chrisa
01-26-2006, 00:35
Hi
I own a 2003 330xi w/73,000 mls on her. I've run into my secound and worst issue to date w/330. 6 months ago on my way to work one morning the check engine light came on after the car hesitated and was running rough. Turns out the coil in cylnder 1 went bad and was'nt firing. BMW replaced all the coils (wich my mechanic & I don't believe they did, the coils in the back look original) and told me everything was ok and that the coil was a common component to fail- no big deal. So three weeks ago my check engine light came on again, but no real noticable engine failure occured, so I took her into a local and trustworthy shop to have them take a look and do a thorough tune-up since she is in the mileage range where she needs more attention to keep her running good for the next couple of years. The mechanic who diagnosed the check engine light found that the coil was the problem again. But he thought there was something else going on, specificaly he asked if the cooling system was ever low, had I ever over heated, and did I notice that the engine was burning coolant through the exhaust. I answered no to all the question's, adding that oil was the only thing I added to the engine (which was bizzare to me) and I had a suspicion that the engine might be running hot, but again never over heated. The mechanic swapped the 1 cylinder coil with the 3 cylinder coil and waited for the computer to tell him that the # 3 coil had faileed. Turns out the computer was still reading that the # 1 clylinder had failed. So, that brings us to the top head gasket failing or the manifold has a crack in it, because water is some how getting into the #1 cylender. Has anyone run into a similar issue and do you have any input and what parts to use. The BMW shop sux because they should have investigated more, but since it was on they're dime the first time or just a poorly run shop they over looked the real problem, which my mechanic thinks is the thermostat and probably the water pump have failed or not working correctly causing a blown gasket and the crack in the manifold. Turns out BMW recomends changing the thermosat at (I think) 50,000 ml. Wished the BMW shop brought that up to me last time i had her in there, instead of just changing the oil for a couple of hundred dollars and telling me everything is ok. And since the top of the engine is open anything else to look into or change? I plan on installing the new imp Stewart water pump w/ the UUC underdrive pulley kit (have to make sure they're compatable fromm UUC when put the order in). The car runs fantastic and I could'nt be happier with the way she perform's and how she's held up. Just want to keep her running great.
I own a 2003 330xi w/73,000 mls on her. I've run into my secound and worst issue to date w/330. 6 months ago on my way to work one morning the check engine light came on after the car hesitated and was running rough. Turns out the coil in cylnder 1 went bad and was'nt firing. BMW replaced all the coils (wich my mechanic & I don't believe they did, the coils in the back look original) and told me everything was ok and that the coil was a common component to fail- no big deal. So three weeks ago my check engine light came on again, but no real noticable engine failure occured, so I took her into a local and trustworthy shop to have them take a look and do a thorough tune-up since she is in the mileage range where she needs more attention to keep her running good for the next couple of years. The mechanic who diagnosed the check engine light found that the coil was the problem again. But he thought there was something else going on, specificaly he asked if the cooling system was ever low, had I ever over heated, and did I notice that the engine was burning coolant through the exhaust. I answered no to all the question's, adding that oil was the only thing I added to the engine (which was bizzare to me) and I had a suspicion that the engine might be running hot, but again never over heated. The mechanic swapped the 1 cylinder coil with the 3 cylinder coil and waited for the computer to tell him that the # 3 coil had faileed. Turns out the computer was still reading that the # 1 clylinder had failed. So, that brings us to the top head gasket failing or the manifold has a crack in it, because water is some how getting into the #1 cylender. Has anyone run into a similar issue and do you have any input and what parts to use. The BMW shop sux because they should have investigated more, but since it was on they're dime the first time or just a poorly run shop they over looked the real problem, which my mechanic thinks is the thermostat and probably the water pump have failed or not working correctly causing a blown gasket and the crack in the manifold. Turns out BMW recomends changing the thermosat at (I think) 50,000 ml. Wished the BMW shop brought that up to me last time i had her in there, instead of just changing the oil for a couple of hundred dollars and telling me everything is ok. And since the top of the engine is open anything else to look into or change? I plan on installing the new imp Stewart water pump w/ the UUC underdrive pulley kit (have to make sure they're compatable fromm UUC when put the order in). The car runs fantastic and I could'nt be happier with the way she perform's and how she's held up. Just want to keep her running great.