Engine oil analysis=bad news

[JCL]

Originally Posted by ard

I think people saying 'don't worry, be happy' are way off base.

OP got scammed by BMW on this deal and he needs to pursue this. If it turns out the car was not properly maintained, THE CPO WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THE FAILURE!

He is right to press BMW now on this issue. IMO.

He may need to WAIT until the next UOA to have more data, but I would AT LEAST get BMW to commit to warranting this despite evidence proper maintenance was skipped.

Ard, suggest you read all the posts.

Because you mention the oil analysis, I presume you are discussing the potential engine problems from last year, and not the current misfire/coolant loss issues. I do think that the OP should get the misfire and coolant issues repaired, and if it is still under CPO one year later then the dealer in Edmonton should be tasked with that.


In terms of any internal engine problems related to the oil analysis, however, just what problem do you think the OP should have the dealer fix?

• There is no evidence of the dealer having scammed the OP
• There is no indication of lack of maintenance prior to purchase
• There are no physical symptoms related to the first or subsequent oil analysis reports
• There is one oil analysis report (the first one) done by a lab that was not familiar with this engine and model, who did not have history on how old the oil was, and who wrote a rather predictable scare story after doing their analysis. It was full of half truths and conjecture. If there was any scamming going on, I would look to that report before looking to the dealer.
• Subsequent oil analysis reports showed that the engine was fine. Maybe it fixed itself.

Those of us who suggested that the OP "not worry, be happy" as you phrase it appear to have been proved correct by the fact that after one year and nearly 30,000 km by the OP, there are no engine problems related to the editorial content of the original oil analysis. This confirms the point made by several posters that single oil analysis reports tell you very little about the oil, and without trend lines from multiple tests, also tell you very little about the engine in question.

[joeboch348]

i still say go back and demand a different vehicle. make a deal drive away with piece of mind. a long drawn out battle with them will make you hate the car. or push it off a cliff. either way

[JCL]

Originally Posted by joeboch348

i still say go back and demand a different vehicle. make a deal drive away with piece of mind. a long drawn out battle with them will make you hate the car. or push it off a cliff. either way

As it is a 2005 model, it is either near or past the expiry of the original CPO. Since he purchased it a year ago, he has put 30,000 km on it. He didn't like the original trade in deal they offered, so any deal offered now is likely to be even less tempting.

That leaves pushing it off a cliff, but there aren't too many of those in Fort Mac IIRC. He could park it on a frozen river, and wait for breakup, though.

[joeboch348]

your auto insurance may pay for a blown engine

[xriderob]

Yeah offers of 1/2 of what I paid are very tempting but....
Oh well its much better when above zero, I'm just trying not to think of the issues for the moment and will get rid of it within the year and take the hit. Not much I can do but check off on owning a BMW once in my life, and probably only once. Fight with dealer and BMW Canada didn't get me anywhere, I was persistent but perhaps not enough? Or maybe it was a hopeless cause.
And I don't hate it enough for it to go cliff diving, but Jcl there are many cliffs here, man made open pit mines haha. Perhaps Audi or Porsche will be a little more reliable

[joeboch348]

sorry bro. porche maybe but i wouldn't count on audi. their service is 2x the price as bmw. oh and if you reconsider cliffing, don't forget your parachute!

[xriderob]

First second and fourth picture are the ccv approx 3 months after the "BMW ccv cold weather package". Been really careful with short trips and idling and always bring the engine up to temp. Also take highway trips often (drive to work occasionally). You can really notice on start up if you have not followed the few simple ccv rules, it runs much rougher for a short time or until you take off and warm up the engine.

Second picture is just the update, obviously without the BMW plastic
Covering.

Fifth picture is 3 days after I cleaned up the first pictures mess. And it has been +7 and no idling etc

Just though I would show everyone what's going on and what I have found the update did for me. Parts are not terribly expensive for it but it's the new valve cover that gets you for $500.

Anyways glad it is spring so this thing runs way smoother.

Last pic is build up of oil residue around filler cap/dipstick. Any ideas?

[1stE53]

that's the worse case I've seen