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Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
Facelift E46 318i engines
- Thread starter bayerne46
- Start date
hermanfourieatbest
New member
bayerne46 said:
My brother... Hope you are doing ok. Tell that mechanic of yours that i say he's smoking the wrong spliff!! I have a 2005 318im facelift of note!! stock standard and aggressive!!! The last production of the 318i has the N42 motor-more advanced and more powerfull to say the least, and there is a top speed difference...need i say more?
Great motor, just spent 30+ on complete engine rebuild....
Had 125 k on clock and ran a bearing. Had oil leak but was a ongoing issue between the dealer I bought it from. They had the car for weeks and said the car was fine after spending 10k fixing it, only to be told by my trusted mechanic that nothing was done. So eventually ran a bearing gave up with the dealer ( not Bmw) and coughed up the cash and redid it. Mate it is a complete dream now. I've redone cooling system, suspension tires brakes...
I now have a car that will last another 10 years.
Regards to that rattle, had it too. There is a cover under the manifold over the PCV valve held by two bolts. No bolts or broken equals annoying rattle at 1500 - 1800 rpm.
Had 125 k on clock and ran a bearing. Had oil leak but was a ongoing issue between the dealer I bought it from. They had the car for weeks and said the car was fine after spending 10k fixing it, only to be told by my trusted mechanic that nothing was done. So eventually ran a bearing gave up with the dealer ( not Bmw) and coughed up the cash and redid it. Mate it is a complete dream now. I've redone cooling system, suspension tires brakes...
I now have a car that will last another 10 years.
Regards to that rattle, had it too. There is a cover under the manifold over the PCV valve held by two bolts. No bolts or broken equals annoying rattle at 1500 - 1800 rpm.
XMAX
///Member
I had a N46 318i.
The VVT Motor gave up the ghost and a tappet cover leak that did not really go away.actually wasn't a leak, more like sweat.
I loved the car. Aside from the VVT motor issue the car was awesome. I had lots and lots of kilometers of excellent driving. I felt that the power was decent also.
The issue with the N46 and the N42 is sludge. So the best advice is to do a desludge with every 2nd or 3rd service.
I'm not trying to put you off the car. They really are good cars If taken care off.
The VVT Motor gave up the ghost and a tappet cover leak that did not really go away.actually wasn't a leak, more like sweat.
I loved the car. Aside from the VVT motor issue the car was awesome. I had lots and lots of kilometers of excellent driving. I felt that the power was decent also.
The issue with the N46 and the N42 is sludge. So the best advice is to do a desludge with every 2nd or 3rd service.
I'm not trying to put you off the car. They really are good cars If taken care off.
XMAX
///Member
Liqui Moly has a good desludge product.
Also you can get desludging / oil flushing products at the spares shop where you buy your components (if youre servicing yourself).. or you just have to ask the mechanic working on your car to desludge.
I trust Tunetech. Thats why I only send my car to them for servicing. I would recommend them as they have work on these cars forever and know the common problems. prices are not the cheapest, but also not rip offs.
I have two brothers, both of whom are also BMW Fanatics. One of them currently owns a 2002 N42 318i Sportpack Manual in Orient Blue. curretly on 1 year of ownership.
The other owned a 2003 N42 318i Exclusive Auto in Alpine White. owned for 4 years. Traded in for a 2007 E90 323i Exclusive Manual in Titanium Silver.
Both excellent cars though the cooling system did give some issue on both cars.
The Auto had an Oil Cooler failure. Biatch of a problem as this usually means repeated flushing of the cooling system and roughly R4.5k for the repair. The Oil Cooler failure is not a problem with this specific model of car as I had the exact same failure in my E46 330D Auto.
Also you can get desludging / oil flushing products at the spares shop where you buy your components (if youre servicing yourself).. or you just have to ask the mechanic working on your car to desludge.
I trust Tunetech. Thats why I only send my car to them for servicing. I would recommend them as they have work on these cars forever and know the common problems. prices are not the cheapest, but also not rip offs.
I have two brothers, both of whom are also BMW Fanatics. One of them currently owns a 2002 N42 318i Sportpack Manual in Orient Blue. curretly on 1 year of ownership.
The other owned a 2003 N42 318i Exclusive Auto in Alpine White. owned for 4 years. Traded in for a 2007 E90 323i Exclusive Manual in Titanium Silver.
Both excellent cars though the cooling system did give some issue on both cars.
The Auto had an Oil Cooler failure. Biatch of a problem as this usually means repeated flushing of the cooling system and roughly R4.5k for the repair. The Oil Cooler failure is not a problem with this specific model of car as I had the exact same failure in my E46 330D Auto.
Funky Toyz
Member
tai88 said:
No need to desludge if you changing oil regularly. On the E90 the Oil Service is around 25000kms apart (deendant on driving style ofcourse), however I look to do an oil service at least in half the time. In other words I have an oil service done at every 12500kms or so. Keeps the oil fresh in the motor and helps prolong other engine parts, like Valve stem seals, etc etc...also avoids sludge build up.
Also Valve Stem seal replacement does not require the cylinder head to come off. Can be done with the head on :thumbs:
tai88 said:
Well torquey it was i had to sell mine recently due to business not doing to great and i miss her alot. Wonderfull car all round but once something goes wrong it all goes wrong.
My car had 425 000 on when i sold her and was going strong. What ive also learned with the car was that if you replaced everything you could and still have the same problem just live with it. They will never leave you stranded
sirLancelot
New member
Hi, I have a 1996 318is, I thought I had a n42 motor and was told its not. Is there a N43 (was told this is what i have) :fencelook: I have not had any issues as yet, was a one owner car, its got 214000 on clock now. Are these problematic cars? :ty:
