Bought '09 E70, 3 weeks later catastrophic HPFP failure...

[Eric_S]

After spending a little time in Germany I understand that these are just over engineered to ridiculous tolerances and don't like anything but the most accurate of everything.

The more I read, the more I realize that BMW in particular just want to replace everything because their cars can't handle a little variance. I like the performance, but I've dealt with race vehicles in the past and how finicky they are. It's a nuisance. In contrast, I also bought a 2005 VW diesel (pre-drama), and it would run on kerosene and whisky, through a snow storm, with me lighting the interim on fire, and just keep driving. Boring, slow, drives like a wet sponge, but reliable.


Performance has a price.


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[ard]

Personally it feels like more of a philosophy as to repair practices and costs... It is easier for them to just replace everything, that way they know for sure it will likely capture any possibility. Like their alternators- usually the integrated regulator fails- yet they just replace the whole thing. When these issues will occur (under warranty or not) may also impact their urgency when it comes to developing a repair flowchart that protects teh wallet. You can see over the years that then there is an issue in which BMW will be picking up the tab, they sure do pay attention. (EGR issues on early diesels; walnut blasting on 335ds; etc) Someone fills the tank with gas there is NEVER a "bmw pays" situation, so they are fine saying 'replace everything gas touched'

if you think BMWs are 'spend happy', try Porsches.

[Eric_S]

f you think BMWs are 'spend happy', try Porsches.

Hah, don't kid a kidder, I used to own a Ducati sport bike with a desmodromic valve train...


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[Eric_S]

SA emailed today to say it runs, but is smoking 'like a forest fire'.

I'm beginning to suspect these guys never touch diesels. No discussion of additional fault codes, no info on run time, no details on smoke color. He only said it started and smoked.


Does anyone here have details on diesels with DPF issues or clogging? Is there a process for active regeneration that we know of?


My theory, as I am out of the country right now, is that they didn't allow the new injectors to come up to temperature. The tips are lightly greased to prevent rust prior to installation and that grease heating up may be what's causing the smoke.


Turbos were perfect before the fuel pump grenaded, and the oil system never had an issue, so no suspicion of turbo seals or lubricity problems down there.


Any research or ideas are appreciated, as I am away and can't dedicate time to diagnose from here.


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[ninja_zx11]

Originally Posted by Eric_S

SA emailed today to say it runs, but is smoking 'like a forest fire'.
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How come smoke is passing through the DPF unfiltered unless turbo seals are dumping oil into the exhaustThat's strange.

Try to find the type of smoke from them.I mean smoke from engine oil or from diesel.

[bawareca]

Or air in the fuel system.

[Eric_S]

The injector tips are greased, which would result in some combustibles in the chamber. I'm suspecting that.

Tech drove it two miles. Still not enough to get the temps up.


As for why the DPF didn't harvest it, that's an interesting question. They don't function perfectly when cold, and if there's an excessive smoke event, it could just be passing through as the honeycomb isn't warm. I also can't say whether the car was in a regen, as that would potentially result in a downstream application point of raw diesel on the element. Those are generally back pressure triggered on our apparatus power plants, but not sure if it's the same on the BMW.


There's no trigger event for a turbo to bite it, no symptoms prior to the fuel pump issue, etc. so I just don't see how the turbos could have failed simultaneously when there's no oil pressure problem, no early turbo lag issues, no prior smoke or odor, etc. if someone with an E70 or a 335D has a story, I'm all ears.


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[Eric_S]

SA sent another email this afternoon.

Smoking has diminished considerably, so I'm sticking with my earlier assumption that the injectors needed to burn clean. No codes currently, but confirming tomorrow.


However, he sent a video to me of a wisp of smoke rising up from the turbochargers. Shop foreman states the turbo shaft seal is going.


I'm disinterested in this vehicle...


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[ard]

Nevermind...sorry. You are at 97k and 7 years. CA warranty is 7/70k

[Eric_S]

I could ask, but I have a feeling BMWOA would tell me to suck it.

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