A tale of woe & very broken E92 325i - Is it worth anything?
Discussion
A few months ago my E92 325i developed a slight misfire for just a few minutes after starting the car. It was right before I had to drive to Le Mans in it. I quickly suspected a dodgy injector reading on forums. I risked the journey and actually it was fine as once warm there were no symptoms. In the weeks after a few times the misfire got bad enough to trigger the engine light and run down a cylinder with a worse misfire.
I then took to BMW in case any of them were covered under recall, they said no they had all been done, but an injector was at fault and suggested replacing them all for around £2k. They refused to contribute anything as I hadn't shown loyalty to BMW by buying it from them or taking it to them to getripped off serviced, even though I have had an E36, E46 and now E92, but that's another story.
So I refused that and took the car to my local very reputable specialist who said that 2 of the injectors were older ones and suspected them to be the culprit. So they were replaced for around £450. Still no change in the misfire. So left it a few weeks and booked the car in again, this time it was left overnight so they would be able to feel the clear misfire. They did a software update for better stratified running, another £90. Slightly puzzled but again took the car away, and surprise surprise the misfire was still present.
I started to get worried I was imagining things. So another few weeks passed and it seemed to start triggering the engine light more often - which a simple restart would clear. So I booked in for a 3rd time. Unfortunately this time the car didn't make it, while on a 100 mile trip for work just as I was arriving the car started losing power, the engine light came on and I was down a cylinder misfiring again. Except this time it wouldn't go off again. I planned to try and limp home but just after setting off the engine suddenly got very clattery and the car cut out completely and wouldn't come back on again.
So the RAC were called who informed me that I didn't have the cover to get towed that far home and as it would cost the best part of £300 to move so I would be better off just leaving with a specialist where I was near Southampton. I was towed there with the engine running as we managed to start it, it was rough but the RAC guy said it wouldn't do any damage. However it cut out when he tried to move it in the garage car park and wouldn't come back on. So I left it with them and got a call to say that they thought the injector had gone but also the timing chain had stretched. So they were suggesting replacing all the injectors and investigating the timing chain, which all in all was going to add up to being well into 4 figures. I didn't really fancy paying that much to a garage I didn't really know when as far as I was concerned it was a simple injector problem when I took it in so I didn't really understand where the timing chain issues came from.
So I got it taken back to my local garage, not before paying the £300 to transport it and £400 in labour to the garage. The local said they didn't agree with a lot of what the other garage were saying, but did confirm the engine was unable to start regardless of injector issues as every time they tried to start it the timing went out. They eventually tracked the issue down to a loose crank casing bolt causing the timing to go out. An issue they have never seen before. I asked surely the two faults would be linked but both garages told me the injector issues or rough running engine wouldn't cause the timing issues and it is some kind of massive coincidence.
Once they fixed that they said the engine still wouldn't run and there was no compression on cylinder 1, suggesting valve damage on at least that cylinder. The next stage would be to open up the block to start looking into this, but that would start to mount up the labour costs and the end result might be a replacement engine anyway. It was at this stage I called a halt to it as I will end up paying more than the car is worth. It's an 09 on 70k, that's £7k on webuyanycar. Also I have a brand new car due any day now via work, so I don't need it long term.
Have I made the right choice? Is anyone likely to want a non runner which is otherwise in very good nick. My own maths figure I would like to get £3-£3.5k for it just imagining what it would be worth broken up or if someone can fix in their own time the profit they could make, don't know if that is rather optimistic.
Lastly, how can a 7 year old BMW with just 70k on the clock go this wrong?? It's been shocking and cost me thousands all in all whatever I do. Think it will be the last time I risk buying my own car, my new one is leased, maintenance included and an Audi.. (sorry for the essay!)
I then took to BMW in case any of them were covered under recall, they said no they had all been done, but an injector was at fault and suggested replacing them all for around £2k. They refused to contribute anything as I hadn't shown loyalty to BMW by buying it from them or taking it to them to get
So I refused that and took the car to my local very reputable specialist who said that 2 of the injectors were older ones and suspected them to be the culprit. So they were replaced for around £450. Still no change in the misfire. So left it a few weeks and booked the car in again, this time it was left overnight so they would be able to feel the clear misfire. They did a software update for better stratified running, another £90. Slightly puzzled but again took the car away, and surprise surprise the misfire was still present.
I started to get worried I was imagining things. So another few weeks passed and it seemed to start triggering the engine light more often - which a simple restart would clear. So I booked in for a 3rd time. Unfortunately this time the car didn't make it, while on a 100 mile trip for work just as I was arriving the car started losing power, the engine light came on and I was down a cylinder misfiring again. Except this time it wouldn't go off again. I planned to try and limp home but just after setting off the engine suddenly got very clattery and the car cut out completely and wouldn't come back on again.
So the RAC were called who informed me that I didn't have the cover to get towed that far home and as it would cost the best part of £300 to move so I would be better off just leaving with a specialist where I was near Southampton. I was towed there with the engine running as we managed to start it, it was rough but the RAC guy said it wouldn't do any damage. However it cut out when he tried to move it in the garage car park and wouldn't come back on. So I left it with them and got a call to say that they thought the injector had gone but also the timing chain had stretched. So they were suggesting replacing all the injectors and investigating the timing chain, which all in all was going to add up to being well into 4 figures. I didn't really fancy paying that much to a garage I didn't really know when as far as I was concerned it was a simple injector problem when I took it in so I didn't really understand where the timing chain issues came from.
So I got it taken back to my local garage, not before paying the £300 to transport it and £400 in labour to the garage. The local said they didn't agree with a lot of what the other garage were saying, but did confirm the engine was unable to start regardless of injector issues as every time they tried to start it the timing went out. They eventually tracked the issue down to a loose crank casing bolt causing the timing to go out. An issue they have never seen before. I asked surely the two faults would be linked but both garages told me the injector issues or rough running engine wouldn't cause the timing issues and it is some kind of massive coincidence.
Once they fixed that they said the engine still wouldn't run and there was no compression on cylinder 1, suggesting valve damage on at least that cylinder. The next stage would be to open up the block to start looking into this, but that would start to mount up the labour costs and the end result might be a replacement engine anyway. It was at this stage I called a halt to it as I will end up paying more than the car is worth. It's an 09 on 70k, that's £7k on webuyanycar. Also I have a brand new car due any day now via work, so I don't need it long term.
Have I made the right choice? Is anyone likely to want a non runner which is otherwise in very good nick. My own maths figure I would like to get £3-£3.5k for it just imagining what it would be worth broken up or if someone can fix in their own time the profit they could make, don't know if that is rather optimistic.
Lastly, how can a 7 year old BMW with just 70k on the clock go this wrong?? It's been shocking and cost me thousands all in all whatever I do. Think it will be the last time I risk buying my own car, my new one is leased, maintenance included and an Audi.. (sorry for the essay!)
Its for reasons like this that a BMW warranty comes in handy.
I think you have been a little unlucky. But like you said regardless of what the issue is its going to add up quickly!
I would ask your indy how much it would cost if you sourced your own engine to fit.
I am sure an engine of decent condition could be had for 1k on eBay or the likes of.
I think you have been a little unlucky. But like you said regardless of what the issue is its going to add up quickly!
I would ask your indy how much it would cost if you sourced your own engine to fit.
I am sure an engine of decent condition could be had for 1k on eBay or the likes of.
Mackey444 said:
Lastly, how can a 7 year old BMW with just 70k on the clock go this wrong?? It's been shocking and cost me thousands all in all whatever I do. Think it will be the last time I risk buying my own car, my new one is leased, maintenance included and an Audi.. (sorry for the essay!)
Sorry to hear your pain matey - sadly these days the "BMW Quality" is a myth. The strongest bit of a BMW used to be its engine - not so more it would seem. I think if you avoid the 4 cylinder diesel or petrol, 6 cylinder diesel or petrol or the V8 then you should be ok.Speaking as an ex 5-year old BMW owner with a fully serviced & failed engine...
Get it on Ebay & describe the issues - let them be someone else's problems. Do you want to be messing about sourcing engines etc?
I feel for you buddy, but are you not panicking your way out of this car?
If I've understood correctly, the timing has slipped due to a sheared/loose bolt on the crank pulley, and it has bent valve(s) causing lack of compression.
Have the head taken off, get the valves replaced, refit head.
Your as far into this now as you can get, and I reckon you'd lose more on the car now if you got rid as is, and I'd consider spending a grand, grand an a half or so to get the head reconditioned and have a (hopefully) working car.
If I've understood correctly, the timing has slipped due to a sheared/loose bolt on the crank pulley, and it has bent valve(s) causing lack of compression.
Have the head taken off, get the valves replaced, refit head.
Your as far into this now as you can get, and I reckon you'd lose more on the car now if you got rid as is, and I'd consider spending a grand, grand an a half or so to get the head reconditioned and have a (hopefully) working car.
aka_kerrly said:
northwest monkey said:
S I think if you avoid the 4 cylinder diesel or petrol, 6 cylinder diesel or petrol or the V8 then you should be ok.
So don't buy any BMW then. It's hard to know which premium brands really are reliable these days. I have also had VWs and Audi's which have all had their share of issues often related to poor quality parts. Dropping windows, failing sensors, coil packs galore, I've had it all, just about avoided a DSG disaster too.Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff