Engine Rebuild

[H4MP]

So basically having the engine rebuilt on a 64 plate 30d.
It had spun it's bearings and needed 3 conrods new bearings, New piston rings. The crank has been resurfaced with new main bearings. The oil pump was shot due to oil starvation, the injectors have been tested and all of metal filings and are beyond repair. I've managed to source used injectors with warranty from quarry motors and have ordered a recon high pressure pump. My question is do I need a new fuel rail, you know the high pressure accumulator I thinks it's called. That would really send the cost spiralling. Also would I need a new fuel pump located in the fuel tank?

[X5Sport]

I would have thought that the fuel rail could be cleaned out….it’s only tubing? If metal has got back as far as the tank, then it will need draining and flushing, however draining the fuel pipes would reveal whether anything did get into the return line. Given there’s an in-line fuel filter, where did the metal in the injectors come from? Definitely replace the filter though.

Any ideas as to what caused the bearings to ‘spin’ in the first place?

[H4MP]

That's what the indy is saying he's going to try and blow it out. Think the cause was the car was being serviced when it indicated a service was due on idrive. Generally every 23,000 miles that's one of the factors.

[X5Sport]

Right. I’m doing my oil changes more often now, especially given my X6 is getting little use now the i4 has arrived. Annual oil changes from now on!

Probably be able to clean the tubes in a parts washer?

[H4MP]

Your X6 is it an M57 or N57. You know I have had my 35d E70, basically its the SD version, I now have 197k miles and have owned it for 6 years.
I can say that it doesn't drive or sound different since I bought it. The m57 is a legendary engine, if only the N was built the same way.

[X5Sport]

N57S engine in the 40d, Also still have a 2005 E46 with the M57TUD unit in it, and like yours, it’s been good as gold so far. Other bits have failed but the engine remains healthy. As with the X6, it’s oil changes are now done at 12-month intervals simply because of lack of use.

[H4MP]

That's a decent stable of bmws, how you finding the move to electric?

Have you always been a BMW guy?

[X5Sport]

I’ve owned and driven BMWs since 2004. Was Vauxhall & Škoda (Octavias) before then.

The change to an EV has been very easy - apart from needing to keep an eye on range (around 300-miles per full charge). Weekly commute is about the max range of the car, and charging costs are not bad. Charged from 16% to 85% overnight for £16 on our standard tariff. Diesel was costing up to £77/week.

Going from diesel with 306bhp to all electric (our is the AWD M50) 544bhp is a big change, however it’s just so easy to drive. Power is instant, and scary at times!!

I’m lucky to have charging available at home and work if needed, however long distance runs such as to the outlaws in rural Wales needs careful planning as the infrastructure isn’t ready - or nearby.

I’m glad we went electric. Cars need to get cheaper though. The M50 is now north of £80k in my version, £86k fully loaded. That’s a jump of over £12k in a year. There are two 2WD versions that come in a fair bit less.

One thing I only really became aware of just before delivery is that all EV manufacturers tell you to keep the battery charge between 20% and 80%, which makes a mockery of the range figures. 100% is only to be used on odd occasions rather than routinely. Weather can also badly affect range in winter - down about 25-30%.

[H4MP]

I think you've got a good range of cars if you need to travel further you have the diesel option. I personally think the infrastructure isn't there for when you were wanting to travel that bit further, but have heard good things about the driving characteristics.

[Wayfarer]

Sorry to hear of your woes, as a matter of interest how many miles had it covered before failure, I only ask as I have a fairly low mileage 2018 40d (34k miles) and wondering is I should start to be concerned, I bought it with 18 miles on the clock and it’s had annual oil and filter changes.

[H4MP]

The car has done 149k miles I purchased it as a non runner off one of the cardiologists at work who was about to sell it to webuyanycar, the car was 1 owner and just motorway miles. I think the issue was the prolonged service schedule. It was serviced every 23k miles which is far too long

[H4MP]

I would say that you should service it every 10k miles if you can do it change oil and oil filter every 6k to 8k. The other bits can be changed every 2nd service that's no issue.
These units are good but not as robust as its predecessor the M57.

[marti]

Sorry to hear of your woes, as a matter of interest how many miles had it covered before failure, I only ask as I have a fairly low mileage 2018 40d (34k miles) and wondering is I should start to be concerned, I bought it with 18 miles on the clock and it’s had annual oil and filter changes.

My 640d spun the bearings at 81K, I had it 3 yrs and serviced it every 8 to 10k, but previous owner had only done it every 16 to 20K.....so if you do max every 10k or yearly which evr come first you will be fine, however use Castrol 5W30 LL as per BMW spec.

[H4MP]

Is castrol the best option, usually I use valcoline or shell helix. Don't want to use wrong one because this rebuild is going to cost me £6k

[Wayfarer]

Thanks for the info, £6k is a lot of money, but hopefully you’ll get at least another 150k miles from it.
I am a little nervous about engines after my 2.5 year old Land Rover Discovery snapped its crankshaft at just under 20k miles and 2.5, a new engine turbos etc later, fortunately the £22k bill plus car hire for a month was paid for by LR under manufactures warranty, it was promptly traded in for the BMW x5, so fingers crossed it continues to be ok, its only done circa 34k from being new in sept 2018 and it had its first oil change at around 1500 miles, then every year at around 6k, although this year will be about 9k as been up and down the motorway a lot to visit my old mum in Devon at around 220 miles each way!
I hesitated over the BMW Extended warranty but decided on it as well, which although expensive does appear to provide good cover.

At least it appears that the BMW engines are able to be rebuilt, the Disco one was effectively scrap, the technician described the oil as like black toothpaste.