50k: Turbos shot

[germ]

Just got my 2008 135i back from the dealer this morning. At just over 50k, it had been displaying limp mode more and more often. Lately, I could make it appear at will by accelerating hard in a high gear. I was prepared for a hefty bill, but also decided to take her in because I wanted to avoid even bigger damage later.

Verdict:
1. Turbos are gone, needed to be replaced
2. Low fuel pressure sensor is giving fault codes. Dealer wanted $500 for this, I declined. Will try it to do it myself later
3. Front left tire has very uneven wear (will post separately)

Now the shocker: This is covered under extended warranty for emission system. My grand total: zero dollars.

Now, thank you State of California for those environmental regulations. But I'm reading with alarming regularity posts about turbos failing (there's one just below). Not sure how long I will be able to keep this car.

Had a new 328i as loaner for 5 days, BTW. At the end, I was so glad to have my 1er back. It was a "sport" version, with red leather interior (nice) and huge 19" wheels. But the engine, while fast, isn't as good as the inline six. The steering wheel is crap, as is the steering feel. Brakes are bad if you try to hit them hard. The worst is the trunk hinges. BMW and Audi used to have those beautiful, complicated, damped lever system. Those are simple curved beams like in a Nissan. The only good thing the the 328i has over the 135 i is the suspension: stiff, less bouncy. Seating position on the 135i is better. The start-stop system is much improved over previous iterations. And I hate that little stick, very bad ergonomic.

[ShocknAwe]

Is your car tuned? Low pressure sensor code is a tuner code many times. Might not be anything wrong with it at all.

[chris82]

Although I have not held one of the new BMWs steering wheels, I don't think I want to. I think they look awful. The trunk hinges look disgusting as well. That is how it is on the 5 too. Just another cost cutting measure to make more profit for the stockholders!

[mike@x-ph.com]

My turbos were shot at 79k ... completely stock car.

[PA135i]

My turbos took a dump at 49,965 and the car was stock.

[dtwyim]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

My turbos were shot at 79k ... completely stock car.

Originally Posted by PA135i

My turbos took a dump at 49,965 and the car was stock.

Just curious if you guys limit engine revs before the car is fully warmed up?

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by dtwyim

Just curious if you guys limit engine revs before the car is fully warmed up?

Yea i do not push the car hard until its fully warmed up

[germ]

Originally Posted by ShocknAwe

Is your car tuned? Low pressure sensor code is a tuner code many times. Might not be anything wrong with it at all.

No, completely stock.

I try not to push the car when it's cold, but perhaps I am not always succeeding at that.

[dtwyim]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

Yea i do not push the car hard until its fully warmed up

Originally Posted by germ

No, completely stock.

I try not to push the car when it's cold, but perhaps I am not always succeeding at that.

What about highway vs city driving? I wonder if a lot of stop and go city driving puts more wear and tear on the turbo, amongst other things.

[mike@x-ph.com]

Originally Posted by dtwyim

What about highway vs city driving? I wonder if a lot of stop and go city driving puts more wear and tear on the turbo, amongst other things.

Mostly highway.

[germ]

Originally Posted by dtwyim

What about highway vs city driving? I wonder if a lot of stop and go city driving puts more wear and tear on the turbo, amongst other things.

A mix of highway and local driving. Still does not explain turbos failing so early.

[ejm3]

Does anyone know if turbos are covered by the extended warranty?

[RoundelM3]

Originally Posted by Chrisar82

Although I have not held one of the new BMWs steering wheels, I don't think I want to. I think they look awful. The trunk hinges look disgusting as well. That is how it is on the 5 too. Just another cost cutting measure to make more profit for the stockholders!

Really...you don't think this steering wheel is worthy? Regarding the trunk hinges, they don't intrude into the cargo space like the E9x hinges did, and they're spring-loaded so the lid opens when you unlock it. They're actually a more costly design. It always amazes me how people find the silliest things to quibble about.

[cheshirecat79]

Originally Posted by roundel335

It always amazes me how people find the silliest things to quibble about.

for real, jesus. "I hate the new lugnuts, they don't taper as nicely as the older version"

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by cheshirecat79

for real, jesus. "I hate the new lugnuts, they don't taper as nicely as the older version"

I would like to add the new carpeting doesn't do it for me. It's too smooth and I find my foot slipping at times. The thicker carpet should not have been replaced for cost cutting purposes -- it takes away from the driver feel.

[chris82]

I don't like it. I sat in the M4 this weekend. Interior is meh. I'm not impressed.

And in regards to the trunks hinges. My base civic had those ugly latch looking things. My 1 has a really fancy looking hydraulic mechanism. Sorry, some of us care about details here

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by germ

A mix of highway and local driving. Still does not explain turbos failing so early.

What kind of oil change interval was done on your car? Did you ever have a UOA performed?

[shah269]

The turbos going on this car...is a scarry thought. I have 65k miles and i'm not sure what to do. Every now and then i get that sound of 4 quarters in a can when i pull the car in the garage. No code yet but WTF?
I had my 1.8t VW for a 150k miles and the turbo never went bad! What the hell gives?

[JimD]

Mike Miller recommends both a warm up at low rpm before turbos are spun up and also a cool down period of low rpm and power before shutting down. The latter helps prevent extreme temperatures when a hot turbo is shut down.

Lubrication is another good question. Because of the temperature they get to, turbos are hard on oil. Early failure could be an indication BMW's oil change interval is not enough for these motors.

[cheshirecat79]

The turbos on our cars are water cooled. The pump continues to work after the car is shut off (as it's electric). I wouldn't bother with a turbo cool down unless you just finished some very hard driving directly before needing to cut the engine.

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by cheshirecat79

The turbos on our cars are water cooled. The pump continues to work after the car is shut off (as it's electric). I wouldn't bother with a turbo cool down unless you just finished some very hard driving directly before needing to cut the engine.

I believe the turbine shaft of the turbo is oil cooled/lubricated, so I guess it depends on what is actually failing on the turbos. I don't think everyone is specifying what failure mode they experienced.

[MarkkyyMan]

How many miles on oil change?