BMW E46 330i Sportspack FL Cracked OFH & Poor Performance

[alucard]

Hi Guys

This is my first time actually posting on BMW Fanatics, apologies if this is in the wrong section.

I recently bought a 2002 BMW E46 330i Sportspack FL with about 160k km on the clock. I have since driven about 4000km hassle free and with a feeling of rush & excitement every time I get in the car.

Unfortunately the other day I noticed I have to top up the coolant every day with no leaks/issues for the previous 4000km.

After inspection the radiator itself was cracked near where the top water hose connects. The radiator has been replaced with a aftermarket one and seems to be okay thus far.

I also noticed the car had a leak near the oil filter housing & that the serpentine/Main Belt is full of cracks. Ordered a new gasket from BMW,new belt & pulleys.

The problem I am facing is that when I put everything back together I might have caused a serious problem.

In my lazyness of fetching the torque wrench I tightened the pulleys down by hand & feel. I overtightened the idler / alternator pulley by accident and caused a crack on the housing itself .

Please see the pictures below.

Now the question I have is have any of you guys had this problem?
Is it serious and should I find a replacement Oil Filter Housing as soon as possible?







I also did a service on the car. Castrol Magnatec 5W30 Oil & new GUD Air & Oil Filter.

Dont know if its just my mind playing a trick on me but the car seems to lazy under 3k RPM directly after the service.

I have read that VANOS cause the symptom im experiencing. It just seems odd the VANOS would fail directly after an oil change.

I would really appreciate your input & comments!

Thanks

Jandri

 

[moranor@axis]

check the connector that runs under the intake to the intake cam sensor recently had a fanatic with loss of low end... we eventually traced it to the connector... maybe you disturbed it when you did the OFH

 

[alucard]

Thank you very much for the quick reply. Quickly unplugged and plugged the sensor back in. Seems like it is back to its old self again.

For any one maybe wanting to find the sensor plug & location or if you have to replace the sensor as a whole, I found the below link very usefull.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=358494

Should I be worried about the oil filter housing crack?

Any one maybe have pricing on the whole Oil Filter Housing?

 

[Charlie Brown]

Hi there and welcome alucard - well actually I had a similar issue with my previous 318i and I replaced it with a second hand one. I 'd sugest the same for you. I do not believe that anyone can weld that 100% straight plus the time it will take to have it welded.

Luckliy you have the hydraulic tensioner, I'd guess if you had the mechanical one that it probably wouldn't run as the tension is extreme on those and it might have ripped the belt straight off.

 

[alucard]

Hi there and welcome alucard - well actually I had a similar issue with my previous 318i and I replaced it with a second hand one. I 'd sugest the same for you. I do not believe that anyone can weld that 100% straight plus the time it will take to have it welded.

Luckliy you have the hydraulic tensioner, I'd guess if you had the mechanical one that it probably wouldn't run as the tension is extreme on those and it might have ripped the belt straight off.

:ty: for the warm welcome and reply!

Can you maybe recall what the Second Hand Oil Filter Housing had cost?

Where did you source it from?

 

[moranor@axis]

glad i could help
you can try EMI on the forum for the housing...

 

[alucard]

glad i could help
you can try EMI on the forum for the housing...

Thanks again, emailed EMI for pricing & availability. :ty:

 

[Philip Foglar]

Welcome to the forum! You are in good hands!! :thumbs:

 

[Andy1GP]

If you know someone that can weld for you that is an option. Else a 2nd hand one will be just fine like mentioned.

If you want to do some DIY and get some power back, PM Moranor for a Vanos seal kit. At that age and mileage you will notice a difference. You'll love your car even more

Welcome to the Forum and very nice car+sig you have.

 

[Charlie Brown]

I paid R800 for the 318 one I think - bought from BM Spares here in Durban.

I'm not sure about the 2nd places in Upington - shout if you want me to look around here and see what I can find for you. I did a complete cooling system overhaul last weekend that required the alternator and OFH to be removed so I have a good idea on what mine looks like on my 330i.

 

[alucard]

Welcome to the forum! You are in good hands!! :thumbs:

Thank you very much!! Must say this is an awesome community!! You guys are friendly, helpful and respond so quickly. I'm impressed :bravo:

Would be nice to join one of your events, Upington just so far off from everything.

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If you know someone that can weld for you that is an option. Else a 2nd hand one will be just fine like mentioned.

If you want to do some DIY and get some power back, PM Moranor for a Vanos seal kit. At that age and mileage you will notice a difference. You'll love your car even more

Welcome to the Forum and very nice car+sig you have.

We have a place here that does aluminium welding, im just scared it won't hold or something and then have to get a replacement housing at the end of the day + major down time on the car.

I bought a valve cover gasket set that's waiting to be installed. I then read up on the VANOS seals and wanted to do that as well while the valve cover is off.
I have done a bit of DIY in the past on previous cars. Never engine internals yet though. So I'm a bit hesitant to mess with engine internals, it seems like a fairly straight forward process though for replacing the seals.

:ty: for the welcome & car comment! I really love the E46 shape & look

BTW you have some very nice cars in your sig as well!!

---

I paid R800 for the 318 one I think - bought from BM Spares here in Durban.

I'm not sure about the 2nd places in Upington - shout if you want me to look around here and see what I can find for you. I did a complete cooling system overhaul last weekend that required the alternator and OFH to be removed so I have a good idea on what mine looks like on my 330i.

Thank you for offering to help me out with the sourcing. I have mailed EMI as per Moranor advice, i'll just wait on their feedback before you go through all the trouble!

You guys are the best raise:

 

[moranor@axis]

Vanos seals are easy on the m54 hardest part is getting the valve cover off without injuring yourself :roflol:

 

[alucard]

Vanos seals are easy on the m54 hardest part is getting the valve cover off without injuring yourself :roflol:

Hahaha i'll try not to smack myself in the face when I pulling the cover off:roflol:

Im just afraid of breaking something aluminium again.

Does the seal kit come with the vanos gasket & vanos seals themselves?

I see the valve cover gasket kit does not come with the rubber grommets for the bolts holding the valve cover. Do you maybe have pricing on that as well?

 

[AcidBurn]

Import a cover gasket kit from E-bay its much cheaper then the agents.:thumbs:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EDM-BMW-VIC...009&pid=100005&prg=1088&rk=2&sd=140874581190&

 

[moranor@axis]

whole engine is alu and plastic best use a lighter hand :rollsmile:

m54:
Seals R 750
Rattle repair R 750
Soft Jaw Vice liners R 188

 

[Andy1GP]

Save money by doing the weld and spend it rather on the vanos kit.

I see you're in Upington. Pity you're so far away. When you come to Gauteng, KZN or WP then there will be meet ups, or they will be arranged for you

 

[alucard]

Import a cover gasket kit from E-bay its much cheaper then the agents.:thumbs:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EDM-BMW-VIC...009&pid=100005&prg=1088&rk=2&sd=140874581190&

Already bought the valve cover gasket kit and this one came without the rubber grommets

Grommets available seperately?

---

whole engine is alu and plastic best use a lighter hand :rollsmile:

m54:
Seals R 750
Rattle repair R 750
Soft Jaw Vice liners R 188

Does the "Seals R 750" consist of the following? VANOS gasket included (Or must this be ordered from BMW Stealership)?:




What does the Rattle kit consist of? New Bearings?

---

Save money by doing the weld and spend it rather on the vanos kit.

I see you're in Upington. Pity you're so far away. When you come to Gauteng, KZN or WP then there will be meet ups, or they will be arranged for you

Im thinking the same thing. VANOS kit really make that big of a difference?

I don't have the VANOS rattle, still need the rattle kit?

 

[alucard]

Just got pricing from EMI on the Oil Filter Housing. R2000 for a second hand one they have in stock.

Seems way too much for a used item. Think I will go the weld route unless I can source a cheaper one from somewhere.

Will phone up the stealership just to find out what a new one will cost out of interest.

 

[moranor@axis]

kit does not include the gasket
I can get the gasket from BMW if it will make it easier for you and send it up with the seals... let me know and i will get pricing from the dealer on it...

 

[alucard]

kit does not include the gasket
I can get the gasket from BMW if it will make it easier for you and send it up with the seals... let me know and i will get pricing from the dealer on it...

Thanks Moranor, I'll call BMW tomorrow, was a bit busy at work today. Just want to make sure what i'll need when I buy the kit to do the job.

Will try to buy and get everything after month end when my wallet has recovered.

Maybe know of a few scrapyards I can try for a Oil Filter Housing for alot cheaper than R2000? (The scrapyards in Upington don't really strip these types of cars, just VW Golf's and stuff.)

BTW... love the BMWFanatics.co.za sticker you guys have in the Car windows, where do I get that? Veteran Member perks?