# BMW X3 mystery exhaust **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [March 15, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-x3-mystery-exhaust/27812 "2009-03-15T19:50:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![golfnut1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eada6e/32.png) [@golfnut1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/golfnut1)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-x3-mystery-exhaust/27812/1 "2009-03-15T19:50:58Z")
I own a 2005 BMW X3 w/ 3.0 6-cyl. engine. After drivng in 6th gear at about 55 mph for three miles or so I noticed that sometime during acceleration to 65-70 a huge cloud of exhaust smoke behind me. It’s happened on the ame stretch of hwy. each time. It goes away after about 10 seconds. The oil level is fine, no sign of buring oil. The dealer can’t get it to do it. They say it might just be unspent fuel. Should I panic? ---
**Author:** ![rocketman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@rocketman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rocketman)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-x3-mystery-exhaust/27812/2 "2009-03-15T20:28:10Z")
What color is the smoke? Rocketman ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 11:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-x3-mystery-exhaust/27812/3 "2009-03-15T23:38:05Z")
Blue Gray or white? ---
**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-x3-mystery-exhaust/27812/4 "2009-03-16T00:57:33Z")
You don’t mention mileage,this important. After 50,000 it is possible that the crankcase vent valve is ruptured and oil is getting sucked into the intake. ---
**Author:** ![rocketman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@rocketman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rocketman)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 12:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-x3-mystery-exhaust/27812/5 "2009-03-16T12:05:40Z")
I guess the problem fixed itself. Can’t figure how folks post questions and never follow up. Rocketman ---
**Author:** ![golfnut1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eada6e/32.png) [@golfnut1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/golfnut1)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 10:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-x3-mystery-exhaust/27812/6 "2009-03-17T22:48:31Z")
It’s hard to say, it looks almost like snow off ones roof. White to grey, nothing unique. ---
**Author:** ![golfnut1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eada6e/32.png) [@golfnut1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/golfnut1)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-x3-mystery-exhaust/27812/7 "2009-03-17T22:49:28Z")
White I believe. ---
**Author:** ![golfnut1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eada6e/32.png) [@golfnut1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/golfnut1)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 10:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-x3-mystery-exhaust/27812/8 "2009-03-17T22:51:02Z")
27,00 miles. ---
**Author:** ![golfnut1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eada6e/32.png) [@golfnut1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/golfnut1)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-x3-mystery-exhaust/27812/9 "2009-03-17T22:59:30Z")
I’m back…was working 2 shifts yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 11:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-x3-mystery-exhaust/27812/10 "2009-03-18T11:51:02Z")
White is moisture and may be nothing more than an indication of the weather, or it may be a cooling system problem. Check the level of your coolant. ---
**Author:** ![golfnut1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eada6e/32.png) [@golfnut1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/golfnut1)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-x3-mystery-exhaust/27812/11 "2009-03-19T00:21:22Z")
I’m taking it in to the dealer next Thursday…I’ll mention this advice. If it is coolant, does that mean head gasket?