Fellow 320i Owners

[Philip Foglar]

Strange, only the automatics have this as far as I know...

 

[RAArmstrong]

Indeed. This time tomorrow I'm in Howick btw :thumbs:

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Oh really :fencelook:

 

[Cerberus]

Yip yip, will drop you a PM sometime this weekend :thumbs: I'm keen to see Leah!

 

[RAArmstrong]

Sounds good! Leah likes to meet new friends :grin:

 

[GPGrobler]

To my knowledge, the change from M52 to M54 took place when the Facelift E46 was introduced.

For the heavy fuel consumption, check to make sure that all sensors are plugged in - years ago I had work done on the 320i and for a week or so afterwards we noticed a severe lack in performance with very very high fuel consumption! This had me absolutely stumped, but while I was stripping the engine covers off I spotted a plug hanging loose. Found that it was the plug for the intake cam position sensor. Plugged back in and problem solved.

I would clean the MAF sensor with some good quality MAF cleaner - you can also test it by simply unplugging it and see if there is a difference in fuel consumption.

You have the seals from Moranor, so all you now need are the grommets (this is optional but I recommend), the valve cover gasket kit, the Vanos metal gasket, the two Vanos piston bolts (I recommend, these snap easily and may already be fairly weakened). I would recommend pricing these items from the agents and then from other spares places - if the prices are almost the same then probably better to just get the OEM parts.

You will also need a good oxygen safe RTV sealant.

Hi Philip, thank you for the great info, much appreciated. Something else: can the Vanos alone account for the lack of performance, because even above 3000 rpm the car feels weak and sluggish, this is pointing my suspision more and more in the direction of the sensor having a problem.

 

[GPGrobler]

My E46 was definitely a manual all along, so very strange indeed. Also the motor plan and registration history does not reflect any motor or gearbox swops, which could have explained the anomaly :thinking:

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About the tool to remove the fan, I can make one for about R15.00 with a piece of flat bar, bench grinder and a drill, it is a brace you bolt to the fan pulley to prevent it from turning while you unbolt the fan. :rollsmile:

 

[Philip Foglar]

To be honest, I have no idea how bad a faulty or failed Vanos would affect performance, so cannot really say, but - when that intake cam position sensor was unplugged, the car felt dead at all revs! It was like driving an 900cc 3 cylinder!

It's very odd that your car has a visco fan!

 

[GPGrobler]

Thanks Philip, I will Google the location of the camshaft position sensor, it seems to me like a bad or no connection on it. About the viscous fan, this looks like an after-factory change :thinking:

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The auto facelift I saw had both a viscous and electric fan, mine only has the viscous fan.

 

[Cerberus]

I'm in Durban at the moment. Oil warning light came on after the drive down. What oil should I use? Castrol synthetic?

Also, while I was reversing over a largish bump the car was giving white smoke out the exhaust engine was warm...thoughts?

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[RAArmstrong]

If you can get your hands on Castrol Edge that'd be the best... I have 3L of it here at home that you're welcome to :thumbs:

Except that it's not in Durban :sorry:

5W-40 or 10W-40 will do fine... Just make sure the oil has a BMW LL01 or 04 spec :thumbs:

 

[Cerberus]

Dude I think I'll take you up on that :thumbs: will be back after the Sharks are done embarrassing us. They better win!

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[RAArmstrong]

They had better, I'll pm me your Cell and you can whatsapp me or whatever and we can make a plan :thumbs:

 

[GPGrobler]

Did you do an oil service when you got the car?

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Checked intake cam sensor, car pulls strong on level road in all gears. Don't know if it can be one or both oxygen sensors, car does not idle unevenly?

 

[Cerberus]

I'll check which service I had the stealers do before I took receipt of the car :thumbs:

I put in 2 pints of Castrol Edge - sorted.

Not too sure what to make of your sensors though.

 

[GPGrobler]

When did you get your 320i? BTW, I don't really trust what is being done on a car service-wise unless I see what is being done with my own eyes, or if I do it myself ...

 

[Cerberus]

Hmmm. I picked her up in mid March.

Fair enough. I'm inclined to feel the same way. Don't like it when people get their grubby mitts on my car :bat:

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[Cerberus]

Amazing fuel consumption this weekend raise:

Going down to KZN I got 6.7l/100km

I must check my logs but I think I got about 793km on one tank. Which checks out with the OBC.

Going back up I got 7.0l/100km. :thumbs: chuffed

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[GPGrobler]

:bravo: Average speed?

 

[RAArmstrong]

Very impressive! raise:

 

[Cerberus]

Going down and up my average speed was approx. 101/102 km/h. Cruise control was used to accelerate as much as possible and was disengaged when going downhill to maximise fuel saving. Speed was set to the speed limit at all times.

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(Cruise control was only used to accelerate in 5th gear)

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