2008 e93 325i sport issues/ e92 m3 for sale

[chan61922]

Hi guys got a 2008 325i (3litre version) I believe that’s makes my car the horrid n53? Having a few issues with the running of vehicle just wondering if anyone had similar probs and what the issues turned out to be. The car is currently on a bmw comprehensive warranty so hopefully I’m covered, finger crossed.

Symptoms-
Excessive smoke from exhaust esp on idle, but once warmed up and on the move the car still persists, I’ve read on here some people experience similar so maybe not a big deal

Sluggish at times, and really lazy, have to really give it some to move

Rough idle on cold start up, takes a good middle to settle to 600rpm mark, very rough idle when I try reversing when the car is cold

Oil dropped 1 bar on the computer this week, I only had a rocker cover gastket replaced in October, so lost a slight amount of oil in 3 months

Recently had a diagnostic carried out by a friend has my local dealer wanted me to wait 6 weeks for a diagnostic check (ridiculous)

Error codes found where as follows

30e9-nitrogen oxide catalysator, ageing
2b07-nitrogen oxide sensor electrical
2b06-nitrogen oxide sensor lambada
2afb- nitrogen oxide sensor lambada

To me this looks like a sensor issue, possibly the cat, but my mechanic reckons it’s a lot more to it and needs investigating properly, obviously because I have a bmw warranty i want them to look at it rather then paying someone else, just wondering what everyone’s thoughts where?

I was also hoping to part ex this vehicle once the work was carried out has I wouldn’t sell anyone a car with faults, I’m in the market for a e92/e93 m3 now, if anyone knows any good ones knocking about please do point me in the right direction. I spotted a 2008 dct white e93 yesterday up for 17k with 55 on the clock, do you guys think that’s abit too much? I would happily pay that for a lci model but seems abit much for a 11 year vehicle, I’d obviously want to sell it after 2/3 years (don’t hang on to cars for that long) so I’d at least want 10-12k back in resale, can’t see that happening in a 2008 car, thinking to maybe just pay that bit extra and get a 140i, or even do the dreaded thing and ditch bmw all together ( die hard bmw fan here) and maybe get a golf r or Audi s5 but to me it’sjusy not as special as the v8 m3, I only really found myself in my 325 has I couldn’t afford a m3 at the time, but I do actually love the 325 the 25% it decides to run right

Any input appreciated
Cheers guys

[chan61922]

Cheers for input guys, I’ve googled the emulator you suggested, looks interesting but at 300 odd quid for a car I’m not looking to keep for much longer I’m not so sure, as I said the car is under warranty so I’d ideally like a fix which is covered through that, if not I’ll just have to get it sorted, is the emulator worth it, it won’t upset the car and throw out any other faults? A mate of mine has a e93 320i and experienced a nox error code turned out to be leaking injectors as you suggested but I thought maybe my 6 cylinder engine would be different to his 4. And also mine seems to state intermittent and ageing so that kind of had me thinking otherwise. Where injectors ever recalled for the n53? I know ignition coils a HPFP were and my vehicle had them replaced in 2012 according to Bmw, I have no paperwork documenting this from previous owner.

[chan61922]

Don’t worry pal I will be back with m3 dilemmas too knowing my luck hehe

[chan61922]

Does anyone know if a recall was announced for injectors on the n53? Model in question 08 325i(3.0L) I’ve rang bmw and it seems every recall has been done but they didn’t mention anything about injectors as they only mentioned what was showing as completed and outstanding. Having a mare atm rang my local dealer yesterday stating problems and diagnostic results, they now need to carry out there own diagnostic check and given me a month wait grrr!

M3 related question- where rod bearings ever recalled? If not would warranty cover then?

Cheers

[chan61922]

Cheers fella

[chan61922]

Cheers for the helpful reply mate, the car does actually settle down after a minute or 2 because I’ve let it idle on start up since we’ve had snow recently, so typically let the car warm up for 5-10mins, no warnings on dash or anything, if however I do attempt to drive within the first couple of mins it’s very rough, even whilst shifting gears it really struggles almost as if it going up hill. I guess it’s just the really cold weather? I did change from a Castro’s edge 5w30 to a Castro’s edge 0w 40 since last service which was back in June 2018, and problems have happened since then, but surely a 0w40 would perform better as its thinner? Cars on 82k miles now so maybe a thicker oil is better, what do you guys think? But yeah it’s seems as if I do lose a notch every 2-3k miles, it did previously also do this but I had the valve cover gasket changed and assumed it was fixed, it’s now done it again so who knows, maybe it’s just in the cars nature.
Good on you for getting the garage you bought the vehicle from to pay for all your repairs, I take it problems occurred shorty after purchase? I’m haveing same problems with my local dealer they seem to fob me off a lot because I’m turning up with a old 2008 car, all they seem to be interested in is finance deals and flogging brand new cars. I actually dread going in, just a horrible snotty nosed environment but hey. I’ve read on a forum somewhere recalls were sent out for checking and replacing if Nessacasry the injectors I just don’t know if it was for the n53. Someone mentioned a breather or something other for the smoking of exhaust?

[chan61922]

Just had a light bulb moment when I mentioned my last service!!

1 of the spark plugs wells had oil present, in turn making making 1 of the plugs black, sure sign of a failing valve cover gasket! Thing is plugs where changed in June 2008, and gasket in Oct 2008. Therefore the new set of plugs may have been affected since change. A bad plug can cause misfires and poorer fuel consumption right? Thing is I haven’t checked since and bmw upon changing gasket didn’t mention anything either, could this be my problem? Could it also upset the nox etc?

Cheers, what a palava I want a new car and all this grief grrr

[chan61922]

A very rare beast! No naming and shaming but it’s a dealer in the west London area! There literally on their hands and knees with you when there chasing a sale, warranty work I guess is costing them money so perhaps that’s why there keen to see the back of me, who knows! The gasket was replaced by same dealer, no mention of replacing coil or plug so I highly doubt it. Have a few highly respected Indy’s within my reach but not really established any real relationship with either has I’ve always gone bmw (on my 5th bmw) and not really had any major probs, touch wood! Would you say 5w 30 is more suited to a moderate mileage n53? Or you think it don’t matter? It’s all within spec! Just thinking though the car sounds a lot more tappity since going 0w40, maybe some thicker oil with stop that

[chan61922]

Cheers for the help everyone, guess I’ll just wait to see what the stealer diagnosises now, until then m3 hunting, half tempted with a m140 but would mean financing to make up some of the money

[chan61922]

Just a a quick follow up, car went into dealer last wheel, they diagnosed the nox sensor as failing, replaced (luckily under warranty) car still runs abit iffy? I’m baffled! Noticed a pause/delay in 3rd or 4th as I kicked down the vehicle the other morning, never happened before. And weirdly the car is now running close to empty tank (60/70 odd miles left according to computer) low warning fuel alert comes on at 50ish. But anyhow the car is running sweet. I’ve noticed this in the past also but ignored it, but car seems to run really nicely when fuel is low. Got me thinking. When sufficiently filled up the cars hit and miss, seems like it struggles upon acceleration, hard to explain but it’s almost like I put my medal on the metal and it’s like I’m driving with a flat. Baffled can’t really do anything has no error codes are present. Dealer also found a slight leak to gearbox (sweating apparently) cleaned up and told to return in a month or 2 to see how it’s getting on. But at this moment in time I’m thinking of runniing the car on 5 pound between fuelling haha. Maybe premium fuel would help, as I’m guilty of using the cheap unleaded at supermarkets

[chan61922]

Just to throw a spanner in the works, the cars now giving me slightly better mpg

[chan61922]

Cheers for input guys. I queried the recall work done with dealer and according to them everything has been done and is up to date. Coil pack, HPFP, blower heater resistor etc however there was no mention of injectors, obviously through my own research and forums such as this I know my vehicle does fall in the bracket for an injector recall but the dealer can not find this on his systems and after asking a technician my vehicle isn’t applicable, my car is 2008 ‘08’ plate so I’m almost certain it does, so I’m assuming I’ve still got the same injectors since 2008 (not updated index 11) . What is ipna by the way? What are the common symptoms of a failing HPFP? I didn’t even know there was a low pressure fuel pump in addition haha. I’m sure I’m not being paranoid the car definitely runs perfectly when low on fuel, I’ve never really paid any attention to this in the past as my cars faults where stored as intermittent so I just assumed sometimes it will run smoothly and other times it will run like a dog. Problem is without any fault codes I can’t really take it to dealer and claim under warranty. Another 3 months I’m hoping to get rid of her but I do want to make it tip top and Claim on warranty as much as I can, esp considering I’m paying 106 quid a month for it

[chan61922]

Also isn’t the 250/260hp a lot out of our engines a lot of aggro, upgraded manifold etc, along with an ‘agressive’ map?

[chan61922]

Quite possibly, however if it doesn’t develop failing symptoms in error code form I can’t really take to dealer. I have a few decent bmw Indy’s nearby but don’t want to get roped in to any huge bills for a car i won’t be hanging onto for that long, had a good 4 1/2 years out of her and only in this past year has she started playing up on me, after she was sat for a long periods of times and not being driven as a daily

[chan61922]

No codes present according to dealer, prior to visit had a few nox codes and ageing cat code. I’ll hopefully being seeing my mate who can scan it for me at some point next week just to double check

[chan61922]

Thanks for replies guys, is bimmerprofs a different forum or another website? Still haven’t got round to scanning any codes, haven’t used the car much this weekend so it’s still not been refuelled so can’t confirm whether it’s driving like a dog after refuelling. I will however try a premium fuel this time round see what happens, doubt anything. Where low pressure fuel pumps also replaced through a recall? I’m assuming warranty would cover it, so if it was the culprit it’s just a case of getting the bugger to fail. As mentioned not worth worrying too much as I’ll hang on to the vehicle for another 3 months when my insurance expires for the year. I do really like the car, it’s only because it’s running like a dog I’m tempted to change it. For those that saw my original post on this topic, I’ve gone off the idea of the m3, Looking very much like a 140,golf r, 640d or 428/30/35 that’s another dilemma for another day though haha

[chan61922]

Badger boy that made complete sense to me, I kind of get how it all works now-finally haha. As you mentioned the fuel economy as now improved, I’ve just 350 out of a tank (55litres) with 80% town driving the rest was only sort spells on motorway with average speed cams so not really gone above 60. I think the car does need a proper long motorway blast, Clear the pipes out and all. I’ve refulelled today and the old dogs returned with a vengeance :/ paying extra attention now, and besides running rougher I’ve also noticed the smoking of exhaust develops once refuelled. God knows! Nothing I can do until something actually fails. The 140i are going ridiculously cheap finance wise, I think it’s 399 deposit and 399 x 47 thereafter, very tempting. I did. Actually have a meeting with TRL’s left hand man the day I dropped my vehicle in but he got held up in traffic and was stuck on the m25-typical! I’d rather get shot of my current vehicle and throw in the remainder of cash to be honest, wouldn’t go brand new as tempting as it is. Looking at around the 20k mark (including current cars sale). Lovely motor besides the recent issues if anyone’s mums, sisiters, postman’s cat is after one... lol

[chan61922]

Hi guys long time since I posted on this topic but I’ve recently put my 325 n53 up for sale and I’ve had someone leave a deposit on it and hoping to collect in a few days- great! However the n53 strikes back and wants to go out with a bang, grrrr!! So the nox sensor was replaced under warranty a month or 2 back, the cars been okayish since, returning better mpg etc over the weekend I went on a bit of a run, only 30 or so miles each way but still the longest run I’ve been on since nox was replaced, quite a lot of stop starting due to motorway traffic on the m25 and average speed cams etc so not a perfect run. Anyhow 2 days later I noticed when the buyer came to view the car that it’s struggled to turn over ( was cold and left overnight) I thought nothing of it and just thought he just didn’t hold the brake down properly or press the start button correctly. So fast forward the car did the same thing yesterday morning, pressed the brake pedal and start button and it took a good few seconds to start, sounded really unhealthy like it wanted to konk out and then started, really worried as it’s running like crap again and definitely lacking umphhh. So annoying the cars ready to go and it’s doing this on me I would feel really bad selling it on to someone with problems, any suggestions? Car is under warranty with bmw but knowing them I’ll be waiting a good few weeks to get booked in which is useless right now as I want to sell. It’s annoying I’m the cars engine is solid it’s just all the crap associated around it that lets the car down. Annoyed! Any suggestions much appreciated, have 3 viewings of potential new cars this week myself and if this sale don’t fall through it’s not going to happen. Cheers

[chan61922]

The warranty is paid monthly, I’ve told the buyer that we will fully discuss tomorrow when he’s due to collect car. I think I’m billed every 20 something of the month so I’m fairly sure that’s just been paid, so I might hang on to it and see out the month before cancelled. Worst thing is I went to mechanic after work and his diagnostic kit was playing up and wouldn’t connect to my vehicle ( his guess was fuel pump) but just a wild stab in dark he didn’t have a look at anything etc I then went to a bmw specialist which isn’t far from there and he couldn’t do anything as he was fully booked, typical. I think I’m going to keep quiet about it and try my best to get him to transfer to my warranty, should he decline I will knock abit of the price, even though I’ve already knocked 300 for him as quick a sale

[chan61922]

The car only seems to do this on the morning start up after being rested all night, seems to turn over fine throughout day, weird