engine and watery stuff will condense and collect there. Seeing it there isn't a problem, but that probably means that there's sludging occuring also, which isn't good.

In a urban driving cycle that has little highway speed driving the engine usually isn't run long or hard enough to fully come up to temperature. And this is problem is worse in winter than in summer due to low ambient temperatures. It takes somewhere around 20-30 minutes at highway speed to do that with moderate ambient temperatures. Only then is everything hot enough to boil out the condensates. The nicest thing you can do for your Bimmer (or any other car) is to take it "out for a walk" a couple of times a week.

If your driving pattern is primarily an urban cycle it probably makes sense to shorten the oil/filter change interval.

Dude I think you're the best sleeping pill ever! :D I didn't notice any loss of coolant. The oil had a little bit milky emulsion, although I couldn't see it at first, it's only when I emptied the pan (the thingy I collect the oil in) that I saw those white/yellow little bits but there was only very few of them.

I checked the coolant this evening, level was fine, and coolant was still ver much blue, then I put a bit of tissue in it just to see if there was any traces of oil, but nothing:
http://img106.exs.cx/img106/3213/dsc005815zp.jpg
http://img106.exs.cx/img106/4055/dsc005843pm.jpg

I guess I just have to keep an eye on everything and take her for a spin tomorrow.

1/2 of the mileage was done on motorway but recently I havent done more than 15 miles at a time, that could be the reason, I hope so anyway!

The furstating thing is that we can't see the cams via the filling hole, It would make it easier to assess any problems :rolleyes :mad !

I didn't notice any loss of coolant. The oil had a little bit milky emulsion, although I couldn't see it at first, it's only when I emptied the pan (the thingy I collect the oil in) that I saw those white/yellow little bits but there was only very few of them.
Finding any evidence of emulsion in the oil is not good as that might indicate a head gasket leak. I's suggest some shorter interval oil changes, say about 2-3k apart and watch for more evidence of contamination. If it persists with a normal driving cycle there might be a leak.

Finding any evidence of emulsion in the oil is not good as that might indicate a head gasket leak. I's suggest some shorter interval oil changes, say about 2-3k apart and watch for more evidence of contamination. If it persists with a normal driving cycle there might be a leak.

Will do this! I am going for a trip next week, should clock around 500miles so might take a sample of the oil and get it analyzed!

If the answers to both are no I'd suspect that what you see under the filler cap is simply combustion condensates and not as a result of a head gasket leak.

I concur. :)

1/2 of the mileage was done on motorway but recently I havent done more than 15 miles at a time, that could be the reason, I hope so anyway!

If i'm reading this right, this might easily explain the buildup.

Make sure you check the tube on the cam cover that pulls the water vapor out of the engine. There is a black plastic fitting that has a "probe". This probe sticks into the cam cover on the side at the front of the engine. If this tube is plugged or partially plugged with this milky mix of oil and water vapor then the vacuum suction from the intake manifold will not be able to draw the vapors out effectively.
Driving on the highway will get the engine hot enough to fully vaporize the water but it is the vacuum suction from the manifold that pulls it out through this tube. The tube unclips and pulls right out, almost as if they intended you to check it quickly and easily.
andrew