[jackstrath]

Hi guys , I have a 2007 335d e91 , done about 80k

If noticed a bit of oil on my drive way a few month back , thought it was the oil passing the red boost pipe , although it was a bit wet it wasn't anything concerning ( if replaced this pipe so know what a failed one looks like)
I thought it was just oil had soaked into the undertray sound Matt and then startered to weep through

I had the air box out yesterday and noticed the big turbo and surrounding area was all covered in a oilly mess (dry ish oil with dirt)

Now it wasn't like that when I got the car , I didn't have time remove the heat shield or anything but thought I would ask the question if there is anything in that area that it known for leaking ?

The little block with 3 lines (presume they are oil but could be water I guess) on the front of the small turbo is all bone dry , is there oil feeds or oil returns on the turbos that are known for failing ?

Don't have access to the car for 2 weeks now (due to work) but would like to get it fixed for obvious reasons !

Car is using a bit of oil now , (nothing drastic)

Any info would be ideal

Thanks

[dy63]

have you blanked swirl flaps? sometimes they leak oil through

[old grey steve]

Starter for 10 would be to remove replace the breather valve they are around £42.00 and differ from the 330d tpre breathers oil's been forced through the turbo under pressure which is a common 335/535d issue, so get this sorted first and foremost.

The red boost pipe's known also to fail Forge do a more substantial replacement for over £250 I understand but BMW charge a similar amount but again if weak this will need addressing .

[jackstrath]

Havnt blanked the swirl flaps and its bone dry down that side , it's turbo side only so it's a issue there

Steve I did the breather on my 3.0d x5 (changed the foam filter type for the votex style) and was under the impression that this had been sorted with the 335d's

Il get that changed if it's a issue with these as well then as I know it causes turbo failure long term for the reasons you gave

Red boost pipe was replaced pre remapp with the forge one , that pipe failed after about 4k , and damaged it , I put a brand new one on from
Bmw about 6 months ago now, I got w replacement pipe from forge but haven't bothered fitting it yet


The car was on the rolling road Saturday past , pulled 350bhp/550ftlbs so what ever is leaking isn't having a issue on power lol

[old grey steve]

Originally Posted by jackstrath

Havnt blanked the swirl flaps and its bone dry down that side , it's turbo side only so it's a issue there

Steve I did the breather on my 3.0d x5 (changed the foam filter type for the votex style) and was under the impression that this had been sorted with the 335d's

Il get that changed if it's a issue with these as well then as I know it causes turbo failure long term for the reasons you gave

Red boost pipe was replaced pre remapp with the forge one , that pipe failed after about 4k , and damaged it , I put a brand new one on from
Bmw about 6 months ago now, I got w replacement pipe from forge but haven't bothered fitting it yet


The car was on the rolling road Saturday past , pulled 350bhp/550ftlbs so what ever is leaking isn't having a issue on power lol

Breather Jack on the 335d is different from the 330d/325d affair in terms of look and size but much the same in principal but when you look at it(its in the same sort of location)you'll get the picture, there's a small vent pipe attached to it that's worth looking at as BMW sell a modified pipe but as I understand it a quick inspection and checking for crud in there will do the trick if you follow me.

Re boost pipes unusual but yes have heard of pipe issues never seen the Forge item up close but if its failed and they'd honoured it after getting the pipe back perhaps it wasn't up to the task

[jackstrath]

steve having a look on RealOEM , its saying the vent pipe (runs from the breather to the front of the car) needs replaced aswell , this pipe seams to be another £50 odd quid , are they interchangable or do i need this pipe aswell?

if so best place to buy them ?

[jackstrath]

so my flight today was canceled ,so did some digging about on this fourm and found that the rubber pipe that runs off the plastic pipe that runs off the breather can sometimes be the culprit for chucking oil everywhere , now mine was covered at each end and on the plastic side it was hella loose , so cleaned it all up and fitted some jubile clips to it

Pipe by Jack Strathdee, on Flickr

as you can see here , ordered a new breather and will also fit it when i get home and then just monitor it see if it continues to chuck oil everywhere or not , also cleaned as much as possible with out removing the heatsheild (il clean in behind it when i change out the breather) and will again monitor it


thanks for the advice so for

[Aragorn30d]

I presume thats the pipe that connects the engine breather to the turbo intake?

Mine was similar (330d), it had gone a bit soft and wasnt really fitting snugly, and ofcourse is just push-fitted as standard. The whole area was an oily mess on mine too.

I did the same as you, and thus far it seems ok.

[jackstrath]

Yeh sure is , I'm not convinced it's the main culprit for the oil leakin but I'm now offshore so can't look until I get back sadly !

[old grey steve]

Originally Posted by jackstrath

Yeh sure is , I'm not convinced it's the main culprit for the oil leakin but I'm now offshore so can't look until I get back sadly !

Replacing the breather will help, it's IMHO the basic first preventive step, having a breather that not working or not efficiently operating will cause issues or can create consequential issues therefore it's a base point. So 100% swap it out at the same time check the pipe(be aware the new ones are shaped differently)

Once done, everything so to speak cleaned off it might be a case of if nothing's visible monitor the situation for a short period, if oils being pushed through under pressure it will coat oil everywhere we've seen countless sorted with a breather valve where you fear the worse, but the key is you just don't know.

It's rare to see a 335d with a turbo issue but it's not unheard of either. Keep us updated post breather fitting though...

[kiel_dafo_kenyg_as]

It's the bent braided hose (turbo oil feed). The oil comes out where the rubber hose is crimped to the steel pipe fitting.

[Aragorn30d]

Interesting. I'll check that pipe on mine later.

[jackstrath]

Aye il keep a eye on it once done

Originally Posted by whiteblue

It's the bent braided hose (turbo oil feed). The oil comes out where the rubber hose is crimped to the steel pipe fitting.

Funny you should say that , I noticed it was coated and looked wetter that else where , issue was everything was a mess , in cleaned it all now so with me checking il be able see hopefully where it's coming from befor wit coats everything

[kiel_dafo_kenyg_as]

Swapping the line is an easy fix. AFAIR torque for the banjo bolts is 25 NM

[jackstrath]

thanks for the torque setting

had a drive and then a look over , as soon as i pulled up smelt oil so its defo got worse

Leak by Jack Strathdee, on Flickr

you can just make it out under the heat sheild , it doesnt look like its coming from the pipe crimp but rather the banjo , going to order some new washers and change them out and hopefully that sorts it , if not , new pipe time

[jackstrath]

Ok replaced the washers and pipe for good messure

Still leaking oil

I jet washed everything down that side and left it for a few days

Looks to be coming from
Between the small turbo compressor housing and the core , have yet to replace the breather but that's the next job (I'm home on Wednesday)

Hopefully that sorts the issue if not can you get the big O rings that seal the comp housing to the core easily ? That said that would only stop the oil coming out the turbo not the leak in the turbo so hopefully not the turbo core

Thanks

[Aragorn30d]

Is it actually oringed? Many turbo compressor housings are just sealed to the backplate with silicone. Speak to someone like turbo-rebuild.co.uk and they should be able to sell you the o-ring if thats whats required.

[jackstrath]

Don't know mate , all the turbos iv played with for the race cars have had o rings lol only going buy that !

That said that would only stop the oil leaving the comp housing it must be leaking past the seals in the core first , going to replace the breather as it seams logical that it could be a pressure related issue

Hopefully that fixes it

[Aragorn30d]

Yeh i guess they can do either. OEM's love cost saving though, and a smear of silicone is cheaper than an o-ring :P

Not neccesarily. Think of what happens when the red boost pipe leaks...

You get oily mess everywhere.

Oil is always found in the charge pipework, and then seeps out wherever there is a boost leak and collects there, making oily deposits.

So a leaking compressor housing would do the same thing without indicating any fault with the turbo core. Its certainly a peculiar leak though!

I'd do the breather unit regardless, its good maintenance either way.

[jackstrath]

oil return for the small turbo had worked loose one of its bolts , tightened it up and it looks to be ok so far , will have to keep an eye on it to see if its damaged the gasket

[35d]

Hi did you ever fix this leak ?