E61 V8 Bearding
Discussion
mondeoman said:
dom9 said:
Value there if things can be sorted cheaply!
Could be worth a punt at £5k...Just booked the car into Spire BMW for tomorrow morning for a diagnostic check (£151!!). Noticed that my N62 has been through ~750ml of oil over the last 2,000 or so miles and it's started smoking a bit in stop-start traffic. Took a 250 mile drive down to Devon last Wednesday and on Thursday morning the check engine light flashed orange on the dashboard, but the OBC is showing no faults. On the drive back yesterday, the motor didn't miss a beat - had it not been for that ominous bloody light you'd not think anything at all was amiss. A tad confounding as it idles smooth as you like, so I don't think it's sparks or coils. Some forums suggest it might be the cats...
Fingers crossed it's nothing major. Toes crossed if it is something major it's covered by the BMW insured warranty...
Fingers crossed it's nothing major. Toes crossed if it is something major it's covered by the BMW insured warranty...
philmots said:
The PCV can cause all sorta of issues, including smoking..
It's not really your problem if it's under warranty though eh.
Had the PCVs replaced a couple of weeks ago and they don't seem to have reduced the smoking or oil consumption my any material amount. My main worry is not having the car back in time for Christmas if it is a big job to fix - got lots of miles to cover over the festive period!It's not really your problem if it's under warranty though eh.
Theophany said:
Had the PCVs replaced a couple of weeks ago and they don't seem to have reduced the smoking or oil consumption my any material amount. My main worry is not having the car back in time for Christmas if it is a big job to fix - got lots of miles to cover over the festive period!
CCVs can be a problem too 
Mines just about to back to its good friends at BMW as replacement CCV's havent sorted the same problem out. I've found my BMW warranty quite useful, new headlights, interminable oil leaks, radiator bits and pieces not to mention all the other wonderful E61 issues done prior to me: steering angle sensor, gaskets etc....Wouldn't cover the tailgate wiring but easily fixed myself. We shall see how the good people at Mondial handle this latest diagnostic adventure while I try out the dealer's latest courtesy 1 series.
AlasdairB10 said:
CCVs can be a problem too
Mines just about to back to its good friends at BMW as replacement CCV's havent sorted the same problem out. I've found my BMW warranty quite useful, new headlights, interminable oil leaks, radiator bits and pieces not to mention all the other wonderful E61 issues done prior to me: steering angle sensor, gaskets etc....Wouldn't cover the tailgate wiring but easily fixed myself. We shall see how the good people at Mondial handle this latest diagnostic adventure while I try out the dealer's latest courtesy 1 series.
Same thing, isn't it? Just different nomenclature.Mines just about to back to its good friends at BMW as replacement CCV's havent sorted the same problem out. I've found my BMW warranty quite useful, new headlights, interminable oil leaks, radiator bits and pieces not to mention all the other wonderful E61 issues done prior to me: steering angle sensor, gaskets etc....Wouldn't cover the tailgate wiring but easily fixed myself. We shall see how the good people at Mondial handle this latest diagnostic adventure while I try out the dealer's latest courtesy 1 series.
I dropped the car off first thing yesterday morning and still waiting to hear back for the £151 diagnostics check. Got a courtesy call yesterday evening to say that they'd have a report by 10am this morning. I heard nothing, so called them at midday and left a message asking to be called back. About an hour later I got a text from my service adviser saying that she was waiting on the workshop and parts and that she would call 'ASAP.' Still waiting with baited breath as to what's going on! CCVs are only a 30-45 min job from what I have read, so would've thought they'd be finishing off my complementary valet by now!
Just wondering if they're tearing on ahead with warranty procedures having found a covered issue, but I would've thought that they still need to check that the customer is happy to proceed with the work - even if just to check that they don't need their car back urgently...
Crikey, got the VHC back. Apparently there are a few issues preventing them from getting to the bottom of the issue...
- Tank vent valve is faulty: £219.00
- Inlet manifold differential air pressure sensor on rear of manifold: £239.40
- Outlet pipe of secondary air pump has collapsed: £153.90
Once all that lot is taken care of, they can carry on looking for the root cause of the smoke (assuming none of the above cure the issue). Now waiting to see if the warranty company will authorise these repairs and to get an answer as to whether or not I'll have to stump up another £250 excess if they open another warranty claim after sorting that lot.
- Tank vent valve is faulty: £219.00
- Inlet manifold differential air pressure sensor on rear of manifold: £239.40
- Outlet pipe of secondary air pump has collapsed: £153.90
Once all that lot is taken care of, they can carry on looking for the root cause of the smoke (assuming none of the above cure the issue). Now waiting to see if the warranty company will authorise these repairs and to get an answer as to whether or not I'll have to stump up another £250 excess if they open another warranty claim after sorting that lot.
No chance of warranty on a 9 year old private purchase car where I did not get a chance to get BMW drivetrain warranty before I noticed the issue. It just didn't seem right to have my mechanic go Valve stem seals, me buy warranty and then a couple months later put it in. Could have easily done it and probably gotten away with it, but it would have been fraud and I could not have that on my conscience.
At the end of the day, buyer beware with private sales and I bought with heart not head. My fault and no one else's. You live and learn. I'm sure I'll continue to make mistakes when it comes to buying cars, just hope the next one is not so expensive.
At the end of the day, buyer beware with private sales and I bought with heart not head. My fault and no one else's. You live and learn. I'm sure I'll continue to make mistakes when it comes to buying cars, just hope the next one is not so expensive.
Well good news, they still have the block and pistons so they are putting them aside for me. If I don't get time during the week, I will pick it up on Saturday. Going to start contacting some places to see who can give it a hot acid bath to clean it up. Then I just gotta figure out how to attach the pistons to the block so that they can prop up the glass,
Time for a bit of googling. May need to find someone to do that for me as well!
Just got to break the news to the other half. I think it will go something like this:
Me: You know the coffee table that's older than I am that you don't like?
Her: Yes.....
Me: Well good news I will be getting rid of it in the new year.
Her: right.....
Me: We will be replacing it with a 50kg V8 engine block instead
Her: !"£$%^&*()@~''#
Might wait until I have picked up the block and got it cleaned first before I tell her
Time for a bit of googling. May need to find someone to do that for me as well!
Just got to break the news to the other half. I think it will go something like this:
Me: You know the coffee table that's older than I am that you don't like?
Her: Yes.....
Me: Well good news I will be getting rid of it in the new year.
Her: right.....
Me: We will be replacing it with a 50kg V8 engine block instead
Her: !"£$%^&*()@~''#
Might wait until I have picked up the block and got it cleaned first before I tell her
Will a glass top not just sit on top of the block as is?
If you go to a decent glass place they'll drill the glass and you could get some decent fixing that are sleeved in rubber that can protect it and stop from moving around.
Plenty of bathroom fittings look like could fit the bill.
If you go to a decent glass place they'll drill the glass and you could get some decent fixing that are sleeved in rubber that can protect it and stop from moving around.
Plenty of bathroom fittings look like could fit the bill.
Hi,
Just to update on this love in on the v8's. Had/have an e39 540 touring, 200k 2001, still goes like stink smooth engine, fantastic but had it for 7 years and fancied a change. Bought a 545 touring for £4990 from a place in Cannock (M500 PSW), 2004 104k fairly bare spec but pan roof etc, etc. A week into ownership I notice in heavy traffic when up to temp it smokes...badly.... oil consumption about 0.3L in 200 miles. Back to garage, after 6 weeks of farting about, water pump, ccv valves, valve stem seals diagnosed but also scored bores to one cylinder which condemned the rebuild option as oversized pistons at £200 x 8 required plus a rehoned alusil block. Garage man gave me my money back. something about beyond economic repair !
This engine is great when working but really the m62 was so much better, I'd never touch an n62 again after all I've learnt (valve stem smoking leads to cat break up and drawn back into cylinder via valvetronic a la MR2 issue). I've replaced it with an n52 530i sport touring and I'm selling the 540, but tbh the e39 really stacks up well to e61 , certainly the 540 smooth wave of torque and planted feeling compares v.well to the 255bhp of the 530 even if bhp/tonne comparable. Maybe I've been in it too long!!
Anyways best of luck all, change the oil regularly would be my advice ! apparently same seal gasket issue in n63 bi-turbo engine.
Just to update on this love in on the v8's. Had/have an e39 540 touring, 200k 2001, still goes like stink smooth engine, fantastic but had it for 7 years and fancied a change. Bought a 545 touring for £4990 from a place in Cannock (M500 PSW), 2004 104k fairly bare spec but pan roof etc, etc. A week into ownership I notice in heavy traffic when up to temp it smokes...badly.... oil consumption about 0.3L in 200 miles. Back to garage, after 6 weeks of farting about, water pump, ccv valves, valve stem seals diagnosed but also scored bores to one cylinder which condemned the rebuild option as oversized pistons at £200 x 8 required plus a rehoned alusil block. Garage man gave me my money back. something about beyond economic repair !
This engine is great when working but really the m62 was so much better, I'd never touch an n62 again after all I've learnt (valve stem smoking leads to cat break up and drawn back into cylinder via valvetronic a la MR2 issue). I've replaced it with an n52 530i sport touring and I'm selling the 540, but tbh the e39 really stacks up well to e61 , certainly the 540 smooth wave of torque and planted feeling compares v.well to the 255bhp of the 530 even if bhp/tonne comparable. Maybe I've been in it too long!!
Anyways best of luck all, change the oil regularly would be my advice ! apparently same seal gasket issue in n63 bi-turbo engine.
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