e46 Turbo problem *fixed*

[Boytjie]

Helped my friend with is 320d and just want to share my experience.

After the turbo packed up we send the car to a recon place in Kempton, got a call from the guy saying turbo is fixed and tested the car and the car is 100%. So went to pick up the car and noticed that the car does not have any power before 3000rpm.

Phoned the guy he said turbo is fine it must be a sensor. So we started checking for the cause, found that they did not even clean the pipes, oil pouring out of intercooler pipes. So we cleaned all the pipes and end up replacing MAF, MAP, turbo inlet pipe, vacuum pipes and vacuum controller. Blocked off EGR valve and checked flaps.

After weeks of chancing parts we decided to take the car back to the turbo recon place. Next day received a call said they check and nothing wrong with turbo. Asked them what they checked and the guy told me he climbed under the car and saw everything was in place.

Told him sh*t and he agreed to take off the turbo and check again. Received a call saying he replaced actuator and fixed small holes in intercooler. He tells me car is now fine but he cant test it because the car does not want to start, the valves must have burned.

Went there and saw the fuel pressure sensor wires was broken so quickly fixed it and took the car for test. Guess what, still the same. He phones another turbo place and they told him to bring in the turbo for testing.
Received a call saying he took the turbo off and found the problem, the screw inside the turbo for the vanes was incorrect.

Got the car back yesterday and much better, boosting from low down again. Wasted 3 weeks just to recon the turbo.

From all the trouble my friend is now fed up with the car and decided to sell the car.:nonono:

 

[bmsportzn135i]

Not cool.

 

[Dippies]

Well my advice is never recon a Turbo cause it does not last and is a waste of money.

Rather buy a new turbo and replace the old one.

Im glad its sorted but i fear your friends troubles is not over.

 

[netercol]

yep, there are plenty clowns out there that have no clue when it comes to VNT turbo's , yet this does not prevent them from selling their services.

i personally advocate servicing these turbo's BEFORE they fail (provided you know what you are doing, or have someone do it for you that KNOWS their stuff)

if the turbo has failed there is really only one choice.. buy a new genuine garrett, they are not that expensive anymore..

and do yourself a favour and DONT buy a chinese copy/no name brand/generic/whatever copy.. i have not seen one yet that has not failed again way before its time..

 

[Boytjie]

Agreed and lesson learned. The only reason for recon the turbo was because the guy told us he uses genuine garrett internals and would be good as new. :flyfun:

 

[P1000]

And you never even touch the VNT mechanism, never mind replace or even adjust a screw. If you have to do that, just replace the whole unit.

 

[netercol]

Agreed and lesson learned. The only reason for recon the turbo was because the guy told us he uses genuine garrett internals and would be good as new. :flyfun:

sorry for harping on this, but i think this is important enough to repeat, maybe it saves someone heartache down the road..

he was LYING because..

garrett simply !!DOES NOT!! sell any of the parts inside a VNT turbo aftermarket! (meaning seperate)

the ONLY genuine garrett item that you can buy is the bearing set, and only because its the exact same bearing set as used in the normal GT series (non vnt).

this is why the more professionalrecon guys usually want your busted turbo on exchange, its virtually the only source of genuine spares..