E46 318i Touring Oil & Smoking problem

[Sips]

I recently bought the E46 318i Touring 2003 facelift model with 145 000 km on the clock. The car is consuming oil excessively approximately 1L for every tank full of travel (500km) there is white smoke coming out of the exhaust during some hard acceleration especially when the engine is cold. The car has also a funny smell from the exhaust; not really petrol fumes but oil and something else like a chemical. The car runs okay and has the power; its heavy on fuel though.

I need help?

Is this an engine wear problem? Where do I start to diagnose the problem? who can I go to in Cape Town?

 

[Legacy]

there is white smoke coming out of the exhaust during some hard acceleration especially when the engine is cold.

There is at least one problem right there...

 

[zaleonardz]

its an N42 engine, it pisses oil

Tappet cover, VVT sensor,, pretty much everything... is going to leak... fix it

 

[Raybimmer]

" Hard accelleration when cold " - good way to kill engine .
Put cardboard or paper under engine at night to see if oil dripped from engine .
Get a compression test done - dry and wet - this will show if compression is low or if there are cylinder to cylinder variations . Wet test will show if rings are going .
Normally blue smoke is oil being burnt -rings etc , and black is overfuelling and can also be white or grey . White can be leaking master cylinder seals - vacuum sucks brake fluid into engine .
Good luck .

 

[XMAX]

I dunno if these cars have valve stem seals, but I do know that light coloured smoke coming out the exhaust could be a sign of valve stem seals requiring replacement.


The car shouldnt be losing that much oil. These cars sweat oil.


I suggest you attend to the items mentioned by Zaleonard. Whilst youre at it, I suggest an oil flush / de sludge. These N42's are renowned for sludging which will cause the Valvetronic System to pack up.


The car is nice, and once you attend to the lil niggles you should have trouble free driving for a long time.

If youre in Jozi, you could contact Tunetech (Bezuidenhout Valley, Not too far away from Bruma Lake / Eastgate Mall). They have a Oil leak kit that they sell. I forget the exact price off hand, but I do remember that it was affordable. 011 6144782 / 614 2579. Call them. Great bunch of people. Excellent quality workmanship at affordable prices.

 

[Jacques Motorem]

I recently bought the E46 318i Touring 2003 facelift model with 145 000 km on the clock. The car is consuming oil excessively approximately 1L for every tank full of travel (500km) there is white smoke coming out of the exhaust during some hard acceleration especially when the engine is cold. The car has also a funny smell from the exhaust; not really petrol fumes but oil and something else like a chemical. The car runs okay and has the power; its heavy on fuel though.

I need help?

Is this an engine wear problem? Where do I start to diagnose the problem? who can I go to in Cape Town?

It does not sound like an engine wear problem.

The cheapest thing to check first is the PCV valve and its 3 pipes (oil separator) if the PVC is blocked and/or one of the pipes is leaking it will affect the engine's breathing, fuel and oil consumption. It has also been known to cause leaks past the oil filler cap.

Once you've done this refill your sump and measure exactly what your oil usage is - if its 500ml per 1000 km then that, according to BMW, is quite OK - but its up to you.to then "do the head".

Mech 5 or Zeemax can do this for you in Cape Town.

Good luck

 

[Chucky]

sounds like your head,

excessive oil consumption is most probably due to bad valve stem seals, seems like a common problem on the N42 Engine after 150 000 k's if the power is there
and the car drives normal e.g (no power loss, uneven idle or anything funny) then speak to your mech, will most probably be your valve stem seals.

oh that smell means your cats are spoiled because of the smoke from the burning oil so you might be looking to get a decat also,curious to know if the funny smell you talking bout smells like cheap paint?

 

[Iceman007]

I recently bought the E46 318i Touring 2003 facelift model with 145 000 km on the clock. The car is consuming oil excessively approximately 1L for every tank full of travel (500km) there is white smoke coming out of the exhaust during some hard acceleration especially when the engine is cold. The car has also a funny smell from the exhaust; not really petrol fumes but oil and something else like a chemical. The car runs okay and has the power; its heavy on fuel though.

I need help?

Is this an engine wear problem? Where do I start to diagnose the problem? who can I go to in Cape Town?

It does not sound like an engine wear problem.

The cheapest thing to check first is the PCV valve and its 3 pipes (oil separator) if the PVC is blocked and/or one of the pipes is leaking it will affect the engine's breathing, fuel and oil consumption. It has also been known to cause leaks past the oil filler cap.

Once you've done this refill your sump and measure exactly what your oil usage is - if its 500ml per 1000 km then that, according to BMW, is quite OK - but its up to you.to then "do the head".

Mech 5 or Zeemax can do this for you in Cape Town.

Good luck

Yip PCV and oil seperator have it replaced. The O Rings on the Cam sensors are cheap and you can do it yourself its easy. I wont rule Valve stem seals for there symptom would be smoke when idling for a period and then give it a rev and then smoke and changing gear you would see smoke but first check oil seperator breather system for they cause simillar symptoms

 

[Sips]

First I went to the AA to have the car mechanics checked, the report was favorable but they did not give full diagnosis of the engine other than to tell me that its smoking. I then went to Max 5 in Cape Town. The mechanic examined it for 15 minutes and concluded that the valve stem seals could be gone but further stated that he needs to open up the cylinder head to determine further damage it could cost me 18k, approximately.
Took the car back to the dealer to discuss way forward with the repairs. Dealer took it to his BWW specialist M1 Autocare Management in Claremont for a third opinion.
Picked up my car this afternoon, workshop manager gave me a whole lecture about oil and viscosity. His conclusion is that I have been over filling the oil. That it’s normal for this engine to consume 1l of oil for every 1000km. He flushed it out put new oil in and some additive to stop the consumption and the smoking. He asked me to drive it for another 1000km and only fill up the oil when the light comes on.
It sounds like crap to me. Just to prolong my misery whilst they buy time. He does not acknowledge that the car has done 145 000 km already there could be some wear an tear.
I have not had a car consuming oil like this. I have owned 3 BMW in my lifetime none were like this.

 

[ZOMBIE]

Sips have you sorted out your touring, strange I also have a touring 318i 2004 with the same symptoms, used about a litre of oil and did even do 1000km's. I could see a bit of valve cover leaking and I think the sump.

 

[Djwez]

Hi, having the same problem.

Did anyone manage to find out what the cause was

 

[ZOMBIE]

Still drinking oil, I am going to tackle this next month, going to take off the manifold and inspect the oil separator. I was at BMW the technician said it could possibly be the oil separator, they do quite a few of these often, wIll let you know if this sorts out the rpoblem, just hope its not valve stem seals.

 

[Jacques Motorem]

Customer brought N42 in using 1l oil per 1000 km. Replaced PCV and pipes and a few seals and oil cap. Usage came down to 800ml per 1000 km. Now busy doing head at workshop around the corner using Masterparts' valve guides and seals. Whole job including gaskets, stretchbolts and labour will be approx 4k - calling in a few favours.

Should get car on Monday and will post results.

 

[Djwez]

Took my car to a BMW mechanic, he said my valve cover gasket is the cause, it causing oil to leak into the spark plugs which is causing my smoking issue.

Can this be true?

 

[ZOMBIE]

Jacques what is the mileage on this car?

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Has he check your PCV, what is the mileage on your car, mine has 166000km's!

 

[Djwez]

He say the PVC is ok, mine is 175 000

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My question is can a leaking Valve cover gasket cause smoking trough the exhaust?

 

[ZOMBIE]

I assume it could be leaking through your spark plugs if the spark plug chambers are filled with oil, not sure.

 

[Djwez]

How does the oil get from the spark plug chamber into the combustion chamber?

 

[ZOMBIE]

I stand corrected, the gasket seals the chamber, have you seen the oil in the chamber?

 

[Djwez]

Okay, changed the cam cover gasket yesterday, drove from Bruma in peak hour traffic this morning and no smoke from the back.

How would a bad cam cover gasket cause smoking from the exhaust?