'06' Z4 Top end rattle + high oil consumption + crap service
Discussion
My mother has owned the car from brand new. It's an 06 plate 2.5 Z4 with 2 weeks left until its a year old and has 3800 miles on the clock.
About 6 months ago, at 1800 miles, she drove it home on night and I was standing in the drive when she got in. It was sounding very tractor like. 2 trips to the supplying dealer had no result as the car didnt repeat its noises. Finally they agreed to drain the car of oil as they agreed it sounded like valvetrain noise and oil starvation could be a cause. Although the dash check button said the oil level was fine, good old fashioned measuring of what was removed showed it to be 2 litres short. They filled it back up to the proper level and its been fine since.
Until Thursday of last week. This time she had heard the noise when she started it up at work a few miles away. I came out to the drive, she restarted it, yep, same noise. We took it down on to the road where it is flat and I went and got my video camera. Flat so the oil reading should be accurate, ignition on, "oil ok" displayed on the dash, got her to start it up with me filming with the bonnet up, clattery as you like.
Called BMW Assist and their tech came out within the hour (bloody good service, I would have to say). Naturally the car refused to make the noise when he was there but listening to the video on my laptop he agreed something should be done and arranged for it to be booked in to the supplying dealer on Friday and a courtesy car was arranged.
I took the car in on Friday with my laptop to show the service guys incase the car wouldnt perform. The chap booking it in couldnt have been less interested in what I had to say and simply wanted the keys and me off in the hire car asap it seemed. Offer of playing the video ignored.
Now the questions:
- are the oil sensors a known liability on these engines?
The fact the oil level at 1800 miles was 2 litres down I could maybe accept if running in the engine, but for the sensor to be saying everything is fine when theres no dipstick for back up is a worry.
- what could be causing such high oil use in a very low mileage engine?
My 325i didnt use a drop of oil in 4000 odd miles with me and unlike my mothers Z4, it got its backside kicked quite a lot where you would possibly expect it use some oil.
The customer service issues will come out in the wash, if they cant find the fault I'll happily chew the service manager as their attitude was just downright ignorant, but the main thing thats worrying me is my mother has paid a lot of money for a car that could have pretty serious issues.
About 6 months ago, at 1800 miles, she drove it home on night and I was standing in the drive when she got in. It was sounding very tractor like. 2 trips to the supplying dealer had no result as the car didnt repeat its noises. Finally they agreed to drain the car of oil as they agreed it sounded like valvetrain noise and oil starvation could be a cause. Although the dash check button said the oil level was fine, good old fashioned measuring of what was removed showed it to be 2 litres short. They filled it back up to the proper level and its been fine since.
Until Thursday of last week. This time she had heard the noise when she started it up at work a few miles away. I came out to the drive, she restarted it, yep, same noise. We took it down on to the road where it is flat and I went and got my video camera. Flat so the oil reading should be accurate, ignition on, "oil ok" displayed on the dash, got her to start it up with me filming with the bonnet up, clattery as you like.
Called BMW Assist and their tech came out within the hour (bloody good service, I would have to say). Naturally the car refused to make the noise when he was there but listening to the video on my laptop he agreed something should be done and arranged for it to be booked in to the supplying dealer on Friday and a courtesy car was arranged.
I took the car in on Friday with my laptop to show the service guys incase the car wouldnt perform. The chap booking it in couldnt have been less interested in what I had to say and simply wanted the keys and me off in the hire car asap it seemed. Offer of playing the video ignored.
Now the questions:
- are the oil sensors a known liability on these engines?
The fact the oil level at 1800 miles was 2 litres down I could maybe accept if running in the engine, but for the sensor to be saying everything is fine when theres no dipstick for back up is a worry.
- what could be causing such high oil use in a very low mileage engine?
My 325i didnt use a drop of oil in 4000 odd miles with me and unlike my mothers Z4, it got its backside kicked quite a lot where you would possibly expect it use some oil.
The customer service issues will come out in the wash, if they cant find the fault I'll happily chew the service manager as their attitude was just downright ignorant, but the main thing thats worrying me is my mother has paid a lot of money for a car that could have pretty serious issues.
Firstly, I was unaware until now that the facelifted car had done away with the dipstick. I agree that it's slightly worrying (and indeed unwise) that theres no backup for oil measurement. It's not an expensive, heavy, or fault liable feature so I wonder why they have removed it. My pre-facelift Z4 has one, as does the Porsche Boxster to complement it's automatic system.
Regarding the sudden oil usage; it wouldn't be unheard of to suffer a transitory oil drinking problem during the running-in period. My old Smart Roadster didn't loose a drop of oil until 2,000 miles, at which point it drank a half litre in a 100 mile period, and thereafter went back to not using any. If I were you I'd keep an eye on the level fairly regularly and if it persists then get it looked at.
As regards the customer service from the Service staff, BMW have prooved (so far) to be the opposite of my expectations. I expected it to be sweetness and light from the service staff (in line with their shoe-test reputation), but endless recurring problems with getting the required work done. The truth has been quite the opposite; whilst the nonchalant attitude of the service managers often leaves an expectation of problems later, they've always got the job done as required and ahead of schedule.
Regarding the sudden oil usage; it wouldn't be unheard of to suffer a transitory oil drinking problem during the running-in period. My old Smart Roadster didn't loose a drop of oil until 2,000 miles, at which point it drank a half litre in a 100 mile period, and thereafter went back to not using any. If I were you I'd keep an eye on the level fairly regularly and if it persists then get it looked at.
As regards the customer service from the Service staff, BMW have prooved (so far) to be the opposite of my expectations. I expected it to be sweetness and light from the service staff (in line with their shoe-test reputation), but endless recurring problems with getting the required work done. The truth has been quite the opposite; whilst the nonchalant attitude of the service managers often leaves an expectation of problems later, they've always got the job done as required and ahead of schedule.
There are 2 methods to checking the oil-the one will just say OK-thats a quick test.It will say ok until the level is close to critical.
You can do the same test with the engine running-takes about 5 minutes and will give you an exact reading of how much oil is required...see the handbook.
oil consumption can be 1 litre for every 1000-1500 miles
the actual figure tends to be 679miles to 1 litre maximum oil consumption.
You can do the same test with the engine running-takes about 5 minutes and will give you an exact reading of how much oil is required...see the handbook.
oil consumption can be 1 litre for every 1000-1500 miles
the actual figure tends to be 679miles to 1 litre maximum oil consumption.
Hallo Emicen,
the top-end rattle is most likely due to air in the tappets. The air is gradually purged during use, but the low mileage your mum puts on the car is not enough to ensure that they remain free of air. It's not your mum's fault, she's entitled to use the car however she wants, but that is the technical reason.
I'd tentatively say that in this case, the oil level in the sump is a separate issue.
Try occasionally using the car for a longer journey at higher rpm and see how you get on.
the top-end rattle is most likely due to air in the tappets. The air is gradually purged during use, but the low mileage your mum puts on the car is not enough to ensure that they remain free of air. It's not your mum's fault, she's entitled to use the car however she wants, but that is the technical reason.
I'd tentatively say that in this case, the oil level in the sump is a separate issue.
Try occasionally using the car for a longer journey at higher rpm and see how you get on.
Now resolved (well, as of Thursday last actually).
They couldnt find the problem funnily enough. I said, sorry, not good enough. We arent imagining the noise, it is there and it sounds serious. They agreed to talk to BMW UK to agree a course of action. The car had checked out fine for oil this time, 9 litres or something in it, basically as much as should have been there.
They then told us BMW UK has had some cases of this exact fault on 2.5 Z4's and they had authorised the dealer to change the valves. As expected really, this was dumbing it down, they were doing the vanos system (also as expected
).
Car is now back and running fine.
They couldnt find the problem funnily enough. I said, sorry, not good enough. We arent imagining the noise, it is there and it sounds serious. They agreed to talk to BMW UK to agree a course of action. The car had checked out fine for oil this time, 9 litres or something in it, basically as much as should have been there.
They then told us BMW UK has had some cases of this exact fault on 2.5 Z4's and they had authorised the dealer to change the valves. As expected really, this was dumbing it down, they were doing the vanos system (also as expected
). Car is now back and running fine.
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