[Laney]

56 plate
56,000 miles
remapped

My car has developed a fault. Its basically producing little to no boost.

It makes a whistling noise when accelerating hard. Its not siren load but its definitely there. If it stops the car picks up more like expected.

It occasionally works fine which is leading me to think that the turbo is fine and that I'm leaking boost elsewhere. Could it be the actuator?

Are there any pipes/hoses which I need to check?

Thanks in advance

Andrew

[Mart1000]

I doubt it if it's boosting better sometimes. I'd bet you've a boost leek through a hose. Gonna need to get your hands dirty mate

[Laney]

I can honestly say thats the best news. I have no problem with getting my hands dirty. I'm use to rebuilding engines.

Cheers

[Laney]

Any suggestions on which hose it could be? I can see the red hose at the bottom? How do I get to it?

Cheers

[Laney]

Ok, Whilst I was having a nosey under the bonnet I saw a few things and wondered what they were.

I'm assuming the right most item is the actuator arm/rod
I have no idea what the spring is.
The large item isn't fastened in place!! Anyone know what this is?

Cheers

[Dr Dave]

Working from left to right....that is a DPF pressure sensor, the nut in the middle is the clamp between the turbocharger and the DPF and the bit on the far right is the variable vane control assembly.

[pani_K3]

Boosting sometimes and not others don't sound like a boost leak but sounds more like the vanes getting stuck or the actuator sticking.

[Laney]

I've just read this and it seems very similar to my problem.

http://www.ecutesting.com/bmw_3_seri...uator_fau.html

I've just driven home this evening and for a few seconds early in the journey I seemed to have full power again. Then it just went. The car still pulls fairly well. Like a decent 3.0 diesel. Just without the turbo.

[Dr Dave]

Yeah, I'd say that was a fair bet too.Not heard of it being a problem.....you'd have thought we would have heard something about it here previously.

Well worth a call.....do let us know what the costs are.

[Laney]

Well the car is booked in Saturday morning for the fault codes reading to see what, if anything, is logged as wrong.

Hopefully I'll get a simple answer and a simple (read 'cheap') solution.

[Kreuger_]

Originally Posted by Laney

Well the car is booked in Saturday morning for the fault codes reading to see what, if anything, is logged as wrong.

Hopefully I'll get a simple answer and a simple (read 'cheap') solution.

Old thread, but having the same problem, so if u still are on this forum. What fixed the issue?

[nomiS330d]

My mate was having similar problems with his e60 530d but the lack of power was permanent. Also the car was smoking heavily. He took me for a spin in it and very quickly I could hear the whistling. Turned out the pipe that comes out of the intercooler into the maf sensor had a massive split in it! We gaffer taped the hell out of it just see him on until the new pipe turned up which worked a treat. He was getting the engine management light on. So, any lack of power accompanied by a whistle usually indicates a boost leak somewhere. The only way to diagnose is to inspect all the pipes from the turbo through the intercooler and out to the maf. Hopefully you’ll find a nice obvious split.

[Tambohamilton]

If the lack of power is intermittent, then it's unlikely it's a boost leak... It's more likely to be the actuator sticking or something. Can you get the codes read?