X35D turbo replacement / oil leak ???

[nikpottala]

I've been to two indy bmw mechanics who won't touch my X35D which leaves the dealer as my worst and only option.

I have oil leak on passenger side at the intercooler connection. The charge pipe and seal replacement seems straight forward from everything I've read aside from the cramped space and being under the car.

My concern is the quantity of oil I have leaking. I've cleaned the plastic belly cover and in 1 day of basic in-town driving it's saturated again and I have a dollar coin sized drip on cardboard overnight.

Has anyone replaced the turbo on these? I'm curious if my turbo has an oil seal leak internally and causing excessive oil to enter the boost hose? Sound plausible?

The last indy said the turbo replacement required all sorts of special tools but I want to know if its a DIY job? I think he was afraid of the diesel.

If I find excessive oil in the charge line when I attempt to replace those seals I may just want to replace the turbo to solve the issue once and for all as it seems like a bolt on item. Right?

Advice and instruction is welcome.

BTW its a 2009 with 121,000 miles.

[Price]

All turbos leak with age. Just fix the seal.

[robnitro]

Oil in the boost hoses also comes from ccv gasses.

[Socale39]

Also check your high pressure line to the distribution block just above the front turbo. This is a common area where leaks tend to start.

[nikpottala]

So I replaced bottom seals on both sides where it goes into the intercooler and the upper seal on the red charge air hose.

PITA to get together tight. I've had it apart now three times to re-do it and get the audible clip that every connection is seated properly. Cross my fingers this time is the last time. I installed the red charge hose on the bench just to make sure. Then I fed it all up into position and was able to get a loud click on the other charge line.

I have a CEL code P0299 but I haven't cleared it since the last time I drove it so I'm hoping its just residual.

Can you clear codes on the BMW simply be disconnecting the battery like other cars? I don't have a code reader and many of the parts stores won't reset a code they'll just read it.

[Price]

Originally Posted by nikpottala

Can you clear codes on the BMW simply be disconnecting the battery like other cars?

No, but you can certainly fry FRM module to the tune of few hundred $$.

CEL will go away in few days if the issue causing the code is fixed.

[nikpottala]

Yep, code cleared on its own.

All is good again!

[ard]

Originally Posted by nikpottala

Yep, code cleared on its own.

All is good again!

I assume you mean the CEL on the dash turned off. Not that the code 'cleared on its own'

The CODE will never clear. If you pulled codes now it should still be there.

Problem is, if you have a new issue crop up, and you pull codes, you will see that old code and the new one. With no way to tell which is now active.

For this reason you should actually CLEAR codes, not just wait for the light to go off

[Price]

Actually, error codes are stored along with the mileage of the last occurrence. Just not every s/w displays it.

[ard]

Originally Posted by Price

Actually, error codes are stored along with the mileage of the last occurrence. Just not every s/w displays it.

Yep.

But ALL code readers will not read this. (When someone 'pulls codes' which is the term I used.). You need a BMW specific software package to get at that detail level.



Over the years I've found it easier to be more black and white...

How do we offer advice when someone says "I had the codes read, there are 4 codes- what should I do?"

First, get a laptop. Then install Rhiengold.

To be honest, I will often say "Record codes- now clear them- see what comes back"