[N57]

Hi Everyone,

If all goes well today I will be the owner of a 2010 E92 325D M Sport Auto. The cars is currently sat on 95k, and has FSH (BNW/Inde).

The service book states the motors had 6 oil/filter changes at the following mileage:
- 19.9k
- 37k
- 62k
- 69k
- 76k
- 89k

According to the service book the fuel filter was changed only once, however I am confirming this by ringing an inde/dealer

My main question is anything I can do in terms of 'preventative maintenance' as I will be keeping the car for quite a while?
I was thinking of cleaning the EGR, is this a relatively easy DIY Job?

Thanks
Reece

[Silver Streek]

Hi Reece

Give it a good service with new oil and filter, also air filter and pollen filter, for peace of mind that you know it's definitely been done. Is yours an M57 engine or the later N57 engine. If it's the N57 maybe think about removing the swirl flaps. The M57 325d doesn't have them. Other than that just keep everything serviced that should be serviced. Cleaning the EGR is a good idea. You can have the EGR function mapped out to stop it working, the ECU then just keeps it permanently closed, so no gunk going through your engine. No need to do a physical delete.

My advice is do NOT stick to BMW's 18k oil service intervals, they are a bad idea. Change the oil every 10k or once every year if your mileage is less than 10k per year. Old oil can contribute to timing chain issues.

The BMW 6 cylinder engines are pretty good when kept well maintained so hopefully you will have many pleasant miles of driving in your new purchase.

[sirleeofroy]

No Need to remove the swirl flaps on the N57, their design is completely different from the M57 flaps and I am yet to see a report of them grenading an engine...

Mine are still installed and intact at 132K...

That said, removing them on the N57 is easy enough and does not require blanking plates. There's a good guide here on the forum.

EGR can be cleaned but is a bit of a pain to get out due to the cooler, personally, I would have it mapped so it stays closed.

[Silver Streek]

One other thing I forgot to mention is enquire as to whether or not the autobox has been serviced. BMW state the fluid doesn't need changing, ZF the autobox manufacturer however state it should have an oil and filter change every 60k. If you intend to keep the car for a good while I would keep this in mind. A colleague at work had an auto X5 that did 120k and the box had never had an oil change. It failed due to the oil contamination in the box. I'm sure there are plenty of people on here with high mileage autos that have never had an oil change and are working fine, but it's one of those overlooked service items.

[N57]

Thanks for you replies, the cars got the N57 engine. In terms of the EGR, can it be mapped out by carly or will I have to take it to a inde. I’ll give it an oil change this weekend. I was also thinking of giving changing the fuel filter, can I do this myself or is it best left to the garage.

I may be thinking of remaking the car once I’m used to the power (coming from a 116i aha), is there a long term effect on the engine/gearbox from this? I’ve read the auto can handle more torque.

Thanks
Reece

[sirleeofroy]

Originally Posted by reeceu8

Thanks for you replies, the cars got the N57 engine. In terms of the EGR, can it be mapped out by carly or will I have to take it to a inde. I’ll give it an oil change this weekend. I was also thinking of giving changing the fuel filter, can I do this myself or is it best left to the garage.

I may be thinking of remaking the car once I’m used to the power (coming from a 116i aha), is there a long term effect on the engine/gearbox from this? I’ve read the auto can handle more torque.

Thanks
Reece

The N57 is a pretty damn good engine, the EGR would have to mapped out at the ECU level so can only be done when remapping the car. Carly cannot do this I'm afraid.

Oil and all filter change is a good idea, the fuel filter is easy enough to get to once the plastic undertrays have been removed. I watched my indy do it and he had a bit of trouble getting the new fuel filter on. He said it was a super snug fit and eventually got it on... Might be worth getting that done for you!

As for remapping, your engine will remap the same as the 330D as the N57 is exactly the same hardware-wise in both the 330D and 325D, unlike the older M57 units. This means your motor will map to 300+ bhp easily, the automatic gearbox will take that easily too. Plenty of forum members with the same setup so no need to worry.

If you can get it down to BW Chiptune near Heathrow, that'll probably be the best thing you do (besides the servicing of course!)

[N57]

Originally Posted by sirleeofroy

The N57 is a pretty damn good engine, the EGR would have to mapped out at the ECU level so can only be done when remapping the car. Carly cannot do this I'm afraid.

Oil and all filter change is a good idea, the fuel filter is easy enough to get to once the plastic undertrays have been removed. I watched my indy do it and he had a bit of trouble getting the new fuel filter on. He said it was a super snug fit and eventually got it on... Might be worth getting that done for you!

As for remapping, your engine will remap the same as the 330D as the N57 is exactly the same hardware-wise in both the 330D and 325D, unlike the older M57 units. This means your motor will map to 300+ bhp easily, the automatic gearbox will take that easily too. Plenty of forum members with the same setup so no need to worry.

If you can get it down to BW Chiptune near Heathrow, that'll probably be the best thing you do (besides the servicing of course!)

Thanks for your reply, I bought it earlier today, did get a notification on iDrive, that there was too much oil in the engine so I've booked in oil filter change on Thursday.

I'll ask my inde about the EGR / fuel filter and I'll wait until funds allow a remap.

[rasa bmw]

too much oil could be dpf problem,,ie fuel goes into engine and and raises oil level.should go to exhaust to burn soot

[N57]

Originally Posted by rasa bmw

too much oil could be dpf problem,,ie fuel goes into engine and and raises oil level.should go to exhaust to burn soot

I've checked the oil with the dipstick. When the stick is fully "locked in" the oil is above the maximum. However when I put the dipstick back in without locking it in it reads half? If that makes sense

Which would be more reliable source?

[rasa bmw]

locking it all the way in is the way i measure the oil on both my 330d and 335d,,and as i do my own oil changes,,i know how much comes out and what goes in,,,7.5 litres is the norm which it takes etc

[N57]

Originally Posted by rasa bmw

locking it all the way in is the way i measure the oil on both my 330d and 335d,,and as i do my own oil changes,,i know how much comes out and what goes in,,,7.5 litres is the norm which it takes etc

Thanks for clarification mate,
Booked in at an inde to get it changed

[blues n twos]

Keep an eye on the running temps via the hidden menu. YouTube will show you the way.

If the thermostats go bad and there are two, main engine and EGR, the engine will run cool and over fuel giving poor mpg and over time the DPF will get sorted up and you’ll go into limp mode. The engine needs to get to about 90 degrees to generate DPF burns. I have a 325d and get on average 45 mpg. When I bought it it was showing 29mpg.

The engine was only running at about 70 degrees.

Jon

[N57]

Originally Posted by blues n twos

Keep an eye on the running temps via the hidden menu. YouTube will show you the way.

If the thermostats go bad and there are two, main engine and EGR, the engine will run cool and over fuel giving poor mpg and over time the DPF will get sorted up and you’ll go into limp mode. The engine needs to get to about 90 degrees to generate DPF burns. I have a 325d and get on average 45 mpg. When I bought it it was showing 29mpg.

The engine was only running at about 70 degrees.

Jon

I did notice the mpg was running a little low so I will go into the hidden menu tomorrow to have a look cheers Jon

[N57]

Just a quick update, got the oil changed - so it's not running high anymore. However I have noticed yesterday and today the engines idling a little lumpy during cold starts, only for a minute or so. I've researched and looks towards changing the EGR, however, my inde said it'll need new plugs and a relay. Are these common on the n57 motors?

[nick46]

Yep very common! I just had to do the relay on mine. No need to remove the manifold to get to it on the N57 either. Its fiddly but possible. My mate took about 15-20 mins to do mine.

[sirleeofroy]

Originally Posted by nick46

Yep very common! I just had to do the relay on mine. No need to remove the manifold to get to it on the N57 either. Its fiddly but possible. My mate took about 15-20 mins to do mine.

+1

The Glow Plug controller is known to cause exactly this issue, as nick46 says, bit of a pig to do but doable!

[rasa bmw]

Originally Posted by blues n twos

Keep an eye on the running temps via the hidden menu. YouTube will show you the way.

If the thermostats go bad and there are two, main engine and EGR, the engine will run cool and over fuel giving poor mpg and over time the DPF will get sorted up and you’ll go into limp mode. The engine needs to get to about 90 degrees to generate DPF burns. I have a 325d and get on average 45 mpg. When I bought it it was showing 29mpg.

The engine was only running at about 70 degrees.

Jon

think he has only one stat ie main one,,sure lci cars only had one

[rasa bmw]

if you can live with a little lumpy start then its fine,,,,but if dpf needs regen because of some other symptom,,then it cannot be forced into a regen,,unless the codes are cleared as they pop up while driving car and forcing a regan,,bit complicated i know but jsut in casee you had dpf probs

[N57]

Thankss, I'll wait for a quote from my indy and then see what's the best option.

[N57]

Originally Posted by reeceu8

Thankss, I'll wait for a quote from my indy and then see what's the best option.

Got a quote for all 6 glow plugs and controller including labour and vat £560.
I have also started hearing another noise, there seems to be a metallic whining noise when the car is in park or neutral, however not in drive. Dosent seem to come from the engine when I stand in front of it however when I listen towards to drivers front wheel the noise is heard? Could this be a transmission problem? The car pulls and changes normally. Im starting to think I've bought someone's problem...

[Silver Streek]

Did you buy the car privately, if you bought it from a garage take it back and let them sort it.

[N57]

Originally Posted by Silver Streek

Did you buy the car privately, if you bought it from a garage take it back and let them sort it.

I bought it from used car dealer. I told him about the glow plugs and it idling lumpy and he basically he's not wanting to pay for it to get repaired. So the option I have is to get a full refund although I've just put a service on it