Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Doctor Gollum on 31 July 2016, 13:59:57

Title: BMW M54 engine...
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 31 July 2016, 13:59:57
Belt or chain?

If belt, what interval?
Title: Re: BMW M54 engine...
Post by: Nick W on 31 July 2016, 14:19:42
Chain, so probably the most reliable bit of the engine.


Sumps leak like all BMW slant sixes.


Vanos isn't brilliant.


Water pump impellers fail, which cause the biggest problem: knackered heads and blocks. Which usually means an overheated engine is only fit for the bin.
Title: Re: BMW M54 engine...
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 31 July 2016, 15:06:37
Ok :y

Been offered an '01 525 which seems to run/drive fine but has breather issues as camcover gasket leaks like a seive...

Oil separator is obviously blocked up as the car idles beautifully with the breather pipe disconnected, but literally pours oil over the exhaust when you reconnect it ::)

Looking at about £50 in bits to fix that, and it needs a bloody good service, but it's clean and tidy, with a few age related marks, and absolutely no rust...

What could possibly go wrong ::)
Title: Re: BMW M54 engine...
Post by: frostbite on 31 July 2016, 15:32:26
The vanos could have that nasty metallic rattle till the oil circulates.

I take it they changed the design of the oil seperator, when I had an e36 it was vacuum operated. So when engine was running it was closed off then when the vaccum dies the valve would allow waste vapors into the inlet, a crude design
Title: Re: BMW M54 engine...
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 31 July 2016, 16:17:35
Ok :y

Been offered an '01 525 which seems to run/drive fine but has breather issues as camcover gasket leaks like a seive...

Oil separator is obviously blocked up as the car idles beautifully with the breather pipe disconnected, but literally pours oil over the exhaust when you reconnect it ::)

Looking at about £50 in bits to fix that, and it needs a bloody good service, but it's clean and tidy, with a few age related marks, and absolutely no rust...

What could possibly go wrong ::)

How much for this fine piece of German engineering, Al?
Title: Re: BMW M54 engine...
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 31 July 2016, 16:30:43
Ok :y

Been offered an '01 525 which seems to run/drive fine but has breather issues as camcover gasket leaks like a seive...

Oil separator is obviously blocked up as the car idles beautifully with the breather pipe disconnected, but literally pours oil over the exhaust when you reconnect it ::)

Looking at about £50 in bits to fix that, and it needs a bloody good service, but it's clean and tidy, with a few age related marks, and absolutely no rust...

What could possibly go wrong ::)

How much for this fine piece of German engineering, Al?
FOAMY O'B Dr... :P

Less than an Omega, but more than a Focus :D
Title: Re: BMW M54 engine...
Post by: Field Marshal Dr. Opti on 31 July 2016, 16:54:06
Ok :y

Been offered an '01 525 which seems to run/drive fine but has breather issues as camcover gasket leaks like a seive...

Oil separator is obviously blocked up as the car idles beautifully with the breather pipe disconnected, but literally pours oil over the exhaust when you reconnect it ::)

Looking at about £50 in bits to fix that, and it needs a bloody good service, but it's clean and tidy, with a few age related marks, and absolutely no rust...

What could possibly go wrong ::)

How much for this fine piece of German engineering, Al?
FOAMY O'B Dr... :P

Less than an Omega, but more than a Focus :D

Ah...I see. Paying too much then. :D ;D
Title: Re: BMW M54 engine...
Post by: X30XE on 31 July 2016, 20:36:56
Make sure it hasn't blown the front or rear crank seal out if it's pressurising.  That'll render it worthless.

If the routing is similar to the M52 the breather can be accessed under the intake manifold by removing the throttle body.  Fiddly but doable.  Plastic connecting pipes get brittle with age.

Could be worse.. could be an M62 v8  ::)
Title: Re: BMW M54 engine...
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 31 July 2016, 21:07:57
Bottom of engine is oil tight... Only had a cursory look over it as original reason for looking was to diagnose oil leak.

Will have a closer look if I decide to proceed :y
Title: Re: BMW M54 engine...
Post by: STEMO on 31 July 2016, 22:30:42
Can I have first dibs on your focus.  :)
Title: Re: BMW M54 engine...
Post by: serek on 31 July 2016, 23:20:02
Oil at the bottom of engine not coming from rocker cover on them it's oil housing leak about £10 form Bmw for gasket . I keep them in stock as every s6 BMW engine leak there
Title: Re: BMW M54 engine...
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 01 August 2016, 00:09:21
Can I have first dibs on your focus.  :)
Certainly :-*
Title: Re: BMW M54 engine...
Post by: Doctor Gollum on 01 August 2016, 00:12:19
Oil at the bottom of engine not coming from rocker cover on them it's oil housing leak about £10 form Bmw for gasket . I keep them in stock as every s6 BMW engine leak there
Useful to know  :y