Let's see if r3v can figure it out...

[ck_taft325is]

The new 325i I picked up did something quite odd today. Got me a ticket trying to rescue my wife at a Gas station... anyways! There's white smoke coming from the driver's side windshield wiper arm vents and from the dash. Not the vents, the dash itself on the pass. side. It's hard to pinpoint where exactly as it just seems to appear. Smells like burning paper with a slight sweet tinge to it. Coolant is fine. Oil isn't milky. Oils fine with the exception of a drop coming from the pan. Car does seem to get a bit hot though. I haven't had an m20b25 in about 3+ years though so the temp. needle climbing to halfway may just be how it is. Any suggestions of where to start tearing into first?

[Farbin Kaiber]

Obama?

[marakka]

Heater core leaking onto manifold.

[ck_taft325is]

Which manifold do you surmise? Dangerous to drive? Currently the cars at my in-law's house about 45 minutes from home. If I can, I'd prefer to half take apart our "new" car at home so as to avoid the inevitable, "Why'd you buy a broken car?" looks.

[TOM1911]

Sounds like a pinhole in the heater core area or possibly a bad seal on the fittings going into the core, aerosolizing coolant in the HVAC housing.

[ck_taft325is]

Son of a bitch that sounds like a pain.

Would the heat being ridiculously hot mean anything? I (probably misguidedly) thought that any issues with leaking lines into the core resulted in low heat output. This thing could almost cook an egg.

[ck_taft325is]

And for the record, I really appreciate the responses. If I could, I'd buy you all a beer.

[dashboardmonkey]

Heater cores in the E30 is about one of the easiest there are, spendy tho $140

[StereoInstaller1]

Heater cores in the E30 is about one of the easiest there are, spendy tho $140

never did a full size Ford or Bronco, huh?

[xwill112x]

it might be your wiper arm motor. i smoked mine once when trying to wipe off like 6inches of snow and they got hung for a min. smelled like shit, and smoke came out of the vents. that might be your culprit.

[ck_taft325is]

it might be your wiper arm motor. i smoked mine once when trying to wipe off like 6inches of snow and they got hung for a min. smelled like shit, and smoke came out of the vents. that might be your culprit.

Only issue with that was that it was nice and sunny. Happened when wipers were not in use. I wish though...

It doesn't smell overtly bad, just a bit like something on fire. Which while you're driving is one of the stupid-scariest things!

[hotballs]

never did a full size Ford or Bronco, huh?

or a corrado...

[ck_taft325is]

In the event that it is the heater core, don't suppose one from an '84 E would work in the '88 I?

[dashboardmonkey]

never did a full size Ford or Bronco, huh?

hey I said ABOUT

In the event that it is the heater core, don't suppose one from an '84 E would work in the '88 I?

realoem is your friend

just do a part number comparison

[richardkeith97]

take that cover off and check the plastic cover on your wiper motor. i had the same problem and my wiper motor was overheating and melting that plastic shield. smelled like burning paper kind of and white smoke. just smelled horrible. if thats the problem dont put a new wiper motor in without that cover. i went through 3 motors until i put that cover back on.