2001 BMW E46 Oil in water bottle

Tiny
HANSIE
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 BMW E46
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 175,000 MILES
Can you Guys help me, I have a BMW 320D, 2 Days ago I started the car in the morning, wasn't cold but the car struggled to start. Eventually it started, after a drive I got home & wanted to wash the motor, opened the water bottle to check water level & found Black oil in the water. Thought it could be Head gasket but the car doesn't loose power or get Hot, when I removed the dipstick the oil is still original colour & no water inside motor. There is some white smoke coming out under car, I thought it could be the Intercooler loosing oil in cooling system but not sure. What could be the problem?
Monday, November 2nd, 2009 AT 11:19 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
DOCHAGERTY
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,601 POSTS
Possibly the heat exchanger. The Diesel E46 never made it state side so this information may need a bit of research, I will get back tonight, BTW, I am in California.
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Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 AT 9:21 AM
Tiny
HANSIE
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thanx Dr. Hagerty, i'm in South Africa. One of my Friends told me he thinks it could be a oil port that blew it's way to a water port. Well the car doesn't get hot & doesn't loose power. He opened the oil cap & said the commpression in the motor is to high, looks like steam coming out of motor.
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Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 AT 10:36 PM
Tiny
DOCHAGERTY
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,601 POSTS
Something may have compromised the head gasket, or it has some issue with the head to block sealing.
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Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 AT 10:58 PM

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