2008 BMW 520d turbo failed

galvo_clare

Hi
The engine in my 2008 520d started whining recently - noticeable mainly at low speeds. There's less than 120k km on it and it's serviced properly. The chain was done by BMW in 2014 at around 80k. It was showing the first signs of wear.
The verdict is in and it's the turbo although my mechanic says it's not in imminent danger of failure. Nevertheless I'd prefer to get it sorted.
Is a reconditioned unit the way to go? Finding it hard to get a real handle on prices but the price for an exchange unit seems to be around €300. There'll be labour on top of course but I'd live with a repair at that kind of figure.
Any thoughts before I talk to him tomorrow?

TIA

wandererz

No problem with a reconditioned unit. It's basically a thick metal housing. The parts inside are replaced with new and then the unit is tested.

Cost me about €550 i think on a 320D with a bmw specialist in Walkinstown.

galvo_clare

wandererz wrote: »

No problem with a reconditioned unit. It's basically a thick metal housing. The parts inside are replaced with new and then the unit is tested.

Cost me about €550 i think on a 320D with a bmw specialist in Walkinstown.

Thanks. Did that include labour?

selectamatic

I'd be getting a second opinion on that diagnosis.

Is the car using any oil and is there any sort of unusual amounts of smoke from the exhaust on startup or while idling?

wandererz

galvo_clare wrote: »

Thanks. Did that include labour?

Yes, it did.

Whocare

I wonder why did it fail dpf getting blocked?

galvo_clare

selectamatic wrote: »

I'd be getting a second opinion on that diagnosis.

Is the car using any oil and is there any sort of unusual amounts of smoke from the exhaust on startup or while idling?

Doesn't seem to be using oil at all and no black smoke that I can see. It's never had a bad smoke result at any NCT.

My usage pattern is unusual. The car regularly gets left for weeks and then gets used intensely for a few weeks before being parked up again. I'm wondering if that's a contributory factor.

I do trust my mechanic. I've used him and known him for years and he's never let me down. I didn't get a chance to talk to him today so heard all this second hand so I'll get the full gen from him tomorrow.

galvo_clare

Whocare wrote: »

I wonder why did it fail dpf getting blocked?

No idea why it failed with low mileage and proper servicing. I always get a chance to give it a good blast on a regular basis so even with the low mileage I've never had a dpf issue.

selectamatic

galvo_clare wrote: »

Doesn't seem to be using oil at all and no black smoke that I can see. It's never had a bad smoke result at any NCT.

My usage pattern is unusual. The car regularly gets left for weeks and then gets used intensely for a few weeks before being parked up again. I'm wondering if that's a contributory factor.

I do trust my mechanic. I've used him and known him for years and he's never let me down. I didn't get a chance to talk to him today so heard all this second hand so I'll get the full gen from him tomorrow.

The seals must be ok so. If they were letting oil through you'd have some oil usage and possibly some above average amounts of blue-ish smoke on startup and sometimes at idle.

Now the bearing could indeed be failing and causing the whining sound but I'd be making sure all other possible causes are looked at first.

Sexual Chocolate

Faulty pcv ?

galvo_clare

Just talked to him and he's adamant the bearings are fine. If there was any issue there it would be obvious.
He thinks the whine is coming from some wear on the blades so what I'm hearing is just air noises coming from there.

galvo_clare wrote: »

Hi
The engine in my 2008 520d started whining recently - noticeable mainly at low speeds. There's less than 120k km on it and it's serviced properly. The chain was done by BMW in 2014 at around 80k. It was showing the first signs of wear.
The verdict is in and it's the turbo although my mechanic says it's not in imminent danger of failure. Nevertheless I'd prefer to get it sorted.
Is a reconditioned unit the way to go? Finding it hard to get a real handle on prices but the price for an exchange unit seems to be around €300. There'll be labour on top of course but I'd live with a repair at that kind of figure.
Any thoughts before I talk to him tomorrow?

TIA

Bmw123d

galvo_clare wrote: »

Just talked to him and he's adamant the bearings are fine. If there was any issue there it would be obvious.
He thinks the whine is coming from some wear on the blades so what I'm hearing is just air noises coming from there.

That engine would be a common culprit of needing the turbo done. Have seen plenty of them mine but have also seen plenty of them just completely sh&t them selves. Very hard for me tho to say ya go get the turbo done without seeing or hearing it myself.
Hope this helps