X lost power and growling
 

So I'm driving the X (E53 3.0 Diesel 2004) and I feel something is not right, I'm losing power, acceleration is limited at best, I turn down the music and I hear this terrible echoey metal scratching sound.

At higher revs the sound is louder, gears seem to change ok but it can not reach the power level to catch the next gear, manual gears seem operational too but again useless as there is no power, the noise is worrying aspect though as either something is broken or got jammed in somewhere.

Basically the car is not drivable in it's current state as it has no acceleration, and no Dummy lamps are on.

It will be going to the indy soon but I just want an idea of what it might be so I don't get robbed, looking like I might have an idea what the problem might be would certainly help :(

Please tell me it's something like water, oil or diesel.

Thanks fellas.

So I started the X this morning, I was curious how it would be on a cold start, have never seen so much white smoke coming out of the exhaust... :(

I notice the Oil needs changing and is also very low.

Any Ideas?

Its going to the indy now, so I will keep you updated...

From the screeching noise and the amount of white smoke,it seems like a broken turbo turbine/compressor shaft.
Disconnect the plastic pipe from turbo to air-filter housing and check the turbo inlet compressor for play!If it is broken ,it will be loose with a lot of movement.
Dont recommend you start the car again,if it is a broken turbo,because you will not only have oil in the exhaust(causing your white smoke),but you will also have oil accummulated in your intercooler and if its a lot of it ,this will go to your inlet and the engine will run on its own oil until it breaks....
Therefore ,if your indy does find it is a broken turbo,its essential that he cleans out the oil from the intercooler and all the pipes.
Keep us posted please :thumbup:

Indy just got back to me, he told me the turbo is in pieces :(

and gave me the following options for a replacement.

1,890 Euros original BMW Turbo
1,200 Euros garrett Turbo
800 Euros Reconditioned original BMW Turbo

In addidtion they are charging me.

50 Euros Engine Oil
77 Euros Ventilation Valve
170 Euros Labor charge

:(

I can't afford any of them... except probably the engine oil.

Do I get a new Garrett Turbo or a Reconditioned BMW Turbo????

I did some googling and it looks like the Garret Turbo is the original part, can anyone help me clear up what the mechanic means by original BMW turbo as there is a huge difference in price?

So it was a turbo failure.
You say you cant afford any of them ,maybe except the oil!How are you going to buy the turbo,then?

Regarding the prices they given you,the price for the ventilation valve is about right,the price for the labour is dirt cheap,just make sure they flash out the oil in the intercooler.Now,whats worrying is that price they gave you for the oil!!!! €50,00!For 7,5 ltrs??Too cheap and surely not 5W30 or 5W 40 oil! What oil are they putting on there?

No such thing as a Bmw turbo!Bmw dont make turbos!They are supplied from Garrett to Bmw specs.What your mechanic is saying is that he can get a turbo from a Bmw dealer or from a Garret importer.Your X5 has a GT2260 Garret turbo.
The best choice for you would be to get that reconditioned turbo from Bmw.€800.00 is not a bad price!You say you maybe getting a turbo from UK?We work with Turboactive(Uk Garret importers) and for a bit more than €800.00,we may just be able to supply you with a new turbo and you wont need to ship your old one back.Pm me if you want some more information.:)

I will have to Max out all of mine and my wife's Credit Cards :(

Having spoken with one of the Mechanics this morning and we have agreed that they will get me a reconditioned turbo from the U.K.

Reconditioned turbos on e-bay (U.K.) seem to go for around £400 - £500 without delivery or the charge of having to return the broken turbo so I guess the profit his side is reasonable.

As for the Oil I will have to call him about that cause I am sure they use the good stuff...

GT2260 Garret turbo.
POWERS1. have you fitted a larger turbo as a replacement or do you beleive it would create too much inital lag?

I have fitted quite a number larger turbos to 3.0Ds ,but mainly to the pre-facelift ones which came with the smaller Gt2056 and GT2256,where we upgraded to the Gt2260 from the later models.Only technical change we made to the Gt2260 was to fit a 360º thrust bearing to replace the original 180º bearing,which along with oiol starvation from a blocked breather,is a main reason for turbo seizure!This is the main bearing in the shaft of the turbine and compressor wheels.
For those that dont know,GT2260 ,basically means it has 22 turbine wheel and a 60 inlet compressor,a GT2056 will have a 20 turbine and a 56 compressor..and so on.
On 90% of the turbo upgrades we do,we try to keep the same size turbine wheel ,exactly because of minimal lag.
Mine is a pre-facelift and on mine I have a GT2267 which is basically a GT2260 turbo but with a larger 67 compressor ,off GT3067 turbo.Its the compressor that increases the air volume ,meaning you then have to fuel it and therefore more power.
This would also be a good "soft" upgrade for your facelift 3,0D but you could even fit a complete Gt3067 if you wanted to go wild,but the problem with X5 is the autobox,which doesnt like excessive torque ,and even the 615 Nms ,you have now is way above the 500 Nms standard!No problem with a manual box ,as we could reinforce it.The other problem with the 3.0D is the plastic inlet manifold ,and I popped one open after running 2.5 bar peaks.Have to make an aluminium one :D
Rather than stay of-topic here,feel free to PM me :)

So it was 1,300 Euro total for the fix, he assured me he flushed out the inter-cooler and pipes as well, I gave my father in law my old 1999 E46 318 some months back so I convinced him that it would only be right for him to pay for my fix.

Anyway I also discussed engine remapping while there and he said he does it himself!!! I have known him for years and he strikes me as someone capable of making the analysis etc, he said he has done over 500 cars so far, anyways he recons he can get me another 40 BHP and extra economy on Diesel for 300 Euros and I get the X back the same day, so I am definitely gonna do some more research and get back to him on that one.

What are your views on remapping Powers1? Does it sound like a good deal?

^ :D:D:D Good one with your father :D:D