Problems.!!!! - United Bimmer Community

**Numark318i** · 01-23-2006, 12:01 AM

Ok so i went to Los Angeles this weekend. The way there the car was fine, ran wonderfully at 4thousand PRM for 5= hours. Grapvine and everythign was fine(huge hill on I-5 which is known to kill alot of cars) the way back abotu half way back from LA we were cruising at around 90mph(4thousand RPM) and my valves started to click. The car didnt loose power just clicked when it idled when we went to get gas. so i elt it run for a little and the clicking went away. I checked the oil level, put some oil in and checkd everythign else.
The CAT was smoking a little also.
Im not sure what caused this to happen, but after we got off of I5 and 90mph the clicking went away. Is this an oil viscocity problem or what? Why would it click then go away?

**c1apton** · 01-23-2006, 12:10 AM

Sounds like an oil starvation or restriction problem. (As if you haven't had enough oil probs) Possibly oil thinned out/ too thin weight wise. What weight & brand are you running?

**Numark318i** · 01-23-2006, 12:20 AM

umm this time i had someone else change the oil. I told them castorol 5-30 but i think he put castorol 10-30. Stupid oil change places. next time im changing the oil i guess.

**c1apton** · 01-23-2006, 12:33 AM

10w-30 shouldn't have made that much difference. They could've used cheap oil filter, some can't keep up and tend to "load up" at RPMs, but there's a bypass valve that should've kicked in. Let me ask a few buds - I'll let you know within a day or so.

**Dudesky** · 01-23-2006, 12:43 AM

4 cylinder BMW motors can sometimes suffer from oil starvation at the higher end of the rpm band. This typically happens under track conditions, but normal drivng can also bring it about. I've heard some folks having good results by adding an extra half quart. Not to say this is your problem, but it could be a solution if it happens again.

**Numark318i** · 01-23-2006, 12:57 AM

hm..well idk. I have never ran the car at the high of an RPM for so long. I guess it oculd have been the filter. Also how screwed are my vavles now?

Storamin · 01-23-2006, 12:21 PM

It's a common e30 318/m3 engine problem. Just add an extra half quart of oil. Running at 4k RPM for that long time would simulate a track enviornment. Almost all e30 318/m3 owners I've met at BeaveRun run an extra half a quart or more on the track due to this problem.

I would also change the oil filter to something you know is good.

e30 M3's have a huge problem with oil starvation... even when running an extra quart. I know you track the car sometimes... look into modifying the current oil pan to stop oil starvation.

**Numark318i** · 01-23-2006, 01:46 PM

alright that sounds good
any suggestions as to a good oil filter? I just get a generic brand from Napa auto. Are the Bav Auto filters any good?
extra quart of oil sounds like an easy fix for now.
actually i have never tracked my car but i plan to once i get a little extra cash and time. But my engine does do ALOT of work when ever i drive her.

Storamin · 01-23-2006, 06:29 PM

Sorry Numark318i, I mistaked you and the other guy with a red 1991 e30 318 (He goes to Michigan I think). His name is escaping me.

Don't buy a filter from Napa auto. The filters there are typically junk, especially the fram filters. Buy one from the dealership with a BMWCCA discount and it won't be too much. In the future just order 5 and save on shipping from bavauto or wherever you want. Just get the OEM Filter.

**Numark318i** · 01-23-2006, 06:38 PM

heh.
so i just changed out the oil. Got castorol GTX ..forgot what viscosity it was..but the thicker one. I got a Fram filter unfortunately...but compared to what was in there this things amazing in quality. Ill get a BMW OEM filter next time. so like a month.

Thnx for all the advice. I also put an extra half a quart of oil. Car sounds very healthy again.
looked like oil was leaking this morning, theres oil splater all over the underbody. which wasnt there before. Im thinking that was from yesterday. I cleaned it all off, and changed the oil. Not leaking anymore. Well see how it holds up next time i do longer high rpm runs.

nick_318is · 01-23-2006, 10:12 PM

Storamin, good info, i was unaware of this possible issue, good thing to know for the track.

**Numark318i** · 01-23-2006, 11:46 PM

I guess i leaked oil all the way from LA...might have been one of the problems. Although i checked my oil twice. level was still good.

Storamin · 01-24-2006, 02:00 AM

That's odd... if you're leaking oil the level should go down. Are you sure it isn't another fluid? I'm not familiar with the e30 power steering, but I know on the e36 it loves to leak.

I thought you just had your oil pan replaced/fixed (or was that someone else)? Possibly a botched job?

Those e30 318iS are beasts on the track... hell, they're one of the most fun to drive. Just watch your oil and you'll enjoy the whole day. I know I did!

**Numark318i** · 01-24-2006, 10:27 PM

..heh i think everyones confusing me and nick 318is
actually im gonna check my power steering. I did have to add some oil to it last week before i left. thnx for reminding me.
damit i want to track my car.
one of these days. Afer i start my mutaul fund and have 1500 extra...track here i come.

nick_318is · 01-25-2006, 12:40 AM

Yea i had the broken oil pan about 2 weeks ago

Storamin · 01-25-2006, 12:47 AM

Well, you guys both have red e30 1991 318i's. Granted, one's an iS and the other is an i.

Just be prepared for things to break on the track. You will find the weakest link on the car. Granted, it's built more solid than the e36 but chances are you'll find something wrong with the car. At it's age, it's bound to have something. Just have $$ and patience to deal with it.

nick_318is · 01-25-2006, 12:51 AM

Yea you learn what breaks at the track when taking the car, i have gone through a couple sets of wheel bearings. Before i do it next i'm putting on new rotors and better pads, and ss lines if i have the cash.

Good thing about that is, you learn what breaks and then how to fix it and that you need to bring spares the next time.

But it is a hell of a lot of fun coming up on an e36 or 46 (granted i was in a lower grouping) and getting them to let you by.

**Numark318i** · 01-25-2006, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick_318is

Yea you learn what breaks at the track when taking the car, i have gone through a couple sets of wheel bearings. Before i do it next i'm putting on new rotors and better pads, and ss lines if i have the cash.

Good thing about that is, you learn what breaks and then how to fix it and that you need to bring spares the next time.

But it is a hell of a lot of fun coming up on an e36 or 46 (granted i was in a lower grouping) and getting them to let you by.

haha sweet.
yea my car breaks all the time anyways. Small shit always goes out. I just replace it. Yea ill be ready to spend the money....thats why im waiting a little. Investment into my future comes first.

Storamin · 01-25-2006, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Numark318i

haha sweet.
yea my car breaks all the time anyways. Small shit always goes out. I just replace it. Yea ill be ready to spend the money....thats why im waiting a little. Investment into my future comes first.

Good call.

I enjoy passing e30's all the time.

**Numark318i** · 01-26-2006, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Storamin

Good call.

I enjoy passing e30's all the time.

i never break down on the road..its always a minor fix. Never left me stranded.