New to me 135i - many questions - manual swap?

[zdbrown]

I recently acquired a 2008 135i from a friend. It’s a 173k mile automatic, and I’ve got to admit, it’s already my favorite car that I’ve ever owned. Details from the first owner below:

“2008 M sport with 163k miles. Automatic. (These are the 2 knocks against it)
Otherwise...
Mods with less than 5k miles on them.
-Pure 600 DDs turbos with 2 inch inlets
-Precision race works coils
-BC Racing coilovers with swift springs
-stage 2.5 walbro fuel pump setup
-new index 12 injectors from FCP Euro
-new seals on oil cooler
-new valve cover gasket
-walnut blast intake
-3.5 bar tmap sensor
-wedge performance tune
-new reservoir tank/cap
-new radiator
-all water hoses
-diff oil changed
-billet crank seal guard

Other modifications/recent maintenance items
-M Factory LSD
-Forged Apex wheels 18x8.5 with 245 tires front, 18x9.5 with 265 tires rear (Michelin PS2)
-ECS tuning 2 piece front rotors and Ferodo DS2500 pads
-xHP custom tune by Rod Spudin and xHP flash pack with 3 tunes
-MHD tunes - all stages
-snow performance methanol injection
-transmission oil 8k miles ago
-oil pan gasket 15k ago
-upgraded PCV valve
-water pump 15k miles
-vrsf 7 inch intercooler/hoses
-vrsf charge pipe/tial BOV
-vrsf catless downpipes
-m3 engine mounts
-dual cone intake
-vrsf 3 in catback exhaust
-75mm titanium studs and lugs”

Since the owner who wrote that list, the car has been through 2 more owners before me and 10k miles. Despite the fact the car was well maintained car up to 163k, it now has a couple issues at 173k.

Problems:

• Heavy oil smoke out of tailpipe when coasting to stops/at idle
• Oil leaks from turbos (which are not Pure branded as far as I can tell?)
• Oil level sensor not reading
• I’m sure there’s hidden codes that BMW doesn’t want me to see for some reason
• TPMS lights on
• On the passenger side of the engine bay, there’s a piece of tinfoil covering seemingly nothing? where the cowl should sit (I’ve got no cowl). Told by previous owner to not move it and I don’t know why.

I’ve had several automotive projects, but I’m a BMW newb, so I’d appreciate anyone who can share a link to some basic info on the n54/e82 platform.

I do have several questions:

• What should I know about this car before getting into it?
• What maintenance should be mandatory for a car with these miles?
• Before jumping to the conclusion of failed turbos, how do I diagnose the smoking issue? Are PCV failures common?
• Perchance I have a GS6-53BZ trans, 335is clutch, and supporting hardware/wiring from a manual car, where would a fella find information regarding an auto to manual swap?

Super stoked to have this car. I can’t wait to get working on it.

[greywing.wip]

Somebody please solve the mystery of the aluminum foil

[MParallel]

Probbaly just a saucage being heated up.