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E46 320D - Just collected and lots of black smoke!!

45K views 40 replies 16 participants last post by  Xmak 330d 
#1 ·
Hey everyone, I collected my BMW 320D Touring last night and my partner followed me home! I noticed a lot of smoke behind and it was dark so you could see it cleary and she said there was loads of thick black smoke coming out! I can kick myself as I didnt notice this on the test drive which was during the day! I checked today and you cant see the smoke so much but still visable especially when accelarating but its so bad that you can even see black fumes on the rear bumper! I feel worried sick that I have now spent all that money on a dodgy car! The owner said that it had a new turbo only 5 months ago howver cant find the receipt! The turbo doesnt make any strange noises and it does pull really well however i notice this morning that when i first started it it was a bit lumpy on idle but drove fine! I have heard that it could be the oil separator or egr valve from a local mechanic and he said it could be that the oil separator was not replaced when the turbo was changed? Has anyone got any ideas or do you think I have brought a knackered car?
 
#2 ·
my old focus diesel 03 plate seemed to smoke more at night than day although its because the headlights show it up more at night.during the day it was as normal as any other diesel out there probably why you never noticed it during test drive. they all kick out smoke on acceleration.but it does look worse at night.
 
#4 ·
Hi mate, first things first. I would replace the airfilter, fuel filter and oil seperator also when was the last oil change? (service items). Then if the black smoke persists after a while, get the codes read to see if the mass airflow sensor is ok. I would also use the best diesel you could get around your area optimax etc. Hope this helps
 
#8 ·
thanks for the replies the car has got fuel service history and was last serviced 4000 miles ago however this was only an oil service. I have spoken to a bmw specialist today and he says its probably the oil separator, and he said it probably wasnt replaced when the turbo was changed, problem is how do i no its a new turbo as there isnt a receipt and cant see it from the engine bay? Car seems to run fine with plenty of power and the smoke must be there all the time as the rear bumper is covered in black fumes
 
#10 ·
You say it's got plenty of power, most likely it's been remapped? Diesel black smoke from unburnt fuel caused (simpley are other reasons) by more fuel going in than the air in the engine can burn cleanly, other reason is restricted air flow. So blocked air filter or turbo fault, but these will decrease performance alot.

Is this your first diesel? Because as has been said they will smoke on hard acceleration it knowing how much is acceptable is the tricky bit! :thumbsup
 
#12 ·
I have had disesls before but this seems to be smoking all the time even on very small accelaration and huge amounts of smoke when floored! I no enough to know that its a bit execesive. It does run fine and no power loss. Today if the rain stops i am going to take the engine cover off to double check that its def had a new turbo and will check the airfilter! Would change the oil separator but i think this is a main dealer part only so i wont be able to get it today!
 
#18 ·
A friend had the same symptoms on his 330d, he changed the oil breather and it's run clear ever since. A simple enough job to do, try and get hold of one of the new vortex style breathers, not one of the sponge items like I got palmed off with.

I'm pretty sure this should cure your problem. Good luck.
 
#23 ·
UPDATE

Right an update for you, I have now purchased my new Vortex Breather Filter but havent fitted it yet, I got it from a guy on ebay it is a brand new bmw part and only cost me £30, apparently they are about £70 from the stealers! I have also now had my swirl flaps removed yesterday, has made no difference which regards to the smoking! I have checked the turbo and can confirm it is new, it is labelled 'Essex Turbo Centre' so the guy which sold me the car wasnt lying. One other problem I have spotted, I should have noticed this when viewing but in the engine bay, its missing the front engine cover and the induction house which meets the airfilter induction hose, therefore the end of the air filter is just sitting inside the engine bay? Would this cause it to smoke more? Obviously I have got to try and find a replacement, might try a bit of tubing temporarily to get some cold air in! Mind you the perfomance is not affected by this and the temp has not been over half way?
 
#24 ·
Black smoke on a diesel means not enough air. I would be removing the EGR and cleaning that out, checking for any restrictions in the air intake pipe. I would also be checking that none of the intercooler hoses are sucking them selves in or not blocked with oil...:thumbsup
 
#25 ·
Thanks bud, that might explain things then, would a bit of flexipipe help for the time being getting more air in as the air filter housing must just be sucking in hot air from the engine bay! Need to find a replacement engine cover/induction pipe, where an earth am i going to get this from?
 
#29 ·
we used to get turbo chirp and squeel at full tilt on a loadbank on the real big sludger power units when the vane deposits got too bad, the solution at the time was to spray redex direct into the air intake on full tilt but they banned it after somebody discovered it was possibly carcinogenic..
 
#31 ·
a thorough and well maintained modern diesel engine should not smoke at all unless its started from cold with iffy glow plugs or its floored in too lower a gear till the turbo catches up but modern turbo's are variable vane combined with EFI to eliminate this and give better engine response....

there is so many different things on a sludger if not kept tip top can give smoking or poor power...

turbo
injectors
charge air system pipework and intercooler pipework
crankcase breather system
EGR

to name a few all if poorly maintained will make one smoke and all of which are neglected on most older examples out there..
 
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