What happens to a BMW when a 10$ part fails.
- Thread starter thedguy
- Start date
thedguy
rides with Rebecca Black.. in the back
The simple answer is BMW's fail safe's weren't engineered properly, and they didn't consider that they could fail, or be inadequate.
While this is sorta my complaint, my other complaint is the poor layout of the engine, but MAINLY the fact that the screen ($30 part) ment to protect the oil pump from sucking up large pieces is of no use, and is in all honesty, only costing bmw $1 to make.
On this motor you have the block (made of iron), then bolted to it is the timing casing (made of aluminium/aluminum) with the oil pump fitted to the back of it between the block and timing casing, then the timing gear inside of that, then the cover, then water pump and thermostat (housing) and I'm sure there's something I missing.
When the chain gets any slack in it, or god forbid it should break, it literraly destroys the front of the motor, turning severaly $300 cast aluminum pieces into scrap worth a total of $15.
On any other engine I've delt with that shit is cast into the block except the cover and pumps. The pump on a chevy bolts up thru the bottom. And my dad has had chevy's snap chains on him that only needed the chain replaced and it retimed, though on just about any new motor (regardless of maker) you'd get bent valves.
But then I consider the tensioner failure, it's not suppost to fail, nothing caused it to fail, it was never run dry of oil, to thick of oil, much oil or anything else to do with it. And yet BMW won't acknowledge there is a problem with the part but gladly charge you $50 for a new one when they go.
And then there's the issue with the bolts backing out. We had to pull the oil pan and found a few bolts sitting in the pan. Did this to a friends motor, found several in the pan, and an important pair around the oil pick up to cause the gasket to blow, which ment, no oil pressure. Many MANY reports of this engine loosing bolts in the oil pan have been documented.
Then you consider that this pump is more than capable of sucking said bolts thru it's protective screen and you have a severe engineering fuck up.
I also forgot, the other thing that pissed us off about this car is all the shit my bro did to make sure this car WOULDN'T destroy itself. Anything he could find, or thought might be a problem he replaced or fixed.
Basically it felt like they didn't design the car to account for anyone going thru a temporary hardship and needing the car to last a little while without failing. Which for the market a 3 series goes for, it should account for that.
I will give them credit for 1 thing, even with as much of the parts of the timing chain that did get destroyed, the engine still kept it's time (dual chain).
Great car? no, well engineered, yes. If a Honda can put out just as much HP/litre (even if I find it a BS figure) as anything from germany, and only really ask that the oil get changed "sometime when you own it" and a timing belt near the recommended range, then why can't the great German engineers do the same?
But I also consider a great car something that can be somewhat easily worked on (something most FF's aren't), can take a bit of mistreatment, and keep itself together without periodic re-torquing of nearly all the bolts on the motor for more than 150k miles.
This among several other criteria, unfortantely my brain is falling a sleep and I can't recall the rest. Something to do with looking decent, and driving nicely, without costing an arm and a leg.
First and foremost with me though is dependability, and a bit of indestructability. If it means I have to go with the cloth seats (that I feel are more comfortable anyway) rather than the leather so be it.
Dustin
PS All the blame on this is not BMW's though, we could have taken the car to a bmw specialist and had them take a quick gander at the car. The previous owner could have taken better care of the car as well. I just look at several of the design issue's of this car and think "W-T-F"
My original post didn't clearly state (or completely lacked much of) my real issue's with the car.
Z Draci said:
While this is sorta my complaint, my other complaint is the poor layout of the engine, but MAINLY the fact that the screen ($30 part) ment to protect the oil pump from sucking up large pieces is of no use, and is in all honesty, only costing bmw $1 to make.
On this motor you have the block (made of iron), then bolted to it is the timing casing (made of aluminium/aluminum) with the oil pump fitted to the back of it between the block and timing casing, then the timing gear inside of that, then the cover, then water pump and thermostat (housing) and I'm sure there's something I missing.
When the chain gets any slack in it, or god forbid it should break, it literraly destroys the front of the motor, turning severaly $300 cast aluminum pieces into scrap worth a total of $15.
On any other engine I've delt with that shit is cast into the block except the cover and pumps. The pump on a chevy bolts up thru the bottom. And my dad has had chevy's snap chains on him that only needed the chain replaced and it retimed, though on just about any new motor (regardless of maker) you'd get bent valves.
But then I consider the tensioner failure, it's not suppost to fail, nothing caused it to fail, it was never run dry of oil, to thick of oil, much oil or anything else to do with it. And yet BMW won't acknowledge there is a problem with the part but gladly charge you $50 for a new one when they go.
And then there's the issue with the bolts backing out. We had to pull the oil pan and found a few bolts sitting in the pan. Did this to a friends motor, found several in the pan, and an important pair around the oil pick up to cause the gasket to blow, which ment, no oil pressure. Many MANY reports of this engine loosing bolts in the oil pan have been documented.
Then you consider that this pump is more than capable of sucking said bolts thru it's protective screen and you have a severe engineering fuck up.
I also forgot, the other thing that pissed us off about this car is all the shit my bro did to make sure this car WOULDN'T destroy itself. Anything he could find, or thought might be a problem he replaced or fixed.
Basically it felt like they didn't design the car to account for anyone going thru a temporary hardship and needing the car to last a little while without failing. Which for the market a 3 series goes for, it should account for that.
I will give them credit for 1 thing, even with as much of the parts of the timing chain that did get destroyed, the engine still kept it's time (dual chain).
Great car? no, well engineered, yes. If a Honda can put out just as much HP/litre (even if I find it a BS figure) as anything from germany, and only really ask that the oil get changed "sometime when you own it" and a timing belt near the recommended range, then why can't the great German engineers do the same?
But I also consider a great car something that can be somewhat easily worked on (something most FF's aren't), can take a bit of mistreatment, and keep itself together without periodic re-torquing of nearly all the bolts on the motor for more than 150k miles.
This among several other criteria, unfortantely my brain is falling a sleep and I can't recall the rest. Something to do with looking decent, and driving nicely, without costing an arm and a leg.
First and foremost with me though is dependability, and a bit of indestructability. If it means I have to go with the cloth seats (that I feel are more comfortable anyway) rather than the leather so be it.
Dustin
PS All the blame on this is not BMW's though, we could have taken the car to a bmw specialist and had them take a quick gander at the car. The previous owner could have taken better care of the car as well. I just look at several of the design issue's of this car and think "W-T-F"
My original post didn't clearly state (or completely lacked much of) my real issue's with the car.
janstett
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2005
- Messages
- 1,924
- Location
- Chester, NJ
- Car(s)
- 86 944 Turbo, 2000 TA, 09 GC Overland, 11 CLS550
Vette Boss said:
Nonsense. The LT1 and LS1 Chevy smallblocks are light and make great horsepower. I looked into an LS1 swap for my 944 when MY timing belt broke and required a top end rebuild (thank you Porsche for an interference design and rubber timing belt). The LS1 is only 10-20 lbs or so heavier than the original Porsche 4-cylinder motor, AND it will make at least 300 hp at the wheels, AND it's reliable.
www.renegadehybrids.com
The current American pushrods aren't the lump-of-iron dinosaurs you think they are. They are light, powerful, and reliable, even if they have their cam in-block.
thedguy
rides with Rebecca Black.. in the back
A friend of mine makes spare cash making wire harness' for RX-7 LS1 conversions. He's building an LS1 for a 88 RX-7 as we speak. His 83 Rx-7 with a Ford 302 was not a bad ride either.
I'd be tempted to do a e30 with a reworked n/a Ecotec or a stock Beams 3s-GE from an IS200. Though the LSx motors are nice engines (I don't give a rats ass who you are or what you think about pushrods), and I know would rock hard in an e30.
I'd be tempted to do a e30 with a reworked n/a Ecotec or a stock Beams 3s-GE from an IS200. Though the LSx motors are nice engines (I don't give a rats ass who you are or what you think about pushrods), and I know would rock hard in an e30.
Hatmouse
Well-Known Member
Watching Corvette engines go into Porsche's somehow brings a smile to my face, and a tear to my eye. 8)
un-dee
I hate your sig!
Yeah but then the 944 is only 50% of a real Porsche. I cant see anything wrong with dropping more powerful engines into cars, wherever they come from.
thedguy
rides with Rebecca Black.. in the back
Un-Dee said:
That is something I'd never see or hear you say.
un-dee
I hate your sig!
thedguy said:
I don't have anything against American V8s, the only thing I don't like is certain people bitching around how stuff from their country is always "the best in the world" and if someone criticizes it or doesn't like it they start bitching around.
Keeping that in mind it is very hard to post positive things concerning american stuff. That's my attitude.
50% back on topic: I read somewhere on this forum about RX7s with V8s transplanted into them. Now thats something, nice looking car with big torquey engine, should be fun.
thedguy
rides with Rebecca Black.. in the back
Un-Dee said:
I'm sure I give off the idea that I think American things are better, but this is far from the truth, but I do aggree about thinking their countries stuff is the greatest. I just like to be the voice of reason/play devils advocate.
While I haven't had the personal pleasure of driving in the v8 rx-7's my friend has built, I've hear plenty about them. It goes to show how well mazda engineered that chassis, to take an engine it was never, in anyway shape or form, ment to have and still drive as well or arguably better.
bone said:
Well what we can see with the valve cover, it seems fine. Luckily the time between the oil pump busting, and the time the engine shut down was no longer than an engine in startup waiting for oil. But we are worried the crank is scored.