Z4 Intake Explosion!

Started to leave work today..... when I cranked the Z4 at a cold start there was a loud pop in the engine bay and smoke rolled from under the hood. It started but idled rough. I popped the hood to find the plastic intake cracked from the backfire. Any idea why this happened? Wondering what the repair cost will set me back?

The Z4 is a 2005 with the 3.0. The outside temp was mid 40s.

Go it on the rollback today and off to the shop. Wondering if it jumped time. Would that be unusal at 80K for the 3.0

Did you get a "Service Engine Soon" light? If so, pull the codes and post them. Autozone can usually do this for you.

Wow, interesting....

No, the timing chain is probably one of the most bullet proof sections of the M54 engine...would be very suprised to hear that is the issue.

I'm not sure if I'm even in the right ballpark here, but maybe read up on the oil separator. Though it probably hasn't been in the freezing temps in Kentucky lately (notably, your reference to mid 40s), so that probably mutes my random thought on the matter...

Didn't realize the M54 had a chain instead of a belt. I too will be surprised if that is the issue. On the oil separator if freezing conditions are required it was too warm that day. When I looked at the oil serator issues the repair cost were pretty spooky. It will be interesting to see what the issue was here. I saw some similar on other sites and they were talking about the O2 sensor and MAF. What ever the issue it was enough pressure in the ignition to split the intake at the seams.