XSeries-forum

Car booked in to the garage this afternoon for what I'm hoping is going to be a load of remedial warranty work! To be honest, I feel like I want them to say it's going to cost too much to repair and they want it back, because I now hate it!

There's some problems I've identified and I know what they are, which if simply fixed, I'll be totally happy about. PDC doesn't work properly. Really intermittent. Sometimes light comes on, sometimes it doesn't. Rear wiper doesn't work. Expansion tank has a crack in it so leaking coolant.

But there's also some other stuff that I'm not so sure about and don't know if they are going to indicate bigger problems down the line?

First one is Squeking/squeeling noise coming from offside front wheel when turning right at speed (roundabouts etc.)

There's a leak coming from the pan under the mezatronic unit. Looks like it's just a case of a failed gasket as the leak is along the lip. The gearbox, when changing up and cold, hesitates a little before changing up, a bit like pressing the clutch on a manual. I don't know if this is normal? My friends 4.8is seems much smoother. Could this be indication of low ATF fluid? Will this have caused damage?

Also when accelerating there's a vibration feeling, as the revs get higher. This is not constant as in all the time the engine is running and not felt at tickover.

My other half got a text earlier from her mum saying she thought she saw me and a load of black smoke coming out the back of the car. I'm pretty sure it wasn't me but it promoted me to go check the car. One of the things my dad used to do to check was removing the oil cap with the engine running and if there was pressure, there was a problem. Is this right, or is it the opposite with these engines? With the engine idle, I removed the oil cap and heard a hiss and what I could hear inside was clattery. But not clattery with the cap on.

Can anyone advise what they think they above might be? I would just prefer to go armed with a but more knowledge to the garage later. I'm totally clueless where cars are concerned. Wish I was better with this kinda stuff as so stressed out driving the thing!

P.s - it's a 2004 4.4.
P.p.s - sorry for the dumbass questions.

Well, for me...You will need few thousand to get it right. Gearbox, transfer box, cv ball joints, valve seals to start with...

I won't need anything to be fair. It's under warranty. And I'm not taking it back until it's 100% right. It's left with them now, anyway. Thanks for the reply!

The 'clutch slip' feel is definitely not right.  After mine was rebuilt there was a subsequent issue with the overlap clutches for 2nd and 3rd and the box had to be completely replaced as they has already done a rebuild.

Low fluid will result in a risk of lower internal hydraulic pressure and that will put the clutch and brakes packs at risk of slippage.  Once that happens then they usually 'burn' and need replacing.  Does the leaking oil smell burnt?  Is there enough to see the colour?  It should be clear and pinkish - pale gold.  After mine went the oil went dark brown due to the overheated clutch and brake packs (my torque converter failed without warning causing debris to get to the gearbox main oil pump and a catastrophic hydraulic pressure loss).

Gearbox Rebuilds are about £2k and new Mechatronics Units are £1.5k and have to be coded to the car.  BMW were charging £10k for the pair!!!

The squeal could be CVJ as suggested.

I can understand your feelings and frustrations....... :'(

Richard

Its a ZF gearbox so fluid should be goldish. Need to change it anyway, same with transfer box oil. Tell the garage to run car on idle for about 10min then press on gas. If its puffing smoke, valve seals are gone.

Thanks for the gearbox into. Useful! Just looked at the pic I took of the leak (taps talk not playing and won't allow me to upload!) but yes, it's gold.

The car isn't smoking, I don't think. I always struggle to tell the difference between white smoke and steam in weather like this! When stationary on drive, it did puff out white cloud, but dissipated quite quickly so I'm guessing it was steam??

Just watched this and I really don't think mine is this bad. Two videos of the same problem and they both chuck out a shed load of smoke. I'm pretty sure what I saw out of mine was steam. http://youtu.be/S-UZ__r1aok

All n62 engines, well, all "n" series engines once they will reach 80.000-100.000 will have valve seals gone. Done few of those 1series, 3series, 6series, x5s...Check it properly. Leave car for at least 10-15mins on idle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-UZ__r1aok

I think you answered the question in your original post. How fast can you do the 100 mtr sprint????

)

Bah and I thought BMW's were supposed to be a step up from Audi! I traded in my 12 year old A6 with just shy of 200,000 miles on it and it has had no engine work whatsoever. Only thing ever to go wrong was the clutch pack on gearbox. £800 fix. Then just wear and tear stuff on suspension.

Had a a6 too. Very good car. Nothing went wrong with it...but beem its beem . e53 its a cracking car....but people cant afford maintenance cost, doing jobs on time etc. Most are just selling them....costs are just time X vs audi a6...

I agree - it's a beast! I'm not intending to use it as main car; Maybe 30 miles a week, so as long as the present probs are fixed, I'll be happy with it!

Car fixed! Vibration was due to the brake discs being warped. Both pads and discs replaced with new, and everything else sorted too. Picking it up on Thursday. Woo!