[johnreese416]

2012 BMW 328i 6MT with N20 175k kms/108k miles

RPM fluctuates and smoke comes out at a cold start every morning but after a few mins of warm-up, it drives normally (no smoke after a while). Sometimes engine stalls if I start driving without warming up or if the temperature is too low.

I went to my mechanic yesterday and he said it's most probably due to a crack on turbo. They found Black stain on turbo. I got a quote for 3.5~4k C$ for New turbo OR 2.5k$ for aftermarket one.

Is there anything else I can try first before changing the turbo which might fix it? Any other solution? I am attaching videos of RPM fluctuation, smoke and turbo picture which my mechanic sent me.

Thank you


Engine bay smoke:

View post on imgur.com

RPM fluctuation on dashboard:

View post on imgur.com

Engine bay:

View post on imgur.com

Turbo image from the mechanic:

View post on imgur.com

[gameson]

You tuned your car? If you have to buy new turbo, buy pure turbo

[johnreese416]

Originally Posted by gameson

You tuned your car? If you have to buy new turbo, buy pure turbo

No, it's stock, apart from an air intake. Although I have only owned it for a year I don't know if the previous owner did anything before that.

[archelas]

Seems like your mechanic is right it looks like a turbo issue

[MaverickCruise]

The seals connecting the turbine's water and tubing will begin to fail after 80,000 kilometers, causing the oil to leak out of the turbine. And it is also time for maintenance of the internal bearing seal of the turbine, and it is best to replace the loss parts such as the intake pipe and the water pipe together. The water pipe connector will start to break after 80,000 kilometers, once disassembled, it will break completely. So it's best to replace them all at once.


I just did this at 90,000 kilometers. I cost $1 for the seals, 4 in total. Turbine shaft maintenance $100,the water pipe, intake pipe and thermostat cost $250, Installation costs $200.