[FlyertoTitan]

Hello to all fellow Canadians in this forum!
I have lurked here for around 4 months..more or less the same amount of time i have owned a 2011 323i with 110k km.
I posted yesterday my question on the technical/service forum but than i started thinking that 323i is only in Canada so most members will skip over it.
Question:
Im doing 19/19.1 liters 100km since i bought the car....that seems very high to me.
Im in Toronto and do 98%city driving.
I am wondering uf this is normal or not(even for 328's and 330's)?
I was expecting 13/14/15 liters at most.

Anyone has any ideas? Much obliged to all and i hope to be a member of this Canada forum although im not mechanicaly inclined.
In 3.5 k km i have put one quart of oil although it seems to me that there is a little bit more white smoke coming out of my exhaust than what i see on average from other cars.

Any ideas/suggestions/tips at all would be apreciated as im a newb to BMW world and the power the "little" 323i has is more than enough for my needs..

[rick100]

Hard to tell. 98% city driving in toronto can be all over the place ...
If you really want to test your fuel economy. Reset your fuel consumption indicator and take the car for a long trip ( at least 100km trip) on the highway and see what you are getting. Try driving between 100-120. You should be below 10 liters per 100 kms anything above that is probably not normal

At 110km basic tune up would probably help. Plugs. Air filter. Oil change

[FlyertoTitan]

Thank your for the advise. Will try on the next few days(snow dependant) to go for a long drive and see what is the highway consumption.

[GORDON.M3]

the consumption you have been getting is terrible for the mileage your car has.
I would suggest doing some maintenance, first off start by doing an oil change, air filter, and plugs. If you want go ahead and also do the o2 sensors. Most people don't think the o2 sensors is a maintenance thing but it actually is. The previous owner probably also used some pretty shitty gas so you probably have a lot of build-up in the injectors. I would buy some fuel injector cleaner from Canadian Tire and run it through several tanks of gas.

See if that helps. My 323i has 260,000km and it does about 14-16L/100km if you are flooring it to redline everyday/city driving.

[Nick.B]

Originally Posted by GORDON.M3

the consumption you have been getting is terrible....

Agreed.

My 330i, 277000km, worst I've seen is 11L/100, about half city half highway. I drive it hard. Typical tank is 9.1L/100. I got 7.2 twice on long highway trips.

Wife's 330i, 234000km, almost all in town, typically 13-14L/100, she drives it hard, and lets it idle for 10 minutes every morning to warm up the interior in the winter.

Both 6MT RWD.

re: Oil consumption: My 330i used to consistently go 8-9k before asking for +1L. One day all of a sudden it dropped to 2500-4000km, and it's been like that since. I worked out the cost of topping up the oil for another 50-100k, and decided it wasn't worth the trouble to pull out and replace the evap system under the manifold.

re: Smoke: Is the smoke white, or blueish white? Does it smell of oil? Does it smell sweet like coolant? When is the smoke visible? Can you see it behind you while you're driving? Is it only when it's cold weather, or all the time?

[FlyertoTitan]

Thank you Rick, Gordon and Nick.B for writing your information/insights so i can compare, it is much apreciated.

I think first step i will do is to go buy the fuel injector cleaner at CT and used 2-3 tanks of gas.

I have been driving very conservative except for the first month or so where i was enjoying the car. Since than it has been driving at snails pace as im afraid fuel comsumption will go well above 20l/100km. In the first 1.5 months the car needed 960 ml bottle of oil...since i have driven conservatively for the next 2000-2500 km only used one trace on the oil gage.
Now at least i know something is wrong with my car.

Tonight i will see if the smoke has a sweet smell and look real hard to see if i discern any bluish tinge to the smoke(although it appears white to me), so far when im driving and i look on the rear mirror i can see it coming out(sometimes it appears like a "ball" of smoke comes out in addition to the smoke. The smoke occurs all the time but became exarcebated when the weather became colder.

As i said above:
1) going to buy in the next 1-2 days fuel injector cleaner and use 2-3 tanks of gas and see what is the fuel comsuption.
2)im not technically inclined at all with cars and this leads me to the question...where should i go(shop), what diagnostic tests exist and what should i say to the mechanic so i dont get "fleeced" and at least the issue/issues get solved?

Once again i apreciate the help and will keep everyone posted as i do some of the things you guys have mentioned.

Ps: i think the exhaust has some oil in it(will clean it and see if any more oil or dark sludge accumulates.

PPS: my 323i is AT if that helps...

[NorthernDancer]

Well, the first thing I would do is join Trillium Chapter of BMW Clubs Canada. There is a whole wealth of information in the club especially the best indy garages around the GTA. I've also joined BMWCCA (USA) and that gives me immediate access to Mike Miller (technical guru) for any questions I have and I usually get answers with 24 hours.

[FlyertoTitan]

So i went to CT and this what i was recommended(pic attached)
I realize this most likely wont solve my gas mileage issue but maybe it is a start.
I do like yo do things sequentialy, especially in an area which i have admited previously that i am a zero to the left of the number.
Question:
Is this at least ok to put in the next 3-4 tanks of fuel?

Concurrently i will try next week(snow storm is coming now) to go for a highway drive and get an average of gas comsumption at speeds between 100-120 km/hr.

Thanks to everyone who has/will chime in! I am looking forward in the summer to go to a couple of get togethers/events....this is all new to me.

[Nick.B]

Originally Posted by FlyertoTitan

...sometimes it appears like a "ball" of smoke comes out in addition to the smoke.

When does the ball of smoke show up? Is it when you drive away after idling for a bit, like at a traffic light? Is it more random?

Look inside the oil fill cap. Is it pretty clean? Does it look like a chocolate milkshake was poured in there? Does everything look caked in grease?

Also, open the cap while it's running. There will be some little splashes of oil, but is there smoke or gasses blowing out? What does it sound like with the cap open?

Have you checked for engine codes?

Where in the city are you? If you're nearby someone who knows their stuff they may offer to take a few minutes to look at it.

[FlyertoTitan]

Hello everyone!
My apologies to everyone for not having updated for aprox. 1 week(snow and life has gotten on the way)
So far i have only used the Lucas fuel injector cleaner for one tank of gas(when i fill up again i shall use more of course)

Nick.B i am located on midtown west side of Toronto.
I would most definetly be thankfull if anyone could have a look/help me troubleshoot it.

Car update:
1) I have paid attention and i do not for the life of me see any blue tinge to the smoke(appears pure white to me).
2) I have smelled a couple of times a very slight smell of gas on the gas when i was iddle for a couple of minutes(do not know if thats normal).
3) puffs of smoke appear to occur rarely but seems to occur when car is stopped(eg after reversing and put into drive).
4) I havent checked for engine codes( i am unfortunately not knowledgeable of automobiles at all, to my shame).

Ps: Comsumption maybe due to cold now at 19.3 liters/100km

[FlyertoTitan]

Did not observe any smoke or gases coming out as i opened the cap, done at night though and under low light conditions(using cell phone).

I dont know if this is how it should look..any input is apreciated!


I would be more than willing and thankfull if someone with high rep here took at look(i would drive to you of course and bring a bottle of wineor any other drink you imbibe)
I just dont want something major to occur with the car...

[Nick.B]

Under the oil cap looks clean enough. No gunk, no sign of excess moisture, just a light stain from long oil change intervals.

The smell of gas is odd. That shouldn't happen. It may be running extremely rich. May be a bad O2 sensor, or an exhaust leak close to the manifolds and cats.

I suggest getting a code reader. Bluetooth readers are cheap. Look for ELM327. It won't do as much as a proper K-CAN cable and BMW software, but they are handy to keep in the car, and cheap.

Second suggestion:

Originally Posted by rick100

At 110km basic tune up would probably help. Plugs. Air filter. Oil change

When I bought my 330 at 144k, it still had the original air filter from 2005.

[rick100]

Originally Posted by Nick.B

Under the oil cap looks clean enough. No gunk, no sign of excess moisture, just a light stain from long oil change intervals.

The smell of gas is odd. That shouldn't happen. It may be running extremely rich. May be a bad O2 sensor, or an exhaust leak close to the manifolds and cats.

I suggest getting a code reader. Bluetooth readers are cheap. Look for ELM327. It won't do as much as a proper K-CAN cable and BMW software, but they are handy to keep in the car, and cheap.

Second suggestion:



When I bought my 330 at 144k, it still had the original air filter from 2005.

yea but it doesnt mean much. I m on my second set of spark plugs at 130 km... I guess it also depends on how it was driven

[Nick.B]

Originally Posted by rick100

yea but it doesnt mean much. I m on my second set of spark plugs at 130 km... I guess it also depends on how it was driven

It's mostly just a lot of little hints and no substantial evidence.

[freakystyly]

Depending on your technical ability and circumstances, maybe look a bit deeper than oil filter, air filter, etc.

If you have a warm place to wrench on the car look into cleaning Vanos solenoids, MAF sensor, possibly replace O2 sensors (these things aren't too expensive to replace and are relatively easy to get to for a simple DIY). Pretty much one tool 15-20 min jobs.

Maybe even those 2 one way oil check valves on the side of the engine?

I don't know how your car is running from the description but these engines rely on good oil flow to be healthy.

[KiX1911]

Originally Posted by FlyertoTitan

Hello to all fellow Canadians in this forum!

If your ever in the Barrie area, I don't mind scanning your car and seeing what kind of codes pop up, LMK

B

[FlyertoTitan]

Hello to all
This week as really hard with all the snow and the aftermath of it.
I am ordering the elm327 Bluetooth reader tonight and will update as soon as it arrives and i have more info.

Thank you all so far, i apreciate all the info and time you guys are taking

[Pladi]

Originally Posted by FlyertoTitan

Hello to all
This week as really hard with all the snow and the aftermath of it.
I am ordering the elm327 Bluetooth reader tonight and will update as soon as it arrives and i have more info.

Thank you all so far, i apreciate all the info and time you guys are taking

That mileage is terrible. I get 10l/100km on my 335..city driving.. and 6.7 hgw. thats with a custom tune too..

Scan the car as others have said. Replace most likely labda/o2 sensors.

You can log LTFT and STFT with torque app, that will tell you alot. If you never heard of those terms then google is your friend.

There is a good video from this youtube channel.

[FlyertoTitan]

I have received the bluetooth reader.
Problem:
One of the pins on the OBD socket is damaged making the blueetooth reader not work.
What should i do?
Where should i go?
What would be the next logical step?
The snow has delayed me dealing with this issue but i want to take care of it this week.

Thank you all for any info/opinion

[KiX1911]

you could order a wired version, I could check to see if I have an extra one when I get home (Yes, I work on family day )

Do you have any errors popping up?

B

[Nick.B]

Originally Posted by FlyertoTitan

I have received the bluetooth reader.
Problem:
One of the pins on the OBD socket is damaged making the blueetooth reader not work.
What should i do?

Since you say pin, I'll assume it's on the reader. Straighten it, and try again. Or, get the seller to fix the situation.

[FlyertoTitan]

No the issue is on the car OBD port. Im 90% sure of that....i will try to take a pic tomorrow.
No errors popping up just the nearly 20liters/100 km midtown comsumption driving like a granny(nothing against grannies lol).
Its my OBD car port that seems to be damaged...
Tomorrow i will update with pics...probably easier to explain like that.

Thank you guys for the help...so appreciated! )