should i be worried about this

[Guest dutch]

how do i get rid of this and what is happening?

[ryanOC]

get a mirror and try to find out whether it's coming from the plug hole or the valve cover

[esty]

i like the heat shield....did you add it and know where to find one like it?

[Guest dutch]

i have no idea. i bought the car like that, i assumed it was stock

[Harv]

Late 320i or 318i exhaust manifold gasget.

John

[Guest]

i like the heat shield....did you add it and know where to find one like it?

I just bought a heat shield from Bavarian Autosport ....bavauto.com.... for about $15 bucks.

[Chris_B]

I believe the heat shield exhaust gasket is from the 318i application of the M10... the E30, IIRC. In any event, they are commonly available for $25... or so.

[Chris_B]

Well, it is not a Good Thing, whatever is causing it. Possible causes are leaking exhaust studs (only some of them can leak... I can't tell from the pic if the stud above that position is one), loose plug, or leak in the valve cover gasket. As has been suggested, get a mirror and see what you can see. If necessary, wipe off the grease that will have collected on the head, take a short drive, and then look again. It is possible for oil on the exhaust manifold to catch on fire.

[GregR]

I got one from bmpd.com for $14, they really are a nice little addition + they are light weight.

As for the oil spot, lose spark plug maybe?

[Guest Anonymous]

That gasket only comes on a 318i. All E21's had the 4 piece deal like an 02.