530DA E39 Self Destruct

530da E39, Jan 2002, 140,000km

Now, here's a thing. I was driving in the South of France a few weeks ago when the car lurched and started to belch huge volumes of smoke. Damn turbo gone again I wail !! Oh yes, but not only. Something caused the engine to start running on its sump oil. Turning the key off made no difference, the engine was running flat-out. I got the wife out of the car and we stood watching as it flooded the surrounding area with smoke and slowly burned itself out to a grinding halt. One dead and totally useless engine. Ground awash with black oil under the engine and at the rear from the exhaust.

We managed to get it towed to a garage where it is now being examined by an 'expert' who will determine the exact fault (hopefully). This will determine if it is the fault of BMW Group (part manufacture) or of the BMW Garage I used in Paris, where the vehilce was, only a few days before, for a (believe it or not) suspect Turbo fault.

Info on the net suggests a ECU problem.

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?p_make=BMW&am p;am p;h_make=BMW&p_model=%2044

Turbo trouble with early 530s caused by ECU programme allowing higher boost than safe for turbo.

Cured by replacing turbo, reprogramming ECU and thoroughly cleaning turbo inlet manifold and pipe work because a blockage can cause the engine to run on its sump oil and self-destruct.

Some of you may remember my first Turbo problem and that BMW Group kindly paid for the parts as the vehicle was just out of warranty. I would have assumed that they would have reset the ECU, but I was not informed.

I am hoping that they will be even more generous this time as the estimate I got for a replacement engine (and ALL other associated parts, fitting and test) comes to 16,000 Euro, which just happens to be about its worth over here.

I'll update with any news, but would be interested to hear of any similar problems.

This same thing happened me in a Merc Truck. The engine had been reconditioned and while driving on the motorway at 50mph it took of at full power on the Engine oil through the Turbo as described.

What caused it was the fuel injector was under the rocker cover. It had a small leak and as a result over filled the sump with too much "oil"

The trubo sucked it up. I managed to stop the engine on the clutch. (saved the rebuilt Engine)

What I am getting at is it possible that the car was over filled with oil??

If you let it run on till it ran dry of oil the the motor is lunched

Let us know

Mick

Andyboy wrote: The engine itself is fine - it's all the Bosch crap attatched to it. BMW should go to Hitachi for all its electronics!

I agree, Bosch have a lot to answer for, especially injectors and diesel pumps!!

Mike

Thanks for the replies and comments guys.

What's happening now is that BMW Group France have sent a specialist to inspect the removed parts to determine the cause of the problem. My insurance legal department are also involved and keeping an eye on things.

I am waiting to hear the results in the next week or two.

Last update was some considerable time ago but things have moved on, somewhat slowly.

BMW finally admitted the problem was caused by dealer diagnosis error and have proposed a monetary value which is in-line with my insurance legal inspectors estimate. They pay for a new lump and all needed extras.

So for me it is a result although it has taken a year to resolve. No compensation for depreciation. I count myself lucky I got what I did.

To clarify the failure, the high pressure fuel pump was leaking diesel in to the sump. When the sump reached a certain level (takes some time) the mixture was drawn up in to the intake via the turbo. The engine then ran on its own engine fuel mixture, at maximum rpm, and would not shut down. Within 3 minutes the engine was a write-off.

What compounded the guilt for the garage was that the week before the vehicle was in for a suspected turbo failure evident by loss of power and bucket loads of white smoke from exhaust. They changed the turbo and asked my why I had added engine oil. Of course I had not but did not think anything of it at the time. The garage failed to spot the high oil level in the sump as a major symptom. A simple examination of the pump would have shown the problem. I guess they will not make that costly mistake again.

In the meantime, you will be please to learn that I bought a nearly new 740d. Another diesel yes, but what a car.

Andrew Rolland wrote: wasn't this thread locked, if so how do you get it unlocked just out of curiosity?

appeal to a moderators fair and compassionate side.... oh wait....