318i N42 engine...

[EuJax]

Hi all, Just wondering if any of you here own or have experience with this engine? Car is 4 years old, mileage at 180k, and its consuming engine oil badly, like half a tank after 3 weeks. Am actually little dissapointed with it as the last Japanese car didnt have this problem at all even at the age of 6 years old and mileage at 256k. Any thoughts? I love BMWs a lot but just a little dissapointed with how fragile the engine may be. I was told that the engine was spoiled due to the 25k mileage / service. When bought car new, was told it only needed service after 25k on the clock, followed that for the first one year and found that it isnt that smooth, stick back to old rule and change engine oil every 10k, till now. Am REALLY wondering if all that 25k thing is a trade puff by AB and other authorise dealers.... Regards

 

[Lionel_Koh]

u need to overhaul u engine .......................

 

[pswchan]

Yes, agree with Lionel, you have to rebuild it. The M42 engines are known to be lots more problematic that the M43 1.9 litre ones. I don't think the service interval is to blame. I have a 1.9 done 135k km and the oil has not reduced by one drop since new. Service interval was 20-25k km until 100k. How I change engine oil every 10-12k km just in case. However, I also changed gear oil at 100k km. Can't be for life, right? So, have a look at your gearbox as well.

 

[EuJax]

Thanks for ur advice guys...well...i know overhaul is the only way...just thought its a bit 'fragile' compare to the Japs and it sucks when i actually thought the Germans are more lasting...well maybe just for the older engines i dont know. Apparently the magnesium engines in the e90s now are also prone to consume engine oil badly...talking bout the 320i....

Anyway, this e46 is my dad's car...and i felt really bad for him as i reccomended this car to him 4 years ago. Didnt know it causes him so much trouble. At least he enjoy the drive but he had enough of workshop visits i guess...BMWs...not as strong as i thought...nice to drive and handle, not so nice to keep it well. Just my 2c.



Regards

 

[McFir7]

i m having the same car as urs..and i have the same problem at the same mileage.i think thats is the nature of that particular engine not all bmw.i nvr face this kind of thing in my other bimmer.

anyway.try to check the leaking first n the oil seperater mounted behind of the engine.that could be the cause also in n42 engine.

but the main thing of n42 engine,u cant use service interval of 25k.the most is only 10k..more than that sure ur engine will give u problem.i m still having that car since 2002 till now..

all the best bro..

 

[fabianyee]

the 25k km service interval is not applicable for our dusty and humid weather... I think I read somewhere in the forum that the Service Advisor hinted to him to perform a 'mid service interval' oil change outside..

For those who has been sticking to the 25k km service interval, good luck...

 

[EuJax]

hi McFir, thanks for sharing. I've been told that all Valvetronic engines have the same characteristic and likely to have the same problem if not well taken care, which means an oil change at no more than 10k on the clock. So how did you solve urs? Overhaul engine? And have u got any gearbox problem so far?

hi Fabianyee, you are right indeed. I was told/hint by not one, but a few service supervisor from different authorised BMW workshop that do not follow the service indication. The thing is, my dad did not use it till 25k starting from the second year, its all 10k and changed. But perhaps the first two 25k service had ruined the engine bad enough. I don know...but its sure sad to see such a beautiful car having such problem at such young age...pity pity...



Regards

 

[drmalvin]

I have the same car as yours..... same bloody problem..... change my whole engine.... got a 2nd hand engine from japan .... at kedai potong lo.... for rm 6500 and paid mechanic rm 1200 labour..... my old engine got sludge !!! due to AB recommendation of changing oil every 25,000 km........ its a disaster!!!

 

[anaksarawak]

I read on other forum that by using Mobil 1 5-50 Fully Syn plus a can of Bardahl 1 will solve the problem.

 

[McFir7]

there is few things that u can try before the last resort to open up the engine or change to another short engine..if not too much sludge build up internaly and ur compression is still good.the will be alot of unexpected cost sometime if u open up the engine.like hopes,seal, and some plastic part need to be replace as it cant be refit.check the oil seperater.gasket and the rubber seal.not many mechanic are good at this.mostly will advice u to overhaul.so try few mechanic to check first before decide to overhaul.

Mine was too late.many sludge was built up at that time.cause i left the car for my mum to use when i was out of country for a year.so she was not aware of sludge of the lost of power.as she only drive at low speed.if u in penang maybe i could help u..

 

[jeffreychung]

I got some question here ! ! Its e46 2002 , 325i with m42 engine as well ? ? ? ? I am newbie here haha . . not so sure but just wanna know anyproblems with this car ? ? / if i does need a serious check before it happens to mine T.T

 

[Mouse]

Yes, agree with Lionel, you have to rebuild it. The M42 engines are known to be lots more problematic that the M43 1.9 litre ones. I don't think the service interval is to blame. I have a 1.9 done 135k km and the oil has not reduced by one drop since new. Service interval was 20-25k km until 100k. How I change engine oil every 10-12k km just in case. However, I also changed gear oil at 100k km. Can't be for life, right? So, have a look at your gearbox as well.

yup agree, my E46 1.9l almost reaching 140,000km, mileage consider low for a 9 years car. never consume engine oil and i change them every 8000km with fully syn.

 

[kayz]

yup agree, my E46 1.9l almost reaching 140,000km, mileage consider low for a 9 years car. never consume engine oil and i change them every 8000km with fully syn.

Same as you. mine also E46 1.9 millages clock 119,500km. So far so good, no leaking or any major issues and change engine oil every 9000-9500km with Shell Helix Ultra.:driver:

 

[madnet]

Mine is a e46 YR 2000 1.9.... Mileage 150K.. Running as smooth as silk.... it all depends on how you maintain your car... If its burning engine oil, your head gaskets are burnt and due for change... just hope ur CAT is not clogged with all the engine oil that burnt away.... The longer you wait the more damage it will have to other components such as O2 sensors etc... You might have had an overheating problem for your gasket to give away so soon... good luck..


my 2 cents

 

[EuJax]

Thanks all for your advice. I am just wondering if the new e90 320/323 series have the same problem as this engine....apparently its the same, consume engine oil even in the first 2 months itself. I cannot confirm if this is true but i believe it is quite likely depends on usage. The thing is, are we suppose to be carrying a spare engine oil in our car when its a new car? Or check our oil lever every week when the car is only 1 year old? Sounds like a joke to me....maybe i was spoiled by the Japanese cars...



Regards

 

[astroboy]

... are we suppose to be carrying a spare engine oil in our car when its a new car? Or check our oil lever every week when the car is only 1 year old? Sounds like a joke to me....maybe i was spoiled by the Japanese cars...

Why r u looking for cars that's 180k km old la? Even japs car also I don't want. Unless u like rebuilding cars.. U don't like warrantied new cars meh? if cannot afford, then get something with lower mileage la.

.. by the way, there's no engine oil dipstick in the E90s, no water temperature gauge as well, u just drive and leave the fluid level check to the ECU.. :wink: Cool eh?! Go find me a Japs car that do not have engine oil dipstick and water temperature gauge, no have la.. and we don't even have spare tyres, so is that a problem? Different culture bebe!

The sludge problem in the E46 is serious, I agree with u.. and yes, it has everything to do with the long service interval. By the way, if we follow the E90 service indicator, its actually not 25k km, but 35k km!!

The high humidity in Malaysia works like an enzyme to the engine oil to transform it into sludge, follow the service indicator, u will end up in Holland! The oil engineer say its not their oil's problem, its the moist in the oil that turns the oil into sludge, which is especially bad in our climate.

 

[Juan Powerblow]

Typically, one should change oil every 12,000 kms max even for long life oil. If you're under BSRI, this should still be done or be prepared to cry in the long run.

 

[EuJax]

astroboy, i think u misunderstand a little somewhere in the thread. I wasnt looking for a 180k mileage car But thanks for sharing bout e90 specs. I have alot to learn for sure. I dont know, too many stories frm the mech makes it sound kinda scary and troublesome to own a BMW...having driven and maintaining e30, e36 and e46, seems the latter give the most problem...wonder if e90 is worst?




Regards

 

[benjichris88]

astroboy, i think u misunderstand a little somewhere in the thread. I wasnt looking for a 180k mileage car But thanks for sharing bout e90 specs. I have alot to learn for sure. I dont know, too many stories frm the mech makes it sound kinda scary and troublesome to own a BMW...having driven and maintaining e30, e36 and e46, seems the latter give the most problem...wonder if e90 is worst?




Regards

bro, my 320i e46 till now clocking 140,000km no problem at all.. service it every 8000km max..
comparing a jap car and a continental car is impossible..
and while u can afford the car u should be prepared for the worst that the car can give and make sure u can afford to maintain it..

just my 2 cents

 

[astroboy]

hehe... I always mis-understand others.. Thank you for your understanding..

You are not wrong actually to say cars are becoming more problematic/fragile compare to how there used to make cars, even the Japs are the same.

For instance, ABS and airbag warning indicators lit.. and so you say hey! why so unreliable? But they never have such things before. So are u saying you should avoid cars with ABS and airbag? How many Perdana is driven around with ABS light permanently lighted and owner just ignore it, if not unplug the indicator bulb, just because it takes RM1.8k to fix? ..and the car still stops fine..

Take a look at the growing electronics and electrical parts in a car, even the new Civic 2.0L is using electric power steering, no more belt driven hydraulic steering despite the E90 still uses belt driven hydraulic power steering.. .. but the E90 is using electric water pump and electric oil pump so engine can focus into powering the wheels than pulling all the ancillary devices... well, this is the direction for motor industry and even the Japs are following closely.

ECU problem? Then use carburetor car lor.. The Merc Kompressor has so much compressor problem but I still expect to see all future cars be equiped with it or turbo because force induction cars are more efficient car when in comes to consuming earth resources.

Foreman of course ask u to buy old models la, because new model they don't know how to fix ma..

Run Flat Tyre for instance, BMW introduce it in E90s and Mini back in 2005, and its been 4 years now. How many other manufacturer is keeping up with them?

The balance weight chassis for a 3-series is so sweet for cornering, and the stretch bonnet design with low over hang plus the kidney grille, Hoffmeister curve are candy to my eyes, "problematic" engine is secondary really.. :wink:

If you think BMW engine is problematic, go try our an Alfa..