530d Turbo maintenance and problem prevention

[timwatsham]

Well, I just had to give it a go, so had my E39 remapped last week (via someone who JeffC recomended a while back, and have to say he was excellent and I'd heartily re-recomend).

It's brilliant, gives it a lovely strong push in the back - 2nd and 3rd gear urge is just astounding, and I already thought it was strong...

So, I'm not one to rush around on full boost everywhere (probably 80% of miles are on the motorway, and hence 80 on the cruise control), but it has got me thinking of longeivity of the turbo.

I'm currently on 126k miles, and will be running the car for the next 18 months and probably 50,000 miles before we go abroad with work, so would like to take prevention steps rather than be left with a big bill in the near future.

I don't ever go past half throttle until the car is well warmed through, and do the last couple of miles very gently + idle for 20 seconds before stopping; but I'm wondering what else I can do?

I've heard that the first things that go on the turbos seem to be the seals - is this something that can be replaced ahead of time to prevent damage when they fail later?

Anyone got any experience?

[baz1985]

To be honest there's nothing much you can do. You can let it cool down etc etc, but its no guarantee of prevention. My parents have had 2* E39 530d from new (standard- not remapped)...between them they had 3 turbos and 2 incidents of 'sticking injectors'. All sorted under BMW Warranty- otherwise circa £1200 per turbo.

[jamoor]

3 turbos is a little crazy, what's the mileage?
i hear changing the breather helps it as it gets blocked or something...

[blackspider]

jamoor said:

3 turbos is a little crazy, what's the mileage?
i hear changing the breather helps it as it gets blocked or something...

There is a crankcase breather filter which is now involved in the service schedule-every 60000 miles or 3rd oil change.

Turbo's are fine aslong as you let the engine idle for a few minutes-It so that the turbo stops spinning at full tilt and then being starved of oil.

[timwatsham]

Crankcase breather filter - is that easy to change yourself like an air filter? Have a feeling mine won't have been done as it has been out of main dealer network for the last 60,000... Something I can do on a Saturday afternoon without a workshop?

Guess I'll just keep treating it gently and see how we get on! No signs of a replacement turbo in the history I have, so assume I am on original at 126k, will be v careful and make sure it is still running strong for the next year!

THanks for the advice!

[blackspider]

timwatsham said:

Crankcase breather filter - is that easy to change yourself like an air filter? Have a feeling mine won't have been done as it has been out of main dealer network for the last 60,000... Something I can do on a Saturday afternoon without a workshop?

Guess I'll just keep treating it gently and see how we get on! No signs of a replacement turbo in the history I have, so assume I am on original at 126k, will be v careful and make sure it is still running strong for the next year!

THanks for the advice!

You need to remove the upper engine cover-its in a black housing to the rear top of the engine between the injectors and air filter-held down by 4 6mm headed al.key bolts.