118i needs new engine - any supply and fit recommendations?
Discussion
Hi all,
Got a 2010 118i (2.0) a few months ago.
After a few months with no issues, my engine started misfiring. Mechanic tried a new coil pack to no avail. Now it's barely running and I've been told to replace the engine.
Been quoted 2.5 and 3.5k for a supply and fit job with a few months warranty, which seems high. Does anyone know a decent garage in or near London that can do it for less than 2 grand?
Got a 2010 118i (2.0) a few months ago.
After a few months with no issues, my engine started misfiring. Mechanic tried a new coil pack to no avail. Now it's barely running and I've been told to replace the engine.
Been quoted 2.5 and 3.5k for a supply and fit job with a few months warranty, which seems high. Does anyone know a decent garage in or near London that can do it for less than 2 grand?
So it's an N43, not the best thing ever but....
Misfiring can be many things. If it's running on three cylinders it will be a coil on that cylinder or an injector. New injectors are currently not available anywhere so a good used one is required. You'll pay anywhere between £40 - £140 depending on the index number. That's the number after the part number ending in either 037 (really early ones) or 048. Index 01 is the first, 11 is the latest. They were all a bit crap tbh.
N43's need a special spark plug socket btw.
If the engine isn't smoking, knocking and the oil pressure light goes out as it should, I doubt it needs an engine. What are the exact symptoms?
As stated, you need to have a compression test carried out. If that's OK with around 150 psi across all four you can go further.
Potential problems with this unit are coils, injectors, the NoX sensor (£400 plus fitting), the timing chain and guides (£800 job), worn balance shaft bearings leading to low oil pressure at idle when hot and, if the oil pick up collects enough bits of broken off plastic timing chain guide, it'll either knock out a big end bearing or just seize.
If you want to keep it, I'd get the timing chain done but the first thing is sorting the misfire.
Misfiring can be many things. If it's running on three cylinders it will be a coil on that cylinder or an injector. New injectors are currently not available anywhere so a good used one is required. You'll pay anywhere between £40 - £140 depending on the index number. That's the number after the part number ending in either 037 (really early ones) or 048. Index 01 is the first, 11 is the latest. They were all a bit crap tbh.
N43's need a special spark plug socket btw.
If the engine isn't smoking, knocking and the oil pressure light goes out as it should, I doubt it needs an engine. What are the exact symptoms?
As stated, you need to have a compression test carried out. If that's OK with around 150 psi across all four you can go further.
Potential problems with this unit are coils, injectors, the NoX sensor (£400 plus fitting), the timing chain and guides (£800 job), worn balance shaft bearings leading to low oil pressure at idle when hot and, if the oil pick up collects enough bits of broken off plastic timing chain guide, it'll either knock out a big end bearing or just seize.
If you want to keep it, I'd get the timing chain done but the first thing is sorting the misfire.
Thanks for all the tips guys.
I've been to one of each - the BMW specialist did the original diagnosis (issues with cylinder 3) and changed the coil pack and spark plugs. He then considered changing the injector, but came to the conclusion that the engine was basically done for. The general mechanic took it down the road and had the same conclusion.
The BMW specialist has a great reputation but the mechanic himself didn't speak the best English - but what I understood was that the bottom part of the engine was f'd and the crankshaft was gone.
Initial symptoms were:
- Rough idle
- Poor acceleration
- Oil light coming on randomly
- Smell of petrol in the cabin
But within 5-7 days of going to the garage, it's basically become a non-runner. Started knocking, smoking (I think) and now rough idles to the point of stalling - and if I do get it started it can barely move.
If a compression test is standard procedure, I'm sure it was done as part of the diagnosis, but if it's something more niche then I'll get one done.
I've been to one of each - the BMW specialist did the original diagnosis (issues with cylinder 3) and changed the coil pack and spark plugs. He then considered changing the injector, but came to the conclusion that the engine was basically done for. The general mechanic took it down the road and had the same conclusion.
The BMW specialist has a great reputation but the mechanic himself didn't speak the best English - but what I understood was that the bottom part of the engine was f'd and the crankshaft was gone.
Initial symptoms were:
- Rough idle
- Poor acceleration
- Oil light coming on randomly
- Smell of petrol in the cabin
But within 5-7 days of going to the garage, it's basically become a non-runner. Started knocking, smoking (I think) and now rough idles to the point of stalling - and if I do get it started it can barely move.
If a compression test is standard procedure, I'm sure it was done as part of the diagnosis, but if it's something more niche then I'll get one done.
Edited by jaycd_ on Wednesday 19th October 18:39
Something doesn't add up here.
But there are a couple of things you can do yourself. Take the plastic engine cover off ( three allen screws) and see if there is petrol soaking the foam insulation. Fire it up and you may well find a massive fuel leak - that's where some clown has replaced the teflon injector seal with a rubber O ring. I've had this before. The O ring melts, the engine loses compression and unburnt fuel is being pushed back past the injector. The engine senses this and shuts down the next injector so it only runs on two cylinders.
Do this and post up a video.
But there are a couple of things you can do yourself. Take the plastic engine cover off ( three allen screws) and see if there is petrol soaking the foam insulation. Fire it up and you may well find a massive fuel leak - that's where some clown has replaced the teflon injector seal with a rubber O ring. I've had this before. The O ring melts, the engine loses compression and unburnt fuel is being pushed back past the injector. The engine senses this and shuts down the next injector so it only runs on two cylinders.
Do this and post up a video.
Edited by Touring442 on Thursday 20th October 13:52
I'm way too far away and tbh, I'm done with N43's but you could do a lot worse than get it recovered here:
http://www.bmrperformance.co.uk/
http://www.bmrperformance.co.uk/
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