Achtung Baby - Weird BMW diesel - OK BYE

[cort16]

All new cars are shit (even though this one is 12 years old).

Looking for a bit of advice on what's going on with this 320d I've boughts in e46 flavour flav. I got it off the guy I rent my lockup off who aquired it after it shat it's turbo about 9 months ago. Finally a couple of months back he stuck a new turbo on it and got it through it's MOT.

 

The car's never really been ran more than around the block until today when fud16 here decides to take it to work. All was going well until I got it on the duel carriage way and gave it some beans. It got to just under 4000rpm and started to make a drrrrrrrrrrrrrr noise. Not a knocking but a noise like a heavier version of when you put a playing card against the back wheel of your pushbike along with quite a bit of smoke.

 

If the car is in neutral and you rev it up there's no noise or smoke at all. All sounds good. If I'm in gear and the same I get the noise. Other than that it seems to drive normally although it seems a bit lumpy but it could be just because I've been used to driving a petrol the last few months.

 

My immediate thoughts are the new turbo is duff and it's rattling about in there like a squirrel in a biscuit tin but I'm hoping not.

 

Any ideas that don't involved a broken turbo? Or ways to prove it is a broken turbo given it doesn't do it in neutral?

 

Help

 

[messerschmitt owner]

it's the sound of the indicators trying to work after so long without use?

 

HTH

[cort16]

What are indicators?

[rainagain]

It could be the turbo and the reason you don't get any sound in neutral is because it's not really developing any boost. I'm sure it's variable vane, if so you could try and move the actuator to see if it's seized/sticky, you could also try disconnecting the actuator so the vanes stay closed (low boost) then drive it and see if it's still quiet. It sounds to me like there is some sort of physical damage to the vanes, but don't take my word for it as I that's about the limit of my turbo knowledge. 

[cort16]

Thanks, I fear the worst as well. I'm pretty sure it was recon unit and not a 2nd hand one he put in it but that's no gaurentee. I just flippin taxed it yesterday aswell.

[320touring]

The only other thing it could be is something in the driveline, although it does sound turbo related. .

[barefoot]

Have you thought about raffling it off on here?

[cort16]

I've thought about raffling it right off the harbour wall at 40mph.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Cort you are one funny dude. I love your posts on here.

[twosmoke300]

inlet flaps being injested ?

 

nom nom nom

[cort16]

My 5 series now also wafts smoke out the grill at traffic lights and zebra crossings, which keeps the pedestrians on their toes.

 

Feel that german build quality. I think I need to set something up where I crash them all into each other (before remembering I'm only covered third party).

[rainagain]

My 5 series now also wafts smoke out the grill at traffic lights and zebra crossings, which keeps the pedestrians on their toes.

 

Feel that german build quality. I think I need to set something up where I crash them all into each other (before remembering I'm only covered third party).

Haha my Megane did then when I had to disconnect the breather, it was fine on the move though. People always had the "is that car on fire??" look when they saw it

[Bren]

Swirls flaps - they work loose and get ingested. Damage is usually terminal.

 

It has taken out more BMW engines than allied fighter aircraft.

[barefoot]

My 5 series now also wafts smoke out the grill at traffic lights and zebra crossings, which keeps the pedestrians on their toes.

 

 

My Scirocco does that a bit, its a leaky gasket on whatever the thing at the top is that covers the oily bits that go round.

Squirts it gently onto the exhaust manifold where it vaporises nicely.

Al least while I can smell burning oil, I know there's some in it.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Need to know a few things - having run one of these hateful shitboxes and repaired others.

 

What year is it? pre Sept 2001 (pre facelift) it's got a pre VNT  turbo with a wastegate, old mechanical injectors and no common rail. No swirl flaps. 136 bhp at the spare wheel.

 

Post 9/01 (facelift with upswept front indicators), 150 bhp, variable (you're so) vane turbo so no wastegate. These things have common rail, swirl flaps. Damaged turbo vanes make a loud whilstle - the impeller spins at seventy trillion RPM. The turbo will boost when revving at idle but they won't develop full rpm/power. Could be a DMF OMG letting go. Whip the upper inlet manifold off (hour's work with all the stupid engine covers and rear bulkhead cover) and check the flaps. Remove and replace with alloy blanks (small ones if it's a 2002) and also replace every vacuum hose you can see - impossible with the mani fitted. Don't be tempted to disconnect the EGR hose, leave it fitted and clean the EGR valve occasionally.

 

 

320d's are shit.

[cort16]

The flaps just let go without warning don't they? They don't seem to give any kind of dance around the top of the cylinders before hurling themselves in like natives sacrificing themselves to a volcano the just jump without warning.

This does have them right enough.

 

The one to the right has a lunched engine after it eat it's flirl flaps 2 days after the owner spent £1200 on a new clutch and DMF. Painful.

 

IMG_1106 by cort16, on Flickr

[cort16]

Need to know a few things - having run one of these hateful shitboxes and repaired others.

 

What year is it? pre Sept 2001 (pre facelift) it's got a pre VNT  turbo with a wastegate, old mechanical injectors and no common rail. No swirl flaps. 136 bhp at the spare wheel.

 

I wish.

 

Post 9/01 (facelift with upswept front indicators), 150 bhp, variable (you're so) vane turbo so no wastegate. These things have common rail, swirl flaps. Damaged turbo vanes make a loud whilstle - the impeller spins at seventy trillion RPM.

 

It is this one of these over engineered shite boxes yes. There's no whistle just the trrrrrrr noise

 

The turbo will boost when revving at idle but they won't develop full rpm/power. Could be a DMF OMG letting go.

I really hope not (see above)

 

Whip the upper inlet manifold off (hour's work with all the stupid engine covers and rear bulkhead cover) and check the flaps. Remove and replace with alloy blanks (small ones if it's a 2002) and also replace every vacuum hose you can see - impossible with the mani fitted. Don't be tempted to disconnect the EGR hose, leave it fitted and clean the EGR valve occasionally.

I will go home and inspect my flaps thoroughly

 

320d's are shit.

Agreed

 

Thanks for the advice.

[the judge]

Just a thought, if you have a slightly worn engine mount, it may be pulling the boost pipes apart, which it may not do stationary. Same goes for a exhaust joint by the particulate converter.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

ARGH! If I spent £1200 on a clutch and DMF, then the engine blew up on the way home, I would simply question the whole point of my existence on the earth and most likely kill myself. It would take me fookin months of work to rustle up £1200 for gods sake.

[cort16]

The guy drove somewhere miles away 2 days after picking it up, came outside and started it up to find it running like a bag of shite. Called RAC who diagnosed a duff injector and trailered it home. They pulled all the injectors out and got them tested (cost over 100 quid) found that them to be okay so they suggested pulling the intake manifold only to find all the swirl flaps gone.

Most of them had embedded themself into the piston but one is completely missing and has never been found! I think he was just so pissed off by the whole thing he just gave up on it.
It's a nice car too as it's a sport model. I've never met the guy but if I do I'm going to give him a hug.

[srad34]

Flap tastic gets my vote, probably destroying the turbo as collateral damage.....

[spike60]

Slight blow on the intake or exhaust? As has been said the turbo only develops a small amount of boost in neutral, pulling a higher gear with full throttle will increase pressure in the intake and exhaust manifolds.

[D-Dubya]

Is it like this?

[Cavcraft]

[Dave_Q]

Is it related to engine speed or road speed?

 

Could be a loose undertray, or prop centre bearing?

[cort16]

Is it like this?

 

A bit like this yes but mine only does this above 3800ish rpm.

The guy I bought it off still has the box for the recon (warrantied) turbo so he's hopefully going to have a look at next week.

[D-Dubya]

If it's doing it under load when moving, I'm tempted to say turbo as well. I have a petrol turbo car with a boost gauge and still, it won't boost above 3/4 of the scale, However, when moving, it can go all the way to max.

 

Also, are these timing chains on this engine? Sounds like a slack one on this vid but I'd be tempted to say that happens whether moving or not

[320touring]

if only you knew where to find another;)

 

if its like that vid it has an ominous sound- hope it turns out to be something simple!

[cort16]

I think I'm out of the market for 320d's until I get this crock of shit fixed unfortunately.

[320touring]

I was only winding;)