Lots of smoke and no power

[JohnH]

Evening all,

The 2006 e53 x5 with 70k miles we got a few weeks ago has been causing a few problems which the dealer has had 1 go to fix already. It's about to go back for another attempt but I want to try to get a better understanding of it all first.
The first problem is an occasional loss of power. With your foot to the floor it does a max of 45 mph but after stopping for a few mins and restarting the car it's perfect again.
The second problem is the plumes of black smoke that come out the exhaust when you accelerate. Even with a slight press of the accelerator there a bit of a plume but when you step on it it's like a James Bond smoke screen. I followed my wife when she drove it recently and couldn't believe it. You can see other cars hanging back on the motorway so the passengers can still breath.

Has anyone experienced either of these or know what I should ensure the dealer looks at?
Thanks
John

[X5Sport]

Which engine? Diesel or Petrol?

Could be all sorts of things from overfuelling, MAF, vacuum leaks etc, but it depends upon which engine you have. Black smoke sounds like fuel issues.

Tell us a bit more about the car, and we may be able to offer advice.

[gchristofi]

Aren't these classic symptoms of a blown turbo? (presuming diesel)

[gmc15]

I had a similar problem on my 2001 3.0d a couple of years ago. The problem was a cracked inlet manifold. Under light throttle the car was OK but when I applied more it gave black smoke out of the back abd loss of power. If the smoke is white it is probably the turbo, but black smoke could be the inlet manifold - cheaper to replace

HTH

Graeme.

[Sanj]

I'd go with that - black and it's you manifold (x555 has done a write up on a carcked manifold - PM him, his might have been the same). Hope you don't get white (unless you have a warranty)!

Or you may need a breather assemby replaced, but on such a late model, you'd hope it was the newer design that doesn't need replacing.

Keep us informed. And good luck.

[JohnH]

Thanks to everyone who replied.
It is indeed a 3.0d. I'll have a look at the info on the cracked manifold and see if that might be it.
Thanks
John

[JohnH]

[quote=""Sanj""]I'd go with that - black and it's you manifold (x555 has done a write up on a carcked manifold - PM him, his might have been the same). Hope you don't get white (unless you have a warranty)!

Or you may need a breather assemby replaced, but on such a late model, you'd hope it was the newer design that doesn't need replacing.

Keep us informed. And good luck.[/quote]

Is this the thread?
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=700&p=7832&hilit=cracked+manifold#p7832

[Sanj]

That's the one - sorry, was gonna look for you. Then amazingly and contrary to popular belief on here, I got busy with work!

[JohnH]

Thanks

[bonerp]

could it be the turbo/inlet hose? I had a split in one on my alfa 156 a few years ago.

[robo]

Just a quick one, i had the same problem start engine no power stop after short run was fine but black smoke, took airfilter out found it had been fitted wrong the sealing part had bent in pressumably slowing the flow of air to the maf sensor replaced the filter with powerflex one has been perfect since hope its a simple fix for you

[JohnH]

[quote=""robo""]Just a quick one, i had the same problem start engine no power stop after short run was fine but black smoke, took airfilter out found it had been fitted wrong the sealing part had bent in pressumably slowing the flow of air to the maf sensor replaced the filter with powerflex one has been perfect since hope its a simple fix for you[/quote]

Thanks Robo, that could be it as it was perfect when I saw it first

[x555]

Hi John.... this is the thread Sanj was on about... viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1207&start=15
But mine was the outlet manifold not the inlet.
If it was like mine then you would be getting exhaust fumes and smoke coming from the engine area.I hope for your sake you don't have them as that manifold is a biiattchh to get at to change
If it's the inlet manifold then thats not so bad to do
It could just need a new air filter and oil breather as these could do this aswell.
Good luck and let us know the outcome.

[JohnH]

[quote=""x555""]Hi John.... this is the thread Sanj was on about... viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1207&start=15
But mine was the outlet manifold not the inlet.
If it was like mine then you would be getting exhaust fumes and smoke coming from the engine area.I hope for your sake you don't have them as that manifold is a biiattchh to get at to change
If it's the inlet manifold then thats not so bad to do
It could just need a new air filter and oil breather as these could do this aswell.
Good luck and let us know the outcome.[/quote]

Thanks for that.
It had a full service incl new air filter, breather and EGR cleaned before I bought it. Since it didn't happen before I suspect that something wasn't fitted correctly or got damaged in the process. It's going back in on Monday so hopefully it gets sorted then.
Thanks

[X5Sport]

Any news?