E30 325i black smoke/oil pressure
Discussion
Hi there, sat there writing this in a pub where my 325i auto is stuck in a car park. Feeling really pissed off as just put my car through expensive MOT, took it out to celebrate it running and it's totally gone nuts.
Oil pressure light seems to come on at low rpm, and idle. Checked the level, seems fine, but the oil was dripping off the dipstick so seems very thin. Anyway, took it out, ran fine, stopped at a pub, fine.
Got to a junction and the thing seemed to just stall while I was waiting. Started up again fine, then when I was driving seemed a little juddery. Pulled into a car park and it really started juddering, spluttering, and a bit of black smoke started to come out of the exhaust. No smell other than exhaust fumes. I tried to leave by reversing out the space, but it was not happy idling, and the MPG gauge started flapping back and forward like mad, and my car died. Turned the key few times, nothing. Still out there.
Had the car a year and feeling really demoralised. Is this sounding like a big fix? Is this something to do with the oil pressure?
Oil pressure light seems to come on at low rpm, and idle. Checked the level, seems fine, but the oil was dripping off the dipstick so seems very thin. Anyway, took it out, ran fine, stopped at a pub, fine.
Got to a junction and the thing seemed to just stall while I was waiting. Started up again fine, then when I was driving seemed a little juddery. Pulled into a car park and it really started juddering, spluttering, and a bit of black smoke started to come out of the exhaust. No smell other than exhaust fumes. I tried to leave by reversing out the space, but it was not happy idling, and the MPG gauge started flapping back and forward like mad, and my car died. Turned the key few times, nothing. Still out there.
Had the car a year and feeling really demoralised. Is this sounding like a big fix? Is this something to do with the oil pressure?
You seem to have enough answers above, but for sure I wouldn't run the engine again until you have checked further. If the oil has been thinned out considerably you are looking at possible engine damage if you run it up. But let's hope the answer isn't costly. I loved my E30s in the day.
All good ideas. Thanks all! Interesting to read all this. I would have a look at it but it had to be left there in the end- it was towed away today and going to get the verdict tomorrow. It's bloody thirsty so hopefully something will be sorted. I love that car too! There's so many little bits up with it though. Now the convertible top has broken...
Nobody messed around with any settings during the MOT test did they? Worth asking the garage that did the test just in case they 'adjusted' something for emissions purposes, does seem a coincidence that it's only done this after the test although the oil pressure light makes me wonder.
I agree with others in recommending you get on the e30zone forum, there's a lot of knowledge and experience available and you can bet that others will have had the same problem.
I agree with others in recommending you get on the e30zone forum, there's a lot of knowledge and experience available and you can bet that others will have had the same problem.
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff