Discussion
I went to view a 330Ci for sale at an independent dealer today. It been shuffled around the showroom for over last few weeks.
When I first started it, it was emitting white smoke/steam from the exhaust pipe under acceleration. I noticed some light, brown coloured mayo under the oil filler cap.
I took it for a short drive and the oil light came on (it's due a service).
When I returned, it no longer emitted white smoke/steam but still had the mayo under the oil filler cap. I checked the dipstick, and the oil on there was the correct colour.
It has had the previous owner from nearly new and a full BMW service history.
I really like the car and the dealer has said that they will service it before I collect it. It is also being sold with a three month, third party warranty (I know, I know). I think that if the car had a problem that they were trying to cover up, they would have cleaned out the mayo before I came to view it?
I have done some research on Bimmerforums.co.uk and it seems that these cars emit white smoke/steam when they are cold and build up mayo when they are not used for long journeys..
Does anyone have any advice or comments? Thanks.
When I first started it, it was emitting white smoke/steam from the exhaust pipe under acceleration. I noticed some light, brown coloured mayo under the oil filler cap.
I took it for a short drive and the oil light came on (it's due a service).
When I returned, it no longer emitted white smoke/steam but still had the mayo under the oil filler cap. I checked the dipstick, and the oil on there was the correct colour.
It has had the previous owner from nearly new and a full BMW service history.
I really like the car and the dealer has said that they will service it before I collect it. It is also being sold with a three month, third party warranty (I know, I know). I think that if the car had a problem that they were trying to cover up, they would have cleaned out the mayo before I came to view it?
I have done some research on Bimmerforums.co.uk and it seems that these cars emit white smoke/steam when they are cold and build up mayo when they are not used for long journeys..
Does anyone have any advice or comments? Thanks.
Did the temp gauge stay in the middle, it should, the mayo could be owing to it being shunted around for a couple of weeks, what colour was the oil light, if yellow it could be a sensor, make sure they do this, if red id seriously avoid, go back take it for a good drive and moniter that temperature gauge.
Mave said:
When does the oil light come on? If its a dodgy level sensor it should only come on (yellow) in the first few seconds, and then go out after about 10. I'd be worried if I got a red oil light at any time.
Didn't spot the oil light bit - thats worrying. It shouldn't come on whilst driving. If it does, there is an issue - either very low oil level or something more sinister. If the oil level is very low you need to ask why, as there is a first stage of 'oil light' where it comes on after driving which has been ignored.Swoxy said:
It was amber. It appeared after driving for five minutes or so.
Whilst the engine was running? This is the second stage of the low oil level warning. It means the oil is very low and you should top it up PDQ. For this to have illuminated, somebody has to have ignored the first stage light, which comes on once the engine is turned off. This would be offputting. Just what sort of person ignores that?Fox- said:
Didn't spot the oil light bit - thats worrying. It shouldn't come on whilst driving. If it does, there is an issue - either very low oil level or something more sinister. If the oil level is very low you need to ask why, as there is a first stage of 'oil light' where it comes on after driving which has been ignored.
That was the most important bit!
This is what my Z4 3.0i (identical engine) looked like shortly after I bought it.
35,000 miles later it's absolutely fine. I did have the crank case breather replaced but as mentioned it will still happen when you do short journeys, particularly in winter.
I wouldn't worry about the head gasket, failures on these engines are almost unhead of.
35,000 miles later it's absolutely fine. I did have the crank case breather replaced but as mentioned it will still happen when you do short journeys, particularly in winter.
I wouldn't worry about the head gasket, failures on these engines are almost unhead of.
if the yellow oil warning light comes on when you first start the car (doesn't matter if it is hot or cold) and goes out after 10 seconds or so then it will be a faulty sensor - I think it is at the bottom of the sump. Fairly common on the E46, mine does this and so do 2 others that I know of.
Crankcase breather is a right PITA - I had mine done recently. Listen for any funny noises when moving off - mine was a sort of "squeaking" noise. Got it fixed for a shade under £300, and apparently it is due to the plastic flexi hoses in the engine getting brittle and splitting. Supposedly it can cause high oil consumption, not sure about the mayo.
Mine has never had any mayo under the filler cap (bear in mind mine has the M52), but it would make sense if it had appeared after lots of short trips.
Crankcase breather is a right PITA - I had mine done recently. Listen for any funny noises when moving off - mine was a sort of "squeaking" noise. Got it fixed for a shade under £300, and apparently it is due to the plastic flexi hoses in the engine getting brittle and splitting. Supposedly it can cause high oil consumption, not sure about the mayo.
Mine has never had any mayo under the filler cap (bear in mind mine has the M52), but it would make sense if it had appeared after lots of short trips.
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