330Ci - mayo?

330Ci - mayo?

Author
Discussion

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

212 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Kong said:
This is what my Z4 3.0i (identical engine) looked like shortly after I bought it.



35,000 miles later it's absolutely fine. I did have the crank case breather replaced but as mentioned it will still happen when you do short journeys, particularly in winter.

I wouldn't worry about the head gasket, failures on these engines are almost unhead of.
Mine looks like that, particulary in cold weather. Never done anything about it in 4 years and 35,000 miles, it's normal.

stevesuk

1,345 posts

181 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
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BorkFactor said:
if the yellow oil warning light comes on when you first start the car (doesn't matter if it is hot or cold) and goes out after 10 seconds or so then it will be a faulty sensor - I think it is at the bottom of the sump. Fairly common on the E46, mine does this and so do 2 others that I know of.
Mine does this too, usually if its been stood for a couple of days. Was worried the first time, but then checked the dipstick and it was sat on maximum. Was thinking of having it fixed the next time the oil is changed, but the sensor (and labour required to get to it and change it) is quite expensive, and it no longer bothers me because I know not to worry unless it stays on.

In fact, after 4,000 miles my M54 3.0 hasn't used a drop of oil. Since everyone else seems to top up every 1000 miles or so, I'm actually worried that maybe there's something wrong with it biggrin

waxaholic

374 posts

198 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
stevesuk said:
Mine does this too, usually if its been stood for a couple of days. Was worried the first time, but then checked the dipstick and it was sat on maximum. Was thinking of having it fixed the next time the oil is changed, but the sensor (and labour required to get to it and change it) is quite expensive, and it no longer bothers me because I know not to worry unless it stays on.

In fact, after 4,000 miles my M54 3.0 hasn't used a drop of oil. Since everyone else seems to top up every 1000 miles or so, I'm actually worried that maybe there's something wrong with it biggrin
Your not driving it hard enough lol

gaz1234

5,233 posts

218 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Fox- said:
The average M54 owner can be found saying this numerous times per year hehe
not the M version,

Swoxy

Original Poster:

2,799 posts

209 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
S54?

gaz1234

5,233 posts

218 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Swoxy said:
S54?
yea, i think fox got that one wrong! oops

Fox-

13,228 posts

245 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
Confused, how did I? I said M54 not S54. M cars didn't have an M54.

confused

BorkFactor

7,258 posts

157 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
stevesuk said:
Mine does this too, usually if its been stood for a couple of days. Was worried the first time, but then checked the dipstick and it was sat on maximum. Was thinking of having it fixed the next time the oil is changed, but the sensor (and labour required to get to it and change it) is quite expensive, and it no longer bothers me because I know not to worry unless it stays on.

In fact, after 4,000 miles my M54 3.0 hasn't used a drop of oil. Since everyone else seems to top up every 1000 miles or so, I'm actually worried that maybe there's something wrong with it biggrin
Should have probably added too - I have done about 8k in mine since I bought it and it hasn't used a drop of oil. I didn't know it was common for them to use any?

Have to say, it was terrifying when the light came on first, just after I bought the car! I assume it won't be a read flag on the MOT like the airbag warning lights supposedly are?

Fox-

13,228 posts

245 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
BorkFactor said:
Should have probably added too - I have done about 8k in mine since I bought it and it hasn't used a drop of oil. I didn't know it was common for them to use any?
You have an M52 not an M54 - it's not common for the M52 to use oil. Just the poor old M54 that seems afflicted. As gaz has rather oddly pointed out the S54 isn't affected either really.

Mustard

6,992 posts

244 months

Wednesday 3rd October 2012
quotequote all
My understanding oil consumption is more predominant on the x30i M54 versions

Our 2 525i's both use circa a litre every 8-10k (one low mileage 2002 done under 60k and one 2001 done 104k)

Mave

8,208 posts

214 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
BorkFactor said:
Should have probably added too - I have done about 8k in mine since I bought it and it hasn't used a drop of oil. I didn't know it was common for them to use any?

Have to say, it was terrifying when the light came on first, just after I bought the car! I assume it won't be a read flag on the MOT like the airbag warning lights supposedly are?
Nope, mine has been doing it for the last 3 years, not even a comment MoT time....

Swoxy

Original Poster:

2,799 posts

209 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all


Edited by Swoxy on Monday 8th October 22:21

BorkFactor

7,258 posts

157 months

Monday 8th October 2012
quotequote all
Mave said:
Nope, mine has been doing it for the last 3 years, not even a comment MoT time....
I thought they were changing the rules with regards to warning lights very soon though? Mine went through its MOT last month and it wasn't mentioned, but I am worried they will pick up on it next year.

Mave

8,208 posts

214 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
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I think they've already changed the rules - now includes ABS, airbag, (mine failed on ABS in August), but not low oil level as its not safety related.......

Skipraider

64 posts

164 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
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My old 530i also had loads of mayo when doing fairly short trips. I took it to the garage shortly after buying it to get the head checked out, which was all ok.

4rephill

5,040 posts

177 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
quotequote all
In 25years of owning BMW's, two things I have noted about them in cold weather:

1) They seem to have more steam come out of their exhausts than any other make.
2) They seem to get Mayo under the oil cap from short journeys more than other makes.

Blue Oval84

5,276 posts

160 months

Tuesday 9th October 2012
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Sounds all fairly normal to me for an M54 engined car. Both of mine have liked a drink from time to time.

Clivey

5,108 posts

203 months

Wednesday 13th March 2013
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Phew!

Thanks for that guys. - I came to top-up my oil today and was horrified to see "mayo" on the dipstick and under the oil cap - though not as bad as the previously posted picture. The car drives fine so I'm putting it down to me only doing about 6-7 miles per day (work and back) during the week, plus the cold weather.

It's due a service anyway so I'll be booking it in ASAP to make doubly sure everything's OK. Is there anything else I need to do or be aware of?


rumple

11,671 posts

150 months

Wednesday 13th March 2013
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Just to add, mine is like this, when it went for an inspection 1 I was told it needed a new breather.

Blue Oval84

5,276 posts

160 months

Wednesday 13th March 2013
quotequote all
Clivey said:
Phew!

Thanks for that guys. - I came to top-up my oil today and was horrified to see "mayo" on the dipstick and under the oil cap - though not as bad as the previously posted picture. The car drives fine so I'm putting it down to me only doing about 6-7 miles per day (work and back) during the week, plus the cold weather.

It's due a service anyway so I'll be booking it in ASAP to make doubly sure everything's OK. Is there anything else I need to do or be aware of?
Give it a damn good run every so often and get the engine very hot. My mam didn't, although it took a few years eventually the mayo froze in her CCV and hydralocked the engine on it's own oil, think the rebuild cost about £2K!