[Tunna_uk]

just enjoy it. Remember you will get people on here with problems, that may never happen to your car. As long as you change oil regular and keep an eye on the level, chances are it will be OK.

Fact is the 3 series does have a few gremlins from time to time, most cars do. If something happens, you know where to look.

By the way, the 320si is a great car. I nearly bought one just for the Cam Cover

[Nikos120i]

Originally Posted by Tunna_uk

just enjoy it. Remember you will get people on here with problems, that may never happen to your car. As long as you change oil regular and keep an eye on the level, chances are it will be OK.

Fact is the 3 series does have a few gremlins from time to time, most cars do. If something happens, you know where to look.

By the way, the 320si is a great car. I nearly bought one just for the Cam Cover

Thanks mate!

Since mine only has a few kilometers on, if I check the valve clearance regularly it'll be ok.

I read on the BMW TIS that the valve clearance interval has moved from every oil service to every second oil service.

First oil change was made by the previous owner at 12.000km, now I'm at 16.000km and I'll change them at 20.000km just to be safe.

[Nikos120i]

Hello all!

In light of several rumors regarding issues of the N45B20 motor of the 320si, including this thread and two other cases I have seen with an issue at the 320si motor, I went to my dealer.

It turns out that the very first BMW 320si's had WRONGLY adjusted valve clearance out of the factory...which led to several problems. On top of this, the cam-belt and tensioner had issues.

BMW later released a new setting for the valves and a recall for the cam-belt and tensioner. After they discovered the problem, they fixed it and it no longer needed for the later si's to adjust the valve clearance every other oil service.

My dealer faxed BMW and they confirmed that my car, build on 4/2006 had the belt tensioner/ cam-belt replaced and is under those that BMW had fixed coming out of the factory. They said that it NO longer needs to have the valves adjusted every other oil service, but inspect them at 100.00km. The M3's (E46, not E92) are being inspected every 150.000km for example.

Your feedback is more than welcome regarding he above!

Thanks!

[Nikos120i]

@ ShereKhan ...pls check your PM box mate...I've sent you a message.

Thx!

[Nikos120i]

An issue I had with starting-up the car, was solved with the latest software upgrade on 36.1.1 which drops consumption SIGNIFICANTLY and gives it a good punch below 3K rpm that was missing.

Also, my dealer told me that the ignition coils are problematic on some si's, so check this also.

Regarding the valve service. Every 50.000km we need to have the valves checked. If you have a good ear, you can hear them ticking...or your dealer for that matter.

Oil change every 7-10K km...and slow engine warm-up at start.

[dbramley]

Thanks

[E90_320si]

I had the exakt same startingproblem! I have solved the problem to 90% with new software and a new valveclearence expander under warranty. Then i removed the CDV clutch valve for a better driving experience! The Si engin are a little bit veak i think... But this is the method for a good result! Best Regards

[dbramley]

Ok,
I've now tried every BMW dealer in North East England and none know anything about the valve clearances, the recall or the services.

Help!

If any of you have a dealer (in the UK) that knows about this can you let me have their details?

or

If you know the BMW code or anything I could quote them it would be appreciated.

Cheers
Dan

[E90_320si]

Go to a real autorised BMW dealer, and let them look in to the service logg for the 320si and they will discover that the valve clearance is a thing they should fix on warranty. This is a known issue! And put in a new software and your car will be happy! Good luck! Best Regards Fredrik

[E90_320si]

Question!: I had my car in last year at 35.000km for service/warranty. Now can someone confirm that Bmw did the valveclearence adjustment at the same time when they changed the cam-belt tensioner under warranty???? Because today i stoped by Bmw in Solna stockholm because the car indicates that it's time for service agin at only 40.000km ? (the car have not been driven for a half year thoug) and they told me that the car needs a valveclearence adjustment check, oilchange and brakefluid change when they did a reading of the carkey?? I thught that Bmw did the valveclearence adjustemt check last year when they replaced the cambelt tesioner??? Can somebody confirm this please? Best Regards Fredrik!

[Tommi]

Hi,

i bought my Si around two months ago. I love the car, but...

Now for about a month i´ve had every day (well, morning) issues with the starting of my car.

I start it, the car shakes for about 5 seconds and it sometimes even shutdowns the engine because of the low revs. I can also smell a bit of benzin. Every other start (than the first) and it´s no problemo. My car also consumes a lot of benzin, i mostly drive quite nicely and still it´s about 12,5 litres per 100 kilometres..quite a lot!

Now my car is going to be checked in next week. They will change oil, brake fluids and valve clearance and it will cost ´bout 550€, ouch! Valve clearance is about 300€ and it should be checked in every oil change, jeez! I wonder if it´s true that they should fix valve clearance on warranty? I asked and they said no..i just need some proof from somewhere, anyone?

Ciao,

Tommi

[ShereKhan]

Tommi

If you read the extra owners booklet for the 320si it states that the valve clearance is meant to be done at each oil service. But the stealer can only see it being flagged every alternative oil service.

Ask your stealer to provide a print out of the info from the key.
They should give you this on request.

Dan call BMW Wellsway Bath.
They know my 320si very well. It has had 16 services done (mostly by them) and also they have done my engine rebuild at 42k miles.

Oh by the way i'm at 95k miles

[dbramley]

@ShereKhan

Great thanks I will.

BMW Teesside, Durham and Sunderland say they know nothing about the valve clearance. I've sat whilst they checked the computers and everything.

Also - I didnt know anything about the extra owners booklet for the 320si? I've just got a normal manual which covers all models and countries. I'm guessing BM forgot to give me mine!

Cheers
Dan

[Captain Chaos]

Not sure on the extra manual, but if it's the case I didn't have it with mine either, and I had nothing else missing that should have been there..

[Nikos120i]

So far everything is fine with my si, but I have very low mileage, 21.000 km.

During the starting issue that I also had it has been resolved by updating to the latest software.

Regarding the valve clearance, they told me that it doesn't need to be checked since I have very low mileage (or km). They said that we can physically check it at around 40-50K km because they need to open the carbon cam cover to do so. What they did in mine they checked how is sounded on idle and if the valves were "ticking". They confirmed that all is ok, so I got off by a software update.

No issues since then.

[dbramley]

There is an extra owners booklet for the 320si!

I've ordered it from BMW (Special Order, coming from Germany) and it should be here by the weekend. (£10)

If its any good I'll scan and upload it here.

[Tommi]

@ ShereKhan, thanks for the info.

Some dealers say valve clearance should be done and some say it doesn´t need to be done. Also, never heard of any extra owner´s booklet for the Si.

@ dbramley

...please upload it if you can. I am sure people would appreciate it!

[Nikos120i]

Originally Posted by Tommi

@ ShereKhan, thanks for the info.

Some dealers say valve clearance should be done and some say it doesn´t need to be done. Also, never heard of any extra owner´s booklet for the Si.

@ dbramley

...please upload it if you can. I am sure people would appreciate it!

I too thought the same...but there is one.

I too also have it.

[Tommi]

Is it in german language or in english?

Any idea where i could buy one?

@ Nikos120i

I also have a slight starting problem and i hope that in next tuesday bmw dealer will update my software also and problem solved.

[Nikos120i]

Originally Posted by Tommi

Is it in german language or in english?

Any idea where i could buy one?

@ Nikos120i

I also have a slight starting problem and i hope that in next tuesday bmw dealer will update my software also and problem solved.

It's in all languages. It has a bunch of pages that describe the same thing in different languages.

It hasn't done it on mine yet...so I think it's solved it.

[Tommi]

Originally Posted by Tommi

Is it in german language or in english?
I also have a slight starting problem and i hope that in next tuesday bmw dealer will update my software also and problem solved.

Problem solved with an software update, at least it seems to be so...

Now i have only one more problem, i think my car is consuming too much fuel and it all changed after the valve clearance.

Manual says this: Combined (ltr/100km) 8.9

Mine is like 14-15 without putting the pedal to the floor everytime. I could live with it if it was around 10-12, but not 14-15.

So, i wonder how to solve this since dealers dont know anything, any ideas?

Ciao,
Tommi

Ps: What about the extra owners booklet, could someone upload it since i cant seem to find it anywhere?

[ShereKhan]

I'll scan it for you guys and upload.

Have you seen the latest on my car?

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=413814

They are looking at stripping and rebuilding engine again!!
At 96k miles its bad again. I really think the valve clearances are key to the engine reliability