Possible Turbo system issues again in 320D E90 - Possible replacement £2k fun?

Soldato
Joined
1 Dec 2004
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23,113
Location
S.Wales
Hi all,

Just a quick one, I have a possible turbo system issue on my 320D E90 again, although different from early 2014 when i bought the car where I had an actuator issue confirmed by code reader, I took it back, as its an electrical actuator I had to get a recon turbo replaced and the bits that are usually done with it. £700+ ish i think

Basically from idle, if you accelerate from 1st there is a flatspot, on the motorway when your between 60 to 80, there is very little power, 80-90 again struggling, it seems to be hitting me MPG aswel.

There is no turbo whining sound that can be heard, no smoke has been seen really. I have checked by unplugging the maf connector plug taking for a drive, plugging back in, I have checked the housing tube thing where the MAF connects to, cleaned around the seals, I am not technically up to scratch where other vital boost pipes are. but I have had a loose around pipes, apart from some oil seem which sometimes happens.

I have had 3 x handheld code readers in, one threw up some old codes that hadn't been reset, taken for a drive and read again, come up with nothing, other readers reporting no codes now.

I cant notice any boost leak noise per say, and actuators usually throw up a code.


Undecided on what im doing at the moment, what makes it difficult is that I am applying for a house mortgage later in the year, so I dont really want to start spending savings on cars or look at finance (I have until Sept/Oct until my current blackhorse finance is fully paid off).

If I need to replace, it will be for a petrol, and I am looking for a cheap fun car, but dont know what, maybe something like a Masda - MX5 but have no knowledge of them, they seem a good punt? is it the turbo model 1.8T to go for? 144 something BHP? or any others that I could pick up for maybe £2-£2.5k? which hopefully will have no major issues on purchase.


If the repair costs on the 320D are not that of replacing turbo etc then I may concider a PX.
 
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96K, bought it on 60K when I had to have it returned to the workshop to have a recon turbo under warranty (Just caught it) because of the Actuator.

Yeh heard to watch out for Rust on MX-5 - Is this in any specific place?
 
Outch. I would probably go for another recon if it came to that. I am not sure if I'm going to be keeping it for another 2 years. Maybe 1 if i did.

Tonight cleaned the mad sensor and had a quick check on the front turbine which appears to spin ok.

I don't really know much about getting to/checking turbos.

I may have to pick a garage and see if i can more manual checks done. Mention to them its now been through multiple code readers with nothing showing
 
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