Help identifying why my E90 320D broke down

[michaelniszl]

Morning everyone,

Last night on my way home from work, my E90 320D decided to break down and leave me stuck on the side of the road. I was accelerating and all of a sudden lost all power, the accelerator did nothing. As this happened, it sounded almost like a belt had snapped or a smallish bang. I stopped the car and tried to restart it, it just kept turning over and would not restart. Does anyone have any idea what this could be?

Thanks a lot.

 

[Dewald Basson]

Have you opened the bonnet to look?

 

[michaelniszl]

Yes I have, cannot see anything visibly wrong. There is a bit of oil around the oil cap and on the bottom of the bonnet above the oil cap which looks like it came out at a very high pressure. Thats the only none normal thing I could see.

 

[Dewald Basson]

Try removing some plastic parts, so you can get in there. If not it might even be the turbo if there is no drive/start.

 

[vanHunks]

Given it's a diesel I would suggest a fuel delivery problem - timing or pressure. Are you sure the leak is lube oil and not diesel fuel ?

 

[Ralf*]

loss of power, but still running
or
total shut down ?

if it totally died suddenly, then I would start looking at fuel delivery first

 

[michaelniszl]

It is definitely oil and not diesel. The car died suddenly, there was absolutely no warning at all. Another strange thing is that the headlights stopped working as well.

 

[Xack]

Can be absolutely anything from fuel pump to Crank angle sensor when a car decides to die suddenly like this, get it towed then inspect it properly

 

[ET was here]

It is definitely oil and not diesel. The car died suddenly, there was absolutely no warning at all. Another strange thing is that the headlights stopped working as well.

battery dead ?

 

[Danny2]

Very difficult to tell from the explanation given, however best would be to start with some basic checks

* Fuses
* Relays
* Power connections
* Earth connections

 

[Nikhil]

Get diagnostics done. The description doesn't add up and guessing games isn't going to get you anywhere.

 

[michaelniszl]

I got the car checked out its the turbo .. So I need opinions on where I should take the car to get fixed, obviously looking for the best workmanship at the best possible price.

Thanks guys

 

[ET was here]

I got the car checked out its the turbo .. So I need opinions on where I should take the car to get fixed, obviously looking for the best workmanship at the best possible price.

Thanks guys

strange that the turbo would completely cause it die, I woud've thought it would still run, albeit with almost no power, and possible smoke, but completely die ?

 

[Major]

strange that the turbo would completely cause it die, I woud've thought it would still run, albeit with almost no power, and possible smoke, but completely die ?

Seized turbine? I was going to guess that you popped a boost pipe.

 

[Lizzard]

This happened to a friend of mine, same as yours. Drove stopped at stop street sign, while turning the power went. Also turbo gave up.

We did all the search and found that recon you will at around R10K+ for it, 2nd hand R4-7K and then new, you dont want to know.

We did the 2nd option, bought it 2nd hand and then 12hrs novice diy to install. :rollsmile: