320d E46 Problems

[joe001]

Hi guys

I have a 2002 BMW 320d E46 facelift. Recently I noticed the car began to smoke profusely during a cold start. It also shakes violently. Could it be the turbo, cat, injectors or the engine?

Also, could someone be kind enough to please recommend me a reliable BMW specialist anywhere around JHB who doesn't have a 10 week backlog?

Thanks

 

[1lum1nat1]

Glow plugs maybe? Does it smoke excessively when it's cold out side or when the car is cold?

 

[joe001]

Glow plugs maybe? Does it smoke excessively when it's cold out side or when the car is cold?

Thanks. Smokes excessively from the tail pipe when the car is cold. There are no errors on the dash though.

 

[1lum1nat1]

I'm not a mechanic, by any stretch of the imagination. I don't think the turbo or cat will cause this. (if you still have a cat in there, I'd suggest to take it out, it's most definitely blocked considering it age and most probably mileage). Does is smoke when the car has warmed up (or rather more than a diesel should?

Great mechanic with excellent service as recommended all over the forum, is Gizmo, he's also a member here. Try to contact him, he will sort you out.

Another thing, was'nt the facelift released in 2003/4?

 

[joe001]

I'm not a mechanic, by any stretch of the imagination. I don't think the turbo or cat will cause this. (if you still have a cat in there, I'd suggest to take it out, it's most definitely blocked considering it age and most probably mileage). Does is smoke when the car has warmed up (or rather more than a diesel should?

Great mechanic with excellent service as recommended all over the forum, is Gizmo, he's also a member here. Try to contact him, he will sort you out.

Another thing, was'nt the facelift released in 2003/4?

It smokes alot more than a diesel should. There' less smoke once the engine warms up, but its still noticeable.

Thanks for the contact. I will get in touch with him.
The facelift was released in 2002 for sedans.

 

[Mudder]

Gizmo - if you read this, please PM me your details ? I am still trying to find my way around this board.

Regards

Mudder

 

[Dippies]

guys it all depends on the diesel you are using 500 ppm will smoke more the when you use 50 ppm .

Globplugs is just to heat the diesel for startup.

I think the car just needs a good service. all diesels smoke

The best place i take my baby to is duncan ross in midrand

 

[Sabretooth tiger]

guys it all depends on the diesel you are using 500 ppm will smoke more the when you use 50 ppm .

Globplugs is just to heat the diesel for startup.

I think the car just needs a good service. all diesels smoke

The best place i take my baby to is duncan ross in midrand

mine dont smoke, only on cold start up

 

[Dippies]

mine to and when i flatten the pedal :fencelook:

 

[netercol]

that will most prolly be injectors..

also no reason 500ppm would smoke more than 50ppm.. sorry, just not true.

just fyi, my remapped 330d with 250k on the clock hardly smokes when cold started..

edit.

depends on if its REALY cold, like -3 outside, then it might be glowplugs.. above -3 glowplug dont even activate

 

[e46_325i]

Mine does smoke more when its cold and idiling. As soon as i start driving/it warms up it hardly smokes. I was warned from Xcede that it would smoke a little more during cold start up / and under hard acceleration when the cats were removed. Its not close to my diesel bakkie thats for sure! :rollsmile:

 

[Dippies]

that will most prolly be injectors..

also no reason 500ppm would smoke more than 50ppm.. sorry, just not true.

just fyi, my remapped 330d with 250k on the clock hardly smokes when cold started..

edit.

depends on if its REALY cold, like -3 outside, then it might be glowplugs.. above -3 glowplug dont even activate

is that your final awnser or would you like to phone a friend..

"Given the operating conditions, it is easy to
see why cetane level is important. In addition to
improving fuel combustion, increasing cetane level
also tends to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides
(NOx) and particulate matter (PM). These emissions
tend to be more pronounced when starting with
lower cetane number fuels. Increasing the cetane
number value above that required for a given engine
may not, however, improve engine performance.
Some tests have shown that excessively high
cetane number fuels may cause smoking (higher
PM emissions)."

Results

Results of Inadequate Cetane Number
Poor Ignition Quality
Long Ignition Delay
Abnormal Combustion
Abnormally High Combustion Pressure
Potential Uneven Thrust on Piston / Cylinder
Louder Engine Knock
Excessive Engine Knock & Smoke at Cold Start

Source

http://www.biodiesel.org/docs/ffs-p...echnician's-guide-to-diesel-fuel.pdf?sfvrsn=4

---

I do my homework when it comes to diesel.

:rollsmile:

 

[netercol]

lol, sorry buddy did i touch a nerve there?

here is the kicker though, since you feel the need to be sarcastic

since all diesel fuels sold in south africa have to meet at least the minimum cetane value as specified in SANS 342, the cetane value of 500ppm vs 50ppm does not differ significantly as sold by filling stations in this country.
thus you cannot make the statement that 500ppm smokes more than 50ppm.

the merits of high sulpher vs low sulpher is not part of this debate, nor is the fact that newer emmision controls fitted to newer vehicles are designed to work with low sulphur fuels, and thus dpf equiped cars do emmit less black smoke..

hmmm.. more homework needed

:rollsmile:

 

[Dippies]

http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=35953

:rollsmile: sorry for the sarcasm but its not a statement its a fact . or prove me otherwise.

 

[netercol]

lol, ok last thing im gonna say about this, you seem intent on missing it..

your list of the merits of low supher fuels are impressive, well done.

now this : the cetane value of 500ppm is virtually the same as 50ppm as sold in this country. thus 500ppm AS A FUEL does not produce more smoke than 50ppm.

this is also a fact.

peace out.

:thumbs:

 

[Dippies]

pm send so can we continue this debate in the thread above

 

[Nikhil]

If I owned a diesel I would use the fuel that made the most smoke.:fencelook: On a more serious note, Ross Duncan is really good!