[Seth_s_v]

Just picked up my N54 E92 335, and looking for advice. Full disclosure, I bought the car with the expectation the N54 wouldn't last a day and would blow itself up given its condition, but the car fit my build plans. Anyways, it's lasted 2 days so I have some hope.

Background: (skip to issue if you'd like)

6MT, 200,000km
Bought with blown turbos and waterpump
Briefly test drove the car and drove as expected, but ran.
When I got it home and was getting it off the flatbed, I gave it a boost (sat for 1.5 weeks before i got it) and started up like normal. A minute into it running, it shutoff and wouldnt turn on again. Cranked with full power but no start. Hooked up the OBD2 and got cam position sensor codes, relatively simple fix.

Now, the real issue:
Due to the car not charging itself, i needed to boost it again to close the windows. Since the car wouldn't start the entire engine bay was cold, which leads me to believe the smoke in the video is something electrical. Any ideas on what it could be?

https://ibb.co/RyrkxBw
https://ibb.co/nfTCSPQ
https://ibb.co/vh7VqtK
https://ibb.co/LNHv9xH

[Bimmer_Engineer]

Does it smell electrical? It would be pretty obvious if that's what it was. A leaking VCG will smoke like that especially if it's leaking bad and sits for a while...

[WoodE30]

Maybe the starter burnt up. Oil leaking on to the exhaust.

[Seth_s_v]

Originally Posted by Bimmer_Engineer

Does it smell electrical? It would be pretty obvious if that's what it was. A leaking VCG will smoke like that especially if it's leaking bad and sits for a while...

Originally Posted by Bimmer_Engineer

Does it smell electrical? It would be pretty obvious if that's what it was. A leaking VCG will smoke like that especially if it's leaking bad and sits for a while...

Originally Posted by WoodE30

Maybe the starter burnt up. Oil leaking on to the exhaust.

Would be my first thoughts but the entire engine bay was cold, hadn't been started for a day. Starter seems like it could be a reason why.

[Bimmer_Engineer]

Originally Posted by Seth_s_v

Would be my first thoughts but the entire engine bay was cold, hadn't been started for a day. Starter seems like it could be a reason why.

Did it smell like electrical smoke? That’s a very distinct smell. When my vcg was leaking a little bit it would start smoking within a minute or two or starting the engine. It drips on the exhaust manifold and it doesn’t take long at all to warm up and start smoking...

[Seth_s_v]

Originally Posted by Bimmer_Engineer

Did it smell like electrical smoke? That’s a very distinct smell. When my vcg was leaking a little bit it would start smoking within a minute or two or starting the engine. It drips on the exhaust manifold and it doesn’t take long at all to warm up and start smoking...

I would think that too, but it does smell electrical. Also the car didn't even start, just had jumpers attached before it started smoking.

[stewbets]

Well goodness, if the car didn't even start that would rule out the VCG. Also, the starter is on the other side of the engine, so I wouldn't think it would be the source of the smoke. How long did you crank it before the smoke appeared? It seems like you should be able to catch it when it first starts smoking and pinpoint the source before it turns into the giant plume of smoke we see in the picture. Maybe the starter was drawing too much current and burning the insulation off its feed wire? I would expect the fuse to blow, though.

[Bimmer_Engineer]

yikes...yeah if that's the case then it's not a VCG...

[Seth_s_v]

Originally Posted by stewbets

Well goodness, if the car didn't even start that would rule out the VCG. Also, the starter is on the other side of the engine, so I wouldn't think it would be the source of the smoke. How long did you crank it before the smoke appeared? It seems like you should be able to catch it when it first starts smoking and pinpoint the source before it turns into the giant plume of smoke we see in the picture. Maybe the starter was drawing too much current and burning the insulation off its feed wire? I would expect the fuse to blow, though.

In the video I hadn't even cranked the car. Just hooked the jumpers up to roll up the windows, the car still does crank healthy when it gets enough power, just dont really wanna wait more than 10 seconds because of the smoke.