I fear I may be looking at a significant repair looming on my 2001 525i. It has always (well, within my ownership - the last four years and ~40k miles; total mileage now at 139k) used some oil. I've addressed the two common leakage points - the valve cover and oil filter housing gaskets - and replaced the CCV system, which can also contribute to oil consumption. Nothing currently leaks, and the CCV tests within spec for crankcase vacuum (3-6" in. H2O in a slack tube manometer).
Oil consumption has increased somewhat in the last few months, and in the last few weeks I've noticed puffs of oil smoke when resuming acceleration at the bottom of several large hills around here. This points to valve stem seals. Apparently, these are known to be problematic on early M54s. I'm worried that this much usage (aside from being embarrassing) will cause damage to cats in the long term.
I've researched the procedure, and it's likely too much for me to tackle going into the winter with no heated workspace. Further, several special (read: expensive) tools are necessary, none of which I own. I think I'm going to have to farm this one out, much as it makes my already emaciated wallet shrink into a corner, whimpering and rocking gently back and forth in the fetal position. I absolutely hate the idea of not being able to complete the work on my own, but screwing it up in any one of a number of possible expensive ways would be worse.
My questions (which are somewhat secondary to my venting, and are mostly directed to anyone with specific knowledge of the M5x-series of BMW engines) are:
How much time should I expect this to take? I have a good BMW-specific indy shop that should have all the tools and has many years of experience, so I'm hoping for best-case in terms of hours of labor. Desperately hoping.
What else should I have done while they are in there? Obviously some things have to be replaced as a result of disassembly, but anything over and above the necessities?
