320 D (150) 2003 Turbo Whistle
Discussion
+ one to the whistle = nearly knackered gang,
my 330d developed a much much more prominent whistle over the last month, and the turbo went POP last week!!!
easy to check, take off the turbo inlet pipe (is only held to the MAF/air filter assy with 2x 6mm allen headed setscrews, then (with the engine cold and not running obviously!) stick you fingers in the turbo inducer and give the nose of the compressor wheel a little wiggle, if it moves around more than a millimeter or so, it's deffinately on it's way out!
best to get it changed BEFORE it totally fails, as it can take the whole engine with it if you were very unlucky etc!
my 330d developed a much much more prominent whistle over the last month, and the turbo went POP last week!!!
easy to check, take off the turbo inlet pipe (is only held to the MAF/air filter assy with 2x 6mm allen headed setscrews, then (with the engine cold and not running obviously!) stick you fingers in the turbo inducer and give the nose of the compressor wheel a little wiggle, if it moves around more than a millimeter or so, it's deffinately on it's way out!
best to get it changed BEFORE it totally fails, as it can take the whole engine with it if you were very unlucky etc!
Anyway, to revive this thread...
After gunning the car up a long hill under full load for 45 secs all seemed well, until the next dual carriageway an surprise surprise no power! I was only 4 miles from the dealer so I swung by and yes the turbo has failed.
The car had an inspection 2 3 months ago and I had them investigate the whistle and they said it was fine.
When I first posted this thread I took out an after market warranty with turbo cover. Although they are wriggling a little and demanding that they have an "independent" engineer inspect the turbo in order to determine the reason for failure and therefore if they are going to cough up or not. What are the chances of them not paying up? Pretty good I reckon.
Thankfully, there is no consequential damage.
Thanks for the info and I'll keep everyone posted.
Steve
P.S, where can I get a cheap replacement?
After gunning the car up a long hill under full load for 45 secs all seemed well, until the next dual carriageway an surprise surprise no power! I was only 4 miles from the dealer so I swung by and yes the turbo has failed.
The car had an inspection 2 3 months ago and I had them investigate the whistle and they said it was fine.
When I first posted this thread I took out an after market warranty with turbo cover. Although they are wriggling a little and demanding that they have an "independent" engineer inspect the turbo in order to determine the reason for failure and therefore if they are going to cough up or not. What are the chances of them not paying up? Pretty good I reckon.
Thankfully, there is no consequential damage.
Thanks for the info and I'll keep everyone posted.
Steve
P.S, where can I get a cheap replacement?
I think if you have it checked by mechanic and found it fine, you may need to work with device that reduce the noise of turbo.
Perhaps the whistle is something similar with blow-off works on turbo of Volvo. It is useful to avoid over pressure occurred on the turbo besides that makes car equipped with turbo tastes differently cool.
I am not much bothered by noise of the blow-off valve...
Perhaps the whistle is something similar with blow-off works on turbo of Volvo. It is useful to avoid over pressure occurred on the turbo besides that makes car equipped with turbo tastes differently cool.
I am not much bothered by noise of the blow-off valve...
Spoke to the warranty company,
t! In my custody, the oil has never been low, the oil level warning light would tell me and there would be other evidence of this! And if the oil line is blocked then it probably will still be blocked, so I'll have the dealer look at it.
I've asked for a copy of the report and the turbo back. I might have it inspected elsewhere for a second opinion. What do you guys think?
Steve
operative said:
"The turbocharger had excessive bearing journal wear caused by an interruption in oil supply, possibly caused by low oil level or a blocked oil supply"
I smell bullst! In my custody, the oil has never been low, the oil level warning light would tell me and there would be other evidence of this! And if the oil line is blocked then it probably will still be blocked, so I'll have the dealer look at it.I've asked for a copy of the report and the turbo back. I might have it inspected elsewhere for a second opinion. What do you guys think?
Steve
Definately fight it.
Turbo failure is a very common problem on those cars.
Ask them to explain why no other engine damage has occured after being run with no oil ? And do the tens of thousands of other turob failures all boil down to the same reason ?
Would trading standards etc oversee these warranty companies ? Or any other similar body that you can tell them you are speaking too about them failing to abide by their warranty
Turbo failure is a very common problem on those cars.
Ask them to explain why no other engine damage has occured after being run with no oil ? And do the tens of thousands of other turob failures all boil down to the same reason ?
Would trading standards etc oversee these warranty companies ? Or any other similar body that you can tell them you are speaking too about them failing to abide by their warranty
Fighting it is definatey an option.
If the BMW Goodwill doesn't come through, I might get an independent inspection. Been through the small print and wear and tear is not covered, and they are claiming excessive wear and putting the onus on me running the car without oil or the oil supply being blocked.
Running the car without oil would, one would assume, leave evidence in other areas (crank bearings, big ends, cams ect).
Having a blocked oil feed would not be covered, nor would any consequential damage.
Either of which would be difficult to prove otherwise.
But if I have it inspected and the failure is due to something not attributable to wear then I might have an argument.
Question is, what type of turbo failure would be covered? I'm assuming that the premature failures on the '01-'03 2lt 150bhp engine would be due to accelerated wear on the turbo by means of a poor installation/application of this turbo unit. Wear and tear is not covered and it is not the warranty companies fault that BMW marketed a duffer!
We will see.
Steve
If the BMW Goodwill doesn't come through, I might get an independent inspection. Been through the small print and wear and tear is not covered, and they are claiming excessive wear and putting the onus on me running the car without oil or the oil supply being blocked.
Running the car without oil would, one would assume, leave evidence in other areas (crank bearings, big ends, cams ect).
Having a blocked oil feed would not be covered, nor would any consequential damage.
Either of which would be difficult to prove otherwise.
But if I have it inspected and the failure is due to something not attributable to wear then I might have an argument.
Question is, what type of turbo failure would be covered? I'm assuming that the premature failures on the '01-'03 2lt 150bhp engine would be due to accelerated wear on the turbo by means of a poor installation/application of this turbo unit. Wear and tear is not covered and it is not the warranty companies fault that BMW marketed a duffer!
We will see.
Steve
You could almost attribute wear and tear to the failure of any component. If it wasnt subject to wear and tear...nothing would ever happen it.
Ive a feeling I read somewhere that part of the problem with them, is breather related ?? or something along those lines.
Either way, it is a BMW design problem. Otherwise the failures wouldnt be so common.
Ive a feeling I read somewhere that part of the problem with them, is breather related ?? or something along those lines.
Either way, it is a BMW design problem. Otherwise the failures wouldnt be so common.
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