[blueh88]

Originally Posted by Felippe

My RH side leak wasn't from the manifold gaskets but from the swirl flap seals (yes, original swirl flaps still in place) and they were all leaking loads. Cleaned them up, resealed them with high temp silicone, all good now.

Attachment 1913989

Ah cool, good to see a close up. Thank you. I will post back with some pics of my own once I get round to it!

[blueh88]

Originally Posted by smithy15493

Hey, how easy/difficult is it to install that entertainment unit? My 320d is stock with the radio and looking to get a good screen in there instead, do you get all the parts/instructions when you order?

Fairly straight forward. It is easier than getting an "off-the-shelf" headunit as this one had custom connectors specific to the E90. You need to purchase the DAB dongle separate but other than that, everything else comes with it. As I've mentioned, the DAB signal with the glass mount aerial is shocking so will definitely need a better one. Alternatively, I would recommend using internet radio. I just have my phone wifi hotspot switched on as soon as I sit in my car, so when the headunit boots up, it connects automatically to my phone wifi. Therefore full internet access on the unit. Spotify, YouTube Music, Radioplayer all work extremely well and has sort of made DAB obsolete for me. I have a big enough data plan (16GB per month) to last me the month without issue.

[blueh88]

Originally Posted by rasa bmw

didnt trust the cheaper ones,,i paid £40...and the blanks etc are getting fitted by a mechanic you does remaps for gbw tuning,,gets data logged etc and sent to gbw..cannot wait for the remap,,and this is why im also getting box serviced,,hes also doing all vac lines and dpf for £400 he works offshore so its 4 weeks until i get this work done,,he was a full time ,echanic and agent for glen wilding of gbw tuning,,he is very well respected on facebook forums,,i was going to get this done with my gearbox service,but the guy doinbg it uses celtic tuning remaps,,and i wasnt keen on getting one from them,,this is the kit i got..have a read in description of the gaskets,,these are reinz or elring originalhttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6X-33MM-FO...872.m2749.l264

Fair enough. Yeah they do look good.

[blueh88]

Okay, so have received the red boost pipe. Looks good quality and much superior than OEM. Not got round to fitting it yet, but I was just having a fiddle as I thought that the leak seems much heavier than just weeping out of this deteriorated pipe. I removed the turbo air intake pipe and what do you know...LOTS of oil coming out! This is most certainly the main culprit! Now, as I understand there should be some oil within the turbo, but I thought only a light coating. This seems excessive to me. Have a look:




The turbo housing is covered where it has splattered everywhere. The seal between the pipe and turbo inlet isn't worn but is quite easy to slip on. I guess this should be sufficient if everything was running properly but isn't designed to seal against this much oil.
What do you guys think? Turbo needs a rebuild?

[rasa bmw]

that just looks like oil over a long period,,it just accumilates and looks far worse than it is,,although it is leaking,,new seals

[blueh88]

Originally Posted by rasa bmw

that just looks like oil over a long period,,it just accumilates and looks far worse than it is,,although it is leaking,,new seals

Yeah it probably isn't as bad and you're right, it is over time. I have been getting whiteish smoke from the exhaust which makes sense now and there is some play in the turbine shaft.

If I was to do anything I would at least get it out and have it refurbished, especially due to the play in the shaft.. I even thought of going down the hybrid route but then that would need a new FMIC and downpipe and remap...so we taking big bucks. Tempting though ha.

How hard is it to get the turbo out does anyone know?

[rasa bmw]

doing all that wouldnt make sense,,would be better off selling and getting a 335d for the amount it would cost for hybrid etc,,if its goosed just send it off to one of the turbo specialists,,rebuild i think is around £300,,but for extra can get it beefed up

[blueh88]

Yeah like I said, big money.
Although, thinking about it, I don't think I could sell mine and get a decent condition 335d for the same amount as upgrading mine. It'll cost me what, about £2-3k to get all that work done and have it running around 360bhp AND the knowledge it is all nice and fresh.
I could part-ex for a 335d but it would cost me much, much more than £2k and not including any impending issues down the line.
Anyway, we won't get into that debate of modding vs. buying a faster version. That is purely opinionated and each to their own. I personally love the modifying root as there is a lot of satisfaction to be had in making something better (subjectively speaking).

[rasa bmw]

yeh,,i got my 335d pretty cheap for a 95k mile car with full service history£4900 private sale,,its a space grey e92 se with shadow line trim around windows etc,,style 189 wheels which i love,,,car runs great,,but i knew the box hadnt been servivced,,so looked for a car which was around the 5k mark,,he had it up for sale for 6k,,then dropped it to £5500..then i struck ha ha,,

[blueh88]

Here is a video of the compressor shaft play.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/kk9oqZmmLn1s9k3z7

[blueh88]

Also, it seems as if the oil is actually coming from the breather. The shaft play in the turbo doesn't seem that bad and the oil seems to be from "this" side and not from within.
There is a thick coating within the breather pipe.
I know there is a lot of controversy on the type of breather there should be and has been used on older cars. Mine has the diaphragm type I think? It was changed not that long ago but I will be checking it again!

[rasa bmw]

Originally Posted by blueh88

Also, it seems as if the oil is actually coming from the breather. The shaft play in the turbo doesn't seem that bad and the oil seems to be from "this" side and not from within.
There is a thick coating within the breather pipe.
I know there is a lot of controversy on the type of breather there should be and has been used on older cars. Mine has the diaphragm type I think? It was changed not that long ago but I will be checking it again!

bmw tech who is working on my car as we speak said its best to have an old loo roll filter in the vortex breather,,also said the breather hose needs a cable tie on the end as he said it seeps out from there..

[blueh88]

Originally Posted by rasa bmw

bmw tech who is working on my car as we speak said its best to have an old loo roll filter in the vortex breather,,also said the breather hose needs a cable tie on the end as he said it seeps out from there..

Interesting...but then doesn't that introduce quicker clogging of the filter? Also, if the hose at the end is leaking, it means that there is too much oil coming back into the pipework...I understand there will be some, but with mine there is enough to cause leaks out the bottom of the hose in my picture that attaches to the intake of the turbo.

[blueh88]

Just took apart the breather and all seems to be in good working order. Whoever says it's just an empty box is wrong - it has a rubber diaphragm in it which deflects dependent on positive/negative pressure within the crankcase and separates the oil. I'm not sure how effective this is compared to the others though.
Thinking of the worst, it must be something within the engine which must be causing excessive pressure and hence causing more oil than normal to pass through....dunno just thinking out loud.

[rasa bmw]

i used to clean the loo roll in an mgzt cdti i had..320d engine in them,,id replace with a new one,,then the cleaned one would get put in next time,,just swap them over..my e46 had the vortex cartridge

[Andy198712]

I’m seriously considering an oil catch can.

[rasa bmw]

Originally Posted by Andy198712

I’m seriously considering an oil catch can.

cannot do no harm like

[blueh88]

Originally Posted by Andy198712

I’m seriously considering an oil catch can.

Yeah was reading up on this...seen a few threads too but not sure what would be a good complete install kit for our engine?

[rasa bmw]

personally dont see the need if car is running fine,,but i think something is a miss with yours,,keep us updated on the turbo,,every car ive ever owned has never had a turbo problem..

[blueh88]

Originally Posted by rasa bmw

personally dont see the need if car is running fine,,but i think something is a miss with yours,,keep us updated on the turbo,,every car ive ever owned has never had a turbo problem..

Yeah, like there must be something else if there is that much oil.
Yeah will do - what do you make of the shaft play in the video I posted?

[rasa bmw]

yeh a bit of play..but i dont really know what is acceptable,,and at what stage of play it would cause probs..

[blueh88]

Originally Posted by rasa bmw

yeh a bit of play..but i dont really know what is acceptable,,and at what stage of play it would cause probs..

I spoke to someone who said that any play at all in and out is bad and any play bigger than 0.5mm one way or the other as I was wiggling it is bad...can't gauge if that wiggle I'm doing is bigger than that..