one more thing! VERY often overlooked and rarely mentioned: 🤓 The hydraulic lifters OFTEN clog and cause all kinds of engine fault codes, NONE of these codes actually mention to check the hydraulic lifters, they always "blame" another part. hence you end up replacing alot of parts which are still good without getting to the root cause. Try HYDRAULIC LIFTER CLEANING FLUID first, this stuff is meant to do just that, and it often really works! this is the simplest fix for your M54 engine, and you can't really hurt the engine with cleaner lifters, even if there is another fault as well.
Best m54 guide seen yet. Considering an e60 with m54 with 115k miles. Any thing to watch out for at this mileage. Would I be better off getting diesel at that mileage as they can last longer than petrol versions?
It’s a good engine, the M54 in my X5 has 260,000 kms on it. Expect several oil leaks if they’ve not already been tended too. CCV will want doing also if not done already
I'm just about to take ownership of my Grandfather's 2001 330ci and came across your vids doing a bit of research. Love your channel and you clearly know your way around older bimmers! My car is a UK spec SE, 5 speed manual, with only 42k miles on the clock, full dealer service history and garaged it's whole life. Is it naive to hope that there will be very few problems due to the low miles, or is a lot of this stuff age related (degradation) as opposed to miles?
That’s awesome, sounds like a well looked after 330ci. Preventative maintenance is the key to avoiding problems with these cars. Anything made of plastic or rubber will be degrading at this age. If it hasn’t already been done, spend some money replacing the expansion tank/water pump/thermostat/belts and inspect the radiator and hoses 👍
Thanks for all your videos! They're full of helpful tips I need. *Subscribed* I own a 2004 E60 520iA which has only 74 000 km on the odometer, 10 000 km of which has been driven since purchasing it last year, without a single hitch, except a PDC sensor which I'm about to replace. I know the AC/serpentine belts need replacing, but what else should I prioritise maintaining? The car has followed all scheduled services and has no open recalls/actions with BMW.
Hey mate, great videos. I have 2 BMW E46 330i's and my mechanic did a service on one of them and said that one of them took 6.5L of oil and the next one 7.5L of oils, does this mean my oil pan has been changed for some reason or why would this occur?
Next week I am going to have my radiator and heater hoses replaced. In the video you recommended having this job done which is going to cost $1000.00 for parts and labor. Is their a way to determine if the radiator is currently in the car is in good condition and will not fail anytime soon or is it best to change it to be on the safe side?
I would focus on the expansion tank, thermostat and water pump before the radiator. Generally the radiator isn’t the weak point. Yes, the radiator can be tested for leaks via a pressure test
@@MTechGuy Ok. Actually everything I have gotten done, but the radiator. So I was unsure if it should be done or just continue to check for leaks. I remember in the video you stated the rubber or neck or something could snap. Thats what I was afraid of.
No, only by testing it via a pressure test, but if it’s around 20 years old the only way to be 100% certain the aged plastic is not going to fail is replacement
After all these parts have been replaced, would it be safe at that point to take a long trip in this car? Are there more parts that you recommend replacing before doing that?
Yes, I did many long trips in an E46 touring I used to own, same in my X5 with the M54 3.0 engine. Main thing to think about is to keep an eye on the temperature gauge
I hear some individuals say not to change the transmission fluid. Do you recommend doing that and what other things can I do to make sure the transmission remains in good condition?
I’ve always changed my fluid without issue, using Valvoline Maxlife ATF, perform 3 x drain & fills, running in between. Replace filter and make sure to fill to level using the correct procedure! If you have the GM transmission it’s worth considering replacing the selector shaft seal as they are prone to leaks
8 months into mine, e60, thanks for this video.
Thanks for watching!
Great rundown.
No worries, thanks for watching!
one more thing! VERY often overlooked and rarely mentioned: 🤓 The hydraulic lifters OFTEN clog and cause all kinds of engine fault codes, NONE of these codes actually mention to check the hydraulic lifters, they always "blame" another part. hence you end up replacing alot of parts which are still good without getting to the root cause. Try HYDRAULIC LIFTER CLEANING FLUID first, this stuff is meant to do just that, and it often really works! this is the simplest fix for your M54 engine, and you can't really hurt the engine with cleaner lifters, even if there is another fault as well.
Not a common issue, but I have come across it before. Sometimes the bore of the faulty lifter can become scored and won’t hold oil
Great video!
Cheers man, thanks for checking out the video
@@MTechGuy 👍 happy Holidays!
Brilliant watch for a prospective owner, thanks
Thanks for watching, good luck with the search!
Best m54 guide seen yet. Considering an e60 with m54 with 115k miles. Any thing to watch out for at this mileage. Would I be better off getting diesel at that mileage as they can last longer than petrol versions?
It’s a good engine, the M54 in my X5 has 260,000 kms on it. Expect several oil leaks if they’ve not already been tended too. CCV will want doing also if not done already
I'm just about to take ownership of my Grandfather's 2001 330ci and came across your vids doing a bit of research. Love your channel and you clearly know your way around older bimmers! My car is a UK spec SE, 5 speed manual, with only 42k miles on the clock, full dealer service history and garaged it's whole life. Is it naive to hope that there will be very few problems due to the low miles, or is a lot of this stuff age related (degradation) as opposed to miles?
That’s awesome, sounds like a well looked after 330ci. Preventative maintenance is the key to avoiding problems with these cars. Anything made of plastic or rubber will be degrading at this age. If it hasn’t already been done, spend some money replacing the expansion tank/water pump/thermostat/belts and inspect the radiator and hoses 👍
Thanks for all your videos! They're full of helpful tips I need. *Subscribed* I own a 2004 E60 520iA which has only 74 000 km on the odometer, 10 000 km of which has been driven since purchasing it last year, without a single hitch, except a PDC sensor which I'm about to replace.
I know the AC/serpentine belts need replacing, but what else should I prioritise maintaining? The car has followed all scheduled services and has no open recalls/actions with BMW.
Thanks for following the channel brother. A 520i at that age- make sure the cooling system components are in good shape
Hey mate, great videos. I have 2 BMW E46 330i's and my mechanic did a service on one of them and said that one of them took 6.5L of oil and the next one 7.5L of oils, does this mean my oil pan has been changed for some reason or why would this occur?
E46 330i should take 7.5 litres
@@MTechGuy thank you so much (:
You have main hoses but there are a few more of the smaller hoses are these worth changing too? Thanks
It wasn’t worth it back when I did mine, but the age these cars are at now it would be worth doing them all together
Next week I am going to have my radiator and heater hoses replaced. In the video you recommended having this job done which is going to cost $1000.00 for parts and labor. Is their a way to determine if the radiator is currently in the car is in good condition and will not fail anytime soon or is it best to change it to be on the safe side?
I would focus on the expansion tank, thermostat and water pump before the radiator. Generally the radiator isn’t the weak point. Yes, the radiator can be tested for leaks via a pressure test
@@MTechGuy Ok. Actually everything I have gotten done, but the radiator. So I was unsure if it should be done or just continue to check for leaks. I remember in the video you stated the rubber or neck or something could snap. Thats what I was afraid of.
Yes, the neck where the main upper hose connects can crack around the base of the neck
@@MTechGuy So how do I prevent that without changing the radiator? Is that possible?
No, only by testing it via a pressure test, but if it’s around 20 years old the only way to be 100% certain the aged plastic is not going to fail is replacement
After all these parts have been replaced, would it be safe at that point to take a long trip in this car? Are there more parts that you recommend replacing before doing that?
Yes, I did many long trips in an E46 touring I used to own, same in my X5 with the M54 3.0 engine. Main thing to think about is to keep an eye on the temperature gauge
@@MTechGuy I have an e60 with a M54 engine. So that is the same correct?
Yes, same 👍
@@MTechGuy Thanks
I hear some individuals say not to change the transmission fluid. Do you recommend doing that and what other things can I do to make sure the transmission remains in good condition?
I’ve always changed my fluid without issue, using Valvoline Maxlife ATF, perform 3 x drain & fills, running in between. Replace filter and make sure to fill to level using the correct procedure! If you have the GM transmission it’s worth considering replacing the selector shaft seal as they are prone to leaks
@@MTechGuy Thank you