BMW 320 si engine issues

Dercola

Hey fellow motor enthusiasts,

Bit of a long time lurker around these parts, but a first time poster. Just having a small spot of trouble with my motor, and I was wondering if there are any knowlageable BMW fans that can help me out..

Currently (was) driving an 06 BMW 320 SI with 170,000 km on the clock. About 6 weeks ago, I started hearing a metallic clicking noise coming from the engine. I had read about a problem regarding the lifters for the valves, so took it straight to the mechanic and thought no more. A few days later he rings me up and informed me that I had cracked 2 of the Aluminium cylinder linings. Being a hand built Aluminium block, he said it cant be replaced. Long story short, the only second hand engine that can be found is in Germany at a cost of €3,800 excluding shipping o.O

My question is this. How difficult is it to fit, lets say a 316i engine, or a 318 or something similar? The Mechanic reckons I'll have to change every bit of wiring in the car due to fitting a different DCU or something? Seems very strange to me, so I figured I'd ask around on here first before I do anything.

Cheers yaw'll

Gumbo

that engine has a couple of well known faults.
check out http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136258&highlight=320si

one of the many posts about the E90 320Si engine.

Anan1

Apart from anything else, fitting a 'wrong' engine would render the car practically worthless come resale. Why can't the engine be rebuilt - is it just not economic?

lomb

How much is an engine block from BMW?

Leonard Hofstadter

kceire wrote: »

that engine has a couple of well known faults.
check out http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136258&highlight=320si

one of the many posts about the E90 320Si engine.

That's a different (and completely unrelated) engine to the OP's car - that thread is about the newer direct injection 'Efficient Dynamics' 320i (not 320si) engine.

The OP's car is quite rare since it has a motorsport derived block (because it is based on BMW's BTCC 3 series) and does not have a lot in common with a regular 320i, so very few of those engines were ever made, which is not good for the OP unfortunately to say the least.

Gumbo

captainspeed wrote: »

That's a different (and completely unrelated) engine to the OP's car - that thread is about the newer direct injection 'Efficient Dynamics' 320i (not 320si) engine.

The OP's car is quite rare since it has a motorsport derived block (because it is based on BMW's BTCC 3 series) and does not have a lot in common with a regular 320i, so very few of those engines were ever made, which is not good for the OP unfortunately to say the least.

Ohh, im well aware of that, i had an offer of one 2 years ago for decent money but i said no. theres one guy on e90 post that had rebuilt his engine twice and finally broke the car. the wheels alone are worth a few bob.

Dercola

captainspeed wrote: »

That's a different (and completely unrelated) engine to the OP's car - that thread is about the newer direct injection 'Efficient Dynamics' 320i (not 320si) engine.

The OP's car is quite rare since it has a motorsport derived block (because it is based on BMW's BTCC 3 series) and does not have a lot in common with a regular 320i, so very few of those engines were ever made, which is not good for the OP unfortunately to say the least.

Cheers for the replies guys. ^ Captainspeed pretty much hit the nail on the head. Its a limited edition car, with a limited edition engine. Only something like 2600 in the world. I found another forum tho, with people complaining of the same problem. Seems I was quite lucky to get over a 100k out of mine..

Apart from anything else, fitting a 'wrong' engine would render the car practically worthless come resale. Why can't the engine be rebuilt - is it just not economic?

From what I gather, the aluminum cylinder linings cant be repaired. So to the best of my knowledge, a rebuild isn't possible..

How much is an engine block from BMW?

Haven't checked it out proper yet, but I have been told that its a pretty hefty amount. In a region excess of £4,000 stg. Considering the car isn't worth much more than that, I am truly clueless as to what to do.

Decisions, decisions..

Thanks anyway...

Gumbo

Dercola wrote: »

Haven't checked it out proper yet, but I have been told that its a pretty hefty amount. In a region excess of £4,000 stg. Considering the car isn't worth much more than that, I am truly clueless as to what to do.

Decisions, decisions..

Thanks anyway...

that guy was quoted 4k stg too for a new engine too. hence the reason it was scrapped/sold for parts.

he also mentioned :

The problem is I suppose, with all the coding required to change parts - the computers in the car will all be set up thinking it is the si engine and just one sensor different will be chucking up fault codes that could end up uncurable?

The prognosis doesn't sound good. Even if you found a second hand engine for the car it sounds like it might be risky to do so given the high failure rate.

This is a really unusual situation to be in with a car from a volume manufacturer but what can you do. Maybe a custom job with cast iron liners would be doable especially if you're not going to race the car. Or is it totally out of question with this particular model of engine?

Edit, according to this link liners are indeed an option. Maybe cast iron ones like in the non-Si N46 would be a more durable alternative? Pistons in affected cylinders probably get scored if the car is driven with cracked liner(s), hence new set needed too. Just speculating here.

Dercola

samih wrote: »

The prognosis doesn't sound good. Even if you found a second hand engine for the car it sounds like it might be risky to do so given the high failure rate.

This is a really unusual situation to be in with a car from a volume manufacturer but what can you do. Maybe a custom job with cast iron liners would be doable especially if you're not going to race the car. Or is it totally out of question with this particular model of engine?

Edit, according to this link liners are indeed an option. Maybe cast iron ones like in the non-Si N46 would be a more durable alternative? Pistons in affected cylinders probably get scored if the car is driven with cracked liner(s), hence new set needed too. Just speculating here.

Jes, that's quite the effort & research you went to there. Much obliged.

There was a pretty similar post on E90 forums about the 320si engine. It was around 20 pages long, and started off with people complaining about starting issues. By the time I reached the end, there was countless posts from people with similar cracked liner problems. Most of them tho, had very little mileage on the clock, and were dealing with BMW to fix the problem. I on the other hand with 170k kilometers would have no such luck...
DAM YOU FOR BEING SUCH A FUN CAR TO DRIVE!!!

I have discussed with the main BMW guy in my locale, about replacing the liners with cast iron ones. He reckons that by the time the liners are fitted, and the pistons, rings & the little adjusters that have gone missing from the crankshaft, it will end up costing as much, if not more than an engine...

Looks like I'll have to take the plunge an invest :rolleyes:

Thanks for everything guys...

Gumbo

Just drop an M3 engine in with full wiring loom and ECU

Nissan doctor

Dercola wrote: »

Jes, that's quite the effort & research you went to there. Much obliged.

There was a pretty similar post on E90 forums about the 320si engine. It was around 20 pages long, and started off with people complaining about starting issues. By the time I reached the end, there was countless posts from people with similar cracked liner problems. Most of them tho, had very little mileage on the clock, and were dealing with BMW to fix the problem. I on the other hand with 170k kilometers would have no such luck...
DAM YOU FOR BEING SUCH A FUN CAR TO DRIVE!!!

I have discussed with the main BMW guy in my locale, about replacing the liners with cast iron ones. He reckons that by the time the liners are fitted, and the pistons, rings & the little adjusters that have gone missing from the crankshaft, it will end up costing as much, if not more than an engine...

Looks like I'll have to take the plunge an invest :rolleyes:

Thanks for everything guys...

The problem with these engines is that they really aren't designed for road use and it was always a very strange decision by BMW to use them.

A proper rebuild would surely be the better option though IMO as buying a second hand engine will likely end in the same situation down the line.

Dercola

Nissan doctor wrote: »

The problem with these engines is that they really aren't designed for road use and it was always a very strange decision by BMW to use them.

A proper rebuild would surely be the better option though IMO as buying a second hand engine will likely end in the same situation down the line.

If I had known then, what I know now I wouldn't have gone near the thing. But still, hand on heart, It's the best car I've ever driven! I'll always have the memories I guess haha.. Cheers.

Just drop an M3 engine in with full wiring loom and ECU

Was actually thinking of throwing in an N54 from the 335i, just for the craic. The Mechanic soon put a damper on that tho...