2002 E39 530d - smoke everywhere, broken down
Discussion
So I was pulling away from a roundabout on the M4 on Friday night when the car suddenly didn't feel right - look in the rear view mirror and I literally cannot see anything for the all the smoke pouring our the back. limped (there was no hard shoulder and for those of you that might know the road it was the Cross Hands roundabout heading west on the M4 - there isn't any hard shoulder for 2 miles almost and with a nasty bend/hill combo just after the roundabout too) to the nearest layby. flat bed to my nearest garage at home.
No engine management light came on before or after the smoke started. No oil pressure or any warning lights at all came on on the dashboard (dashboard is working by the way!). the car had dumped a significant amount of oil in the layby by the time the RAC chap arrived and continued to do so on the flatbed. But it was late (v v dark) so we couldn't investigate what had happened.
There's no oil in the water or mayo under the oil filler cap.
So; can you give me your thoughts as to what it might be and what to check for with your diagnosis.
Thanks,
Savaloy
No engine management light came on before or after the smoke started. No oil pressure or any warning lights at all came on on the dashboard (dashboard is working by the way!). the car had dumped a significant amount of oil in the layby by the time the RAC chap arrived and continued to do so on the flatbed. But it was late (v v dark) so we couldn't investigate what had happened.
There's no oil in the water or mayo under the oil filler cap.
So; can you give me your thoughts as to what it might be and what to check for with your diagnosis.
Thanks,
Savaloy
That's what I'm thinking to be honest too.
Do I need the garage to check anything else apart from the turbo? Intercooler? pipework? Is there a logical steps to take before condemning the turbo? ie First check seals or something?
Not SEAL the chap that sang 'kiss from a rose' of course; there's no point checking him!
Do I need the garage to check anything else apart from the turbo? Intercooler? pipework? Is there a logical steps to take before condemning the turbo? ie First check seals or something?
Not SEAL the chap that sang 'kiss from a rose' of course; there's no point checking him!
Update: For loads of different reasons I've gone down the recon route. I know they use pattern parts but nevertheless - I simply couldn't take the £2,500 hit this month (or in fact in the coming months). We've got an S Max with an injector/pump issue too at the moment (it never rains........) so I just don't have the disposable right now.
Plus - the car is only worth £3,000 with a following wind.
I've bought BMW ancilleries (turbo feed pipe, vortex oil seperator/breather, turbo drain pipe and gaskets etc etc) and a recon turbo (with a 12 month warranty). I'm waiting to hear about the exhaust down pipe but if that's gone I'll go to ecotune and buy their uprated part (£255 vs BMW's stock pipe at £579+Vat). If the rest of the system is shafted I'll take a view. middle pipe is £269+vat and backbox £358 +VAT. I'll go aftermarket on the back box and maybe even the middle too. The recon turbo was £395+vat. compare that to BMW's £1,187+VAT. I took the view that if it only lasts 6 months then fine I'll go OEM or but right now - I can afford £395+vat. I had loads of quotes ranging from £395+vat to the £1,187+vat and everything in between.
The 'cheapest' OEM turbo was close - Motormec on 01502 500 590(very nice people) were very competitive for OEM turbo's (if you want a price I'll give you it) and so were AET (only £50 between them). Again, very nice, knowledgeable (spelling!) people. I didn't choose them because I took the view that if my recon turbo goes pear-shaped I'll go to them next and buy original equipment. Both Motormec and AET were significantly more competitive than BMW's price. Same 2 year warranty.
In terms of the intercoolers I'll go aftermarket too for this if I have to.
At the moment the instruction is to flush the system as best they can and then I'll see how things progress. I'm loathe to change things if they are still fit for purpose but I will if the engine is compromised.
In terms of ancilleries - I went to quite a few BMW dealerships but no-one came close to BMW Cotswold. Again - good people to deal with and knowledgeable. I also like BMminiparts - if I had a lilttle bit more time I would have gone through them for everything but the turbo to be honest but time was a big factor (I'd spoken to Cotswold early morning and knew they could get their hands of the parts they didn't have available in stock for a guaranteed Friday am delivery.
It's all about the oil breather chaps - if you run a 530d and you haven't changed that oil breather - do so now. It really should be changed every 3 oil changes - I got that from 4 companies (all without prompting). Get the whole unit - part number 111 277 99 225. That's the vortex one (latest design) not the s
tty loo roll one
Plus - the car is only worth £3,000 with a following wind.
I've bought BMW ancilleries (turbo feed pipe, vortex oil seperator/breather, turbo drain pipe and gaskets etc etc) and a recon turbo (with a 12 month warranty). I'm waiting to hear about the exhaust down pipe but if that's gone I'll go to ecotune and buy their uprated part (£255 vs BMW's stock pipe at £579+Vat). If the rest of the system is shafted I'll take a view. middle pipe is £269+vat and backbox £358 +VAT. I'll go aftermarket on the back box and maybe even the middle too. The recon turbo was £395+vat. compare that to BMW's £1,187+VAT. I took the view that if it only lasts 6 months then fine I'll go OEM or but right now - I can afford £395+vat. I had loads of quotes ranging from £395+vat to the £1,187+vat and everything in between.
The 'cheapest' OEM turbo was close - Motormec on 01502 500 590(very nice people) were very competitive for OEM turbo's (if you want a price I'll give you it) and so were AET (only £50 between them). Again, very nice, knowledgeable (spelling!) people. I didn't choose them because I took the view that if my recon turbo goes pear-shaped I'll go to them next and buy original equipment. Both Motormec and AET were significantly more competitive than BMW's price. Same 2 year warranty.
In terms of the intercoolers I'll go aftermarket too for this if I have to.
At the moment the instruction is to flush the system as best they can and then I'll see how things progress. I'm loathe to change things if they are still fit for purpose but I will if the engine is compromised.
In terms of ancilleries - I went to quite a few BMW dealerships but no-one came close to BMW Cotswold. Again - good people to deal with and knowledgeable. I also like BMminiparts - if I had a lilttle bit more time I would have gone through them for everything but the turbo to be honest but time was a big factor (I'd spoken to Cotswold early morning and knew they could get their hands of the parts they didn't have available in stock for a guaranteed Friday am delivery.
It's all about the oil breather chaps - if you run a 530d and you haven't changed that oil breather - do so now. It really should be changed every 3 oil changes - I got that from 4 companies (all without prompting). Get the whole unit - part number 111 277 99 225. That's the vortex one (latest design) not the s
tty loo roll oneIn terms of OEM turbo's it was between £775 and £829 (plus vat on both). It was just that bit too much for me at this stage.
So - so far the bill looks like this - £500 (inc vat) for the turbo (paid), £111 (inc vat) for the other ancilleries (paid), I'll need another £70 for oil, say another £30 for flushing fluids and bit and pieces, plus at least £250 plus vat for the labour. And that's without anthing else being f*cked on the car once they investigate.....
I reckon £1,100 all in. Still less than the turbo from BMW. They quoted £1,629 inc vat for the parts alone....
Oh and I need two knew front tyres (that I'll swap for the backs) so that's another £250 inc vat this month too.
And I ripped my suit trousers on the same evening (caught them on the door catch). So that's another £250.....
A bit of a nightmare all round really!
Still it's only money....it's not like Xmas is coming or anything!!
So - so far the bill looks like this - £500 (inc vat) for the turbo (paid), £111 (inc vat) for the other ancilleries (paid), I'll need another £70 for oil, say another £30 for flushing fluids and bit and pieces, plus at least £250 plus vat for the labour. And that's without anthing else being f*cked on the car once they investigate.....
I reckon £1,100 all in. Still less than the turbo from BMW. They quoted £1,629 inc vat for the parts alone....
Oh and I need two knew front tyres (that I'll swap for the backs) so that's another £250 inc vat this month too.
And I ripped my suit trousers on the same evening (caught them on the door catch). So that's another £250.....
A bit of a nightmare all round really!
Still it's only money....it's not like Xmas is coming or anything!!Sounds like my month - seemed to be pouring money out full stop.
My Volvo S60 is spitting its DMF/Clutch - shame its forcing me into a clean E39
Fingers crossed thats all there is to it - the BMW prices are crazy.
I need an inspection II for the car and their quote was ok but still much higher than the local indie.
My Volvo S60 is spitting its DMF/Clutch - shame its forcing me into a clean E39
Fingers crossed thats all there is to it - the BMW prices are crazy.
I need an inspection II for the car and their quote was ok but still much higher than the local indie.
Oi_Oi_Savaloy said:
Halo - you can change the oil breather yourself and the EGR valve - (i'd disconnect that little pipe from it for a start - you should see the st that clogs the egr up).
How to's are available on the internet - the great thing is the E39 is easy to work on (within reason).
Did it before as I had an E46 with EGR problems t that clogs the egr up). How to's are available on the internet - the great thing is the E39 is easy to work on (within reason).
- it was the 330d and was quite easy to work on within reason.Will read up on the guides again though, the part no. you posted is handy as well
Always worth checking with FAB to see if they have anything :
http://www.fabdirect.com/
They got me around my EWS 3 ecu faliure for £180.00 and a Saturday spent replacing the bits, and ..... they very accurately told me how to do it all.
http://www.fabdirect.com/
They got me around my EWS 3 ecu faliure for £180.00 and a Saturday spent replacing the bits, and ..... they very accurately told me how to do it all.
bolide said:
If you haven't done it already, remove the swirl flaps if it's an auto
Nick Froome
These guys manufacture swirl flap blanking plates.Nick Froome
www.pmwltd.co.uk
Genuine question chaps ...... I have a petrol engine.
I have seen quite a lot written about the horrid 4 pot 2.0 litre diesel and swirl flaps, I hadn't noticed anything about the slightly better (than the horrid 4 pot) six pot diesels having these issues.
Is it the entire diesel range ?
I have seen quite a lot written about the horrid 4 pot 2.0 litre diesel and swirl flaps, I hadn't noticed anything about the slightly better (than the horrid 4 pot) six pot diesels having these issues.
Is it the entire diesel range ?
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff