BMW X3 E83 3.0i 4WD
Discussion
How's it going people? It's been a while since I have posted on here.
Some may know, I was doing Uber driving and I have a VW Jetta for that but through lockdown I stopped and the car went to my Mum as I barely used it! Anyway I had a moped and I was doing Uber Eats etc for a while in London and it has been 1 year already. The bike sold yesterday and it was time to get another car. I will be going back to Uber very soon just waiting on TFL to pull their finger out of their backsides.
Anyway, I sold the Ford Transit as I just had no use or the van anymore, just as the van was in a perfect working state ha.
Today I drove 90 miles to Kettering and purchased this! 2004 BMW X3 3.0 Petrol 4 Wheel Drive. Pulled out the iPhone for some photos! Nice foggy day.
While browsing on and off recently I noticed the market for the 6 cylinder autos tended to be 2.5i 4wd and 3.0i rear wheel drive. I had a 3.0i RWD lined up to go and see and I had one last look before leaving today and found this! I'm not sure how common the the 3.0i 4WD are but I never really noticed many and I was debating between going for the 4wd and slower or RWD and faster. But this is the best of both.
Anyway the car drove faultlessly, but the EML came on - quick phone call with the home dealer and had the explanation of plugs and coils changed recently and the EML comes on sometimes??? So some digging in to that needed but the car was driving fine so I wasn't to phased. Also the airbag light come on as I pulled up at home, assuming its the occupancy sensor similar to E46 niggles.
But apart from the the remote locking works, on one key at least think one may need a battery. All windows go up & down, the displays all work and are not pixelated, it has the locking nut, it has MOT, it has some history and it seems to just work. It has a CD player stereo and 6CD changer in the arm rest but it needs to go. I'd like a screen set up in the dashboard cubbyhole like on some models.
My only pain with the 4WD was wanting to get the X5 wheels that I had on the X1 also but the rears are wider so far as I know that's no good for 4WD and need a square set up?
Not sure what the overall plans are just nice to be in a nice enough daily car that's going to kill the wallet on petrol. At least it is ULEZ compliant and I can drive in the the zone without being charged an arm and a leg.
Any advice / heads up please let me know! I know it's not the most exciting car but I have had an itch for one for a while now but while wanting X5 wheels. So I have to figure that now. But hopefully some updates soon regarding the EML at least.
Some may know, I was doing Uber driving and I have a VW Jetta for that but through lockdown I stopped and the car went to my Mum as I barely used it! Anyway I had a moped and I was doing Uber Eats etc for a while in London and it has been 1 year already. The bike sold yesterday and it was time to get another car. I will be going back to Uber very soon just waiting on TFL to pull their finger out of their backsides.
Anyway, I sold the Ford Transit as I just had no use or the van anymore, just as the van was in a perfect working state ha.
Today I drove 90 miles to Kettering and purchased this! 2004 BMW X3 3.0 Petrol 4 Wheel Drive. Pulled out the iPhone for some photos! Nice foggy day.
While browsing on and off recently I noticed the market for the 6 cylinder autos tended to be 2.5i 4wd and 3.0i rear wheel drive. I had a 3.0i RWD lined up to go and see and I had one last look before leaving today and found this! I'm not sure how common the the 3.0i 4WD are but I never really noticed many and I was debating between going for the 4wd and slower or RWD and faster. But this is the best of both.
Anyway the car drove faultlessly, but the EML came on - quick phone call with the home dealer and had the explanation of plugs and coils changed recently and the EML comes on sometimes??? So some digging in to that needed but the car was driving fine so I wasn't to phased. Also the airbag light come on as I pulled up at home, assuming its the occupancy sensor similar to E46 niggles.
But apart from the the remote locking works, on one key at least think one may need a battery. All windows go up & down, the displays all work and are not pixelated, it has the locking nut, it has MOT, it has some history and it seems to just work. It has a CD player stereo and 6CD changer in the arm rest but it needs to go. I'd like a screen set up in the dashboard cubbyhole like on some models.
My only pain with the 4WD was wanting to get the X5 wheels that I had on the X1 also but the rears are wider so far as I know that's no good for 4WD and need a square set up?
Not sure what the overall plans are just nice to be in a nice enough daily car that's going to kill the wallet on petrol. At least it is ULEZ compliant and I can drive in the the zone without being charged an arm and a leg.
Any advice / heads up please let me know! I know it's not the most exciting car but I have had an itch for one for a while now but while wanting X5 wheels. So I have to figure that now. But hopefully some updates soon regarding the EML at least.
Maybe the X's being all 4WD was a bit of misinformation by me but I am happy it is 4 wheel drive none the less! I will get the car scanned as soon as possible and be in touch with the dealer.
It's nice to drive but changing the steering wheel to a sport version so its a bit chunkier needs to be done.
I want to remove the parrot kit that has been fitted too.
It's nice to drive but changing the steering wheel to a sport version so its a bit chunkier needs to be done.
I want to remove the parrot kit that has been fitted too.
So first kind of update.
I ordered a scanner from Amazon yesterday and it arrived today. Has pretty good reviews and only £25.00. Good enough to keep in the car for personal use at least.
If anyone wants to the link of the one I used it is - https://amzn.to/3FrkIBD
Ordered this due to the EML being on. So got to scanning and it flashed up the following.
And one extra screen I found that I don't really understand, if anyone can shed some light that would be great.
Moving on, I have been reading some 330i / 530i threads online and it seems a common replacement for the M54 engines can be the DISA valve.
Here is a copy and paste of some issues that can arise when yours is faulty (for those that might not know)
" The symptoms of this fault are very obvious; there is a rattling noise coming from the DISA valve, SES light is lit and getting a lean mixture fault or rough running at idle. Displaying DTC codes and a loss in low end torque. There may be a rattling, buzzing or clicking noise coming from the engine. Fault codes: lean condition(P1083, P1085), front oxygen sensor lean (P1090, P1092) oxygen sensor slow response (P1087, P1089) and cylinder misfire (P0311-P0316) fuel control mixture lean (bank 2 sensor 1) and p0174 system too lean, showing? "
So that pretty much matches my issues.
So I have ordered one for £64.99 and will pay my friend to fit it for me, I don't want my hands dirty haha. Looks like a nice bit of kit and they have their own install guide video.
It removes the faulty plastic unit setup and replaces it with a billet aluminum setup.
Anyway, I have started my pence per mile table that I have used previously and will get that updated soon once I pay for the part to be fitted.
The dealer has agreed to pay half the bill which I am happy with just to get it over and done with, I am happy with the car apart from this issue so it will be nice to carry on driving.
MOT history also states it has an oil leak so will start looking in to that and make sure its kept topped up in the mean time.
I ordered a scanner from Amazon yesterday and it arrived today. Has pretty good reviews and only £25.00. Good enough to keep in the car for personal use at least.
If anyone wants to the link of the one I used it is - https://amzn.to/3FrkIBD
Ordered this due to the EML being on. So got to scanning and it flashed up the following.
And one extra screen I found that I don't really understand, if anyone can shed some light that would be great.
Moving on, I have been reading some 330i / 530i threads online and it seems a common replacement for the M54 engines can be the DISA valve.
Here is a copy and paste of some issues that can arise when yours is faulty (for those that might not know)
" The symptoms of this fault are very obvious; there is a rattling noise coming from the DISA valve, SES light is lit and getting a lean mixture fault or rough running at idle. Displaying DTC codes and a loss in low end torque. There may be a rattling, buzzing or clicking noise coming from the engine. Fault codes: lean condition(P1083, P1085), front oxygen sensor lean (P1090, P1092) oxygen sensor slow response (P1087, P1089) and cylinder misfire (P0311-P0316) fuel control mixture lean (bank 2 sensor 1) and p0174 system too lean, showing? "
So that pretty much matches my issues.
So I have ordered one for £64.99 and will pay my friend to fit it for me, I don't want my hands dirty haha. Looks like a nice bit of kit and they have their own install guide video.
It removes the faulty plastic unit setup and replaces it with a billet aluminum setup.
Anyway, I have started my pence per mile table that I have used previously and will get that updated soon once I pay for the part to be fitted.
The dealer has agreed to pay half the bill which I am happy with just to get it over and done with, I am happy with the car apart from this issue so it will be nice to carry on driving.
MOT history also states it has an oil leak so will start looking in to that and make sure its kept topped up in the mean time.
Edited by GrantD5 on Sunday 19th December 17:38
Jhonno said:
The dealer is chatting nonsense about the EML after the plugs and coils have been changed.. Have they actually been done, and been done with Bosch/NGK plugs and BMW/Bosch/Beru coils?
I have no idea mate, I haven't had the time to even check that out, I'm just gonna get the DISA valve done first and service it myself and I will change the plugs and then check the coil packs and go from there.I dont expect perfection but some honesty wouldnt have gone a miss thats for sure
If it was sold as from the trade, whether from home or a posh showroom, I’d be straight back to get it fixed or get your money back. I wouldn’t mess around trying to fix it yourself, it’s not a rare car, plenty more fish in the sea etc.
I like these, I looked at a couple before buying a Forester instead. Fantastic creamy smooth six cylinder engines and they feel quite sporty and pointy for an SUV shaped thing. I seem to remember the gearbox is a bit finicky and really likes the wheels all exactly the same size on the X3 so do be careful if you’re thinking of changing them.
I like these, I looked at a couple before buying a Forester instead. Fantastic creamy smooth six cylinder engines and they feel quite sporty and pointy for an SUV shaped thing. I seem to remember the gearbox is a bit finicky and really likes the wheels all exactly the same size on the X3 so do be careful if you’re thinking of changing them.
helix402 said:
willmagrath said:
I didnt realise they did 2wd versions, stupid!
I’m 99% sure the E83s were all 4wd.They all use the then-new BMW X-Drive system, that runs them in RWD under normal conditions and engages the front wheels via a transfer case when it detects slip.
I've a real soft spot for these. Basically a jacked-up 3-series platform (identical underneath to the 4wd E46s that the US market got), with a slightly taller body.
The interiors, particularly the dash plastics, are pretty low-rent - but they are excellent VFM.
The DISA valve failing should be VERY obvious, with a pronounced tapping/rattling from the inlet manifold on idle. You can test for it by disconnecting power to the valve's solenoid while the engine is running, which should make the noise stop - there's a good YT video showing how to do that.
Your EML issues are likely to be linked to sensor of some sort. O2 and MAF sensors are the most common culprits.
Also, don't rule out a tear in the intake trunk (from the airbox to the inlet manifold), which lets a load of unmetered air in and causes the car to run poorly. Easy to check, cheap and simple to replace.
Your EML issues are likely to be linked to sensor of some sort. O2 and MAF sensors are the most common culprits.
Also, don't rule out a tear in the intake trunk (from the airbox to the inlet manifold), which lets a load of unmetered air in and causes the car to run poorly. Easy to check, cheap and simple to replace.
Jhonno said:
Oil leak will be a cam cover weep or oil filter housing. Check for oil on the manifolds (or the smell of oil sat in traffic), and wetness under the inlet.
Also be worth doing the CCV system.
The M54 bloody loves an oil leak.Also be worth doing the CCV system.
Like the DISA valve, I wouldn't just "do" the CCV for the sake of it. You can check the vacuum under the oil cap with the engine running to give yourself a good idea of the CCV health.
Remove the cap, and place your hand over the hole - a slight sucking feeling (and small change in idle) is normal, but strong suction suggests that the CCV has had it.
Edited by C70R on Monday 20th December 10:21
Thanks for all the replies.
The car will be fixed I have a bunch of friends who work on my car for good mates rates, I know the car should be working from the dealer thats a given but I don't want to drive back for 100 miles for the sake of an engine light when the car drives fine, this may well be back to bite me in the backside. But for the price, I paid the others albeit a few 100 cheaper are complete dogs.
If the valve don't sort it the car will be serviced soon including plugs and then can check coilpacks. I will look into o2 sensors also.
While this is being done I will check for the oil leak too, already suspect cam cover and sump plug but I will see.
Also thanks for the tip on the CCV that's also very much on my 'keep an eye on' list.
Car is not tax friendly
The car will be fixed I have a bunch of friends who work on my car for good mates rates, I know the car should be working from the dealer thats a given but I don't want to drive back for 100 miles for the sake of an engine light when the car drives fine, this may well be back to bite me in the backside. But for the price, I paid the others albeit a few 100 cheaper are complete dogs.
If the valve don't sort it the car will be serviced soon including plugs and then can check coilpacks. I will look into o2 sensors also.
While this is being done I will check for the oil leak too, already suspect cam cover and sump plug but I will see.
Also thanks for the tip on the CCV that's also very much on my 'keep an eye on' list.
Car is not tax friendly
We had an e83 3.0d for a long time and loved it. I really think they're great and very underrated cars. They drive very well indeed. I wasn't aware that they did a RWD version. I seem to remember looking at wheels at the time and concluded that X5 wheels would not fit these, might be wrong though.
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