BMW E46 (320d) Turbo Worry

V1

Hi All,

Nothing broken (for a change) right now but starting to get worried. Car is a much depended on BMW 320d (E46) with 200K+ miles on the clock, running great and no reason other than the mileage to suspect anything might go wrong.

With the mileage, I am starting to worry that the turbo is "tired" and I am only too well aware that if she 'ates' the turbo then its probably all over engine wise. De-flapped her last year as a precaution for the same reason (they were fine but came out anyway).

Should I consider getting it re-conditioned as a precaution?
What is that likely to cost me? (will remove and re-install myself)
Is there risk of a botched re-condition?

Or am I worrying unnecessarily?

Greyfoot

Get a low mileage one from a scrapyard or similar and swap them over. Turbo will usually give away signs of kicking the bucket beforehand but if you are worried just change it.

Dud can be had from anywhere not just reckon`d.

sentient_6

Greyfoot wrote: »

Get a low mileage one from a scrapyard or similar and swap them over. Turbo will usually give away signs of kicking the bucket beforehand but if you are worried just change it.

Dud can be had from anywhere not just reckon`d.

If i may slightly hijack the thread....what are the most common early signs of the turbo going?

Wheelnut

Pull off the inlet air hose and you will be able to see the impeller. There should be no marks or damage on any of the blades and it should spin freely but there should be little or no movement along the axis of the shaft. It is normal for there to be a small amount of oil in the bottom of the intake. Here's a pic showing the oil in a healthy Peugeot turbo in the family fleet with 155,000 miles on it:

[IMG][/img]

I would not buy a second-hand turbo, you don't know how well the engine was serviced and the turbo could be worse than your own. If you want to take precautions just make sure the oil supply to the turbo is good, if there are external oil supply pipe(s) you could change them. Also think about dropping the sump and making sure the main oil pick-up strainer is clean.

magentis

sentient_6 wrote: »

If i may slightly hijack the thread....what are the most common early signs of the turbo going?

smoke,hessitation and noise
bang!

the merchant

Change your turbo breather to the new vortex type. It's a simple enough DIY and about €70 from BMW.

enumbers

no reason for the turbo to fail of the car is looked after properly. You could replace it or get it re conditioned but it could fail 6 months down the line still. Stick with what you have unless you have a definite issue with it.

V1

Thanks all for the advice and some peace of mind.
Breather replaced with Vortex type some time last year - should probably check that its not gunged up. Will inspect turbo for play and movement also when I get a chance.
Will probably run it until shows some signs but would still be worried about not catching it between the smoke, hesitation phase and the "bang" phase :eek:

challengemaster

V1 wrote: »

Breather replaced with Vortex type some time last year - should probably check that its not gunged up.

You've done pretty much all you can then. It's highly unlikely it'll ever get gunked up, it's designed not to. And don't listen to anyone that says to replace the vortex filter every X services, it's a lifetime part.

Just keep on top of regular servicing.

burke027

To who ever Saud replace the turbo with a second hand turbo from a scrap yard are u mad?firstly I've worked in a bm specialist for about 7 year at this stage so let me start buy saying it's not a case of if the turbo goes it's more a case of when.

Infacy I reckon that if ur clock is shown 200k is say it's on it's second turbo already how long have u had the 320d. It's a well documented fact that this engine both 2l and 3l suffered from premature turbo failure.

You have taken the best precaution u could changing the turbo breather filter. I wouldn't go changing the turbo until it's gone and I'd only buy a recon one as I said u buy a second hand bm turbo it's gona suffer the same.

Doing the job yourself at home ur sure ur up to that now I don't know ur circumstances and it's none of my business but I wouldn't say there the easiest turbos in the world to chanfe. U do know what's involved in stripping it yeah?

And the last thing il say ul get a recon turbo off the shelf with ur old turbo for around 300 to 350 well that's the cost to us n e way. If I can be of any other assistance to u just ask.

FarmerBrowne

enumbers wrote: »

no reason for the turbo to fail of the car is looked after properly. You could replace it or get it re conditioned but it could fail 6 months down the line still. Stick with what you have unless you have a definite issue with it.

I bought a 320 M Sport brand new in 2007 in the UK and it has a full complete BMW service history. At 80,000 miles the turbo seized in it. Garage could not understand how it happened on that millage and with the service history, quoted €3000 to repair. I am not fixing it, sometimes ya know when to pull the plug on something. I will never buy a BMW again. So beware anybody out of warranty on these cars, ya never know what is around the corner.

burke027

FarmerBrowne wrote: »

I bought a 320 M Sport brand new in 2007 in the UK and it has a full complete BMW service history. At 80,000 miles the turbo seized in it. Garage could not understand how it happened on that millage and with the service history, quoted €3000 to repair. I am not fixing it, sometimes ya know when to pull the plug on something. I will never buy a BMW again. So beware anybody out of warranty on these cars, ya never know what is around the corner.

3grand they seen you coming that's all I can say. This turbos are readily available and we do Afew a week the cost of the turbo to myself would be about 400 to 450. That's trade with giving them the old turbo and max ur talking about aday to fit it. So u could even have it done in ; hours all I can say is u clearly went to the wrong place as if someone told me that price I'd actually think there ripping the mick out of me