poorly E46 M3

poorly E46 M3

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Discussion

Captainawesome

Original Poster:

1,817 posts

162 months

Thursday 7th August 2014
quotequote all
So my car went to bmw due to being down on power, running like a bag o nails and vibration. Tech read the fault codes and comes back with faults on the coil packs and injectors on 5 of 6 cylinders. Instead of costing me a fortune and replacing, he swaps them around and the car runs perfect ly.

Any ideas?

Car runs an evolve carbon airbox and remap.

mark.c

1,090 posts

179 months

Thursday 7th August 2014
quotequote all
Possible breakdown in the looming for the coil packs that now isn't evident since its been disturbed by the swap...?

Captainawesome

Original Poster:

1,817 posts

162 months

Friday 8th August 2014
quotequote all
Coil packs and plugs changed. Same Prob. Tech swapped injectors and they aren't the cause either so it looks like the head is coming off. I suppose an old m3 can throw these bills at you. They're going to clean everything out while the head is off though. Tech suspects a possible dropped valve on one cylinder or possible head gasket failure. Sad face. Very 8s pressed with warwick bmw though. Actually trying to save me money and updated on every step with good advice and knowledge.

Captainawesome

Original Poster:

1,817 posts

162 months

Friday 8th August 2014
quotequote all
Coil packs and plugs changed. Same Prob. Tech swapped injectors and they aren't the cause either so it looks like the head is coming off. I suppose an old m3 can throw these bills at you. They're going to clean everything out while the head is off though. Tech suspects a possible dropped valve on one cylinder or possible head gasket failure. Sad face. Very 8s pressed with warwick bmw though. Actually trying to save me money and updated on every step with good advice and knowledge.

psymonr

148 posts

180 months

Friday 8th August 2014
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I had a similar problem about a year ago, get them to check the tappets (usually done as part of an Insp II), it may not be your issue, but mine were quite far out of tolerance causing all kinds of firing issues,

mark.c

1,090 posts

179 months

Friday 8th August 2014
quotequote all
Did I misunderstand, I took your first post to mean that the initial coil/injector swap made the car run perfectly again?...I cant see that if the original snag was a dropped valve how it would have got better?..I guess all will be revealed when the head is off, its not uncommon for these engines to suffer HGF.

Hope it's sorted soon.

roofer

5,136 posts

210 months

Friday 8th August 2014
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mark.c said:
Did I misunderstand, I took your first post to mean that the initial coil/injector swap made the car run perfectly again?...I cant see that if the original snag was a dropped valve how it would have got better?..I guess all will be revealed when the head is off, its not uncommon for these engines to suffer HGF.

Hope it's sorted soon.
Same way I read it, which means it won't be a valve. I would of had a boroscope in before pulling the head !

swight

35 posts

174 months

Saturday 9th August 2014
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Do a compression test before pulling the head off. Head gasket can go between cylinders, car will run ok with no loss of coolant or overheating. But could cause running issues.

Captainawesome

Original Poster:

1,817 posts

162 months

Monday 11th August 2014
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Compression test is being done first, been in the highlands with no phone signal all weekend so not sure whats happening. It does feel a lot like when the HG failed on my other one. She had started to use a bit of oil recently which she never has done. Hopefully all will be reveal today. I miss my M frown

Captainawesome

Original Poster:

1,817 posts

162 months

Monday 11th August 2014
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Test done, hugely down on cylinder 5 and also down but not as much on cylinder 4. Heads coming off. frown

gaz1234

5,233 posts

218 months

Monday 11th August 2014
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I know nothing, but that sounds serious?

Captainawesome

Original Poster:

1,817 posts

162 months

Monday 11th August 2014
quotequote all
I'll find out tomo but I suspect the HG has failed between the cylinders. Due to the size of them, the gap between is quite small and they are prone to going. My supercharged one went earlier this year too. It's fairly common on these cars.

Oh well, regardless. It'll be fixed by the end of the week, had an inspection 1 service, had the rear sub-frame check + any bushes etc replaced and had a good clean inside and out. She'll be like a new car by the end of the week.

I'm looking at it positively. It's a big job so they may as well do some preventative maintenance whilst they are there. It's going to be financially painful so I may as well make it worthwhile. biggrin

mwstewart

7,554 posts

187 months

Monday 11th August 2014
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What mileage has the car covered?

Captainawesome

Original Poster:

1,817 posts

162 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
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Well, I know both of our cars were around the 27,000 mark when we bought them but mine has been a bit of a workhorse, me working in Scotland and living near Oxford so she is just shy of 60,000 now. Just getting to the age where I'm expecting things to start going. However, she is much loved and will be fixed regardless.

mwstewart

7,554 posts

187 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
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Captainawesome said:
Well, I know both of our cars were around the 27,000 mark when we bought them but mine has been a bit of a workhorse, me working in Scotland and living near Oxford so she is just shy of 60,000 now. Just getting to the age where I'm expecting things to start going. However, she is much loved and will be fixed regardless.
OK thanks. It's looking like the HG is another thing to expect on these cars.

Captainawesome

Original Poster:

1,817 posts

162 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
Yup HG gone between cylinders 4 and 5. Large nick 4-5mm out of the head and looks like the block may have sustained some damage too.

BMW just rang and asked me to go down tomorrow to have a look at it with one of their techs and see what we all think. Essentially it's going to need near enough a new engine I think. Literally the worst thing I could have imagined.

Very sad face.

gaz1234

5,233 posts

218 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
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V8..

Captainawesome

Original Poster:

1,817 posts

162 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
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Gutted, I absolutely love that car. Might see how much an M4 would be whilst I'm there tomorrow. May well be a brand new evolve carbon box for sale soon.

Baz Tench

5,648 posts

189 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
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A new engine? Or will that work out relatively cheaper than having a new head/top end rebuild?

Captainawesome

Original Poster:

1,817 posts

162 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
I'll see tomorrow. The guys at Rybrook have been amazing so I'm sure they'll steer me in the right direction. They certainly don't come across as rip-off merchants as some dealers do….yes I am talking to you Mr Audi. Either way she will get fixed. Hopefully the block is going to be ok. I can live with a new head. It's such a fker though as in the past six months I have fitted…..

Evolve Carbon Box and Alpha-N tune - 3500.00
Supersprint Exhaust and centre section - 1600.00
Beyern Mesh wheels - 1000.00
4 brand new continental M3 tires - 600.00

Just got the car where I wanted and was really happy with her.

I'm off for a beer and to do some serious man maths. I think my wife is going to kill me. ;D

ETA Just swapped my insurance over and the cover is coming off the Supercharged one tomorrow. Apart from her weekly round the block run she hasn't been used for a while. Going to be fun using the 475BHP one for a daily again. Every cloud and all that.

Edited by Captainawesome on Tuesday 12th August 19:51