Hi, this is my first club like this for me to join. I have already copied some info to improve my car. First is my 98 740i is using oil. The first 2 plugs on the right are oil soaked. i've just had the rear intake manifold replaced and the 60.000 mile service. I think there is more to fix this oil problem and I'm looking for a good reasonable mechanic in the Tampa Bay area. My 740i is a very nice car to drive.
Rives

Welcome aboard!:)

Sounds like you might need the inner and outer valve cover gaskets replaced.

Try www.e38.org to find some manitence and good E38 knowledge..

Osv?

Thanks, I copied MikeinSC, Jfstu and TxDath's comments about oil usage. But I'm having trouble convincing my wife that we still have a problem because the oil level has not decreased since the intake manifold rear cover was replaced. I think I should take the car for a good drive on Monday. When I get the oil changed I'll have the mechanic check for loose oil pump bolts. As a new retiree, I have time and interest to make my good looking 740i perfecto.

Hi, this is my first club like this for me to join. I have already copied some info to improve my car. First is my 98 740i is using oil. The first 2 plugs on the right are oil soaked. i've just had the rear intake manifold replaced and the 60.000 mile service. I think there is more to fix this oil problem and I'm looking for a good reasonable mechanic in the Tampa Bay area. My 740i is a very nice car to drive.
Rives

welcome!!! last year i had a problem where my valve cover gaskets needed replacements, and my car smoked a lot...is your car smoking at all??? cuz if it was burning oil, there would be smoke...good luck :)

by the way, how many miles on your lexus??? i want an ls400 really bad, i love the styling compared to an es, more boxy...i like boxy!!!

Osv?

The OSV and the rear intake manifold cover plate are the same thing. So, he already had it replaced.

The valve cover gaskets probably need to be replaced, but you should aslo get a compression test and a leak down test. You probably have a few valve stem seals that need replacing. Replacing them isn't cheap, but you'll have a whole new engine afterwards.

by the way, how many miles on your lexus??? i want an ls400 really bad, i love the styling compared to an es, more boxy...i like boxy!!!
Hi my 92 ls400 has 106K miles its in very good shape less maintenance than I think the 98 740i will be. But the bemmmer drives differently and has more power. Also this forum seems great.

The OSV and the rear intake manifold cover plate are the same thing. So, he already had it replaced. Please believe me. There are two items which fail. The rear cover including its diaphram is at one end and the other is the crankcase oil separation valve. This end is hard to get to behind the timing chain, and over 10 hours of labor. Some failures on the osv are in the neck at the top of the osv. Hopefully can be fixed with special tubbing for a 2001 740i (not my car) so the osv doesn't have to be removed. I'll let you know what my 98 740i looks like.

The valve cover gaskets probably need to be replaced, but you should aslo get a compression test and a leak down test. You probably have a few valve stem seals that need replacing. Replacing them isn't cheap, but you'll have a whole new engine afterwards. Please believe me. There are two items which fail. The rear cover including its diaphram is at one end and the other is the crankcase oil separation valve. This end is hard to get to behind the timing chain, and over 10 hours of labor. Some failures on the osv are in the neck at the top of the osv. Hopefully can be fixed with special tubbing for a 2001 740i (not my car) so the osv doesn't have to be removed. I'll let you know what my 98 740i looks like.

Osv?
Please believe me. There are two items which fail. The rear cover including its diaphram is at one end and the other is the crankcase oil separation valve. This end is hard to get to behind the timing chain, and over 10 hours of labor. Some failures on the osv are in the neck at the top of the osv. Hopefully can be fixed with special tubbing for a 2001 740i (not my car) so the osv doesn't have to be removed. I'll let you know what my 98 740i looks like when the mechenic looks at my OSV in the front of the engine.
This site for Bemmer users is great. Many mechenics don't know much about OSV, but they just change the rear manifold cover.

The OSV is the little orange diaphram within the rear cover plate, also referred to as the EGR valve.

You can actually just remove/replace the OSV without removing/replacing the entire rear cover plate. This thread will explain, http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=542733

OK I replaced the back rear plate valve. This stopped oil from going out the rear exhaust. Also replaced the gaskets inner and outer plus the 22 bolt gaskets. Glad I did it. Also checked for loose oil pump bolts ...they were tight. The front OSV did not show any leak. So far so good. Thanks all