CSL Dilemma

[Dan]

Some of you may remember me posting this a week or two ago: http://www.cslregister.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3477

Well the problem hasn't gone away and with an Inspection II due in around 6k miles I wanted to have a chat with a friendly dealer about it and a couple of other things, on high recommendation I spoke to Andy @ Murketts yesterday who went through a few things with me...

Basically I explained the oil level not showing on the OBC and he asked what I use the car for, I explained that mainly to and from work each day which is only 4.4mile round trip with a mile of dual carriagway if that!

The long and the short of it is that Andy advised that these short journeys can really harm the S54 engine in the long run and actually lead to a failure (something he has seen before)! Basically because I'm effectively driving it on cold start all the time the excess fuel ends up not getting burnt off and filling up the sump and 'dilluting' the oil!

Now my dilemma is that I bought the CSL to be an all round car, everyday driver, some light track work, and good for whatever basically, I downsized from an E46 M3 AND an Escort Cosworth at the end of last year as I'm saving for a deposit on a house and couldn't be doing with doubling up on tax, insurance, MOT's, services, parts, fuel.... etc etc.

I don't want to and won't buy a second car again, I don't have the room and have now given up my garage aswell, I don't really want the CSL to be sat up all week on the driveway as it's 30k's worth of car that I won't use! I could buy a moped to hack around on but thats not really an option, I have a briefcase and go to work in a suit everyday so not ideal!

Options are change the oil in the CSL every 6k or so miles (I have access to a 4 poster car lift so not hard to do, but would it still get damaged anyway even doing this?) and just live with the diabolical fuel consumption from it around town (getting 16/17mpg at the mo)! Or sell the CSL which would take the piss as I've only just got it!

Has anyone heard of this problem with CSL's/M3's and can anyone else come up with any good idea's or suggestions, I might be worrying about nothing but it came from a main dealer not the internet...!

Thanks

[shimmy]

Never heard of the problem

change the oil if that solves it. Easy

with trackays the interval for oil change reduces quite heavily to around 8000k miles anyway. And it is good for the car as well.

[shane@mbtech]

Its called blow by, when fuel/air mixture is blown by the piston rings and it creates crank case gases, this is why cars have a crankcase breather it releases the pressure and recycles them to the intake.

This is why you should never let a performance car idle for long periods, it causes borewash.

If your breathers become blocked the gases cannot escape which then causes the oil to become contaminated, (it happens naturally anyway), but quicker on short journies as car is never up to full operating temp= full protection.

Engines in cars with short stop start journies will always have more wear than a car that does 100 miles on one go.

If you do 100 miles in one day, start your car then drive the 100 miles your car runs through the unprotected period 1 time

If you do 100 miles in one day, start your car, drive 2 miles stop for 30 minutes, drive another few miles, stop for 30 minutes, drive some more, stop for an hour, pick mrs up, have lunch, drop mrs off, drive another 5 miles, stop for fuel then coffee, start again then again then again. You travel through the unprotected stage many many times in the same 100 mile range.

So yes he is telling you the truth, but modern oils can cope with this.

Just change your oil every 6k.

All should be ok just get yourself a warranty

[mattCSLnut]

Originally Posted by lawsy

Its called blow by, when fuel/air mixture is blown by the piston rings and it creates crank case gases, this is why cars have a crankcase breather it releases the pressure and recycles them to the intake.

This is why you should never let a performance car idle for long periods, it causes borewash.

If your breathers become blocked the gases cannot escape which then causes the oil to become contaminated, (it happens naturally anyway), but quicker on short journies as car is never up to full operating temp= full protection.

Engines in cars with short stop start journies will always have more wear than a car that does 100 miles on one go.

If you do 100 miles in one day, start your car then drive the 100 miles your car runs through the unprotected period 1 time

If you do 100 miles in one day, start your car, drive 2 miles stop for 30 minutes, drive another few miles, stop for 30 minutes, drive some more, stop for an hour, pick mrs up, have lunch, drop mrs off, drive another 5 miles, stop for fuel then coffee, start again then again then again. You travel through the unprotected stage many many times in the same 100 mile range.

So yes he is telling you the truth, but modern oils can cope with this.

Just change your oil every 6k.

All should be ok just get yourself a warranty

FOOK me Lawsy... That's the smartest thing you've said since I've known U . U can talk sense I'm well impressed

[cslgirl]

If you sell it, you will only end up buying another

[shane@mbtech]

Originally Posted by mattCSLnut

FOOK me Lawsy... That's the smartest thing you've said since I've known U . U can talk sense I'm well impressed

Somebody must of hacked my account

[mattCSLnut]

Originally Posted by lawsy

Somebody must of hacked my account

[weedavey]

Originally Posted by lawsy

just get yourself a warranty

I wasnt going to but on hearing a few tales i have got the warranty now. Suggest the same for you mate.

[Dan]

Thanks for the replies guys, getting a second car isn't an option, had enough of running multiple cars for years now, at one point I had about 4 on the go when I was around 21!

I take on board the problem and didn't not believe Andy for a second, just wanted some opinions and options

I could take a longer trip to work but that would probably make all of about a mile and a halfs difference

Selling the car is the last resort for sure! I've been out in it most of the afternoon, done about 60+ miles and had one run of 150mph+ (on my mates private road ) and the oil level indicator is now back to normal and safely reading 1.0L

I'm going to try car sharing with the Mrs for a few days a week and cut the short trips out to almost nothing for the CSL, I have got a good hours drive to see a client Tueday for work so will take it then and give it another good run

I couldn't sell it, it's the best car I've ever owned!

EDIT: Calling BMW and sorting the Warranty tomorrow, will prob go for the Comprehensive cover with a £250 Excess!

[glendog74]

Keep the car mate and do as many here suggested, i.e. take a long route to work, do additional oil changes, etc.

If you do get a warranty, i wouldn't get it with a £250 excess as you will end up paying almost the cost of the job itself in many cases unless you have a major fault that needs rectifying. I have £100 excess btw.