problem with 318ti e46. help

[wes van v]

Hi everyone.

I have a problem and am hoping that someone on this awesome site can an help me.

I own a 2003 BMW e46 318ti and it has been going alright. I did a major service and replaced the sump, washers etc in November last year. So any oil leaks that were there, were gone. I then noticed that the car was using more oil than normal so being new to JHB(from durban) i didnt know where to take it so i asked my boss and he refered me to a mechanic he always used. They checked the car and told me that the tapit cover gasket? Was leaking so they replaced that, then the car seemed alright(that was like a 5weeks ago). I checked oil like a 2weeks ago and it was empty so i put oil in. Today i checked and it was empty again... I don't want to go back to those guys as they charged me a lot and didn't sort the problem out. They seem to busy to worry about me.

The car is still using oil and i have no idea why.
The car also has like no power and when I pull off 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear have like an uneven acceleration up to 3000 revs (it's like a jerking feel). I know these cars aren't fast but I can feel it is very flat

Anyone know what this could be? It's the only car I have and need It to be fixed. Any body know these cars well and could take a look at it? I live in Douglasdale, I can meet in the area? I don't wana be ripped off by a mechanic who can see I don't know what he is talking about and I know you guys are very clued up. Any help or suggestions would be great.

Thank you so much

 

[Diablo Jnr]

Oils leaks are a common problem with the E46 318i motors. Lack of power might be your air flow meter that is faulty

 

[wes van v]

Thanks for your response. Yeah I have heard that they are prone to oil leaks.
is there a way to test the air flow meter?

 

[Diablo Jnr]

Not sure, but it should register an error if you have the codes read.
There aresomd threads with regards to cleaning them, maybe try a search and see what you can find

 

[Nikhil]

moved to correct section :thumbs:

 

[zaheer]

Hey Buddy,

I had something similar with mines. These motors tend to leak from everywhere. Mines turned out to be the valve stem seals, vacuum pump seals, vanos seals, tappet cover gasket. Ross Duncan in Midrand sorted mines out. Car was lifted up on the ramp, all covers removed and all oil leaks detected from the bottom up. I ended up selling the car thereafter. Too many issues with these motors. Does your car smoke on take off?

 

[Chucky]

your first avenue would be to get the codes read.

my suggestions would be in terms of performance issues is check the air filter and housing for leaks or cracks and also change air filter if needed.

there could be a few issues namely coils, plugs, Valvetronic motor etc. so get codes read to isolate any performance issues.

On the oil leaking issues. Does the car emit blue smoke from the tail pipe on acceleration? if so you have to consider changing you PCV valve or the valve stem seals could be shot. do you notice white smoke coming up from under the bonnet? if so you have a leak up front do a check under the bonnet to see if you can see anything from the top down.

Common places where these motors leak oil is the tappet cover gasket, and the seals in and around the oil filer housing.

otherwise as Zaheer said get the car lifted and take off sump shield covers etc. and try and trace where the leak/s are coming from from the bottom.

all the best and let us know what the outcome was

 

[wes van v]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate all the help and suggestions. It just seems strange as i spent around R7000 doing all the seals, sump, Washers etc when I did a major service on the 20th November 2013, was a BMW specialist who did it for me . Then I did the tapit cover gasket in January. I don't see any smoke I'll check tonight though. But I can't recall the car smoking and I haven't seen any smoke from the engine bay. I will try get hold of the guy in Midrand you mentioned and see what he says.

I have notice that my car is pretty heavy on fuel at the moment as well.

I can't wait for all this to be sorted and the car to be running good again. Will keep you guys updated. Let hope for a decent priced bill.

Thank you again.

 

[wes van v]

Hi guys I have another question. I took the car few weeks back as mentioned above to get the tapit cover gasket replaced. Today the mechanics phoned me and told me a lug is missing from my tapit cover and that is causing a oil leak by the oil cap. This could only happen if when they did the gasket that they didn't put it back or didn't put it in properly and it fell out while I was driving? I need some help on this as i want to know if i could bring that up when I fetch my car tonight?? Also would that add to the loss of power? He then told me that it will cost like R3000 if I want to sort it out? I am really confused

 

[Flash-Gordon]

Hi Bud

Sorry to hear this :sorry:

With regards to the power loss , I would get the codes read 1st :thumbs:

Regarding the missing screw , I doubt that they would not have fitted it back unless they lost one. They might have over tightened it and stripped it, just leaving it as is, hoping it would hold.

 

[Diablo Jnr]

The joys of owning a 318ti...when they give you problems, they really give you problems, but when they running smooth, what a joy drive. Really miss mine so close but yet so far

 

[wes van v]

I got the codes read and it said my air flow meter was giving a error so they removed it and it hasn't come back yet so that'sa good sign.

I just wanted to know that if when igot there to fetch the car now Ii can confront them about it as i don't see that ishould have to pay Iif they left it out or stripped it or couldn't find it. Ahhh do frustrating haha. Thanks though

 

[Flash-Gordon]

Updates on your car bud?

 

[Tkburn]

I had these problems on my TI solutions were as follows :

Oil loss : Replaced PCV valve
Loss of power ,hesitation and eventually cutting out : Replaced VVT motor

http://www.tunetech.co.za/2011/09/08/vvt-motor-variable-valvetronic-motor-variable-stepper-motor/