What happen to my E46 318i?

[BMWSILVER]

Dear E46 318 Owner.

Need your advices regarding my car strange behavior.

(1) Cold start – Loud sound after cranked the engine.

(2) After driving the car for a short distance and stop at traffic light. The RPM fluctuate for 3 to 4 seconds and felt like the car wanted to jerk forward.

Worst of all, above problem don’t happen everyday, I have send my car back to PML but they cannot locate the cause of the problem and I have hard time showing them these symptoms.

Any E46 318 owner faced the above problems? What happen to my car?

Thanks in advance.

 

[bmwF1]

Re: What happen to my E46 318i?

Dear E46 318 Owner.

Need your advices regarding my car strange behavior.

(1) Cold start – Loud sound after cranked the engine.

(2) After driving the car for a short distance and stop at traffic light. The RPM fluctuate for 3 to 4 seconds and felt like the car wanted to jerk forward.

Worst of all, above problem don’t happen everyday, I have send my car back to PML but they cannot locate the cause of the problem and I have hard time showing them these symptoms.

Any E46 318 owner faced the above problems? What happen to my car?

Thanks in advance.

1) During cold start, my car will start and rev up to 2000rpm on its own. That is why it is loud, dunno if it is the same for yours.

2) Used to happen to me sometimes and it can be due to many reasons. Best is let PML or BVO check, shld be a very common problem with this model.

 

[BMWSILVER]

Re: What happen to my E46 318i?

Hi ! bmwF1

Thanks f or your reply

1) During cold start, my car will start and rev up to 2000rpm on its own. That is why it is loud, dunno if it is the same for yours.
My reply: No, different problem because sometime when I start the engine is not so loud
Example: I start the car it was loud then I off and re-start again and the noise is not there

2) Used to happen to me sometimes and it can be due to many reasons. Best is let PML or BVO check, shld be a very common problem with this model.[/QUOTE]
Mr reply: PML cannot find and do not know what is the causes of the problem

Overall, my car drive normal but just want to solve it before warranty expiry

 

[Derek Png]

Re: What happen to my E46 318i?

Hi Bro,

I've the same problem on (2) for amost 2 weeks.

(2) After driving the car for a short distance and stop at traffic light. The RPM fluctuate for 3 to 4 seconds and felt like the car wanted to jerk forward.

I've got it checked at J4C and was told that one of the Oxgyen sensors is faulty. It costs around $230- $250 each to replace. And it is good to replace all the three sensors at one go.

Please go back to PML since you are still on warranty (mine just expired). Let me know is this the cuase of the problem so i can get it done too.

Cheers,
Derek

 

[BMWSILVER]

Re: What happen to my E46 318i?

Hi !

I will check with PML regarding the Oxygen sensors.
Are you saying that there are total of three sensors for Oxygen?

I have been monitoring my car behavior and may soon be able to show PML this problem.

Cheers

 

[Derek Png]

Re: What happen to my E46 318i?

Yes, was advised that there are three Oxygen sensors all together and it is good to change all at one go as the other two might fail after one other.

Cheers,

 

[bmwF1]

Re: What happen to my E46 318i?

I remember now, there was once my car had this fluctuating rpm and PML can't solve the problem. So i had no choice but to live with it until one fine day the car stalled and had to be towed back to PML. The car can be started but stalled if you leave it to idle. The funny thing was when the tow truck came, the guy drove the car up the tow truck's ramp using 1 leg on the brake and the other on the accelerator so the engine will not stall. He told me it is a common problem!

In the end they realised that the mass air flow sensor was faulty and had to replaced it.

 

[Newredbug]

Re: What happen to my E46 318i?

i believe valvetronic has 4 O2 sensors...

The problem could also be due to valvetronic control unit, or tensioner belt....

It is better to do a diagnostics to acertain the problem bro....

 

[kenona]

Re: What happen to my E46 318i?

Hi,

I have same symptoms.

(1) seems that ever since I added coolant after the warning sign came out, the sound reduces by quite a bit. Try that to see if it helps you.

(2) no solution for it. O2 sensors sounds reasonable. Let me know if you can get PML to change.

 

[BMWSILVER]

Re: What happen to my E46 318i?

Hi ! Guys.

Thanks for all your replies

The fluctuation happen as follows:
(1) Morning start, gear still in "P" warm-up for ~2 min
(2) Then shift to "D" without moving off and wait for about 2 min ==> The RPM will fluctuate for 3 to 4 seconds

I will show to PML this problem soon and feedback what is their reply.

Cheers

 

[Newredbug]

Re: What happen to my E46 318i?

urs shld be O2 sensors problem...the newer models have O2 sensors giving command to ECU...so if it's faulty, can cause vibration, fluctuating rpm, rattling sound etc etc...

Get them changed at J4C.... now a lot cheaper...

 

[beem]

Re: What happen to my E46 318i?

Could the O2 problem surface without a fault appearing on the diagnostics?

I'm having the vibration problem..especially when its hot...going to perform a leak test as one of the cylinder's rough running cycle is not meeting specification. Comments Bros??

 

[TobyNik]

Re: What happen to my E46 318i?

Could the O2 problem surface without a fault appearing on the diagnostics?

I'm having the vibration problem..especially when its hot...going to perform a leak test as one of the cylinder's rough running cycle is not meeting specification. Comments Bros??

Yours sounds like the ignition coil issue.

Changed before?

 

[beem]

Re: What happen to my E46 318i?

Ignition coils all changed to BOSCH.....should be other problems?

 

[kenona]

Re: What happen to my E46 318i?

Hi BMWSILVER,

So was it the O2 sensors problem that cause your problem? Are O2 sensors covered by warranty?

I took my 2004 E46 to PML with same problem. They replaced ignition coil and cylinder head cover. Problem seems to be even more noticeable now.

Hope to hear from you.

 

[Derek Png]

Re: What happen to my E46 318i?

Hi,

I've replaced the two O2 sensors at J4C and the problem resolved.

Cheers,