Blown/blowing turbo.....dear dear dear !

[Graham0127]

SWMBO just came in and asked me to top up her washer fluid.Opened bonnet and diesel soot everywhere,especially around turbo.She thinks it`s running ok but what a mess.The car is a Mini CooperD and still under manufacturers warranty (goody).Any ideas ?

[XTR2Turbo]

On my mini cooper 1.6d 2010 turbo failed after 6 months and 7000 miles but it did loose most of its power.

 

There is also a hose under there that tends to come loose on mine and blows soot on the bulkhead heatshield

[Graham0127]

On my mini cooper 1.6d 2010 turbo failed after 6 months and 7000 miles but it did loose most of its power.

 

There is also a hose under there that tends to come loose on mine and blows soot on the bulkhead heatshield

Thanks for that...I`ll have a drive later.......soot is very heavy around turbo and although it`s still under warranty it`s still nice to know what`s going on.....Interestingly also had complete clutch replacement...dual mass flywheel and all.BMW wouldn`t pay and said `it was down to the way it was driven,BMW said they would pay 40% if it had done over 30k miles....bit A*** about face.Otherwise really super little car and we do have a sloping driveway which you have to nudge out of as entrance is `blind`....women drivers   

[SootySport]

Tis a common problem with TDI cars, hoses poppin off, hope it's that simple. As for BMW saying it's the way it's driven, oh dear.

[Graham0127]

That`s BMW for you (Coopers Chelmsford)...I asked what they meant by the way its been driven....they said `too many hill starts possibly`I repiled `I live on a hill`.....anyway they (BMW) wouldn`t accept liabilty,Cooper said they couldn`t suffer the cost either.

Back to the turbo....soot definitely coming from turbo & cannot see any hoses/pipes off.....Guess we`ll have to see what they say & how they try to get out f it.

Interesting note...I was told by `technician`(mechanic) that this engine has been replaced  on the very latest models by a German (BMW?) engine,apparently SWMBOs engine is French (Pug?) !

Wonder what`s in our 5 series......Indian...

[robo1968]

My mini 1.6D has the same soot around turbo. BMW had a look and took some pictures and sent then to HQ in Germany. They said it doesn't use a normal method of sealing gasket? So they said leave it alone, unless loss of power. So far so good...

[SootySport]

Justa thought, if it doesn't sound like the manifold is cracked or lack of power then the pipes are ok. As mentioned above maybe just a pipe leakng a tad.

[Graham0127]

Thanks for your thoughts guys......Going into BMW so they can get dirty...

I`ll keep you informed.

[Norman Verona]

If you really argue with them and insist it wasn't bad driving they will put it through warranty at 100%. 

 

That's my experience, not from an owners point of view but from the week I spent at BMW HQ in a room next to the warranty room.

[Graham0127]

Norman,believe me I tried.....they told me they`d had an independant check done...by the RAC..& they said it was a fault of the driver/drivers....The new clutch & dual mass flywheel were fitted & the car drives like a completely different car.Looking back the gearchange was always TOO slick,it`s now more positive and `notchy`.Maybe if it had been my car then I would have questioned it right away,but SWMBO was happy with it and felt nothing wrong until it failed....completely.......there one day gone the next.

 

Her previous car was a Kia Sorento...they even resprayed the bonnet free of charge after a huge pigeon poo marked the lacquer.

Not mopped Norman....Real service..........Likely her next school run car will be a Picanto.Wonder if they do a trick one?

[Norman Verona]

Of course, they may have been right. 

 

I sold a Nissan Cherry to an elderly lady. She took delivery and set off home. She didn't get there, she was riding the clutch so much it burnt out in 12 miles. She admitted it was her fault. Her excuse was she couldn't feel the pedal as her previous car the clutch was much heavier. When I say burnt out I mean that. The centre plate was blue and had no friction material left on it.

 

Had another one that came back and complained about the poor fuel consumption. She was pulling out the choke to hang her handbag on. Her previous car had an automatic choke.

[Graham0127]

Norman my friend.....

you should publish some of your stories..priceless.

[Norman Verona]

20 years in the motor trade and 30 years dealing with motor traders for their computer systems has a lot of stories.

 

Just remembered another. 

 

A dealer in Liverpool rings up one Monday to say their system seems to have gone backwards a week. They had done a file reload over the weekend. This entailed making a full backup (which they did daily) and then reloading the tape back onto disc. This resized the files for optimum size. I had told them the tapes were really important so look after them. This dealer thought as they were so precious he would use a tape which was a week old so as not to damage that days tape.

 

Or how about the days when we had 8.5" floppy discs. Dealer rings up one evening that he can't get a copy (the discs copied from one drive to the second). The support guys went through everything until the dealer says "well I did drop the copy on the floor, it got a bit of grease on it but I wiped it off". OK, but there's a sequel. A year or so later same dealer rings with same problem. Support have a  laugh and ask if he's dropped it in the grease "well I did drop it, but I caught it before it hit the ground, It bent in half but I straightened it"

[pistonbroke]

Had another one that came back and complained about the poor fuel consumption. She was pulling out the choke to hang her handbag on. 

 

Kinnel Norman        

 

that's a good 'un       :d  

[Norman Verona]

Want another.

 

A henchman of the Krays bought his Datsun 240C in and wanted an engine and gearbox rebuild. As I knew this chap I warned the staff not to let him anywhere near the car and only take cash in payment. You know what happened. He came to collect it on a Saturday morning. Insisted on driving it round the block before paying. Receptionist obliged and went with him. When they returned receptionist locked the car and was walking back to reception when the customer stopped to blow his nose. By the time he realised what was happening customer was in the car using his spare keys and drove off. I reported him for stealing his car but the local fuzz didn't want to know, probably because of who it was. I took him to County Court and won. Never got paid though. When the bailiff called he convinced him it was all in his wife's name.

 

Had a similar situation with the husband and wife owners of a Merc we had rebuilt the head. The timing chain had snapped. They tried it on by offering a cheque which I refused. They asked where the bank was and disappeared. They took the car without paying using there spare keys. This time they were arrested for stealing the car. I did a deal, "pay up and I'll drop the charge". They did.