E46 320d...things to watch for?
Discussion
funny they do that when I'm in the Range Rover too, so I'm quite used to it.....
Common problems: Turbo failure / Injector issues
It's a big one I know, but there are plenty of 320d's out there with 100+ on that haven't had a problem. I looked at five or six a couple of years back and 3 had had turbo failure. The one I bought in the end, had turbo failure on the way home from the garage on collection day, 65k miles!
I bought a Mondeo STD in the end - and that had a whole host of problems too
ETA: Think they resolved the Turbo issues in 2003 - or so I heard
It's a big one I know, but there are plenty of 320d's out there with 100+ on that haven't had a problem. I looked at five or six a couple of years back and 3 had had turbo failure. The one I bought in the end, had turbo failure on the way home from the garage on collection day, 65k miles!
I bought a Mondeo STD in the end - and that had a whole host of problems too
ETA: Think they resolved the Turbo issues in 2003 - or so I heard
Edited by rfn on Tuesday 11th May 09:32
Others know more about this but do a search for swirl flaps, for eg http://www.pmwltd.co.uk/swirl_flaps.pdf
Sticks. said:
Others know more about this but do a search for swirl flaps, for eg http://www.pmwltd.co.uk/swirl_flaps.pdf
That not look good...Turbo failures are more comon upto EU4 where they changed to electronic turbo, but the turbo's dont fail as often as people think. When its in for service get them to remove the turbo air intake pipe and check the free play in the turbo impeler spiddle(just lift up and down with fingers) there should be about 1mm lateral play and about 0.5mm axial play (pull and push spindle).
They may find some oil sat in front of the spindle and in the pipe...this is a sign that the crank case breather filter on top of the engine requires relacment(interval for these is 60k)
Depending on the scale of a turbo failure the normal costs result in a turbo,intercooler,inlet manifold,cat and exhaust system.....on very very rare occasions and this is extremly rare the engine fails, this is because huge amounts of oil go into the inlet track and into the engine...the oil ignites and the engine revs to destruction.....once this process starts it cant be stopped ignition on or off.
If a swirl flap fails it almost always ends up being an engine replacement. Heavy damage to piston,head and bore.
There are 2 options here and that is to fit the later modified manifold which is a direct replacement or to remove the swirl flaps from the manifold all together. The new manifold has thicker spiddles holding the butterflys in.
Check the metal brake pipes at the rear for corrosion and treat them before they become an mot fail(follow the metal pipe from the flexi hose up towards the fuel tank)
Check rear trailing arm bushes
Check handbrake shoes
Check front wishbone joints and bushes
Check the turbo actuator vacuum pipe that runs from turbo to valve to accumulator then up over the engine and under the manifold(under engine cover)they perish and collapse...big cause of loss of power in the upper rev range.
They may find some oil sat in front of the spindle and in the pipe...this is a sign that the crank case breather filter on top of the engine requires relacment(interval for these is 60k)
Depending on the scale of a turbo failure the normal costs result in a turbo,intercooler,inlet manifold,cat and exhaust system.....on very very rare occasions and this is extremly rare the engine fails, this is because huge amounts of oil go into the inlet track and into the engine...the oil ignites and the engine revs to destruction.....once this process starts it cant be stopped ignition on or off.
If a swirl flap fails it almost always ends up being an engine replacement. Heavy damage to piston,head and bore.
There are 2 options here and that is to fit the later modified manifold which is a direct replacement or to remove the swirl flaps from the manifold all together. The new manifold has thicker spiddles holding the butterflys in.
Check the metal brake pipes at the rear for corrosion and treat them before they become an mot fail(follow the metal pipe from the flexi hose up towards the fuel tank)
Check rear trailing arm bushes
Check handbrake shoes
Check front wishbone joints and bushes
Check the turbo actuator vacuum pipe that runs from turbo to valve to accumulator then up over the engine and under the manifold(under engine cover)they perish and collapse...big cause of loss of power in the upper rev range.
Edited by Shropshiremike on Tuesday 11th May 14:22
Just to reinforce the swirl flap issue...
Mate at BMW has just seen 2 cars come in that has had them go, 730d (116k miles) and a 320d (86k miles). 320d seems to have been lucky and hasn't appeared to have been damaged so it's getting away with a new manifold and gasket etc. The 7 however has had 2 pistons f
ked among other things and the bill will be well into the wrong side of £2000.
God it's good having that peace of mind.
Mate at BMW has just seen 2 cars come in that has had them go, 730d (116k miles) and a 320d (86k miles). 320d seems to have been lucky and hasn't appeared to have been damaged so it's getting away with a new manifold and gasket etc. The 7 however has had 2 pistons f
ked among other things and the bill will be well into the wrong side of £2000.God it's good having that peace of mind.
The passenger occupancy sensor mat can become troublesome at over 5 years old.
You'll see the red airbag light come on the dash (intermittently at first). The idea is that the passenger airbag wont go off if there isn't a passenger in the seat. I fixed mine with an OEM loop plug, but to replace the mat you'll looking at £250 all in.
Turn the ignition on without a passenger and see if the light comes on.
You'll see the red airbag light come on the dash (intermittently at first). The idea is that the passenger airbag wont go off if there isn't a passenger in the seat. I fixed mine with an OEM loop plug, but to replace the mat you'll looking at £250 all in.
Turn the ignition on without a passenger and see if the light comes on.
mbrain said:
The passenger occupancy sensor mat can become troublesome at over 5 years old.
You'll see the red airbag light come on the dash (intermittently at first). The idea is that the passenger airbag wont go off if there isn't a passenger in the seat. I fixed mine with an OEM loop plug, but to replace the mat you'll looking at £250 all in.
Turn the ignition on without a passenger and see if the light comes on.
Ah so it's just the passenger airbag that won't go off?You'll see the red airbag light come on the dash (intermittently at first). The idea is that the passenger airbag wont go off if there isn't a passenger in the seat. I fixed mine with an OEM loop plug, but to replace the mat you'll looking at £250 all in.
Turn the ignition on without a passenger and see if the light comes on.
I currently have the light on although I heard somewhere that no airbags would deploy, which did seem a bit odd.
Ranger 6 said:
mbrain said:
....I fixed mine with an OEM loop plug....
What's one of those then?The only 'downside' is that the airbag will always deploy in an accident - whether or not someone is sat in the seat.
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