unreliable E46 320d

[ernest maurice]

I am driving a 2002 model 320d, the car sometimes feels like it has
no power and at other times it does have power. At times I feel the
turbo coming in at around 2500-3000rpm , this I feel only in 2nd gear
and sometimes in 3rd and at other times I don't feel it at all. I asked
the previous owner and he told me that he had a new turbo fitted
recently before he sold the car and that the problem is one of the
vacuum pipes which is cracked , I changed the pipe and nothing
changed. Also the car sometimes smells of burning oil , but the oil level
doesn't go down. I noticed that it looks like it has a slight leak
somewhere on the pipes for air around the turbo area but I have had
the car for 2 months now and there is no sign of an oil leak on my
garage floor. I had the car diagnosed by one mechanic and it showed
an error for charge air pressure , that was before he replaced the broken
vacuum hose. Am now thinking of having a compression test done and
also having the cylinder head and valves serviced, maybe I will get
better performance. Anyone else been through this before? Please help
me. this is my 2nd E46 and my first diesel. would also wish to take out the swirl flaps , anyone who knows where I can get the blanking kit or a diagram of the blank disc so I can have them made.

 

[Kish2604]

Hello Ernest,

Please introduce yourself in the new members area, include where you from and some pics of your car together with as much detail as possible so we know what we looking at, I am assuming you have a facelift 320d with 110kw motor,

Going by the I of you posted your search should include the ffg first,
1. Replace all the vacuum hoses, that's from the vacuum pump to the vacuum tank to the control Valve to the turbo itself, if the turbo has been worked on previously I am assuming the car has some mileage on it,
2. Get the invoice for the replaced turbo, see what was replaced/repaired or if the turbo is even a genuine Garrett unit that has been refitted,
3. Judging by where the car is sometimes boosting and sometimes not I have a sneaking suspicion that the vacuum pipes on the Vacuum control valve for the turbo has been swopped over,
4. The oil leaks/sweating is only acceptable in very small amounts, it also points to a possible blocked crankcase breather valve which could have caused the failure of the previous turbo, get this changed ASAP!!!!!
5. Don't touch the head or compression side of things till u know what's going on with the state of health of your engine,
6. Depending on mileage or se of your car it would be handy to inspect your intercooler for leaks by removing and pressure testing as well as checking all the hose clamps are tight and rubbers in good condition,
7. Do a search in the forum on how to remove the EGR valve and clean it as well as a permanent blank of with a golf T to the pipe for the EGR, done correctly and to wont have any engine lets from this modification,

Good luck with your car, use the forum search for assistance on the pointers...

 

[Spy007]

Color of car and where did you buy it?????
Sold mine about 2 months ago and had new turbo fitted before i sold it?

 

[ernest maurice]

Yes its the facelift model with a M47N engine, the car is Saphire Black in color and has 186 000km now. The sweating of oil is around the pipe going to the intercooler, I have seen this on several other 320d cars being sold in garages around. What are you saying I should check about the oil breather? Is it the one on top of the engine between the air filter and inlet manifold? I have done the EGR cleaning after I read threads on the forum, and I later opened the oil seperator to check if it had the updated version and I found out that its got the new one. After I cleaned the oil seperator, the car felt jumpy and very responsive the following day only. Am planning to change the vacuum pipes soon. The vacuum connections seem to be connected correctly as I compared them to the schematic diagram I saw on REALOEM site. Can you explain further on what you said about the Golf T. Thanks for the help.

---

I live in Newcastle, KwaZulu Natal, bought the car here too. Will post pics as soon as I download them from my fon

 

[Spy007]

http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=30468


Just some info. Be careful as I fitted a new turbo that lasted all but 16 000km.

 

[Dippies]

Hello Ernest,

Please introduce yourself in the new members area, include where you from and some pics of your car together with as much detail as possible so we know what we looking at, I am assuming you have a facelift 320d with 110kw motor,

Going by the I of you posted your search should include the ffg first,
1. Replace all the vacuum hoses, that's from the vacuum pump to the vacuum tank to the control Valve to the turbo itself, if the turbo has been worked on previously I am assuming the car has some mileage on it,
2. Get the invoice for the replaced turbo, see what was replaced/repaired or if the turbo is even a genuine Garrett unit that has been refitted,
3. Judging by where the car is sometimes boosting and sometimes not I have a sneaking suspicion that the vacuum pipes on the Vacuum control valve for the turbo has been swopped over,
4. The oil leaks/sweating is only acceptable in very small amounts, it also points to a possible blocked crankcase breather valve which could have caused the failure of the previous turbo, get this changed ASAP!!!!!
5. Don't touch the head or compression side of things till u know what's going on with the state of health of your engine,
6. Depending on mileage or se of your car it would be handy to inspect your intercooler for leaks by removing and pressure testing as well as checking all the hose clamps are tight and rubbers in good condition,
7. Do a search in the forum on how to remove the EGR valve and clean it as well as a permanent blank of with a golf T to the pipe for the EGR, done correctly and to wont have any engine lets from this modification,

Good luck with your car, use the forum search for assistance on the pointers...

This Good places to start . :thumbs:

 

[ernest maurice]

recently cleaned the oil separator and checked the vacuum pipes on the car. the following morning I changed the engine oil and used the Castrol GTX diesel, later I did a 1300km trip and all of a sudden the car is performing very well. u can feel the turbo coming in at just over 2500km even uphill and overtaking acceleration is awesome now. Thanks to the guys who gave me tips.

 

[Kish2604]

No problem...glad the car is running well again...

But why castrol gtx Diesal oil? Forgive me if I am wrong but doesn't that oil work on trucks and tractors only? I may be further wrong but doesn't our 320d use a semi synthetic oil as a minimum? Use a forum search to find out how to clean the EGR and blank of the EGR pipe..

 

[Hellas]

Best would be if you can switch over to a FULL synthetic. I use Castrol Edge 5W40 full synth. A bit pricey, but worth the money in the long run.

I removed the flaps from their spindles and popped the spindles back in. Done.

You say you cleaned the oil separator. I take it you refer to the crank breather valve. Did yours still have the little loo roll? Best would be to swop it out for the newer generation vortex type.

See my thread here: http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=8765

 

[P1000]

I would immediately replace that oil with the proper oil. I also use the same as Hellas. Serviced mine this morning, currently on 296kkm. Your car requires oil with at least an LL-98 BMW rating. Shell helix ultra 5w40 is actually better with an LL01 rating.

 

[Mike1]

I would immediately replace that oil with the proper oil. I also use the same as Hellas. Serviced mine this morning, currently on 296kkm. Your car requires oil with at least an LL-98 BMW rating. Shell helix ultra 5w40 is actually better with an LL01 rating.

What he said and stay away from fully synthetic, a SM Spec, hydro cracked oil is a much safer choice and will work just as well.

 

[Dopi]

You say the turbo kicks in fully at 2500.
On the m47n most of the power should kick in at +-1800, so maybe let a mechanic check your pressure converter valve and boost sensor.

 

[ernest maurice]

Not really sure on what oil to put, one fellow at midas suggested I use Castrol Edge, will do so when I change the oil again, am planning on doing oil changes every 5000km. The car has a vortex breather, previous owner changed it. Am planning on taking out the swirl flaps but don't know where to get the blanks or blanking kit. Anyone free to assist?

 

[shaunkumm]

hey there
if got a bmw 320d 2003 the car cutted out when the turbo popped i installed a brand new turbo and a bigger intercooler (600x270x60) just to keep it cooler and replaced all the vacuum pipes but if got no boost the wastgate is opening and closing no prob but i got no boost car jags to get to 2000rpm what can be the prop plz help

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if its the flaps at the intakes you dont need a kit just take them out thats that dont spend uneeded money for kits if done it on my 320d and no prob

 

[ernest maurice]

hi guys.
am broken hearted again, my car is back to its usual self now no more power. Am beginning to suspect that the turbo may be getting blocked around the small flaps which open up when it boosts, there is some sweating of oil around the turbo and I think maybe it blocks those small flaps when I drive short distances like when I am in town coz when I took it on a 1300km trip the car was performing very well, maybe the long trip cleared the blockage or whatever is bothering the car. Am confused now.