How long does my engine have left to live?

[anonymous-user]

Yeah hard question to answer I know!

Situation is.....Ive owned a 2001 320Ci since Easter 2006. It was bought with 116k miles and just ticked over 170k this weekend. It has always used a bit of oil, but uses more than I have read as being "normal" on various BMW forums. It has gotten slightly worse over time to the point where it uses a litre every 600miles or so. I use 10W40 oil under advice from a local BM indy. Car has pinking under light load between about 2,000 to 3,500 revs mainly in 3rd.

I took a video of starting the car from cold this weekend and there was no blue smoke at all, I've never seen blue smoke on cold or hot start-up and never seen oil on floor of garage or after parking up anywhere.

I had the CCV valve replaced a month or so ago, initially pinking went away but soon went back to same level. Removing the oil cap when engine running (just after start-up) causes revs to drop almost to stall, which picks up when I put my hand over it and can feel slight suction on my hand...not blowing or hard suction.

Also took spark plugs out this weekend to see their condition and seeing as the car was serviced in Feb, (so long as garage did actually change plugs and I wasn't ripped off and never any mention from any garage that's serviced the car about oily plugs), I was kinda shocked at how bad they were, cylinder 1 especially (first pic) with the rest were pretty much in same condition as the second pic, each plug also had oil on the threads.

cylinder 1 plug


the rest


Took car out for a test drive after changing plugs and car felt a little more responsive (better spark I guess) and much less pinking. Although Im not hopeful this will last!

So my thoughts are as there's no blue smoke at start-up then the head is ok as gravity would deposit some oil into the cylinders if the valve seals had gone and would be seen on start-up, as CCV valve has been changed there doesn't seem to be over pressurising in the crankcase forcing oil vapour into the cylinders, pretty much all that's left is worn piston rings and a borked bottom end? Is there any point to a compression test if all plugs are that badly coked? Anything else that might be causing this?

[buggalugs]

eta, now that I've actually read your post, #1 looks like pinking damage the other not too bad, maybe run those new ones for 1K and check them again? They're pretty black is the engine getting up to temparature?

Edited by buggalugs on Monday 15th September 17:49

[anonymous-user]

buggalugs said:

eta, now that I've actually read your post, #1 looks like pinking damage the other not too bad, maybe run those new ones for 1K and check them again? They're pretty black is the engine getting up to temperature?

Edited by buggalugs on Monday 15th September 17:49

Thanks for the reply.

I do a mix of short runs and longer runs on a weekend, car isn't used every day, maybe 4 times a week at most. I do make a regular trip from SE London to Liphook in Hampshire, so would get up to temps. Will certainly pull them again to see whats going on.

Edited by djstevec on Monday 15th September 18:12

[sparks_E39]

These engines are incredibly durable. Even not running 100% it's not likely to expire. Pretty much the only thing that kills them is prolonged overheating, which warps the head. On these engines it's not usually permanently fixable. I have the 3.0 petrol. I had to get my CCV replaced two weeks ago (£250ish) the car runs smoother than ever now.

[helix402]

I wouldn't worry about the engine expiring. I've seen the older M50 with 250k running well. I sold a 328i M52 with 180k which was still had plenty of life left. Only 99k on my current one!

[E30M3SE]

Plugs don't look oil in those pictures, the oil on the thread of plug #2 is probably due to a slightly leaky profile gasket.

[DVandrews]

Cylinder one looks as if it has higher than normal oil consumption, hence the heavy deposits.

Dave

[anonymous-user]

Much appreciated guys.

[RC1]

really interesting as ive had the same chat with my indy today. left the e39 touring with the m54 block and 100k miles with them and asked them to do a compression test as id noticed some white smoke on start up recently

came back with around 12 bar on all 6 cylinders with cylinder 6 showing 11 bar

an inspection 2 service done around 9k miles ago / 12 months ago and today on checking the plugs noticed coking on all of them and some oil on threads on a couple which could be due to rocker cover gasket (last one changed about 20k miles ago / 3 years back)

we talked about oil consumption and i think its about 0.5 litres for each 500m miles with upper limit being about 1 litre per 600m....

not conclusive yet on the white smoke only recently noticed it so could be due to increased condensation or water in exhaust no signs of water being where it shouldnt be and coolant level fine

as has been said above, the these engines are solid but im now going to keep a log now of oil consumption and consider changing to a thicker grade oil from the 5/30 castrol edge

i think ill monitor the situation for now and check plugs in about 6 months time along with review of my oil log and take it from there....

Edited by RC1 on Monday 15th September 21:58