Project

[ralph1970]

This my 328xi i nought it for my wife as a Christmas gift. And as a project car for myself it has 87k on it and has a couple of issues that i would like to take care of before i get to carried away. It has a grumbling sound and a very slight vibration in the steering wheel almost like a wheel baring and there is a oil smell once in a while. I have heard that they have a tendency to leak from the valve cover gasket or the oil cooler possibly. I have worked on American cars sence i was 13 this is my first bmw. Looking for any ideas or possiblys for the problems

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[Gizmo]

Welcome to our forum. We never got the 4wd versions of 3 series here, it was predominantly a northern hemisphere option.
The grumbling sound is usually a bad wheel bearing.
Steering wheel shake can be from warped front discs or worn front suspension components, have the alignment checked.
The burning oil smell is from the leaking valve cover gasket dropping oil onto the hot exhaust below it, also a common thing on e46 6cyl models.

 

[ChefDJ]

Welcome to the forum Ralph :coolShake:

How'd you go about finding our forum? Would love to have more info from your side regarding BMW's in the states. Our selection here in South Africa differs greatly from yours.

:chef:

 

[ralph1970]

Thanks gizmo exactly what i was thinking about all of it but i like to get second opinions. Chefdj actully found it on tapatalk forum runner. I like to resurech and get second opinions on things or talk to someone that has done it. We really like our car and i enjoy the driveing experience its a joy to drive but being the typical guy i would like to make it my pwn i did the same with my harley davidson got rid of all the commercial parts of it and doll it up my way. I have plans for this as well like wheels headlights and some motor work