E46 330i Oil usage and fuel consumption

[menace_spv]

hi all.
so i thought i would add some finding/research that i have done on my car over the past 45000km that i have had her.

it is a 2004 330i E46 current mileage is 210000km (white manual)

i use a liter of oil for every 2000km i do. at 1st i thought there was a fault on the car but i have had it checked out completely and there is no oil leaks. from my finding the car used this amount of oil.

consumption is excellent for a 3.0 liter motor
traffic and town driving (using 1,3,5,6 gears only) - 9.2 L per 100km
Traffic and town driving (driving normally using all gears) - 10.0 L per 100km
Long road and distance driving 8.0 - 8.7 L per 100km depending on aircon and how empty the roads are.

i absolutely love my ride and would recommend this model to anyone. i have had a M3 e36 3.2l and i will say now, that i am happier with my 330i.

thanks and safe driving to all

 

[Donovan2412]

If it's not leaking the oil then it's burning it.

 

[Iceman12596]

My guess is rings are collapsed

 

[Zound]

That is unusually high oil consumption. To ascertain that it's not blowing oil past the rings, I suggest you do a compression test on all cylinders and check whether they're all within specification. I don't believe this will be the case, as your fuel consumption is an indicator of general engine health, and an engine with poor compression would not return good fuel consumption, generally.

There are several locations that the M54 is prone to leaking and unless the mechanic is clued up about them, they are easy to miss. The common areas are the Valve Cover Gasket, The Oil Filter Housing Gasket, The Vanos Oil line at the Banjo bolt, The oil filter O-ring, The PCV hoses and the diopstick o-ring at the sump.
The less common areas are the rear main seal (Oil leaking around clutch bell-housing).

If the common areas havent been tended to already, I'd be fairly confident in saying they will require inspection.

 

[Fordkoppie]

Did you ever fix this issue?

http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=74240

A broken CCVV can also cause oil consumption.

....but....M54 engines consume oil. period

 

[kilotango]

........
i absolutely love my ride and would recommend this model to anyone. i have had a M3 e36 3.2l and i will say now, that i am happier with my 330i.
........

seriously? i've never owned an m3, or even driven one... but have it on my bucket list just because of the way it looks and sounds.. and i have a 330ci as my daily.

i'd really appreciate some more insight into your comment on the m3 vs 330

 

[menace_spv]

Did you ever fix this issue?

http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=74240

A broken CCVV can also cause oil consumption.

....but....M54 engines consume oil. period

hey dude. the car is actually getting that checked out as we speak. car went in for an oil service and i printed out your pic and explanation and gave it to them to check the pipes. still awaiting a reply on that. but you pretty much did all the work and now they have to just check. will let u know. still had the engine rattle on cold start but only when i parked the car in the garage. when it was cold outside it did not rattle. strange right. was not a major issue so i have lived with it since then.

i also believe that the car just uses oil at the rate.

---

That is unusually high oil consumption. To ascertain that it's not blowing oil past the rings, I suggest you do a compression test on all cylinders and check whether they're all within specification. I don't believe this will be the case, as your fuel consumption is an indicator of general engine health, and an engine with poor compression would not return good fuel consumption, generally.

There are several locations that the M54 is prone to leaking and unless the mechanic is clued up about them, they are easy to miss. The common areas are the Valve Cover Gasket, The Oil Filter Housing Gasket, The Vanos Oil line at the Banjo bolt, The oil filter O-ring, The PCV hoses and the diopstick o-ring at the sump.
The less common areas are the rear main seal (Oil leaking around clutch bell-housing).

If the common areas haven't been tended to already, I'd be fairly confident in saying they will require inspection.

had it all checked and everything was good. only thing i still need to check are the PVC pipes for a air leak. i really believe the motor just uses that amount of oil. there is sweating of oil on the The Oil Filter Housing but not to an extent of leaking.

---

........
i absolutely love my ride and would recommend this model to anyone. i have had a M3 e36 3.2l and i will say now, that i am happier with my 330i.
........

seriously? i've never owned an m3, or even driven one... but have it on my bucket list just because of the way it looks and sounds.. and i have a 330ci as my daily.

i'd really appreciate some more insight into your comment on the m3 vs 330

more means more.
so the M3 was more power more maintenance more everything. the M chowed tires, every 6 months i was replacing tires, not from spinning them up but just from the toque of the motor, the e36 had not traction control. because of the power i went trough disks and pads very quickly and that is not a cheap story to replace disk and pads.
M3 was also brutal in terms of power, the 330 is more refined with its power. don't get me wrong i loved the M3 but am happier all round with the 330i.
also can you really use all the power these days on our roads that an M3 gives you? here in CPT you run out of road coming out of 3rd gear and by then it almost jail speed. maybe im older now and like diff things but all round pocket included i am happier with the E46 330i (manual)
is your CI an auto?

---

Did you ever fix this issue?

http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=74240

A broken CCVV can also cause oil consumption.

....but....M54 engines consume oil. period

hey dude. the car is actually getting that checked out as we speak. car went in for an oil service and i printed out your pic and explanation and gave it to them to check the pipes. still awaiting a reply on that. but you pretty much did all the work and now they have to just check. will let u know. still had the engine rattle on cold start but only when i parked the car in the garage. when it was cold outside it did not rattle. strange right. was not a major issue so i have lived with it since then.

i also believe that the car just uses oil at the rate.

---

That is unusually high oil consumption. To ascertain that it's not blowing oil past the rings, I suggest you do a compression test on all cylinders and check whether they're all within specification. I don't believe this will be the case, as your fuel consumption is an indicator of general engine health, and an engine with poor compression would not return good fuel consumption, generally.

There are several locations that the M54 is prone to leaking and unless the mechanic is clued up about them, they are easy to miss. The common areas are the Valve Cover Gasket, The Oil Filter Housing Gasket, The Vanos Oil line at the Banjo bolt, The oil filter O-ring, The PCV hoses and the diopstick o-ring at the sump.
The less common areas are the rear main seal (Oil leaking around clutch bell-housing).

If the common areas haven't been tended to already, I'd be fairly confident in saying they will require inspection.

had it all checked and everything was good. only thing i still need to check are the PVC pipes for a air leak. i really believe the motor just uses that amount of oil. there is sweating of oil on the The Oil Filter Housing but not to an extent of leaking.

---

........
i absolutely love my ride and would recommend this model to anyone. i have had a M3 e36 3.2l and i will say now, that i am happier with my 330i.
........

seriously? i've never owned an m3, or even driven one... but have it on my bucket list just because of the way it looks and sounds.. and i have a 330ci as my daily.

i'd really appreciate some more insight into your comment on the m3 vs 330

more means more.
so the M3 was more power more maintenance more everything. the M chowed tires, every 6 months i was replacing tires, not from spinning them up but just from the toque of the motor, the e36 had not traction control. because of the power i went trough disks and pads very quickly and that is not a cheap story to replace disk and pads.
M3 was also brutal in terms of power, the 330 is more refined with its power. don't get me wrong i loved the M3 but am happier all round with the 330i.
also can you really use all the power these days on our roads that an M3 gives you? here in CPT you run out of road coming out of 3rd gear and by then it almost jail speed. maybe im older now and like diff things but all round pocket included i am happier with the E46 330i (manual)
is your CI an auto?
in saying all that i am glad i had an M3 it is everything everyone say it is. it is the bench mark and i would say that everyone should own one some day.

---

---

 

[kilotango]

thanks for sharing that info, the e36 m3 is my all time dream car. i suppose thinking about it, and living with it are 2 different things...and its awesome that you've made me see the realistic side of owning a car like that, because i would've jumped on it and not hesitated..if the opportunity came...then probably regretted it later on because of the costs and maintenance that you mentioned.

yeah my Ci is an auto... in the beginning i hated it being an auto (i've grown up on manual gearboxes) but its grown on me over the last few years. besides the thought of it exploding and costing a second hand car to repair, its pretty smooth and convenient for everyday use imo. its the perfect cruising car for me

 

[menace_spv]

thanks for sharing that info, the e36 m3 is my all time dream car. i suppose thinking about it, and living with it are 2 different things...and its awesome that you've made me see the realistic side of owning a car like that, because i would've jumped on it and not hesitated..if the opportunity came...then probably regretted it later on because of the costs and maintenance that you mentioned.

yeah my Ci is an auto... in the beginning i hated it being an auto (i've grown up on manual gearboxes) but its grown on me over the last few years. besides the thought of it exploding and costing a second hand car to repair, its pretty smooth and convenient for everyday use imo. its the perfect cruising car for me

the E36 M3 was also my dream car. i am glad i had it. the only thing i would change is if i had a 2nd car and kept the M3 for weekends. then i think it would not have been so heavy on my pocket also if i had joined the form then maybe i would still own it. the forum is amazing for help and general info. when i owned the M3 i was kind of alone and did not have support like i do now with the forum members.

 

[GPGrobler]

I've done 12 000 km in my 320i and recently had to add only 500ml of oil, this consumption is too high.