E46 follow extended service schedule and one can get f*cked

[viewfinder]

Evidence as a result of service per schedule, or is this poor mechanical engineering that's not robust, or both? Cloaked up pressure valve and return hose. Guys, if you have not replaced your E46 crankcase ventilation's oil separator (also called pressure valve) before, you may want to yank the old one out (~RM170; part number 11617503520). Apparently only E46 uses this non-robust design.

 

[Mouse]

at what mileage should we replace it?

 

[viewfinder]

at what mileage should we replace it?

How would one know if even BMW AG and A.B. themselves don't know. The E46 with the problem has clocked 95K km.

 

[Ade]

viewfinder's right. Get it replaced. Apparently mine already clogged up and I got it changed at 60K km. Once you changed it, you can feel the difference...car runs smoother....

Note the part number is only applicable for N42 and N46 engines.

 

[YellowMellow]

Changed mine during inspection 11.. based from my mechanic if you change your engine oil regularly (every 5k km) this pressure valve can last longer..

 

[anxious]

NOTE I REPEAT THIS POST HERE AS IT IS VERY IMPORTANT WARNING

Ok guys while at the workshop today...the whole day, a friend of mine came to the shop.

He owned a E46 318 2002 with 48k km. So far he has only serviced once at 25000km.

Yesterday his temperature went up. He stopped the and later the car drove ok. He took it to AB to check today but they found nothing wrong.

He then sent it to the workshop I go to. The mech noticed the engine oil already gunky.

So guys dont follow AB serrvice schedule of 25000km unless thats how much u do in a year.

My sugesstion is that regardless pof the lights service every 10k km if u use synthetic and 5k otherwise....better be safe than sorry.

 

[8080pbmw]

Yeah, no oil can last that long. 6 months or 10000km for fully synthetic, 5000km for mineral oil.
I have seem many N42 and N46 engine being overhaul due to this problem.

 

[fabianyee]

with our hot, humid and dusty tropical climate, the oil won't last 25,000km... I know some of the owner do a half-way-point oil service elsewhere without resetting the service light. Then goes back to the authorised service center for the 25,000km oil service.. This is applicable for those who still wants factory warranty.

 

[E46Fanatic]

with our hot, humid and dusty tropical climate, the oil won't last 25,000km... I know some of the owner do a half-way-point oil service elsewhere without resetting the service light. Then goes back to the authorised service center for the 25,000km oil service.. This is applicable for those who still wants factory warranty.

Thats exactly what I do. Remember that oil degrades in the engine even when you don't clock up the mileage quickly. For my case, my car clocked about 12-13k kms per year.. meaning it would be ~ 2 years before a 25k oil change. Not good la. In the E90, the oil change interval is now not only based on KMs clocked but also Date interval which ever comes first. I am surprised they only implemented the date thingy in the later models. It should apply to all models as well. Perhaps a slight oversight in assumption in the design process which the Germans engineers went oops!.... didn't think about that... Hence the date interval as well now in the OBC maint timer.

 

[Mouse]

i think just change it every 6 month even thought u cannot clock 10,000 during that period, as i only clock 5,000KM in 6 month, i cant wait to change the oil in 12 month for it to reach 10,000. so i change it every 6 month regardless of the low mileage

 

[enkil]

Yup.. will follow the general rule. im clocking an average 2000km per month.

 

[BMW9700]

not sure what is the BMW design philosophy is...but the design criteria seems to lack the long term servicibility of the product..the choice of materials used which deteriorate individually in due time to cause failure of the whole system in older cars.. a good example is the use of ABS plastic for the vanes of the water pump...an afetrmarket one is sold here with steel wanes....this should not be the case for a premium brand..unless there is another motive..the current E90s will also start their problems after 5 years and can be quite problematic as in the older E46s