[SlamE90]

Hi All. I’m based in Lincolnshire and recently joined this forum. Apologies in advance for the long post.

I've owned a couple of E46 coupes for the past 4 or 5 years and loved them but when my last one started getting too rusty around the arches (and needed a few other jobs doing) I decided it was time to sell and get something a bit different.

So in November I got a Dodge Caliber as it was a car you don't see that many of on the roads and I fancied something a little different.....worst car I've ever owned!! A poor ride, rattles & creaks from suspension and interior plastics, a few mechanical issues but generally an overall POS. After 4 months I couldn't take it anymore and came to the conclusion that I needed to come back to BMW.

Although I still like the E46 shape, it's hard to find a decent one without the wheel arch issues without spending silly money so I started looking for an E90.

I found a 320i on ebay which had the specs and trim mods that I would have done myself and, although it had done 134k, had a full service history, I decided to get it after speaking to the seller. He told me that it had a noisy alternator bearing and dent in rear passenger door and that it needed for nothing else. He sounded honest so I caught a train and picked it up.

I, stupidly, bought it without viewing it first and picked it up in the dark! He'd had it off the road for 3 weeks parked on his front lawn but it started straight away from cold when I got there and sounded ok. We did the paperwork and I drove it to the nearest petrol station before my journey home. On the short drive to get fuel I kept noticing a burning oil smell so I had a look around the engine bay and couldn't see much. I drove back to his house but, lo & behold, he'd gone out. After calling him a few times he eventually picked up and said it must just be a bit of oil burning off after being stood for a few weeks. I asked him to be completely honest and tell me if there's anything else I should know and he said no. So I drove it home the hour & half annoyed with myself for not buying a car properly.

After getting home without incident I felt a bit better. The next morning there were a couple of spots of oil on my drive and I could see in the daylight that there was a fair bit of oil around the engine bay so it was off to the local indy who said I needed a VCG. He had it the next day and did the VCG and an oil change. When he took it for a test drive he said it sounded like there was a bit of noise coming from the gearbox and possibly rear diff It was driving ok so I decided I’d just turn the stereo up Lol.

I then started noticing that when the car had warmed up I was getting a puff of blue smoke after setting off from idling at traffic lights. I was also using a litre of oil every 5-600 miles. After much googling I concluded this must me down to the CCV/Oil seperator so I ordered the part and decided I'd DIY. This thing is situated under the intake manifold and after starting the DIY I realised it was beyond my skills so booked it in with another indy. Turned out to be a 6hr job for the mechanic so I’d have had no chance!

Unfortunately, the change of CCV hasn’t stopped blue smoke issue but my oil consumption has reduced dramatically.

This indy also told me that there were noises from the gearbox and diff but if I could put up with the noise it’s fine to drive.

I’ve also still been getting oil spots on my drive. I’ve changed the Vanos seals and put in the upgraded timing chain tensioner and this weekend I’ll be doing the OFHG & vacuum pump seals to try and solve this oil problem (hoping I don’t have to do the sump gasket).

I’ve tracked down a decent 2nd hand gearbox and that’s being fitted next week but locating a decent priced rear diff is proving more difficult

Obviously I realise that I’ve bought a bit of a lemon but feel too invested in it now to back out.

Here’s a quick pic of the offending article

[Rustymage]

Looks tidy.

Clearly a mug for buying it unseen and in the dark but I think you've learnt your lesson. Many people do it. At least next time you'll look for these issues before buying and your next one will be sound!

Be careful just chucking parts at it without getting a diagnosis first - could waste valuable money.

VGC and oil oil seals are known to go so it's a common issue. Gearbox and/or diff are slightly rarer I believe - maybe it's had a hard life..?

Once maintenance is on schedule it should run nicely for a long time.

Keep at it!

Anthony

[maxoutput]

The blue smoke on pulling away from lights and on over run is a common issue on the n46 engine, it's the valve stem seals.

The noise from the gearbox may be the dual mass flywheel and not the box at all.

Also check for all from the vacuum pump seal at the rear of the head as they often leak oil

[SlamE90]

Originally Posted by maxoutput

The blue smoke on pulling away from lights and on over run is a common issue on the n46 engine, it's the valve stem seals.

That's what I'm fearing but it's strange that I don't get any smoke from cold start when you'd expect it the most.

[maxoutput]

Hi

I never got any smoke from cold with mine, did the crancase vent valve myself and it didnt help. In the end it went to a specialist little garage that managed to do all the valve stem seals with the head in situ.

Dont bother trying to use these so called seal softners additives either, they dont work as the stem seals get far too hard, all it did for me was cause the sump gasket to fail!!

[SlamE90]

Originally Posted by maxoutput

Hi

I never got any smoke from cold with mine, did the crancase vent valve myself and it didnt help. In the end it went to a specialist little garage that managed to do all the valve stem seals with the head in situ.

Dont bother trying to use these so called seal softners additives either, they dont work as the stem seals get far too hard, all it did for me was cause the sump gasket to fail!!

Thanks for the info...sounds like the same symptoms.

Another job to add to my list!

[Rustymage]

Perhaps a way to diagnose the valve stem seals is to recreate the issue at the lights then keep the engine speed fluctuating at the next set of lights. The increased and moving speed might stop oil passing into the combustion chamber and stop the blue smoke.

Least you'd know for sure.

[SlamE90]

Originally Posted by Rustymage

Perhaps a way to diagnose the valve stem seals is to recreate the issue at the lights then keep the engine speed fluctuating at the next set of lights. The increased and moving speed might stop oil passing into the combustion chamber and stop the blue smoke.

Least you'd know for sure.

It doesn't smoke if I keep the revs up and doesn't smoke at all until the engines fully up to temperature.

[The Jackal]

I can't start a new thread (newbie and this is only my second post)....

I was looking at E46's as I had one for 5 years from 09-14 with hardly any issues other than replacing the coil packs as they went. However I seen a 55 plate E90 320i with 128k for under £2k at a garage along the road. It seems fairly cheap? It looks very clean in the pictures though.

Undecided whether to go and have a look yet, or bide my time. I'm not in too much of a hurry to purchase anything as I have a company vehicle for the next few months.

What are common issues to look out for on these at that age/mileage? Is the timing chain likely to be on the way out around then? I sold my e46 at 120k miles after doing 70000 in it and it still ticked over and drove like the day I bought it so hoping these don't have too much issues also.

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EDIT: Just managed to find the 40+ page thread on the 320i and I think will give it a miss.