The 2014 Alpina D3 Touring with *almost* moon mileage

[ATM]

Is this acceptable or is it only acceptable due to the lockdown. Are BMW garages working now?

[Waitey]

ATM said:

Is this acceptable or is it only acceptable due to the lockdown. Are BMW garages working now?

Tricky one. I'm a key worker, so it was taken to the only BMW centre open near me.

Once they changed the cam and then decided it needed a full engine tear down, it was put aside until they had more of a team there, which is fair enough.

I'm hoping they've made a start on it again this week. As its 4 weeks since it was last touched.

[ATM]

Waitey said:

ATM said:

Is this acceptable or is it only acceptable due to the lockdown. Are BMW garages working now?

Tricky one. I'm a key worker, so it was taken to the only BMW centre open near me.

Once they changed the cam and then decided it needed a full engine tear down, it was put aside until they had more of a team there, which is fair enough.

I'm hoping they've made a start on it again this week. As its 4 weeks since it was last touched.

Do you get back 2 months of unused warranty back or tacked on to the end of your current term?

[Waitey]

UPDATE!

Engine is out and in many many pieces.

AND

It's fine.....

Chain - Fine
Guides - Fine
Sprockets - Fine
Crank - Fine
Head - Fine
Pistons - Fine
Bearings - Fine


So its a total mystery. Everything has being measured and sent to BMW for a diagnosis.

Looks like it'll be either a new engine, or new pistons, rods and crank.

[NewUsername]

Bargain of the century this car if it gets a new donkey!

[LukeyP_]

If it gets a new engine, the mileage will be kinda irrelevant then which would be a shame.

[Luke.]

LukeyP_ said:

If it gets a new engine, the mileage will be kinda irrelevant then which would be a shame.

Unless you own the car of course, in which case it would be rather nice.

[Waitey]

LukeyP_ said:

If it gets a new engine, the mileage will be kinda irrelevant then which would be a shame.

I’m inclined to agree but sadly out of my hands!

[hyphen]

Luke. said:

LukeyP_ said:

If it gets a new engine, the mileage will be kinda irrelevant then which would be a shame.

Unless you own the car of course, in which case it would be rather nice.

[bolidemichael]

We're all rooting for you to have a new engine! I reckon that there is a stirring passion within the techs for 'exotica' run to high mileage and that they're also pushing for you to have a new engine!

[swampy442]

Waitey said:

UPDATE!

Engine is out and in many many pieces.

AND

It's fine.....

Chain - Fine
Guides - Fine
Sprockets - Fine
Crank - Fine
Head - Fine
Pistons - Fine
Bearings - Fine


So its a total mystery. Everything has being measured and sent to BMW for a diagnosis.

Looks like it'll be either a new engine, or new pistons, rods and crank.

If everything checks out and is fine, why would they replace everything/the engine?

[TurboRob]

Waitey said:

Engine is out and in many many pieces.

Might have missed it, but what noise was it making that made you call BMW in the first place?

[Waitey]

swampy442 said:

If everything checks out and is fine, why would they replace everything/the engine?

Well they could out it all back together for it to still be rattling and we'd be at a bit of an impasse. I can't see that being economic at this point for them.

[Waitey]

TurboRob said:

Might have missed it, but what noise was it making that made you call BMW in the first place?

It sounded like running a chain over metal. Like when your bike chain comes off but you keep pedalling. It was loud too.

The diag equipment put it down to either:

Injectors - Fine
Camshafts/Cam follower - Fine but changed regardless
Chain guides - Fine
Chain itself - Fine
Spun a rod bearing - No signs of damage


So what they'e done now is measure all the bores, the piston pins, conrod, crank etc etc. To see if they can find anything out of spec.

I'd asked about next steps and was given the answer of a new short engine or a total replacement of the bottom end internals.

[mercedeslimos]

Waitey said:

It sounded like running a chain over metal. Like when your bike chain comes off but you keep pedalling. It was loud too.

The diag equipment put it down to either:

Injectors - Fine
Camshafts/Cam follower - Fine but changed regardless
Chain guides - Fine
Chain itself - Fine
Spun a rod bearing - No signs of damage


So what they'e done now is measure all the bores, the piston pins, conrod, crank etc etc. To see if they can find anything out of spec.

I'd asked about next steps and was given the answer of a new short engine or a total replacement of the bottom end internals.

Do those have a chain-driven oil pump as well as the cam/timing chain? If they are paying a new short engine would be a good way to remedy it, as long as a new timing chain, tensioner and guides go on.

[bolidemichael]

What's a new 'short' engine?

[Waitey]

bolidemichael said:

What's a new 'short' engine?

Basically just a bottom end with pistons et al in it.

Current head will be re used.

[JakeT]

I'm guessing if BMW don't, you'll pay for a new chain, tensionsers and bits too?

[ATM]

Luke. said:

LukeyP_ said:

If it gets a new engine, the mileage will be kinda irrelevant then which would be a shame.

Unless you own the car of course, in which case it would be rather nice.

If its only a short engine then that is just bottom end. The head is still a risky area on these if you ask me as they can get gunked up from the EGR gubbins. My friend had an early F10 535d which needed to have the head all stripped down and refurbed. They said the cause was gunking up around the valves which prevented them sealing properly and then that started to cause damage to the valve seats. Also the tricky 8 speed box in these isn't necessarily seem as a robust option long term. So there is still plenty to go wrong and interesting for us to see how it all lasts going forward.

[helix402]

A short engine in BMW terms is usually a complete engine minus ancillaries and manifolds etc.

The bottom end is referred to as “block and pistons”. This is a built bottom end including obviously crank too.