XSeries-forum

I have just bought a BMW X5 3.0d 52plate off of my friend.
He has been told the engine is knackered and he cant afford to have it fixed so ive bought it off him & hoping to get it sorted for a good price!

When he last drove it, he had to pull over as the engine rev'd really high & didnt stop when he turned ignition off & smoke came from bonnet.
It went into the garage & apparently the engine bores have filled with diesel.
Does anyone have any ideas as to what could have caused this?
Im prepared to buy a refurb engine for this but would like to have some idea as what could have caused this so it doesnt happen again!

did it stop its self once it had burned its engine oil or something else

http://vbox7.com/play:d620808b&al=2&vid=2572726

Sounds like a run-away


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk watch out for autocorrect!!

[quote="shadrack"]
did it stop its self once it had burned its engine oil or something else

http://vbox7.com/play:d620808b&al=2&vid=2572726
[/quote]

Yes I believe it stopped itself, im guessin after the fuel in the turbo had been used.

Thisis a thread I was looking for. The only way to stop the engine is to effectively choke it as X5Sport mentions.

Not easy when it's at max revs and scary as sh!t to wrestle!

You'll have a failed turbo and then the extra damage caused by this runaway. The breather replacement is a good start - they get blocked, the new vortex type are an improved design.

My mate has a 520 D E61 5 series, his had a " Run Away " 6 months ago. He was on the hard shoulder of the motorway. His engine reved to the red line, he turned off the ignition, but it made no difference, there was loads of black smoke from the exhaust. He managed to stall it eventually, as it was a manual ( he put it in 6th gear and dropped the clutch with his foot on the brake.
When it was towed into the dealers they told him that the turbo had popped a seal and the oil is injected into the engine, this enables the engine to feed off the oil as a fuel and rev to the max until all the oil in the sump has been used up. Then no oil results in a siezure, as he managed to stall it before it siezed it only cost him 5 K to put right, engine rebuild, new turbo, new cat etc. Cant see it being an economical repair on a 5K X5.
If it happens top an auto the only way to stall the engine is to stop the air going in, and snuff it out. I wouldnt be able to manage that on mine at the side of the road in the heat of the moment

[quote="Sanj"]
Thisis a thread I was looking for. The only way to stop the engine is to effectively choke it as X5Sport mentions.

Not easy when it's at max revs and scary as sh!t to wrestle!

You'll have a failed turbo and then the extra damage caused by this runaway. The breather replacement is a good start - they get blocked, the new vortex type are an improved design.
[/quote]
Would a failed turbo fill the bores/engine with diesel?

i would try and get a 2nd hand engine cheap i think, and just change the lot

[quote="shadrack"]
i would try and get a 2nd hand engine cheap i think, and just change the lot
[/quote]
Every 2nd hand engine ive seen for sale always seemed to be stripped down to block, so will have to use parts that are already on car.
Think its going to be hard to find out exact issue  )
Dont want to do a engine change only for it to be a faulty part on the car that will cause it to happen again to new engine.

[quote="andym3"]
Would a failed turbo fill the bores/engine with diesel?
[/quote]
It depends upon how much damage was done to the injection system.  The turbo bearing failure could result in a fuel/oil mixture which would be thinner than oil alone and smell of diesel.

How much fuel is in the bores?  If it's a lot then has the engine suffered a 'hydraulic lock' where fluid in a cylinder stops the engine - and they can in very bad cases bend the crank or con rods?  Does the engine turn if you put a socket on the pulley on the crank?

Can you borrow a boroscope to have a look?  Has the garage said the engine is toast, or can you get the head off and have a look inside?

Richard

how much would it be for a refurb job?

[quote="X5Sport"]
[quote="andym3"]
Would a failed turbo fill the bores/engine with diesel?
[/quote]
It depends upon how much damage was done to the injection system.  The turbo bearing failure could result in a fuel/oil mixture which would be thinner than oil alone and smell of diesel.

How much fuel is in the bores?  If it's a lot then has the engine suffered a 'hydraulic lock' where fluid in a cylinder stops the engine - and they can in very bad cases bend the crank or con rods?  Does the engine turn if you put a socket on the pulley on the crank?

Can you borrow a boroscope to have a look?  Has the garage said the engine is toast, or can you get the head off and have a look inside?

Richard
[/quote]

Have not got the X5 on my driveway yet, the garage are delivering it on monday.
Not sure how much fuel was in the bores, will ask the mechanic how much was in there. Apparently he had the sump off to let the diesel drain.
Will try to turn the over when I recieve it to see what happens, will post and let you know.
Should be able to borrow a boroscope. 

[quote="kkodal78"]
how much would it be for a refurb job?
[/quote]
Theres a company on ebay that sell them for £1295 + £50 p&p - ebay item no. 221049871820

[quote="andym3"]
[quote="kkodal78"]
how much would it be for a refurb job?
[/quote]
Theres a company on ebay that sell them for £1295 + £50 p&p - ebay item no. 221049871820
[/quote]
of course it would be another 600-700 to get it taken out and placed right?
do you have any type of warranty?

Could have been a faulty injector that has caused fuel to wash the bores and fill the sump with diesel, this is a common problem on Audi 3.0 D engines, customers were noticing that when checking the oil level that the oil marks were getting over the max marker due to diesel mixing with the oil.
This washes the bores and prevents lubrication, so causing terminal bore wear.
I have been on the Audi website to see what the common problems were as I was thinking if changing to an A6 or Q7 for my next motor.