[hassmaschine]

yeah but we never had a 2.5l here. the 325i is still a N52B30.

I think Canada got the 2.5l but they call it a 323i.

[avin83]

Originally Posted by mecheng77

Aren't the 325 2.5L known to burn oil?

I have a 328, 3.0L with 100,000 km burns zero oil so far.

http://mywikimotors.com/n52b25/

1. The most common problem in N52B25 is high level of motor oil consumption. This is due to thin oil rings which are carbonized rather fast. At the same time valve stem seals goes out of order rather often. Such problems may occur even after 100,000 km (~60 000 miles) of mileage. The only solution to this problem is replacement of damaged components.
New N52NB25 version did not have such problems. It was firstly introduced in 2007 and has black cap.

Interesting. My car has N52B25(2.5L I6) and I like to know more about "thin oil rings" which might be the reason of high oil consumption. I have fixed OPG, VCG and OFHG in the last 2 years... no oil leaks but burns oil every 2000-2500km.

Also, the wiki from the link mentions:

"If you do not solve the problem of oil consumption as soon as possible, it may result in polluted catalysts. It will lead to additional costs of their replacement. Catbeck may turn out to be a good alternative to catalyst."

Not sure what catbeck means

[mecheng77]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

yeah but we never had a 2.5l here. the 325i is still a N52B30.

I think Canada got the 2.5l but they call it a 323i.

We had both the 323i and 325i in 2006. In 2007, they got rid of the 325i and upgraded the HP of the 323i from 175hp to 201hp. Basically in Canada, avoid the 2006 models 2.5L, due to low power or oil burning.

[mecheng77]

Originally Posted by avin83

Interesting. My car has N52B25(2.5L I6) and I like to know more about "thin oil rings" which might be the reason of high oil consumption. I have fixed OPG, VCG and OFHG in the last 2 years... no oil leaks but burns oil every 2000-2500km.

Also, the wiki from the link mentions:

"If you do not solve the problem of oil consumption as soon as possible, it may result in polluted catalysts. It will lead to additional costs of their replacement. Catbeck may turn out to be a good alternative to catalyst."

Not sure what catbeck means

Do you have a grey or black valve cover?

The solution is not what you want to hear, rebuild engine with new rings. I would just switch to a thicker oil. I had a Prelude VTEC which burned oil like crazy even though it never produced any smoke. I just learned to add cheap thick oil every 2nd gas fill; drove great.

Are they trying to say Cat Back exhaust?

[avin83]

Originally Posted by mecheng77

Do you have a grey or black valve cover?

The solution is not what you want to hear, rebuild engine with new rings. I would just switch to a thicker oil. I had a Prelude VTEC which burned oil like crazy even though it never produced any smoke. I just learned to add cheap thick oil every 2nd gas fill; drove great.

Are they trying to say Cat Back exhaust?

It's a 2006 model - gray valve cover. Lower horsepower compared to 2007+ 323i model... but 2006 323i has ZF tranny.

Anyways, I changed from 5w30 to 0w40 oil but still burns oil every 2000-2500km. Obviously I don't want to rebuild engine at this point... not sure if there anything I should do anything since I don't see any smoke or noticeable driving issues for 1.5 years.

[jt335i]

Bought my 2010 E92 335i brand new and I change oil once a year. As of today, 1/4/2018 @ 95,300+ miles, not once have I had to add oil due a low oil notification.

[hassmaschine]

Originally Posted by mecheng77

We had both the 323i and 325i in 2006. In 2007, they got rid of the 325i and upgraded the HP of the 323i from 175hp to 201hp. Basically in Canada, avoid the 2006 models 2.5L, due to low power or oil burning.

yes, but your 325i was an N52B30 just like ours. I know, because I bought one from Canada.

[gT-BMW]

well i just added a another quart because the low oil light came on and then i added lucus oil stabilizer,pour all of it in there. So guess well see what happens.

[Chappers 71]

Depends how hard you drive it. Have had my 335i for 5 1/2 years & over that time 1 litre top ups have consistently been between 1700/3400 miles dependant upon how much of a spanking I give it

[mecheng77]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

yes, but your 325i was an N52B30 just like ours. I know, because I bought one from Canada.

You came all the way up from Florida? Are you an expat or snowbird?

According to this website the 325 is a 2.5L


http://bmwserieshistory.blogspot.ca/...es-e90_26.html

[Pladi]

Originally Posted by Chappers 71

Depends how hard you drive it. Have had my 335i for 5 1/2 years & over that time 1 litre top ups have consistently been between 1700/3400 miles dependant upon how much of a spanking I give it

This is very true. You lose more oil the harder you drive it. This has to do with the crankcase pressure and ventilation. This is more true with turbo cars.

[hassmaschine]

Originally Posted by mecheng77

You came all the way up from Florida? Are you an expat or snowbird?

According to this website the 325 is a 2.5L


http://bmwserieshistory.blogspot.ca/...es-e90_26.html

I don't live in florida?

that site is also wrong, we definitely never had a 2.5l 325i in the US or Canada. the US and CA 325i's are the same car. This is easily confirmed in the ETK database, not worth arguing further.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by gT-BMW

Neither. I have 325i

7 quarts. the dash oil level didnt even read max level but it was close.

The reason I asked was some people will fill the engine with less than 7 quarts and when the CBS shows 1 quart low sometime soon into the new oil fill, it because they didn't start off with a full 7 quarts in the sump. On a side note, you may have checked the oil right after the oil change, and the CBS gave you the previous oil level reading. It doesn't update right away, but if the engine is still warm from the pre-oil change warm up, the e-dipstick shows the last known oil level.

Anyway, that oil consumption seems a bit high. My '06 325i when it was new used a quart in 16,000 miles. The first oil change was at 17,000. Since new the engine slowly started using more oil between oil changes. It started out as 1 quart between 15,000 OCIs (i.e it was 1 quart low at the oil change), then got to 1 quart every 12,000 miles or so. Now at 300,000+ miles it uses 1 liter per 3,200 miles.

Maybe the PCV system on you engine needs to be looked at. I plan on replacing all the parts of the system on my car here soon, as I'm going to replace the starter in a few weeks. Since the IM will be out and the PCV system basically crumbles to pieces once you touch it...

[mecheng77]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

I don't live in florida?

that site is also wrong, we definitely never had a 2.5l 325i in the US or Canada. the US and CA 325i's are the same car. This is easily confirmed in the ETK database, not worth arguing further.

I don't argue, I discuss. Interesting info.

What model years did the US have the 325i? Was
It 215hp? It was only available in Cdn market
For 2006.

[gT-BMW]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

The reason I asked was some people will fill the engine with less than 7 quarts and when the CBS shows 1 quart low sometime soon into the new oil fill, it because they didn't start off with a full 7 quarts in the sump. On a side note, you may have checked the oil right after the oil change, and the CBS gave you the previous oil level reading. It doesn't update right away, but if the engine is still warm from the pre-oil change warm up, the e-dipstick shows the last known oil level.

Anyway, that oil consumption seems a bit high. My '06 325i when it was new used a quart in 16,000 miles. The first oil change was at 17,000. Since new the engine slowly started using more oil between oil changes. It started out as 1 quart between 15,000 OCIs (i.e it was 1 quart low at the oil change), then got to 1 quart every 12,000 miles or so. Now at 300,000+ miles it uses 1 liter per 3,200 miles.

Maybe the PCV system on you engine needs to be looked at. I plan on replacing all the parts of the system on my car here soon, as I'm going to replace the starter in a few weeks. Since the IM will be out and the PCV system basically crumbles to pieces once you touch it...

yes i agree, im starting to think its an ccv problem. the other day i got p0171 and havnt driven the car since. Ive been driving my trusty old honda. The bmw was suppose to replace that. anyways I ordered a smoke machine so i can find out if i have a vaccum leak. I'm pretty sure its going to lead me to a ccv hose since over time they do get brittle and crack.

If the smoke test does lead to a ccv hose, i'll want to replace everything concerning the ccv, the oil seperator including that little mesh thing thats integrated in the valve cover. from what ive been reading, that too can also deform and that i'll have to replace the valve cover to fix that. is there a way to replace that one thing?

[CTinline-six]

Change every 10,000 and it usually reminds me to add a quart over that period of time. Slight oil pan seep. Castrol Edge Euro 0w40.

[Bob Shiftright]

Randomly, 1/2 a quart over the last 10 years. Hasn't happened since I began using a BMW specialty shop vs the dealer.

The pattern makes me think that the car wasn't always filled completely after every oil change. Without a dipstick...

(THANK YOU BMW Senior VP of Engineering-Designs-That-Make-Owners-Ask-What-Were-They-Thinking-When-They-Did-That????)

[gT-BMW]

Originally Posted by Bob Shiftright

Randomly, 1/2 a quart over the last 10 years. Hasn't happened since I began using a BMW specialty shop vs the dealer.

The pattern makes me think that the car wasn't always filled completely after every oil change. Without a dipstick...

(THANK YOU BMW Senior VP of Engineering-Designs-That-Make-Owners-Ask-What-Were-They-Thinking-When-They-Did-That????)

yes it would be nice to have a dipstick. cars that do have a dipstick comes with serviceable pcv system. I suspect bmw wanted to go with a sealed ccv system for emissions. Oil given enough time will deteriorate anything.

After driving mostly sports car for most of my life when i purchased my first bmw the first thing that came into mind was this car was designed for old ladies. Systems information in the idrive "OK" oh everything OK so it must be OK. but its not OK..

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by gT-BMW

yes i agree, im starting to think its an ccv problem. the other day i got p0171 and havnt driven the car since. Ive been driving my trusty old honda. The bmw was suppose to replace that. anyways I ordered a smoke machine so i can find out if i have a vaccum leak. I'm pretty sure its going to lead me to a ccv hose since over time they do get brittle and crack.

If the smoke test does lead to a ccv hose, i'll want to replace everything concerning the ccv, the oil seperator including that little mesh thing thats integrated in the valve cover. from what ive been reading, that too can also deform and that i'll have to replace the valve cover to fix that. is there a way to replace that one thing?

About 6 months ago I priced up the CCV components. Turner sells all the parts as a refurb kit, but I buy a lot of OEM parts on line and pick them up at my local dealer (he's a TradeMotion parts re-seller). Anyway, the CCV parts with the 20% discount the TradeMotion service provides was about $40 cheaper than Turner. Now that doesn't include shipping, so if you have to have the parts shipped it may be a wash.

[opjose]

Originally Posted by N52UNED

This.

This.

After some oil changes I find that it SEEMS like oil consumption goes up.

I may have to add oil after a while.

But after doing so there is no change what so ever for the next 6k miles or so.

It could be that the system was not properly registering the amount of oil added initially and you were actually a bit low from the start.

[gT-BMW]

Originally Posted by opjose

This.

After some oil changes I find that it SEEMS like oil consumption goes up.

I may have to add oil after a while.

But after doing so there is no change what so ever for the next 6k miles or so.

It could be that the system was not properly registering the amount of oil added initially and you were actually a bit low from the start.

hmm. Im now worried about the accuracy of my oil level sensor. Is there a way to test with ista?

[tlow98]

Originally Posted by gT-BMW

hmm. Im now worried about the accuracy of my oil level sensor. Is there a way to test with ista?

From most experiences on here, it either works perfectly or it's broken. Sort of binary in that way.

Faults via codes normally indicate if it's still doing the job correctly.