[32-BOY]

I started my car up this morning and a friend of mine noticed that there is some smoke on startup...car has had dpf removed and its been re-mapped.

Is it turbo on its way out, is it the map, or is it the egr ?

Video of the cold startup.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rlFTbtT8EQ

[Aragorn30d]

Could be various things. Bad glow plugs, bad injectors, valve stem oil seals, turbo etc.

If it doesnt smoke when hot its probably not the turbo.

[Yoxall]

Could be glow plugs. That will give blue smoke on start up.

Get it plugged in for faults it will show up if any of your glow plugs are down.

I had a 330d e90 and the turbo seals were weeping mine had blue smoke and oil smell from exhaust, after a drive leave it ticking over and see if you get any blue smoke. If you do then that is probably turbo. Is it using much oil?

Hopefully it's glow plugs quite cheap to fix.

[Yoxall]

Sorry Aragorn beat me to it, he's spot on.

[32-BOY]

So I think I'm going to replace the plugs....beru or bosch? Also do I need to replace the controller aswell or just the plugs?

[Yoxall]

Beru are OEM i got mine from euro car parts they sell the control unit think it was around £60 glow plugs were about 6-8 each.

So around £100 excluding labour also while your doing that it's always worth giving everything a good inspection vac hoses, breather and hose, and swirl flaps if you still have them.

[32-BOY]

OK so i replaced the glow plugs and its still smoking...do i need to replace the oil breather filter? i believe i have the later type of filter that i have attached in the photo, do they still need replacing? its my last port of call before i check the turbo

[Yoxall]

Did you change the glow plug control unit?

Have you plugged the car into a diagnostic to make sure all the glow plugs are functioning?

If you have no receipts for the breather and pipe being fitted to the car in the last 2years/40k miles then for the price of it I would change it.

What's your mileage and has your oil been changed everytime less than 15k also has your air filter been changed? They are pig to get to on the 330d and dealers/garages are known for ticking the box saying it's done when it's not.

My old e90 330d the oil seals on the turbo were going at 95k, bought at 90k full history the turbos do go on them before I bought it the previous owner had issues with the dpf and did a few forced regens and then eventually he had it remapped and dpf removed, which in hindsight is a no no for a turbos life and I should not of bought it knowing that forced dpf regens had been done.

I sold it on lived and learnt.

[32-BOY]

Ok soo today had it plugged it no faults were found...spoke to mechanic doing the fault check and he said if anything was faulty it would come up, i have no receipts for the filter as i have just checked.

Full service has been done after we agreed the deal so its been done few weeks ago oil all filter i have blanked the flaps and checked the air filter...and it all seems new tomorrow i will check the oil breather, anything to watch out for?

I might have a look at the actual turbo tomorrow and maybe get some photos.

Car drives faultlessly and no smoke is present after the initial start up, also if its warm and i start it up no smoke either.

DPF was removed at 20,000 and its been remapped its now at 80k not sure weather it had any forced re-gens

[Aragorn30d]

was the fault codes checked with proper BMW tools, or a generic OBD reader?

The generic tools seem to miss a lot of codes on these cars.

[32-BOY]

Generic tool bluepoint

[32-BOY]

Right so i had the car plugged in to a proper diagnostics no codes...so im guessing its the turbo

Anyone had any experience with rebuilding the turbo with one of these ?




Any advice much appreciated.


Thanks

[Aragorn30d]

i dunno what that is, but if its one of the cheapy ebay CHRA's it probably wont last 5 minutes.

Either buy a genuine garrett core, or have it rebuilt by someone reputable.

[32-BOY]

Any recommendations on the rebuild?

[Aragorn30d]

does it smoke when hot? If not, i wouldnt be suggesting the turbo.

[mattp1986]

Originally Posted by Aragorn30d

does it smoke when hot? If not, i wouldnt be suggesting the turbo.

I would second that one. I was told by a few mechanic friends that a bit of bluey/white smoke on an unfiltered diesel is pretty normal. Especially on a cold start. Wouldn't go throwing money away rebuilding turbos etc, when there may be nothing wrong at all.

[dragerboy]

Hi all,

This my first post on here and hoping it will be a good source of information and help with my E90 330D.

I too have started to get this type of blue smoke on cold start up. Strangely it doesn't happen everytime. Also with a friend following me on a 30 minute slow drive he stated that after the first 2-3 minutes of driving there is no more blue smoke.

I have been told to look at the breather system? I know I have a couple of glow plugs that are faulty. I also know my thermostats are not getting to temperature.

[mattp1986]

Originally Posted by dragerboy

Hi all,

This my first post on here and hoping it will be a good source of information and help with my E90 330D.

I too have started to get this type of blue smoke on cold start up. Strangely it doesn't happen everytime. Also with a friend following me on a 30 minute slow drive he stated that after the first 2-3 minutes of driving there is no more blue smoke.

I have been told to look at the breather system? I know I have a couple of glow plugs that are faulty. I also know my thermostats are not getting to temperature.

I'd get the breather and glow plugs changed out, if it still does it after that I wouldn't worry too much. If it's doing it when warm then that's time to worry but on a non dpf diesel I think a little smoke on a cold start is to be expected really.

[dragerboy]

Im going to be doing the breather first. I've heard changing the glow plugs is not a DIY job?

[mattp1986]

Originally Posted by dragerboy

Im going to be doing the breather first. I've heard changing the glow plugs is not a DIY job?

No its not an easy one, I wouldn't attempt it myself. An indie garage would prob do it for 2 hours labour.

[dragerboy]

It seems a lot of people replace the control unit first? If when using INPA etc and it says 2 glow plugs are faulty could it still be the control unit?

Will do the breather change myself. Have fitted a new airfilter which is right tedious pain in the... on the 330D. Wish I had known about the breather system then lol.

[mattp1986]

Originally Posted by dragerboy

It seems a lot of people replace the control unit first? If when using INPA etc and it says 2 glow plugs are faulty could it still be the control unit?

Will do the breather change myself. Have fitted a new airfilter which is right tedious pain in the... on the 330D. Wish I had known about the breather system then lol.

Yeah it could be. Most people ive spoken to have said to get them all done and the controller while the manifold is off. You may as well, as your probably paying more in labour than the price of plugs and a controller anyway. Thats what im doing with mine soon. Might even be worth blanking the swirl flaps while your in there lol.