Diesel...

[Stiffler_PE]

I have done plenty reading about diesel beemer motors... we all know about the swirl flap issue on the older 320d's

I have come oh so close to buying a 330d on many occasions... but all ways get spooked by the fact that we have really sub-standard diesel here... compared to other countries.

Now let me ask you guys this... diesel bofs please chip in.

When people say we have dirty diesel in this country, is this dirty as in physical impurities in the diesel that clog and wear the injectors / pump etc ?
or are we talking dirty on a chemical level ? like high sulphur content ?

Having asked that question.. let me follow up with this question... would being SERIOUSLY regular with filter changes help ? And by regular i mean all most going over board... every 3 months ?

Look forward to your thoughts, cheers fanatics :thumbsup:

 

[EdOC]

hija Stiffler,

A question i followed up on last year before i went petrol (owned new BMW diesel in UK and amazing power and economy). The fuel in SA is currently Euro 2, Europe and UK is on level 4 and in some places level 5. The diesel here is not as clean (also high sulphur content) as the Europe fuel and as such even regular filter changes won't help that much as the beemer diesels have hi-tec injectors that eventually need replacing - the major cost out of plan. (don't quote me but heard R20-30k) The newer Diesel beemer engines in SA are too hi-tec for the fuel here so repairs out of plan will be high.

SA is due level 4 fuel by 2012 when the new refinery comes online according to latest reports.

just my 2c worth as really looked into it last year as well.

cheers

 

[Hellas]

I've run on 50ppm for quite some time now and for what it's worth, I don't know if it made a difference. Then again my turbo blew up so choosing a good diesel didn't really matter...

The newer diesel vehicles (non-BMW, but I won't specify here) HAS to use the 50ppm for warranty purposes. Suck if you want to go tour Nam and Botswana, since they don't stock 50ppm yet...

In summary I'd say that using 50ppm only changed my mindset. If you are unlucky then you will get 20000km less before having to change something like an injector, or, in my case you lose a turbo long before dirty fuel and injectors come to mind.

 

[P1000]

My 530d 2003 has 270kkm on with original injectors and turbo, mostly run on 500ppm diesel...
Injectors are still in good nick going by correction values in diagnostics software.
Injectors are around 2500-3500 a pop, but they can be serviced just like petrol ones. Fuel filter change is good, but at R400-500 a pop (on my car), changing it every 3 months will be waaay more expensive than injectors. What year model is your car?

Best thing for injectors is a can of two-stroke oil in a tank every now and then. Cleans and lubricates them

 

[Stiffler_PE]

Hey Guys...

So no matter what we do... K@K diesel is our potential biggest threat till 2012 !
But you could have bad luck and lose a turbo or injector and it could have nothing to do with the diesel.

Probably worth it if you take some cover with the car just in case ?


@P1000 i am currently driving petrol... but my ass is itching for a 330d !!!!!! Had a 330i and loved it... but i still want a diesel.. hence my query.

I gots to love the TORQUE

Suddenly buying a diesel is feeling like a bit of russion roulette lol

 

[netercol]

im on my second diesel now, and can honestly say that i have had no issues that i can attribute to dirty diesel..

the sulphur content of our diesel is higer than europe, which in theory means it is a LITTLE more abrasive, but i strongly suspect that the sulphur issue has far more to do with its effect on emmision controls like cats and particulate filters than it has to do with injection parts.. in fact i have read that the process used to remove sulphur from the diesel reduces the lubricity of diesel, which in theory means the cleaner the diesel, the less lubrication for your pumps ect.

http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_stana.html

there was a certain school of thought that proposed that earlier diesels, like the 320d up to 2001 (with the vp44 distributer pump injection, NOT common rail) should exclusively use 500ppm diesel, as the more lubricating fuel will help the pump last longer..

as for turbo's , hard to see how diesel quality could have a effect.. turbo's fail when they overspeed, dont receive oil for various reasons, have foreign objects go through them, carbon up, wear to the point that they touch sides, go out of balance due to damage ect.

lastly though i have to admit, having crossed the country many times for work, i have at times filled with diesel that is so bad that you can actually feel the drop in power.. (a old trick of unscrupelous garage owners is to dilute diesel with parafin, which is cheaper than diesel )

my 2c :dunno:

 

[Hellas]

Probably worth it if you take some cover with the car just in case ?

No, I wanted to take out cover like that and the 'finer' print of the insurers states that a turbo failure will be covered up to R4k... Now a new replacement turbo costs R6,5k (and R13k at the stealer), so not worth the effort (and paperwork)

im on my second diesel now, and can honestly say that i have had no issues that i can attribute to dirty diesel..

+1 There are loads of other components on your car that will wear out/break/fall off before 'dirty' diesel should be a factor.

On the other hand, water or dirt in the garage's tanks are a different game altogether and I've lost a fuel pump on my Polo PURELY to dirty PETROL. Rather decide on which garage you trust and less on deciding between 50ppm or 500ppm. :thumbsup:

 

[///MOS1TED]

On the topic of DIESEL.

Which BRAND delivers the best consumption / power delivery?

BP , SASOL , VPower?

to be used on a E90 330d

 

[Stiffler_PE]

I like what you are saying netercol.... so the big question i pose to you then.... is it safe to buy a good second hand 330d ??? Obviously FL and as low mileage as possible.

 

[zaleonardz]

Well I am on my second diesel, my merc c270CDI I drive from 70k to 120k and never gave me a hint of trouble.

My 730d just hit 103,000 and I have no concerns at all...

 

[Ga-3M]

We just sold my dad's 2004 E46 330d manual with 210 000km on the clock, he had it from new and used 500ppm all the time, also still had the original turbo and injectors when we sold it, so seems like with the 3.0d motors from that time 03/04 didn't really mind 500ppm.

 

[applehero]

On the topic of DIESEL.

Which BRAND delivers the best consumption / power delivery?

BP , SASOL , VPower?

to be used on a E90 330d

In my experience, Sasol 50 ppm is great. Used to fill up frequently at BP and when i switched back, noticed a huge difference. That being said, it's more the station that you fill up at. As mentioned previously, some stations mix their diesel with parafin.

Also my 2c...
The more advanced the engine (higher mep...) the more important it is to have the correct fuel. The x5 3.0sd must use primarily 50ppm, if not warranty is voided!

 

[netercol]

is it safe to buy a good second hand 330d ??? Obviously FL and as low mileage as possible

that is the jackpot question isnt it? imho buying a 330d is about in the same risk group as buying a 330i or m3.. always the chance that someone has driven the clappers out of it.

buying a second hand car is always a risk, if you dont want to take the risk, you have to buy new.. that said if you have had the car checked out thoroughly, checked up on its service history, maybe got hold of its motorplan history and it looks ok, then i dont think the risk is unacceptable..

personnal choice i suppose..

 

[zaleonardz]

Actually, if you read some of the posts here, buying a new car is just as much of a risk, even one of those certified preowned ones.

So ya, have somebody that knows what they are doing check it out properly...

 

[james]

Mine just hit 200k, and I use 500ppm all the time. No problems...and of course there is the "torque" smile. Common amongst td owners.

 

[babyboss]

i use BP / Vpower but throw a btl of wynns diesel octane booster 4 daily drive & blue NF 4 track days .. 70000km & no issues so far ..

 

[Stiffler_PE]

@ james.... it is that Torque smile i am really keen to own :drool:
The 330i was fantastic and i would easily own another one... but i have been ruined by having a spin in a 320d and then a 330d

I think the way forward is to not rush into it... keep looking for that one car that stands out snd then grab it... lets hope it pops up sooner rather than later :excited::excited:

What would be best procedure once taking ownership of such a car ? Any additives that you can run through the tank to clean system ?
It would also appear that the logical step is to keep the car on the cleanest diesel available.

 

[EdOC]

If you can stretch it, 2007 onwards E90 330d with the upgraded engine one to get, still 2/3 yrs left of plan so by time runs out SA should getting latest quality fuel. that engine is an unbelievable beast in that. :drool:

 

[james]

Stifguy, if u can, go for the 6 pot, and immediate swirl flap removal. I just make sure water and oil is always topped up as they always consume some oil, watch the heat guage like a hawk, fastidious servicing at Zeemax, bit of injector cleaner now and again, a 2 min idle after a long drive to allow for turbo cooldown and proper relubrication, and one FANATICAL owner. You wont regret it.

 

[shadow worrior]

HI ya just to let you know i bought i e46 33d and have not looked back especialy once in a while you show the boy racers with their gtiz and st :shocked: . mine is pushing 148k km and never misses a beat and still strong no oil used or water mmm from what i've red im getting worried lol
i wash her every 3 days wax every month < abit ott but i stay in durbs and here rust has car probs :banghead: > when going through the car check to see if you can get the previous owners details from the service book and then phone them and ask why he got rid of it what was the km if they can remember and also if it has new tyres all round i got blind sided by that one, my car had a very bad vibration at 160km/h so i started to think mmm new tures all round what are they hiding had everything check and got to the first check and the rims were buckled ALL 4 but the kind 2nd hand dealer sorted it out after a few :cursin: :slap: :hammerhead: were exchanged

Let the car choise you ....
you can go see thousands of cars but the ONE for you will jump out at you here is an eg, when i was in the uk a mate of mine was gonna buy a freelander <in the uk> so went with him as i was walking up to the car i told him to look for something else that is a lemmon so we looked around and his wife was addamint that she wanted it and had bayby crying ect so he took it we drove about 60miles and the probs started the diff was faulty the window broke and there were a few other probs, thank goodness being the uk we/ he swapped for a 2.0tdi vectra and never looked back

Sorry for the long post but this is just experiance and 10000billion zim dolla worth :dunno: :thinking:

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oh forgot to mention check the plastic covers under the wheel arches and under the car if they still there and the wheel arches dont have scuff marks that one i missed too, the front plastic thingies by the arches goes for around R500 - R600 a side

I think that is it ....... for now :clap: