E83 X3 3.0d 2006 155,000mls total failure

[rockwell]

Good Morning all,

I have recently been experiencing rough idle and some vibration at low revs, also strong smell of diesel and blueish smoke from the exhaust.
I had a leak off test done locally and all seemed ok except one leak off bottle had a bit more fuel than the other five.

Over the past few days I noticed a dull "ratatattat" sound immediately followed by a large plume of white smoke from the exhaust. It happened again last night as I turned the ignition key, I made a few hundred yards and had a complete shutdown, engine off and every red light lit up. Luckily I was able to pull over on to a verge. The breakdown service guy said unlikely to be a head gasket as usually there would be overheating so most probably injectors / fuel system? Local garages around here in rural Suffolk don't have good diagnostics so would be grateful for any thoughts on what these symptoms indicate.

A bit of a long shot but wondered if there are any forum members in the East Suffolk area with INPA / ISTA? I've tried INPA but can't get it to recognise by model! I would be very happy to pay for a diagnostic plus expenses if anyone is in the area.

[marti]

Sounds to me like an injector....does it restart?

[Leslie]

If you can get some to run a smooth running test with software that would tell you a bad injector but a code read would hopefully narrow it down .Rough idle is often an injector symptom .

[rockwell]

Many thanks boys, I ran a basic scan with a BMW C110 and the following appeared:

4251: Glow plug cylinder 5.
4B10: Smooth running controller.
4B11: Smooth running controller.
4560: Rail pressure plausibility delivery-controlled.
4B90: Rail pressure monitoring on engine start.
46B7: Swirl-flap actuator (swirl flaps were removed years ago)
46B7: Throttle valve.

Amber warning light: Engine
Red warning lights: Battery, Oil, Brakes.

Ignition will turn over but will not start.

Someone is coming over tomorrow from a local garage to read the codes, his diagnostic will not be any better than the C110 so my expectations are fairly low!

Leslie - you kindly helped me out some time ago with largely similar issues, there was a gradual improvement but the same symptoms have recurred so assume it is injector / injectors!

Thanks again.

[Leslie]

No worries
One that had worst leak off is probably the one, with common rail it's one out all out, won't start if rail pressure min spec not met.
It's important it's spinning over fast to as more chance of reaching that pressure.
All points to injector /injectors so far

[rockwell]

There is a company locally that reconditions diesel fuel injectors, would you recommend this as an option or buy new?

Obviously the repair bill will probably far exceed the value of the car so looking for the most economical option.

[Leslie]

Price of reconnig these injectors is very high and very few places have the equipment needed to do it id look a cheap replacement of a working engine if possible
I scrapped my 330d a few months back it went with 6 good injectors

[rockwell]

Do you mind me asking what was the problem with the 330d?

Not sure what to do, will have a look for an engine, although might be buying something with a similar problem.
The other option is to sell for scrap but it would probably sell for a few hundred max!

[Lobster Pot]

Mine ran without knowing with 1 electrically faulty injector wasn’t picked up until the hpfp went down and I had the injectors tested but when the hpfp did go it just went without warning after being stood it would fire up and die again within seconds
Hope you get it sorted

[Leslie]

Do you mind me asking what was the problem with the 330d?

Completely rotten at the back, both rear arches,both sills ,jacking points passenger rear floor ,beyond economic repair sadly as was driving great .Dont be scrapping yours yet get a couple of secondhand injectors there should be plenty about.price of scrap was high and I needed the drive space so it had to go and had to be mostly complete to get the money as I did think about breaking it .

[rockwell]

Thanks Leslie, bad luck with the 330d.

I assumed with common rail engines all 6 injectors would have to be replaced if 1 was damaged? If I can get away with replacing one or more that would be great. probably a stupid question but can the injectors be tested in situ or must all 6 be removed for testing?

I checked out the local reconditioning company and most customers had problems so will avoid them. Sorry about all the questions!

[Lobster Pot]

I had all 6 tested and just had the 1 faulty injector replaced
P Atkins in Mansfield tested mine but like I said the injector wasn’t the main problem and still wouldn’t run right after replacing it

[Leslie]

You can just replace the bad one no worries ,6 new ones would write most cars off problem with common rail is its one out all out it won't really tolerate it as it drops pressure to the rest.

[rockwell]

I had all 6 tested and just had the 1 faulty injector replaced
P Atkins in Mansfield tested mine but like I said the injector wasn’t the main problem and still wouldn’t run right after replacing it

Did you recondition the injector or buy new?

[rockwell]

You can just replace the bad one no worries ,6 new ones would write most cars off problem with common rail is its one out all out it won't really tolerate it as it drops pressure to the rest.

You had me worried for a moment, I misunderstood 0ne out all out! Would buying reconditioned be an option? Assume new is safer.