340i

GipsyD · 03-29-2021, 05:57 AM

Recently, my 340i started giving off a lot of white smoke from the exhaust after idling for a while, like a hour or less. The smoke normally comes after a rattle from the engine from what I can only assume is the turbo.

Now, when this happens, I switched the car off, wait for about 30 seconds, and start it back up again. I then start driving, and the smoke and rattle goes away, almost as if it fixed itself instantly. The car doesn't appear to be in limp mode or anything of that sort, and the car appears to have all it's power on tap.

No lights on the dash come up, and no errors in iDrive come up either. It's as if the issue doesn't exist. Vehicle status shows up green.

My car is out of warranty and motorplan, and is completely and utterly stock. No modifications have been do this car at all. Car has got 76K KMs

The car has never been beat on, only a few spirited drives here and there whenever I have the chance to enjoy it.

I think it might be the turbo housing, but I could be wrong. Is this a known issue with the B58?

Does anyone have any idea why this is happening, and what could be causing the issue?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for viewing!

Th3Walrus · 03-29-2021, 06:00 AM

First question is, why are you idling for up to an hour??

GipsyD · 03-29-2021, 06:05 AM

I'm normally the driver for my parents when they go around town doing their errands. Usually I have to sit in the car, because of COVID and crowded places, with the AC running on low, due to the heat, while I wait for them to finish whatever they are up to.

Could the AC be the problem?

Th3Walrus · 03-29-2021, 06:28 AM

No, the extended idling is the problem. You are probably getting a buildup in the exhaust due to incomplete combustion from idling. You are also probably getting fuel diluted into the oil and will have to change your oil more often.

Stop idling for more than a few minutes, turn the car off, put a mask on, and stand outside.

GipsyD · 03-29-2021, 06:36 AM

Hmm. Who would have guessed extended idling? I sure as hell wouldn't have guessed it. I thought these engines would be fine with the idling, considering what they are all cracked up to be.

Note to self, don't idle the car for so long!

Thanks for the help, Th3Walrus. I really appreciate it.

Boostedphil698 · 03-29-2021, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GipsyD

Hmm. Who would have guessed extended idling? I sure as hell wouldn't have guessed it. I thought these engines would be fine with the idling, considering what they are all cracked up to be.

Note to self, don't idle the car for so long!

Thanks for the help, Th3Walrus. I really appreciate it.

Extended idling is bad on any car, but harder on a turbo car.

orbE46 · 03-29-2021, 06:26 PM

PCV diaphragm. Here's what you need:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Membrane-Va...EAAOSwOxVgACU6

Wanwansuii · 03-29-2021, 06:32 PM

I’m not sure about the extended idling causing the smoke. While extended idling is not good on any car, especially turbo cars, this sounds like an oil leak.

Maybe a valve cover gasket leaking in an exhaust, causing the smoke? Or bad pcv?

Wires · 03-29-2021, 08:43 PM

These things idle so low and so lean, I doubt you have any fuel in oil dilution issues. Heck, if your commute involves a lot of gridlock, that can be an hour of basically idling, daily.

I'd suspect you have some sort of oil leak though. Maybe PVC as mentioned above?

bimmer456 · 03-29-2021, 08:48 PM

I had this problem to, once it happened while waiting in a COVID drive thru with other cars idling for long periods but they didn't have any problem. Had to shut it off and turn it back on. Think there's an issue with the design. Dealer could not find the problem or there is no solution so they say there's no problem.

orbE46 · 03-29-2021, 09:11 PM

This is very common on the early year B58s. Just check the B58 facebook group, it's happened to dozens of people there. All had two things in common:

-Happened after idling for an extended duration
-2016 B58 (maybe one or two 2017s)

The problem is the rubber diaphragm gets tears in it.

GipsyD · 03-30-2021, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmer456

I had this problem to, once it happened while waiting in a COVID drive thru with other cars idling for long periods but they didn't have any problem. Had to shut it off and turn it back on. Think there's an issue with the design. Dealer could not find the problem or there is no solution so they say there's no problem.

I originally thought it might have been the turbo being starved of oil when idling, or that the oil leaking was touching the hot side of the turbo, and somehow finding it's way into the exhaust system.

At least I know I ain't going crazy thinking that it could be a blown head gasket.

GipsyD · 03-30-2021, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orbE46

This is very common on the early year B58s. Just check the B58 facebook group, it's happened to dozens of people there. All had two things in common:

-Happened after idling for an extended duration
-2016 B58 (maybe one or two 2017s)

The problem is the rubber diaphragm gets tears in it.

Is this the same part that orbE46 is talking about?

GipsyD · 03-30-2021, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boostedphil698

Extended idling is bad on any car, but harder on a turbo car.

Welp. I was always under the impression that the new six cylinders, diesel included, from BMW where tough as nails. I would never had thought that something as stupid as idling for a bit would have such a big affect.

GipsyD · 03-30-2021, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orbE46

PCV diaphragm. Here's what you need:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Membrane-Va...EAAOSwOxVgACU6

I am definitely going to have my car checked out for this problem the moment I get a chance.

Does anyone know if FCP Euro keeps this part? I can't find it anywhere on their web store.

bimmer456 · 03-30-2021, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GipsyD

Quote:

Originally Posted by orbE46

PCV diaphragm. Here's what you need:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Membrane-Va...EAAOSwOxVgACU6

I am definitely going to have my car checked out for this problem the moment I get a chance.

Does anyone know if FCP Euro keeps this part? I can't find it anywhere on their web store.

I would just buy it from eBay surprised they didn't do a recall for this simple part. They fixed it in 2017 so knew there was a problem.

GipsyD · 03-30-2021, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmer456

I would just buy it from eBay surprised they didn't do a recall for this simple part. They fixed it in 2017 so knew there was a problem.

Tell me about it, but yet there was a recall for updating the iDrive system

.

I just might do that and take it to a indie shop to get this issue sorted. No point in turning a blind eye to this issue.

vmaniqui · 03-30-2021, 02:59 PM

check this out....

looks like an easy fix if this is the solution. part mentioned was: VAICO V20-1797 Engine Blocks. available in Canada and Europe yet I checked and couldn't find a similar one for USA.

bimmer456 · 03-30-2021, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GipsyD

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmer456

I would just buy it from eBay surprised they didn't do a recall for this simple part. They fixed it in 2017 so knew there was a problem.

Tell me about it, but yet there was a recall for updating the iDrive system

.

I just might do that and take it to a indie shop to get this issue sorted. No point in turning a blind eye to this issue.

Pretty lame the part isn't sold separately by bmw I asked a former bmw tech about this as well and he was aware of the problem but said there wasn't a fix available. Not sure if the fix mentioned here would work for sure.

GipsyD · 03-31-2021, 02:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmer456

Pretty lame the part isn't sold separately by bmw I asked a former bmw tech about this as well and he was aware of the problem but said there wasn't a fix available. Not sure if the fix mentioned here would work for sure.

Best to diagnose before jumping the gun. I'll update this thread the moment I know what is wrong with my engine, and how we fixed it.

GipsyD · 03-31-2021, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vmaniqui

check this out....

looks like an easy fix if this is the solution. part mentioned was: VAICO V20-1797 Engine Blocks. available in Canada and Europe yet I checked and couldn't find a similar one for USA.

I may be new here, but let me tell you, I love this forum. You guys rock.

Thanks for the video vmaniqui. This will tell me what the PCV valve does in a BMW engine.

Th3Walrus · 04-03-2021, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bimmer456

They fixed it in 2017 so knew there was a problem.

bimmer456

Do you know when they fixed it? I have a 2017 that was built in 03/2017.

03-29-2021, 05:57 AM	#1
GipsyD Enlisted Member 16 Rep 47 Posts Drives: '16 F30 340i Luxury Line Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Durban iTrader: (0)	340i - Lots of white smoke after idling a while Recently, my 340i started giving off a lot of white smoke from the exhaust after idling for a while, like a hour or less. The smoke normally comes after a rattle from the engine from what I can only assume is the turbo. Now, when this happens, I switched the car off, wait for about 30 seconds, and start it back up again. I then start driving, and the smoke and rattle goes away, almost as if it fixed itself instantly. The car doesn't appear to be in limp mode or anything of that sort, and the car appears to have all it's power on tap. No lights on the dash come up, and no errors in iDrive come up either. It's as if the issue doesn't exist. Vehicle status shows up green. My car is out of warranty and motorplan, and is completely and utterly stock. No modifications have been do this car at all. Car has got 76K KMs The car has never been beat on, only a few spirited drives here and there whenever I have the chance to enjoy it. I think it might be the turbo housing, but I could be wrong. Is this a known issue with the B58? Does anyone have any idea why this is happening, and what could be causing the issue? Any insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for viewing!
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03-29-2021, 06:00 AM	#2
Th3Walrus Lieutenant 341 Rep 437 Posts Drives: 2020 X3MC Alpine White/Sahkir Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0)	First question is, why are you idling for up to an hour??
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03-29-2021, 06:05 AM	#3
GipsyD Enlisted Member 16 Rep 47 Posts Drives: '16 F30 340i Luxury Line Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Durban iTrader: (0)	I'm normally the driver for my parents when they go around town doing their errands. Usually I have to sit in the car, because of COVID and crowded places, with the AC running on low, due to the heat, while I wait for them to finish whatever they are up to. Could the AC be the problem?
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03-29-2021, 06:28 AM	#4
Th3Walrus Lieutenant 341 Rep 437 Posts Drives: 2020 X3MC Alpine White/Sahkir Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0)	No, the extended idling is the problem. You are probably getting a buildup in the exhaust due to incomplete combustion from idling. You are also probably getting fuel diluted into the oil and will have to change your oil more often. Stop idling for more than a few minutes, turn the car off, put a mask on, and stand outside.
	Appreciate 1 floridaorange10144.00 Quote

03-29-2021, 06:36 AM	#5
GipsyD Enlisted Member 16 Rep 47 Posts Drives: '16 F30 340i Luxury Line Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Durban iTrader: (0)	Hmm. Who would have guessed extended idling? I sure as hell wouldn't have guessed it. I thought these engines would be fine with the idling, considering what they are all cracked up to be. Note to self, don't idle the car for so long! Thanks for the help, Th3Walrus. I really appreciate it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-29-2021, 06:26 PM	#7
orbE46 Member 106 Rep 151 Posts Drives: 340i & 325Ci Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Central Florida iTrader: (0)	PCV diaphragm. Here's what you need: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Membrane-Va...EAAOSwOxVgACU6
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03-29-2021, 06:32 PM	#8
Wanwansuii Private First Class 66 Rep 188 Posts Drives: '14 BMW 640i Gran Coupe Msport Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Northern California iTrader: (0)	I’m not sure about the extended idling causing the smoke. While extended idling is not good on any car, especially turbo cars, this sounds like an oil leak. Maybe a valve cover gasket leaking in an exhaust, causing the smoke? Or bad pcv?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-29-2021, 08:43 PM	#9
Wires Brigadier General 1646 Rep 4,876 Posts Drives: 2016 340i xDrive Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	These things idle so low and so lean, I doubt you have any fuel in oil dilution issues. Heck, if your commute involves a lot of gridlock, that can be an hour of basically idling, daily. I'd suspect you have some sort of oil leak though. Maybe PVC as mentioned above?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-29-2021, 08:48 PM	#10
bimmer456 Major General 2960 Rep 5,992 Posts Drives: 340i Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Pasadena, CA iTrader: (0)	I had this problem to, once it happened while waiting in a COVID drive thru with other cars idling for long periods but they didn't have any problem. Had to shut it off and turn it back on. Think there's an issue with the design. Dealer could not find the problem or there is no solution so they say there's no problem.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-29-2021, 09:11 PM	#11
orbE46 Member 106 Rep 151 Posts Drives: 340i & 325Ci Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Central Florida iTrader: (0)	This is very common on the early year B58s. Just check the B58 facebook group, it's happened to dozens of people there. All had two things in common: -Happened after idling for an extended duration -2016 B58 (maybe one or two 2017s) The problem is the rubber diaphragm gets tears in it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-30-2021, 02:59 PM	#18
vmaniqui Private First Class 70 Rep 140 Posts Drives: Toyota Land Cruiser/340i M Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: California iTrader: (0)	check this out.... looks like an easy fix if this is the solution. part mentioned was: VAICO V20-1797 Engine Blocks. available in Canada and Europe yet I checked and couldn't find a similar one for USA.
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