BMW 320d Turbo Failure .... Recommended Garage

[Budfrog]

Hi,

 

I realise there is another thread specifically about the Turbo failures of early (Pre-mid 2003) 320d BMWs however this one is to briefly outline my experience and to recommend a solution that does not damage the wallet as much as using a franchise dealer for repair.

 

My 52 reg 320d compact fits the profile of a Turbo failure to a tee, 73k and manufactured in 2002.

 

Nothing appeared amiss untill my MOT (6 days ago) when the car failed on emissions ... no problem I thought just a question of a re-tune (maybe too rich a mixture).

 

The guy at the franchise did the good news, bad news bit (the good being with a warm engine the car would pass the MOT, the bad being the Turbo was on it's way out and would cost £2,400 to repair). I asked how long would the Turbo last and was told there was no way of predicting however a total failure would be LOTS more than £2,400.

 

I was in a mild state of shock and decided to pass on the offer of booking the car straight in to drive home (quite slowly) and google around trying to find a better (ie cheaper) solution.

 

Now it didn't take me long to get a quote which was a damed sight cheaper from a specialist BMW/Merc workshop called AMC next to the dog track in Wimbledon .... £1650 to be precise, and the only downside was the fact the place was 50 miles away.

 

To cut a short story even shorter, I drove the car to Wimbledon without the 'Big Bang' that I was dreading and three days later picked it up complete with new (updated) Turbo, Intercooler and all the other bits.

 

Now I know from talking to the mechanics that the job was a bitch and they also needed to buy extra bolts and a new Air Filter but still the bill only came to £1665. And on the journey home for some strange reason the mpg has leapt from 47ish to 54ish with no noticeable reduction in performance.

 

Now I am still smarting with BMW for not doing a product recall on all early 320d models as they are fully aware of the problem, however I almost feel like I've got out of jail and can't help but recommend the garage ...

 

AMC - BMW Services London and Mercedes services London

[mr ibby]

hi. i own a garage and from my own opinion its a comman fault its because the cars are not bein serviced on time or are not serviced at all. i am willing to take this job on. 07979837596 or 07523427990 just give me a call as i took 2 turbos out 2day. and also i wont be useinf recondition one because you will have the same problem. i will replace a turbo, cat, oil, oil filter, oil breather, clean tyhe intercooler system, air filter, and also will test drive the cars. but how sure you that the turbo is blown???