Oil film inside Inlet Manifold

[Z3newbie!]

Today I replaced the camshaft position sensor, car sounds better I think?

When removing the inlet manifodld cover there was a light film of oil inside it, is this normal?

 

[Rudyrov]

The PCV system tries to separate oil from the engine blowby and send the results to the intake system to be re-combusted or burned.
PCV systems in many older cars are easy to get to and clean or replace, the BMW is a bit more difficult but should be cleaned every few years.
That said, a little oil in the intake trac is perhaps not so rare, especially in older cars that are perhaps not driven as much as newer ones.
I would not worry about it too much and perhaps would try to service the PCV system.

 

[colb]

Rudyrov is correct maybe its time to clean all the PCV hoses, they do get gunked up over the years, I actually renewed all of mine, bit of a mission to fit them all under the intake manifold and may require lifting it off to get good access to fit all the bits but well worth doing.

 

[Delk]

You will always get some oil and shmutz in the intake from the breather system. It's quite normal. The intake valves get cleaned by the fuel from the injectors.

That's one of the issues with the newer direct injection engines. Carbon the intake valves can become and issue since they don't get cleaned the same.