3.0 litre petrol engine any problems

Post Sun Nov 08, 2015 8:27 am

I'm looking at getting another e90/1 and quite fancy a petrol engine rather than diesel.
Are there any issues with the 3.0 petrol engine car will be around 6-7 years old hopefully

Post Sun Nov 08, 2015 9:24 am

Cam bearing ledge wear resulting in oil pressure loss to the vanos units and resultant EML light. Very, very ecpensive fix.

Post Sun Nov 08, 2015 9:36 am

Yep. Happened to my friends car.

Post Sun Nov 08, 2015 10:08 am

What andyboy said. Also get through ignition coils and injectors. Coils cheap... But injectors £200 each and have to be matched/coded when fitted

Post Sun Nov 08, 2015 10:36 am

N52 tends to suffer the cam bearing wear and N54 the injectors and coils.

Post Sun Nov 08, 2015 6:32 pm

thanks for the replies sounds like I should be looking at another engine any thoughts?

Post Sun Nov 08, 2015 6:35 pm

If you want a reliable e90. Get an early 320d with 20 4d 4 (m47) engine. Have swirl flaps removed and keep up the services... Will go forever

Post Sun Nov 08, 2015 7:33 pm

how early? 2005/6

Post Sun Nov 08, 2015 7:52 pm

Yes but there is a cross over period so could have n47 engine instead of m47. The one you want is m47 (20 4d 4)

Easiest way to check if you don't know the difference. The one you want doesn't have a visible air box as its built into the rocker cover. The newer engine has a separate air box.

Post Sun Nov 08, 2015 7:59 pm

ok cheers will keep a lookout

Post Mon Nov 09, 2015 10:28 am

A good E90 320d is a superb car. But be prepared for turbo issues at this age, do the swirl flaps and replace every vacuum pipe in sight. Turbos aren't that dear from Turbo Technics but it's advisable to fit a new intercooler as well if the turbo has failed. If it hasn't, removal and washing out is vital. E90's also suffer water ingress into the ECU box - take the box out, drill a couple of decent sized drain holes and it should be okay.
After the shitbox E46, The E90 was actual progress for BMW.

The N47 arrived on the 57 plate so there are two or three years with the old M47 which as a basic engine is near enough unbreakable. I would have a Touring as well - they're about the same money and 3 times as useful.

Post Mon Nov 09, 2015 11:04 pm

I like the touring more than the saloon as like you say its far more useful and looks better in my opinion

Post Thu Nov 12, 2015 10:23 pm

I've had an E90 M47 320d, an E92 N53 330i and now have an E91 N52 325i. A 6-7 year old 3.0 would be the N53. The N54 is the 335i engine

The N53 had problems - it was OK for several months, but I ended up repeatedly having to change injectors, coils and also the NoX sensor. If you can get one with full BMW history and put it under BMW warranty though, then do it - the engine is fantastic. It's incredibly fast for an N/A 3.0 and has real character. There seem to be a lot of N52 drivers on other sites who deride it for having HPFP noise at idle, but the noise while it's being revved hard is fantastic and much better than the N52.

Obviously, this is subjective and is just my opinion, but the M47 320d is just transport. The N53 330i feels really special - I tested the 335i/330d/335d and D3 when I bought it and it was much nicer. The N52 325i is super smooth, but has much less character.

I've got mine under BMW warranty now, so I'm not that concerned, but I'm surprised to hear the N52 being regarded as unreliable. Over on e90post and on Pistonheads a lot of people seem to get huge mileages with no problems. Is it a high-proportion of them suffering with the cam bearing ledge wear issue?

Post Thu Nov 12, 2015 10:59 pm

tom325ise wrote: the M47 320d is just transport.

Exactly how I see it, your in the same territory as a mondeo or similar oil burning french heap so why spend money?

Post Fri Nov 13, 2015 12:18 am

tom325ise wrote:I've got mine under BMW warranty now, so I'm not that concerned, but I'm surprised to hear the N52 being regarded as unreliable. Over on e90post and on Pistonheads a lot of people seem to get huge mileages with no problems. Is it a high-proportion of them suffering with the cam bearing ledge wear issue?

No not at all. Cam bearing wear is pretty rare to be honest and I've even seen it effect N54's.

The N52 is more reliable than the N53 as the earlier car doesn't use direct injection.

Post Fri Nov 13, 2015 1:24 am

DanThe wrote:
tom325ise wrote: the M47 320d is just transport.
Exactly how I see it, your in the same territory as a mondeo or similar oil burning french heap so why spend money?

And the difference between a 6 cylinder and 4 cylinder e9x is not just the engine

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showth ... p?t=483409

In addition to those features my 330i coupe had massive brake discs - the brake performance is really noticeable compared to my 325i touring which has the same size brakes as a 4 pot