HELP! E46 320d turbo might be about to blow...
Discussion
Hi guys,
Just got home from a 500 mile round trip to snowy Scotland, and I think my car is dying on me!
For the last 40 miles of the trip, the turbo seemed very loud. The whistling was the same as it usually is pitch wise, but it was defiantly much louder then usual.
I know the turbo can blow on these, and I have heard some real horror stories, but...
I need to go somewhere for work tomorrow, and it's really important so I can't miss it. Do I risk it? It's a 300 mile round trip (all motorway) or does it sound like the beginnings of turbo failure?
It's a 2001 pre-facelift, 136ps 320d with 155k miles on it.
If the worst happened and the turbo blew, would i still be able to drive it slowly, or is that likely to damage it further?
Any advice would be much appreciated!
Just got home from a 500 mile round trip to snowy Scotland, and I think my car is dying on me!
For the last 40 miles of the trip, the turbo seemed very loud. The whistling was the same as it usually is pitch wise, but it was defiantly much louder then usual.
I know the turbo can blow on these, and I have heard some real horror stories, but...
I need to go somewhere for work tomorrow, and it's really important so I can't miss it. Do I risk it? It's a 300 mile round trip (all motorway) or does it sound like the beginnings of turbo failure?
It's a 2001 pre-facelift, 136ps 320d with 155k miles on it.
If the worst happened and the turbo blew, would i still be able to drive it slowly, or is that likely to damage it further?
Any advice would be much appreciated!
Hmm, thanks chaps. I will be passing a BMW specialist in the morning, so will drop in on my way past and get their advice.
I had it re-mapped last week, and I'm worried that the map (even though it's a performance/economy map that was more for smooth acceleration and getting rid of a flat-spot), has put extra pressure on the turbo and caused to to fail.
It was only mapped about 30bhp more, so it's not like I've tried to get 200 brake out of it, so I'm not convinced that this would do any damage...
I had it re-mapped last week, and I'm worried that the map (even though it's a performance/economy map that was more for smooth acceleration and getting rid of a flat-spot), has put extra pressure on the turbo and caused to to fail.
It was only mapped about 30bhp more, so it's not like I've tried to get 200 brake out of it, so I'm not convinced that this would do any damage...
The_Doc said:
ol said:
Well thanks for the replies, but as I thought the turbo was on it's way out, and the car is now sitting dead on the hard shoulder of the A1...
Ta anyway
hopefully not the A1(M) as you'll have to get it off pretty quick before the police call a contract flat-bed wagon and charge you for the privilege. Something to do with cars on the hard shoulder of motorways being an accident risk and impeding use of the lane by the 999 crews. As far as I know this isn't enforced on A roads, so if you're on the non-M-portion of the A1, you're ok.Ta anyway
I've heard £150-£200 is the charge.
Edited by ol on Tuesday 25th November 10:51
[quote=Gallen (BPH)]AAArghhh!
I hope it didnt suck any bearings through the engine, and you're lucky it didnt suck up the engine oil and start running on it... You cant stop it easily if it's an auto unless you cut off air supply, and it will eventually self destruct!
A turbo failure isnt a minor problem. It's major and shouldnt be driven.
RE: Swirl flaps, whilst the engine is dismantled, check that the manifold doesn't have them (either that or check that it is the modified manifold).
Is it an Auto or Manual?
Swirl flap issues on Auto's only I believe. Basically the autos have butterflies inside the inlet manifold. The shafts they sit on fail, allowing the butterflies to go into the bores and have great fun with the pistons! (I had mine removed - No problems, no performance issues but peace of mind!).
eBay may be a cheaper alternative for your turbo if you're out of warrantee.
Where are you based?
Hope its not too bad mate.
[/quote]
Cheers for the replies mate. I'm based in Northumberland near Newcastle.
Although what you said above is exactly what happened:
There was a bang, lots of white smoke, so I pulled off the A1M, turned the ignition off, but the engine kept running as if I was flooring it. I sharply exited the car and retreated to safe distance, but the engine continued to run for about a minute, screaming and blowing white smoke everywhere. I thought it was going to blow up! Very scary... It eventually died and shut itself off. I've not tried to start it again, but it's at the garage now getting assessed.
Balls.
PS thanks for the links - I go on BMW land a fair bit and know it can be very common on the 150bhp model, but mines the 2001 pre facelift 136bhp. (Manual by the way, and no warranty...)
I hope it didnt suck any bearings through the engine, and you're lucky it didnt suck up the engine oil and start running on it... You cant stop it easily if it's an auto unless you cut off air supply, and it will eventually self destruct!
A turbo failure isnt a minor problem. It's major and shouldnt be driven.
RE: Swirl flaps, whilst the engine is dismantled, check that the manifold doesn't have them (either that or check that it is the modified manifold).
Is it an Auto or Manual?
Swirl flap issues on Auto's only I believe. Basically the autos have butterflies inside the inlet manifold. The shafts they sit on fail, allowing the butterflies to go into the bores and have great fun with the pistons! (I had mine removed - No problems, no performance issues but peace of mind!).
eBay may be a cheaper alternative for your turbo if you're out of warrantee.
Where are you based?
Hope its not too bad mate.
[/quote]
Cheers for the replies mate. I'm based in Northumberland near Newcastle.
Although what you said above is exactly what happened:
There was a bang, lots of white smoke, so I pulled off the A1M, turned the ignition off, but the engine kept running as if I was flooring it. I sharply exited the car and retreated to safe distance, but the engine continued to run for about a minute, screaming and blowing white smoke everywhere. I thought it was going to blow up! Very scary... It eventually died and shut itself off. I've not tried to start it again, but it's at the garage now getting assessed.
Balls.
PS thanks for the links - I go on BMW land a fair bit and know it can be very common on the 150bhp model, but mines the 2001 pre facelift 136bhp. (Manual by the way, and no warranty...)
[quote=Gallen (BPH)]
...expect the worst (new engine & probably a turbo). I hate to say it but I imagine that it will be a mess and has run very hot on its own oil (through a dodgy turbo seal most probably).
The only way to stop this was for you to have put the car it in 5th gear and dump the clutch, or cut off air supply...
Estimate bent rods, possibly warped hed if it boiled and of course the turbo
Bugger...ol said:
There was a bang, lots of white smoke, so I pulled off the A1M, turned the ignition off, but the engine kept running as if I was flooring it. I sharply exited the car and retreated to safe distance, but the engine continued to run for about a minute
Oh no!...expect the worst (new engine & probably a turbo). I hate to say it but I imagine that it will be a mess and has run very hot on its own oil (through a dodgy turbo seal most probably).
The only way to stop this was for you to have put the car it in 5th gear and dump the clutch, or cut off air supply...
Estimate bent rods, possibly warped hed if it boiled and of course the turbo
Edited by Gallen (BPH) on Tuesday 25th November 12:35
I wish i'd known i should stall it before I legged it away from my car whilst it was screaming and pissing fluid all over the hard shoulder!
Oh well, these things happen I suppose...
The tuners are good at what they do, and I know other people who have used them with no problems.
The main reason for the re-map was to get rid of a flatspot in the engine, which it did. It was an economy map to smooth out the power, and it was estimated that it went up from 136bhp to about 150-160, so it wasn't anything too drastic.
I had been driving it quite hard over the weekend on Scottish A roads, so I think the turbo (which may well have been on its way out anyway after 160,000 miles) just couldn't cope with the extra pressure.
Not sure what psi the turbo was running at... It was only 1 week ago that I had it mapped, and i'd done about 500 miles since.
The main reason for the re-map was to get rid of a flatspot in the engine, which it did. It was an economy map to smooth out the power, and it was estimated that it went up from 136bhp to about 150-160, so it wasn't anything too drastic.
I had been driving it quite hard over the weekend on Scottish A roads, so I think the turbo (which may well have been on its way out anyway after 160,000 miles) just couldn't cope with the extra pressure.
Not sure what psi the turbo was running at... It was only 1 week ago that I had it mapped, and i'd done about 500 miles since.
Edited by ol on Tuesday 25th November 13:32
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