N54 Engine Knocking noise (Video)

P7X · 04-11-2015, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloud9blue

OP, did you have this car since new? Any idea what oil has this car been using and what about the OCI?

Just wondering if this is an isolated incident or has something to do with the BMW ridiculously long recommended OCI.

The has had nothing but BMW LL1 oil changes. After the standard warranty was done oil changes were done by a BMW shop near me @ every 10,000 kms (~6000 miles).

When this started the oil was completely topped up. I've done alot of preventative maintenance to the car much sooner than BMW would recommend.

MiniXP · 04-12-2015, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbond

There is a well known problem for N54 motor. High precision injectors tend to leak to the point of hydro locking one or several cylinders resulting in bearing failures or/and bent rods. I won't be surprised if this was the case in this failure. Pull out spark plugs, injectors and inspect for fouling from unburned gas.

I don't think mine was due to a leaking injector. I'd expect a leaking injector would cause some rough starts and I didn't have any rough starts or misfiring ever.

n54door · 04-12-2015, 04:36 PM

Op recently replaced a leaky injector. I think we can assume that caused it. Need to find out which bearing got toasted, and see if it's the same cylinder that had the leaking injector.

His recent post on another thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by P7X

Had the same issue recently, same noise in the video posted. Turned out to be a loose fuel injector (not faulty) just loose, in cylinder 1 which leaked fuel long enough for the coil pack to fail and to burn out the spark plug.

Got the injector tightened and replaced the coil and plug... running like a million bucks now.

P7X · 04-15-2015, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n54door

Op recently replaced a leaky injector. I think we can assume that caused it. Need to find out which bearing got toasted, and see if it's the same cylinder that had the leaking injector.

His recent post on another thread.

Tightened, not replaced... But yes if the bearing came from cylinder 1 there's alot pointing to the injector leading to the issue.

n54door · 04-16-2015, 11:07 AM

Good to know! Thanks for the update. It sounds like it would make sense to check our injectors for leaks every 3-4 months.

FYI - After the car sits overnight, pull each one of them to see if any are wet. If one is wet, replace it!

P7X · 04-18-2015, 11:02 AM

Turned out to be the cylinder 2 rod bearing..... Nothing pointing to that failure, BMW has said it was a defect.

924er · 04-18-2015, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P7X

Turned out to be the cylinder 2 rod bearing..... Nothing pointing to that failure, BMW has said it was a defect.

Damn this sucks. Sorry for your misfortune man. You aren't the first as this problem is becoming more common on these engines esp with a leaky injector. I've had leaky injectors in the past but haven't heard on knock or found metal shavings. Maybe it has to be a prolonged issue was it? . What build date is your car?

Kallibrated · 04-18-2015, 04:48 PM

Really quite surprising considering just how robust these engines are. With people making 800+ whp on completely stock engines, you can only suspect that the issues with spun rod bearings have been extraneous. Maybe really poor fuel quality and excessive timing pulled, running the car very hard just seconds after starting, or even debris in the oiling system introduced via the oil fill cap.

P7X · 04-24-2015, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 924er

Quote:

Originally Posted by P7X

Turned out to be the cylinder 2 rod bearing..... Nothing pointing to that failure, BMW has said it was a defect.

Damn this sucks. Sorry for your misfortune man. You aren't the first as this problem is becoming more common on these engines esp with a leaky injector. I've had leaky injectors in the past but haven't heard on knock or found metal shavings. Maybe it has to be a prolonged issue was it? . What build date is your car?

June 2009

924er · 04-24-2015, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P7X

Quote:

Originally Posted by 924er

Quote:

Originally Posted by P7X

Turned out to be the cylinder 2 rod bearing..... Nothing pointing to that failure, BMW has said it was a defect.

Damn this sucks. Sorry for your misfortune man. You aren't the first as this problem is becoming more common on these engines esp with a leaky injector. I've had leaky injectors in the past but haven't heard on knock or found metal shavings. Maybe it has to be a prolonged issue was it? . What build date is your car?

June 2009

So did you end up learning what caused it? In thinking fuel mixed with oil

yas_e92 · 05-06-2015, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bitcore

Please keep this thread alive so others may learn of what can happen! Don't be embarrassed, it can happen to any of us, even without abuse. I have a 135i with an N54 also, 63K miles on it - I'm rather afraid it's going to grenade on me as well.

Edit2: Stories like these build ammunition for recalls, class action suits, and public awareness - which is really the only way these days for the public to pressure manufacturers to increase quality standards to prevent this kind of thing happening to people in the future.

This issue JUST happened to me this past week. Got my valve cover replaced, coils, and plugs replaced and now theres a knocking in the engine. Honestly i dont have any idea whats the next step i should take.

924er · 05-06-2015, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChicagoBimmers

Quote:

Originally Posted by bitcore

Please keep this thread alive so others may learn of what can happen! Don't be embarrassed, it can happen to any of us, even without abuse. I have a 135i with an N54 also, 63K miles on it - I'm rather afraid it's going to grenade on me as well.

Edit2: Stories like these build ammunition for recalls, class action suits, and public awareness - which is really the only way these days for the public to pressure manufacturers to increase quality standards to prevent this kind of thing happening to people in the future.

This issue JUST happened to me this past week. Got my valve cover replaced, coils, and plugs replaced and now theres a knocking in the engine. Honestly i dont have any idea whats the next step i should take.

We're your injectors leaking?

P7X · 05-07-2015, 04:24 PM

Engine is being built now. I should have the car back next week at the latest and have more info on what they found and potential causes.

Redbmwm33 · 10-12-2015, 03:39 PM

did this only occur while cold?

BQTuning · 10-12-2015, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P7X

Turned out to be the cylinder 2 rod bearing..... Nothing pointing to that failure, BMW has said it was a defect.

I know I am a bit late but had to reply to this. Your AFR gauges on whatever tuning setup your using can tell you if something is going awal with fueling.

For example. If you know your AFR targets 14.7 but you see 18.x on one bank and the other bank is not then you have an issue

Also during WOT logs it's most like to show it face. That's why it important to do logs once a month and have your tuner evaluate logs IF you have a dedicated tuner. We do this for all of our customers

I always have my AFR gauges displayed to monitor any out of the ordinary events as a preventative.

This platform is notorious for injector failures. Stringent maintenance is highly advised.

Chris@BoostConcepts · 10-13-2015, 02:58 AM

Fuel diluted oil will spin bearings in short order and it doesn't take very much at all as fuel is an excellent de-oiling agent.... My suggestion to anyone who reads this is to change the oil if you had to replace an injector and if you know an injector needs to be replaced because of leaking... Don't drive your car until you get it replaced.

Redbmwm33 · 10-13-2015, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuraQ

I know I am a bit late but had to reply to this. Your AFR gauges on whatever tuning setup your using can tell you if something is going awal with fueling.

For example. If you know your AFR targets 14.7 but you see 18.x on one bank and the other bank is not then you have an issue

Also during WOT logs it's most like to show it face. That's why it important to do logs once a month and have your tuner evaluate logs IF you have a dedicated tuner. We do this for all of our customers

I always have my AFR gauges displayed to monitor any out of the ordinary events as a preventative.

This platform is notorious for injector failures. Stringent maintenance is highly advised.

Demitri what Is IPW logging in Cobb? Is there a what % should my injectors be at? One of my injectors is at 90% while all the others are at 40.

BQTuning · 10-13-2015, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artsoasis

Demitri what Is IPW logging in Cobb? Is there a what % should my injectors be at? One of my injectors is at 90% while all the others are at 40.

Injector Pulse Width. I never had a need to mess with it in COBB. Most people use INPA to correct injector coding

There is a dedicate post for injector coding here http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ght=vasillalov

Here is the video

Redbmwm33 · 10-13-2015, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuraQ

Injector Pulse Width. I never had a need to mess with it in COBB. Most people use INPA to correct injector coding

There is a dedicate post for injector coding here http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ght=vasillalov

Here is the video

I coded mine correctly, but one is showing 90% on cobb and the others are showing 44.

BQTuning · 10-13-2015, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artsoasis

I coded mine correctly, but one is showing 90% on cobb and the others are showing 44.

Not sure why that is never had to deal with that.

Try sending vasillalov a PM on that. Don't want to off topic this thread from the OP

namtheho · 10-17-2015, 08:37 PM

P7X – Any updates on your end?

This just happened to me to and I am crushed. I'm in the same boat as you where I baby my car, preventative care from BMW and I got the dreaded knock.

Indy BMW shop here in SF said that they think it's a spun rod bearing. Top end is fine, compression test was fine, oil pressure test is fine, next step is to drop the oil pan and examine the crankset. If there's minimal or no damage, they can replace the rod bearings and it'll run smooth again.

Mechanic also said he smells fuel in my oil and recommends me to take the oil to get it analyzed.

Cross my fingers the crankset is fine and I don't have to replace the engine.

P7X · 10-17-2015, 10:08 PM

The motor was rebuilt in May and I thought the car was running as strong as ever after the break in period.... She runs well except the small fact of eating through a liter of oil every 1000 kms... BMW has been very good about it and the car goes in soon for its 4th time to see what the oil is doing, check the oil, check the oil cooler, check for leaks (no leaks found so far). They're not sure what the issue is at the moment but they continue to back their work.

We'll see.

04-16-2015, 11:07 AM	#27
n54door Banned 89 Rep 808 Posts Drives: 09' 135i 6AT FBO - MHD Tuned Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: DFW iTrader: (5)	Good to know! Thanks for the update. It sounds like it would make sense to check our injectors for leaks every 3-4 months. FYI - After the car sits overnight, pull each one of them to see if any are wet. If one is wet, replace it!
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04-18-2015, 11:02 AM	#28
P7X Lieutenant 71 Rep 527 Posts Drives: 2016 M235i 6MT Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	Turned out to be the cylinder 2 rod bearing..... Nothing pointing to that failure, BMW has said it was a defect.
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04-18-2015, 04:48 PM	#30
Kallibrated New Member 11 Rep 23 Posts Drives: Boost Controlled Performance Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Livonia, Mi iTrader: (0)	Really quite surprising considering just how robust these engines are. With people making 800+ whp on completely stock engines, you can only suspect that the issues with spun rod bearings have been extraneous. Maybe really poor fuel quality and excessive timing pulled, running the car very hard just seconds after starting, or even debris in the oiling system introduced via the oil fill cap. __________________ Alex @ BCP- 07 E90 Monaco Blue-MOTIV 900-MOTIV PI-MOTIV TWIN-BCP Colossal FMIC-EMS4/MHD- 802 WHP
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05-07-2015, 04:24 PM	#35
P7X Lieutenant 71 Rep 527 Posts Drives: 2016 M235i 6MT Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	Engine is being built now. I should have the car back next week at the latest and have more info on what they found and potential causes.
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10-12-2015, 03:39 PM	#36
Redbmwm33 Lieutenant 103 Rep 558 Posts Drives: Bmw m9 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: London iTrader: (3)	did this only occur while cold?
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10-13-2015, 02:58 AM	#38
Chris@BoostConcepts 172 Rep 312 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 135i, 2007 335i e92 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wilmington, NC iTrader: (2)	Fuel diluted oil will spin bearings in short order and it doesn't take very much at all as fuel is an excellent de-oiling agent.... My suggestion to anyone who reads this is to change the oil if you had to replace an injector and if you know an injector needs to be replaced because of leaking... Don't drive your car until you get it replaced.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-17-2015, 08:37 PM	#43
namtheho Enlisted Member 8 Rep 32 Posts Drives: 2009 335i Alpine White Join Date: May 2014 Location: Portland, Oregon iTrader: (0)	P7X – Any updates on your end? This just happened to me to and I am crushed. I'm in the same boat as you where I baby my car, preventative care from BMW and I got the dreaded knock. Indy BMW shop here in SF said that they think it's a spun rod bearing. Top end is fine, compression test was fine, oil pressure test is fine, next step is to drop the oil pan and examine the crankset. If there's minimal or no damage, they can replace the rod bearings and it'll run smooth again. Mechanic also said he smells fuel in my oil and recommends me to take the oil to get it analyzed. Cross my fingers the crankset is fine and I don't have to replace the engine.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-17-2015, 10:08 PM	#44
P7X Lieutenant 71 Rep 527 Posts Drives: 2016 M235i 6MT Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	The motor was rebuilt in May and I thought the car was running as strong as ever after the break in period.... She runs well except the small fact of eating through a liter of oil every 1000 kms... BMW has been very good about it and the car goes in soon for its 4th time to see what the oil is doing, check the oil, check the oil cooler, check for leaks (no leaks found so far). They're not sure what the issue is at the moment but they continue to back their work. We'll see.
	Appreciate 0 Quote