Engine Woes 2004 320D

[Guest]

Hi all, I was driving on the M6 today when the engine started to stutter badly, and would not accelerate cleanly. It lost power and struggled to rev. I thought it might have been dirty diesel, as I filled up this morning. I stopped at a motorway service station, and heard an almighty clattering from the engine. I looked under the bonnet and the noise seemed to be coming from the alternator or power steering pump. I checked the oil level and that was fine with no emulsion. I called out Green Flag, and got towed to the local repair garage. The mechanic took off the cowling and reckons it is internal damage, possibly camshaft.

He reckoned about 4 hours to strip it down to investigate, even before identifying the problem.

Is there a known fault on this model, or is there anything else it could be? The temp on the engine was OK, and no other sign of fluids. The breakdown driver thought it could have been a collapsed bearing in the alternator or power steering, but all belts are tight with no play.

Any ideas? I have to pay £350 to get the car recovered to home :frown.

Cheers

John

[Guest DazH]

If the mechanic says he thinks it's internal then I imagine that's a good starting point.

I wouldn't think it's anything to do with the auxiliaries as they would not cause the engine to stop revving.

I hate bringing this up but, your engine has a tendency to ingest it's swirl flaps. If it sucks one into the cylinder it will create the exact noise you have described. The lack of revs/pull would be one of the cylinders in the process of being destroyed.

Google "BMW swirl flaps" and you'll find thousands of posts. Of course, this does not matter if you have had them removed..... right...?

[Guest]

Hi Daz, thanks for the swift reply. I am a keen reader of these forums, and have heard the dreaded swirl flaps mentioned as you say on numerous occasions. However, I have to admit that I have not had them removed. It looks like an expensive error :(.

The garage were trying to persuade me to let them buy it for scrap. It has done 103,000 miles. Do you know what the estimated cost would be from an indy? Is it a new engine or piston and valves etc? The talk was about £1,600 if it was internal damage.

If I get it home, I might use the guides to take off the manifold myself and have a look.

Cheers

John

[Guest DazH]

I would say, yank the manifold/head off yourself. Reason being, if it is the flaps.. it's not going anywhere anyways so you have nothing to loose.

People do indeed repair flap-failures but I'm not sure where I stand regarding that because, I think I would be more inclined to drop a new lump in.

Also, it may be worth looking at it this way. You can pick up a great 320d for not much more than what it would cost to repair it... scrapping is an option.

Ultimately, I'm really sorry to hear about your misfortune. I hope it's not flap-failure as it effects bottom end. At least if you have a knackered top end you can just pop a new cylinder head on and jobs a gooden!!

Daz

[Guest]

Waiting to get the car back tomorrow morning and, weather permitting, I'll get my hands dirty!

Fingers crossed...

Thanks for the advice Daz,

John

[Guest Mister Dabsy]

Good luck John...

[Guest]

Ah well, worst fears confirmed :(

Whipped off manifold this morning, to find one of the swirl flaps totally missing. Local indy dealer reckons engine rebuild, and probably looking at £2,000 plus to repair.

Looks like it's a case of scrapping it.

Regards

John

[Guest DazH]

:( I thought so