paneuro

Hi, I fitted a new cap on the crank case breather and I have driven it for 2 days now and have tried to get it to smoke and it seems to have cured the problem! I am wondering if it would be sensible to fit a complete new breather and is there an updated one. The steering rack would appear to be electric as there are no hydraulic pipes, nor is there a power steering pump or top up tank, what I do notice is there is at least 2 universal joints on the steering column which I will lubricate. I will keep you updated. thanks Paneuro.

Hi, the only thing that puzzles me is the fact that you can drive this car for 20 miles + and it is clear as a bell and then you can get a load of blue smoke for about 100 yards and then it goes back to behaving itself. there is no pattern to when its going to happen. ??? Paneuro

Hi Dave, nice to hear from you again. Firstly oil level was low (min), I will have a look at these hoses and vac lines. Am I looking for cracks, blockages, or what? I have lots of experience re valve stem oil seals and would rule that out for now. I have paid particular attention to when lifting of from high speed and then flooring it again and it is clear as a bell. The steering however is heavy compared to my 530D so would need to look at that. I will need advice re the hoses/ vac lines and steering angle sensor but I appreciate your help and it does make sense. thanks Paneuro. P.S. I am waiting on a new crankcase breather.

I have more info about the 3 series, its an E91 318D manual. I took it for a fair run today, about 20 miles each way and it spewed out blue smoke twice for a few hundred yards once on the outward and once on the way home, after it happens it clears quickly and is fine. I am getting a signal on the dash which is a capital A circled by an arrow and on the right hand side of that is a heavy upside down exclamation mark if that makes sense. anybody know what that means? thanks paneuro.

Hi, I now have more info. the car is a 2011 BMW 318D LCI and has done 130,000 miles. I was on the OEM site and note that it appears to have a separate dpi filter fitted just behind the catalytic converter? Would I be right in thinking that this part is consumable similar to say an oil filter or not. When you look at it in the parts diagram it seems like a filter on its own. Anybody know? thanks Paneuro.

Hi, I have my daughters 3 series here , possibly an e39 but not sure. Anyway it has the DPF light on and the only symptoms is after a fast run its putting out some blue smoke which very quickly clears up as soon as you take of again. I will know more tomorrow when I have had a right look at it . I only followed her for about 20 miles when she came to drop the car of. Any quick ideas. Paneuro.

BMW 530 d manual E61, I have noticed recently that some cars similar to mine have 4 angel eyes on the front while I have only 2. It may just be newer models or 2of mine are not working. Anybody out there clear this up for me? Thanks Paneuro

Hi Dave, just noticed your question. BMW were not specific but they did put in writing that the problem in their opinion was caused by suspect low voltage which most people on this forum and others suspected from the beginning. Anyway car is running well now thanks to people on the forum and the BMW dealer. thanks Paneuro.

Hi guys, just to let you know I sent copies of the receipts to put the car right to the battery suppliers (£352.00) and they reimbursed the full cost within an hour. thanks Paneuro.

Hi guys, car is now fixed and it cost two hours at the BMW dealers. thanks for all the advice. Paneuro

Hi guys, it wasn't BMW that tested the battery and alternator it was the company who supplied the battery and they gave me the print out from the machine. I was there and he handed it straight out the testing machine. BMW have the car at the moment and they have got it going. They phoned me and said they were monitoring the battery overnight to see if there was any drain, if not I can go and collect it tomorrow.

Hi Stu, I don't know about pasoft, from what you said about turning the key one click and light turning green! My car does not work like that, I don't turn the key, its just a push in key. Although its 2008 its late in the year and its an LCI model. cheers Paneuro.

Hi, I also forgot to say they also tested the alternator and it was reading 14.20 volts no load and 14.29 loaded. I have all the readouts in print but don't know how to post a picture on here. thanks Paneuro.

The car is now with the BMW dealer who charges £168.00 GBP to plug it in to their diagnostic equipment and the same charge per hour thereafter. I have given them the error code which I saw on the breakdown peoples diagnostic equipment as I would like to make the battery supplier pay for any expense incurred, but I'm not sure if the BMW dealer will commit this cause to paper. Is there anywhere this code is listed as the cause of my problem so I could at least be armed with some sort of leverage. I know they will try and disassociate themselves with this if possible, so the more info about this i have the better. Thanks Paneuro.

Hi guys, this is the full story that I should have posted to begin with but some of it hadn't happened. As i said when starting my car it was a bit lazy and I suspected the battery was the problem. It was three years old but had a five year warranty. I took it back to the supplier and they tested it and said it was good but needed a charge. I had started it and driven it 6 miles to their shop so it had some charge in it from the alternator. The reading was 5.68 EN on their testing machine and they said it was still over the parameters where they could replace it. It failed completely around 2 weeks later. I had home start with Green Flag breakdown and they came out and tried to jumpstart it from the points under the bonnet but it refused to start. They plugged in their diagnostic tool and it was giving a fault code 4A63 EWS Manipulering Incorrect Random code .I phoned the shop and told them and they said remove the battery and bring it in and they would replace it. I did this and they lifted the battery out of the boot of my wife's car and without any testing whatsoever carried a new battery out to my car. I told the manager I was not happy and that had they given me a new battery when they tested it and not waited until it completely failed the problem would never have happened. Paneuro.

Hi, I have an E61 530d which will not start. I fitted a new battery 3 years ago with a 5 year warranty and noticed lately that it seemed a bit lazy when starting. I went to it today and it just wouldn't turn the engine over, battery was dead. I tried a jump start from my wife's car and it was spinning the engine no problem but it wouldn't fire up. I had a friend look at it and put his code reader on it and its coming up with 4A 63 EWS MANIPULERING INCORRECT RANDOM CODE. Any body got any ideas. Cheers Paneuro

Partial success, I have managed to remove my centre consul and get to the heart of the matter. A worn handbrake quadrant. Has anybody had the same problem? Does anybody know if BMW recalled any 5 series for this problem? I would have thought the teeth would have been hardened but after putting a file across them this is not the case. God only knows what a new one will cost? I can't check cause its Saturday but I will find out on Monday (will make sure I'm near a defib machine) If anybody has any ideas , please let me know. thanks Paneuro.

Managed to strip the dash at the front i.e. from the top down as far as the ash tray but still can't get it out, Having another go at it today so hope I don't break anything. Paneuro.

hi Greydog, just had a look but can't find any fixings at the front other than the 2 screws on each side. Stumped so far and I don't want to break anything. thanks Paneuro.

no, good thinking Greydog thanks Paneuro.

I need to remove the centre consul on my 2008 530D E61. I have trawled u tube for information on how to remove it and have got answers to most of my questions . I have managed to overcome most of the fastenings but the part i am stuck with is how to undo the end in front of the gear lever. I have managed to undo the two 7 mil screws at the front but cannot pull the consul back towards the gear lever. Do I have to remove the vertical panel where the ashtray is? is there fastenings behind this panel? I would have thought the 7 mil screws on each side would have been enough to hold it at the front. I hope I don't have to start pulling the front of the dash off to get at hidden screws. answers please. thanks Paneuro

I have been looking on u tube but there are so many configurations its impossible to get any concrete idea what to go for. thanks Paneuro

Hi Dave, I think I am just going to grasp the nettle and put the oil for the standard diff in and fingers crossed it will be ok? at my age I am not the proverbial flying scotsman, if I see 70 mph I must be going downhill with my eyes closed. cheers Paneuro.