Greydog

Morning Gary It should have insulation under the Bonnet bare metal will suffer with temperature changes particularly as we move into cooler evenings which will cause condensation to form. Dave

Morning Martin Welcome to the Forum BMW 320d 2.0 Diesel N47D20A 2007 to 2009 and the BMW 320d 2.0 Diesel N47D20C 2009 to 2012 were where the main issues surfaced. As I understand the issue was with the crankshaft sprocket being defective which damaged the chain which if left then snapped. While the number of Engine failures was significant enough to cause the press and others to report on it which gave the impression that all BMW's were falling to bits. However when you look at the actual numbers of these engines that were produced against the failure rate while it wasn't good for BMW it was well below recall levels. My assessment is that a defective part coupled with extended service intervals and an owner base that are not mechanically minded meant initial indicators were missed ending in rapid total failure. Having said that a friend of our eldest son is now on his 3rd 120d all in the year group that is "at risk" his first was high miles when he brought it he had it 3 years and traded it with over 200k (I persuaded him to do regular Oil and Filter changes, every 5k) His second one he stuck to the 5k oil change routine which has made him more aware of his car (noises etc) he had lots of initial Turbo issues (sticky actuator and vanes) eventually we fitted a refurbished turbo, he traded the car with just shy of 200k and currently has a 2012 120d and so far so good. (by the way our youngest son is 40 so these aren't kids any more) As the car you have is on 61k and running well I would adopt a frequent inspection oil and filter change policy rather than the extended BMW schedule. Unfortunately there is no way of knowing if your car has an issue but as most seem to have shown up quite early in the cars lives fingers crossed your OK Enjoy your Beemer Dave

Afternoon Stewart If you had the gauges and they give the information you need then why not If you have an old lap top the BMW 1.4.0 as a diagnostic program should give you everything you need and on the plus side its Cheap about £15 I use it on all Ibus based BMW's it allows re-setting of all Fault codes plus it will give access to all control units. If after 2008 vintage then INPA?ISTA is the go to both programs give Dealer level information and access. Enjoy Dave

Morning Andrew First when a car throws a fault code sometimes it is a Symptom of the fault not the actual cause of the fault. Companies such as Carly have access to all the Generic BMW codes which is what your seeing. As an example my X5 is currently showing a Fault with a General scanner which comes up as PDC failure the in car system has 8 sensors (4 front 4 rear) plus the control unit, what is the cause or do you throw money at "expensive sensors" ? INPA and BMW 1.4.0 both tell me the fault code but also identify the fault as Rear Centre Right PDC Sensor at fault. So the specific program has narrowed the fault from the system to a single sensor, but as an engineer I test the sensor either with a tester or simple swap it for the one next door if the problem moves it is the sensor if not it will be with the loom or connector. So before buying sensors I test all the things that could cause the issue and even then see if I can repair it first. Now to your car while you tell us it is a 2008 5 series Touring I have guessed at 2.0d as the engine which will have an O2 sensor and temperature sensor on the DPF with a second temp sensor just ahead of the Cat. If it is the 6 cylinder 2.5d you will have an O2 sensor and 2 temp sensors on the DPF I would expect the 3.0d to be the same. I would still test the sensors before "Throwing Money" at it even with an accurate diagnosis. One thing I have learned through our sons Toyota Pickup is after an EGR clean and DPF regen (he carries out lots of short journeys for his work) it needs an oil and filter change it really makes a difference to the length of time before the next occurrence INPA/ISTA is BMW Dealer level diagnostics plus it contains TIS (Technical Information System) which explains how too change parts. Just always remember a thermometer will tell you your temperature but not why it is High or Low. that always needs a bit of detective work. Even Dealers fall into the trap of believing the Diagnostic Screen and changing parts as it isn't their money? Often they are working under Warranty sometimes it is the Customer paying rarely the Dealer. So if you like your BMW and want to keep it, the invest in a good Diagnostic program. My old Lap Top has programs for VW, Mercedes, Volvo, BMW, Toyota and Subaru on it plus I have a Generic reader for the odd Mazda, Ford or Peugeot that turns up on the driveway that belong to family friends and neighbours. But then I am an Old Bloke with a need to know and enjoy BIY Mechanics. Dave

Morning Stewart What are you trying to achieve by fitting a vacuum gauge ? You have the MPG gauge already fitted surely a vacuum gauge will only convert that to numbers ? Stirring up the old grey matter there were blanked off ports on the back of the inlet manifold which would be my choice, have a feel Dave

Morning Tony Welcome to the Forum Congratulations on the X1 (which Model) Remember the old saying "A Little Knowledge is a Dangerous thing" well reading a Forum is a little like that. First by the nature of the beast you see issues and problems posted here some for help and some just to vent their frustration. Most posts deal with cars out of warranty and poor maintenance practices. BMW are no worse than any other manufacturer in terms of reliability. As an OLD engineer with an inquisitive nature I have always had a "Need to Know" how stuff works and have never accepted the "sealed for life change the whole unit" approach, while it may be more efficient for Franchised Dealers their young technicians have never learned how to actually fix things. So for those of us who like the challenge of actually fixing things there are places like this. Look on the Forum as a great big pool that we can all fish in for knowledge when we need it, sometimes for support, an sometimes for help in repairs. So here is my BMW experience 1st BMW a 4.4 X5 brought in 2001 converted to LPG a great car that unfortunately got squashed by a falling tree in 2004 I replaced it with the current 4.6is X5 now at 160k and last Thursday a 300+mile round trip without a blink. Like all volume car makers BMW engineers are compromised by their production engineers and accountants. We have to reach the stratospheric area of Bentley, Aston, Rolls Royce etc where the design is the design and the cost is the cost yet even they have occasional hiccups. So don't worry ENJOY your X1 Dave

Hi Gary Welcome to the Forum Obviously general engine condition has to be considered/ What mileage and which engine? There are a lot of "Could Be's" so you really need a Diagnostic session. First thought is check the fuel pump fuses and relay but it could be a sensor ?? Dave

Hi Andrew You should have 2 O2 sensors one on the DPF and one after the DPF so they can measure the difference between exhaust gas entering the DPF and leaving Testing An O2 sensor will cycle between 0.10 to 0.90 or almost 1 volt. An O2 sensor has to reach the 0.8x Volts amplitude mark while at full operation. An O2 sensor also has to reach the 0.1x Volts amplitude mark while at full operation. (Full operation means the engine is fully warmed up, O2 sensor above the 600 deg. If the sensors are OK then the DPF may need cleaning or a forced regeneration cycle if you do a regeneration cycle or clean the DPF do an Oil and Filter change as well As for the program ISTA/INPA will be the one to go for there is plenty of online help setting it up so no worries Dave

Morning Andrew Have you checked the O2 sensors ? While Carly is good it is nowhere near as acurate as BMW 1.4.0 or ISTA?INPA What exactly is the Aircon problem ? Does it work? When was it last checked ? Dave

Morning Roger Sorry to burst your bubble but no pressure release valve. The cooling system is a sealed system take a look at www.realoem.com either select your model or put the last7 digits of your Vin into the search box. Then search the relevant section, it will show you the parts and where they fit. My guess would be a hose or "O"ring split and low coolant level maybe a gasket (water pump or thermostat seal) If the system was full there would be signs of a leak somewhere (white residue) around or near the leak. Dave

Morning Mando Yes I thought there was a dipstick on your model not obvious hidden down the side of the engine. I just don't understand why manufacturers are so hell bent on making everything sensor driven when we know they will degrade/suffer/break given time while a dipstick ??? Hey Ho Dave

Just one word Kenny HERO Dave

Morning Andrew For your fault with the rear air flow adjustment Check the pop out the plugs and clean the contacts also check the earth feed. What does your Carly say ? Dave

Morning Mando On the brother inlaws 535d touring the onboard system adjusts it's self so you should be fine, always check with the dipstick though Dave

Morning Andrew The "Stratification Wheel" (BMW speak for air control wheel) you should have 2 on the dash and the rear ones are on the back of the arm rest between the front seats. Not all models had the rear seat vents (which will make them hard to find) Fingers crossed on the AUC sensor Dave

Morning Kevin Welcome John has said most of it above, History History is important plus make sure everything works as it should press every button and switch. If you get the "Easy Fix, only £20 on Ebay" for anything not working, ask yourself why ?? If it's that simple hasn't it been done? Obviously Dealer Purchase gives more protection but Private purchase can give great savings and more room to negotiate. Dave

Morning Dave Welcome to the Forum Your local BMW Dealer would be my first port of call for New I would also contact some of the BMW Specialist Breakers (I have used Quarry Motors with great success in the past) Dave

Morning Adam Welcome to the Forum First has your car got standard Hydro power steering or Active power steering? If you have standard steering it could be the pump or the rack ? If you have active steering the pump and rack are different and you have a Control unit. Take a look at www.realoem.com put the last 7 digits of your Vin number in the search box and it will call up your model, then check the steering section. If you have active steering check the fusses and any relays. Dave

Morning Philip No apologies required, the suspension on your Beemer is either "Standard" "M sport" or full M series or Hard, Harder and Very Hard. Some of the newer cars have adjustable dampers which are controlled from the drivers seat by a switch (normally 3 settings) Your suspension is adjustable for alignment front and rear so advice is always have a 4 wheel alignment after new tyres. Call me a cynic but first Space Saver spare were introduced not just by BMW but all manufacturers soon adopted it. Lets be honest it doesnt save a lot of space but it does save the manufacturer a load of cash when you compare the costs of a Full alloy an tyre against a Space saver. Then the Tyre manufacturers came up with Run Flats initially from a safety angle as cars were maintaining consistent high speeds on Motorways. Great Idea. Now the manufacturers could not only save the cost of a spare but also the Jack and Wheel brace !! No one considers that if a run flat tyre is as it says "run flat" the side wall integrity will be compromised needing replacement even if the tread is in perfect condition (or may be they did?? Cynic again) The saving grace is you can fit standard tyres to a runflat wheel Dave

Hi Munieb Welcome to the Forum Check the Sale of Goods Act 1079 and it's amendments in 2015. You have more power than you realise. If you are leasing the car have you imformed the lease company, or Hire Purchase company. I would put everything in writing be careful to get the time frame itemised as in, when you first noticed it, when you first reported it and the result after each Dealer Visit. Use phrases like "time is now of the essence" to get a resolution, or "in it's current condition the car is unsuitable for purpose" Send your letter by Email and snail mail to the Dealer MD and copy BMW UK customer services tell them the car as it is is dangerous Goo luck Dave

I would not rely on the Internet, as depending where you look you will get confusing numbers. Baur converted cars across the range 316 up to the 325ix, they also carried out "customer conversions" so not just chassis supplied to them by BMW but cars brought by customers as two door coupe's. Only Baur will have all the Chassis numbers. From what I read the total for 325ix conversions were 114 over the period that Baur were doing the work for BMW. The letter with the car indicates that it is a genuine car and in 2003 was in Sweden could be a great find. Go direct to BMW Classic Register and Baur they will have the information. A quick search showed Total Baur production was 10,865 in Europe, and 3,561 in South Africa. This was broken down into the following quantities: 316: 1362 316i: 1805 318i: 2377 318iS: 97 320i: 2538 323i: 1660 325e: 430 325i: 481 325iX: 114 Of these, 1806 units were delivered to the UK. Hope this helps Dave

Morning Charley1 Welcome to the Forum Have you asked BMW UK ? There is also the possibility of some of the BMW Coachbuilders and Tuners such as Alpina or Baur having parts. One thing is for sure it won't be cheap to get it right Good Luck with the search Dave

Morning Jan Welcome to the Forum Baur as you are probably aware are a Coach work Company who worked with BMW in the 80's to produce soft top versions of the E30. The conversion wasn't cheap, cost was around £4k in the early 80's !! From what I have read due to the cost there were a number of attempts by others as well as some DIY efforts before BMW started to produce their in house models in the 90's The 325ix was top of the range in the 80's so there would have been less produced in total, and even less going to Baur for conversion. That would indicate to me a rare car indeed BMW have a Classic Register (send them the Vin) You could also try Baur direct they also will have a Register of every car they converted Good luck Dave

Hi Graham I found a decent 1/4 drive socket set wich is small enough and skinny enough to get in at the two holding nuts was the answer. And yes it is a job that rates 5 * on the PITA list 😂 While you can reach the thing from above it was necessary to get at nuts from below so under trays off and car on stands front wheel off helps (well it did me) Dave

Hi Graham Did this job early this year on a friend of the family's 320d same year as yours. He brought Beru (OEM) Glow plug controller and 4 glow plugs if memory serves £120 He brought the controller following advice from his garage (BMW Specialist) who were booked up and couldn't fit it in for weeks. We had one reluctant glow plug but some heat and plenty of Freeze and Release penetrating fluid and the little devil gave up in the end. Like you poor starting and smoke at start up now first time every time and he swears it's quieter ?? Dave