[elmobavarian]

Ok, went shoppping earlier, then to the pub for a snack.
Everything was fine until i came to leave.
Now i don't boot my car around anyway,but on the way back it distictly lacked power.
The engine seems to rev ok, although may sound a little rougher than it did(maybe paranoid!)
Idles ok.
Was upto temp as it was only sat 45 mins.
No lights came on

But the power did not rise as i floored it.

I know i really need to get the codes checked, but that will be tomorrow after work at the earliest!

I need something to go on!

Please help!:frown

 

[328mark]

could be a fault with the maf...try driving with it unplugged ans seeing if that helps

 

[adam.wilkinson]

Which engine do you have mate? M43 or N42? It sounds to me like it's a MAF problem. As above, have you tried un-plugging and having a quick drive to see if when you floor it she picks up better?

 

[elmobavarian]

Thanks for the replies guys. It's a 2.0 318 on a 52 plate,don't know what engine this would make it-sorry!:frown
It's my first BMW so I'm paranoid about all the high cost repair stories you hear!
Especially as mine is a little high mileage.

Don't think it's a coil. Strangely I'd be happy with that!
I've had a coil go and the car was undriveable! plus it put the engine warning light on.
I'm hoping it's a MAF problem then.
I'm hoping to get off work in the next half hour-get to a garage see if they can help!:frown

 

[elmobavarian]

OK.

ITS BAD.

AS BAD AS IT GETS.

You may call me paranoid, but i had reason to be:frown

The garage i go too, sent me to garage they go to when they have this problem.

STRETCHED F*****G CHAIN!:mad

I've only had it 2 months, i now need to find about £800 and wait till the middle of next week to get my car working.

Really not taking to this BMW thing, and i got stick about my Alfas!:sarcastic


Need to go lie down:grumpy:headache:hissyfit

 

[Tungtvann]

I had a problem with the airflow meter on my old BMW, which was giving me no power, maybe get that checked before you worry about stretched chains.

 

[elmobavarian]

Went to a garage i now specialises in BMW. He's worked on my other cars.
As soon as i desccribed the problem he said what it was.
Had a look and said, yep, with that little "noise" thats definately what it is.

He uses Autotech Performance. They deal with any high performance vehicles but are BMW trained.
They are the only ones with the special tools required!
Took it to them. They put the machine on it.
He said before he started, if its the chain(which he thought)it will come up with a cam sensor problem. It did.
He then looked through the oil cap at the chain and showed me the slack in the chain.
That was creating the noise the previous garage was on about.

He had a 1 series on the ramp just had it done. A 3 series in bits being done. And one to start. Then my place in the queue!
Showed me all the parts from the previous jobs too. lots of broken chain guides!
Said thats why the sump has to come off to make sure they get all the bits!

 

[jewls]

so the cam tensioner has failed??

 

[elmobavarian]

Apparently It's the chain.
When you place new one next to an old one there can be a 5mm difference.
I guess it's this extra give that puts the timing off enough.
The extra movement of the chain appears to obliterate the plastic guide.
All the bits need to be removed,which I guess is a reet pain!

 

[hontoir]

But the power did not rise as i floored it.

Can you clarify this? Was it just more sluggish than normal?

 

[elmobavarian]

If you have that engine you'll know its never going to be a race winner!

But.......

The car had been fine all evening. As i pulled off from the car park and accelerated there was nothing there.

Imagine towing a trailer. Your accelerating, but the revs pick up slowly and the speed is not as rapid as you'd expect because the power is being sapped by the 2 tonne trailer behind you.
Maybe akin to a turbo engine loosing the turbo(different scale obviously!)

Theres no engine management light.
The engine temp is fine.
Idle is a little noisier than normal but ok.
THERE IS an extra rattle on start
If i pull off like i'm driving Miss Daisy and don't want to go past 50, i may never notice.
But there is no accelaration past 2000ish revs.

Sorry best i can do:frown

 

[328mark]

sounds plausible enough...good luck with it mate, once its running right you wont be hankering after an alfa again

 

[elmobavarian]

I trust the guy I went to initially completely.
He's worked on my cars before. He did some work on my first 156, when it came back it was like a different car.
He did belts that car too. Never a single issue.
When I went to him after I'd bought this car-about another problem-he mentioned the chain and symptoms.
Lone behold 2 months on! He sent me too the second garage as that's the one uses(he hasn't got the special tools).
That guy has 3 cars the same! Mine may well be the less prestige of the bunch in his garage!
Its at this point I have to doff my cap to people who know more than I do about BMW's. And trust them. I don't think i have any reason not too!

 

[elmobavarian]

OK I'm just waiting now till the garage can fit my car in and sort it!

Meanwhile I'm trying to see where the hell I'm getting the money from!

I bought it 2 months ago-almost to the day!-from "proper" garage.
It had a months warranty,I suspected a problem which the AA diagnosed as No4 coil. The garage wouldn't cover it!
I know I'm a month out of the official warranty but do you think I could still have any chance of a claim against the garage?
It's a major fault?!
Or is it one of those,suck it in and put it down to lack of experience moments?

Right of to sell a kidney:silly:thumbsup

 

[elmobavarian]

Ok i'm being told i need a new chain and the assocciated parts.
But im reading in a few places that a tensioner is all that is required, also there may have been some kind of recall?

At the moment im looking at £8-900 for chain,tensioner,sump gasket(removed to remove chain guide broken parts!] Some vanos bolts?! Other gaskets as required. And 8.5 hrs labour.
Does this sound right, for price or work needed?
I have no reason to doubt the guys diagnostics or them doing the work-guess i need re-assurance?!

My first couple of months of BMW ownership aren't going so well-any advice would be appreciated!

 

[elmobavarian]

Any thoughts,ideas or advice?!:thumbsup

 

[elmobavarian]

Seems there may be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel after all!!

I stumbled across a thread by LEWY T about his problems with his car and consumer rights.
I rant consumer direct as I as still unsure whether I would have rights.
They seemed optimistic that given all the facts I had a case against the garage. He gave some good advice.
I rang the garage about the problem,outlined the facts, the quotes etc.......
...
....then mentioned I'd spoken to consumer rights regarding his matter.
The garage would like me to get my car to them asap,see if there's anything they can do to fix it!!

Fingers crossed I guess!

 

[elmobavarian]

Cars been at "the garage" for 14 days now whilst they investigate what's up!!
Getting pee'd off now.
Think I still own it! Bit I'm not sure Im still classed as a BMW driver?!!