head gasket? (see pic)

[93 325i]

I went to check out a 97 M3 today and it looks and drives excellent. NEw clutch, Borla exhaust, new brakes, etc... I open the oil cap and see this: (pic from camera phone)



YIKES! I said dude this is a blown headgasket, but he insists it is just condensation from the PCV valve. Anyone have any input? Thanks..

[catalyst.]

Did you check the coolant?

you need to drain the oil pan and look at the oil before you even think about buying that car..

[Cruzin 323is]

i would suggest u bring the car into your mechanic.. and have him take a total overhaul of the car and see whats going on with it.... then take his advice for it

[SpeedInfusion]

Originally Posted by Cruzin 323is

i would suggest u bring the car into your mechanic.. and have him take a total overhaul of the car and see whats going on with it.... then take his advice for it

+1 always worth the investment before buying a car

btw, tahts one hell of a picture from ur phone, wat kind of phone is it?

[93 325i]

MORE INFO: No oil on dipstick. No white smoke exhaust. No oil in coolant at all. I read that in short frequent trips in cold weather that condensation can occur as shown. And since this car isnt registered and regularly driven often this could very well be condensation. BUT i wil definietly let a trained mechanic make the diagnosis.

Cell phone is a Razor black. Nice phone. Has video too

[green325is]

well my '94 325is oil cap kinda looked like that except with ALOT less yellow. It was kinda sludgy lookin. Change my oil every 3k and had all services done. Engine/Cooling system is in *perfect* shape with no probs. It looked like to me the casting from where the cap screws in to, the paint is peeling and looks sick. I cleaned it up so that sh*& won't get into my engine. No probs here though!

[93 325i]

The camera enhanced the yellow alot. It wasnt that yellow in person. It was more of a milky carmel color than that mustard looking yellow in the pic. On my 93 I noticed the silver casting paint peeling to.. To me tho and milky looking ish under the oil cap cannot be good, whether its condensation or coolant..