UPDATE ON FEB 15/06

I talked to the service manager at Brian Jessel... They picked up the car, and did a compression test, leakdown test, and used some camera that they put through the spark plug hole to see damage...at no cost....but i got BAD news at the end.

Showed that Cyl 2 is leaking 8%...and Cyl 1 is leaking 28%
The camera showed scratches inside the cyl wall...could be possible crack in the block
HOW THE HELL DOES SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN AT 120,000KM on 4.4L!?!?!
He ssaid it will cost about $10,000 to fix! AND ITS NEVER EVER HAPPENED BEFORE!!!!!!!

Maybe I missed something- but how long have you had your X?

JV

i think it is a common problem with 4.4 at cold temperatures. there are about 4 cars with similar symptoms over the last month on the russian bmw forum. it has something to do with a pipe which can be heated as a option but most people don't take this option. i didn't read all the details there as my X is not V8 but i will try to pass you their experiences on that. anyone here can translate technical terms from russian to english? i could just pass you the link.

Diesel Disaster
 

Need some URGENT advice.

My brother in law has accidentally put unleaded petrol in his BMW 320D. It ran fine and then this morning, wouldnt start. He only realised his error this morning so by then it was too late to just syphon the tank dry as the damage has been done. He has been quoted £2k to fix this!!!!!!

Its the last model 3 series not the bangle-spangle version.

Has anyone had this happen to them. Any experience you can pass on would be appreciated!!

And I know what your'e thinking - it wasnt me it really was my brother in law (how he didnt notice as the diesel nozzles are black and the unleaded nozzles are bright green!!!)

Did you see the camera shots or did they just tell you that's what they saw? After the initial comment from them about trading in your X5 I would be a little suspicious. At the very least get a second opinion on the compression test since that shouldn't cost too much.

:hijack: How about starting you own thread to ask this? Your question isn't remotely related to the topic of this thread.

Looks like they have doubled their estimate!Get a second opinion!

By saying "leaking",they are implying that its loosing compression and this has to go somewhere!
You can do a simple test yourself!With th engine on,pull out very slowly your oil DIPSTICK .If you see condensation or light smoke blowing out,your car is loosing compression thru the pistons!

If your Block was cracked,you would probably have compression in your coolant and your coolant reservoir would be bubbling and spitting the coolant out and your car would overheat !

Those scratches on the cyl. wall may just be superficial due to the piston/segments movement!

Yeah sorry!!! I meant to and then I went back to look for the one I started and it was nowhere to be seen. Then I got an email to tell me someone had replied to this post and I figured I had done this.

Sorry - will restart in other post.....but no need to be so angry dude!

No anger, just advise.

Powers1 is right on the mark with his comments. 22% loss in one cylinder indicates there is a problem, but the fact that they still haven't identified the specific cause in 2 visits while the service advisor is suggesting a new short block is just plain wrong. That's like telling a patient with a heart palpitations it's time for a transplant. Take the truck elsewhere (like Nixon Auto) and get an opinion from a second source.