Horrible news about my ti

[djcamera]

Hey everybody. Pardon me for not being a frequent poster, but I do lurk around and read this forum when I can and enjoy the 318ti chatter.

Dealer handed me the keys to my '98 November 4th, 1997 in Kaiserslautern, Germany. In those 14 years, only service technicians and my father has driven that car, and that was only for about an hour since he wanted to open it up on the Autobahn. Zero accidents. Oil stays fresh. Leaves do not settle on this car. Big jobs are a catalytic converter, and a crank seal. That's it. She's perfect. She's my baby. Just over 198,000 miles. Solid as a steel ball. Now I live in Atlanta, she jumps to life in the morning, and has Never Let Me Down Once.

Four days ago, a high-pitched whine started under the hood. Intermittent for two days, then constant, then louder. Noise sounded like a slipping belt, but did not change in pitch/tone with the RPM's. Weird. Mechanic today (not my regular guy) just called and said the main bearing was shot, and the worst-case scenario is that the motor needs replacing.

I'm heartbroken. He started to give me some possible dollar amount situations, but I stopped him and said I had to digest things first.

Somebody weigh in with some input here, if only to tell me that this isn't the end of this amazing car. What do I do now? My regular guy is out of the picture for awhile. Anybody had this happen before? How bad was the damage? Oh, man...this sucks.

[bullmand]

I've never experienced a main bearing failure, but doesn't it seem that any noise it makes would change with RPMs? Is this noise constant or does it stop after a while?

BTW, I picked mine up from the dealership in Kaiserslautern in October of '97.

[mohaughn]

Get a 2nd opinion if this isn't your normal mechanic. Also, keep in mind that most repair shops are going to want to fix that motor. Very few of them would be willing to swap a known good motor into the car for you. Mainly because they can't warranty somebody elses motor. So you may be able to save a huge chunk of money by replacing the entire motor as opposed to trying to rebuild it.

Typically, these motors are good for well past 200k miles, but many of them have also given up the ghost well before 200k miles.

[djcamera]

Thanks to both of you for responding.

bullmand, I used the dealership in Kaiserslautern that catered to U.S. forces (I was stationed up near Frankfurt at the time). I think it was called Pentagon Car Sales? It's been awhile. If you used the same place, this is some coincidence.

I just talked again to the mechanic (who, to be clear, while he's not my regular guy, he's highly recommended by a co-worker who has been very well treated by him for many years). His suggestion to me is that he drop the oil pan so he can get eyes on the bearings themselves, and decide if they're simply replaceable, or if sufficient damage has been done to warrant a replacement motor.

Of course, I *will* get a second opinion. And quite likely a third.

Driving home from the shop, the "Check Engine" light came on. First time since my catalytic converter went bad in '07. My stomach hurts.

[bullmand]

Yep. Pentagon Car Sales. I don't remember the salesman's name, but he was British. I ordered the car in April I think and picked it up the day before my PCS to San Antonio, TX. I was stationed in Bad Kreuznach with 1st AD at the time.

On another unrelated topic, you might be interested to know that you and I may be the only original owners of their cars in the forum. I started a thread recently to establish an original owners roll call and no one responded. Obviously not conclusive, but interesting nonetheless.

Please do keep us informed about what you find with your car. The reason I asked about the duration of your noise is that the secondary air pump can make all sorts of godawful noises when it's dying, but it only runs for two minutes or so when the car is cold. I suppose theoretically it could be anything with a bearing, but the fact that the pitch doesn't change with RPM is odd to me.

[AquaCali]

Before you write the motor off have the mechanic remove the A/C belt. When the clutch on my Compressor went it started as an intermitent high pitched noise that did noy vary with RPM.

[dahamler]

I have never heard a main bearing whine, now rod knock from a spun bearing is another thing. I don't trust what the guy told you.

[minicoop900]

main bearings dont create a high pitch noise, my car had the same situation off and on for a month until it was constant, it was the crank case vent valve, towards the back of the intake, round piece of black plastic

[urbanmisfit]

Pull the oil filter out and cut it open; it'll have little shiny bits in it if you've had a bearing failure; no need to drop the pan.
I'd check end-play in the crank as well

Generally you lose a rod bearing before a main gives out; main bearings are first in the oil food chain.

[Maverix]

Originally Posted by PeterJ

Before you write the motor off have the mechanic remove the A/C belt. When the clutch on my Compressor went it started as an intermitent high pitched noise that did noy vary with RPM.

Do this. I've had the same exact symptoms and this was the problem.

[djcamera]

All responses to my problem are very encouraging and much, much appreciated. Thank you all!

I'll keep you appraised, and I'm sure I'll seek your wisdom again.

BTW: This is my pride & joy. Shiny as the day I got her. 198,000 miles.

[milehigh96caliti]

Originally Posted by bullmand

Yep. Pentagon Car Sales. I don't remember the salesman's name, but he was British. I ordered the car in April I think and picked it up the day before my PCS to San Antonio, TX. I was stationed in Bad Kreuznach with 1st AD at the time.

On another unrelated topic, you might be interested to know that you and I may be the only original owners of their cars in the forum. I started a thread recently to establish an original owners roll call and no one responded. Obviously not conclusive, but interesting nonetheless.

Please do keep us informed about what you find with your car. The reason I asked about the duration of your noise is that the secondary air pump can make all sorts of godawful noises when it's dying, but it only runs for two minutes or so when the car is cold. I suppose theoretically it could be anything with a bearing, but the fact that the pitch doesn't change with RPM is odd to me.

Cali-Ti is also an original owner. He has about 280k on his car. FWIW, I have a 330ci vert and my SAP has been out since Feb 2010. Plan on getting it fixed in the next month because I need to pass emissions. It didn't make any whining/squealing noises when it died. I could hear the motor running louder than normal and the SES light came on. Hope that helps a little even though mine's an E46.

[98318ti]

Very clean Ti. It looks like my sons only a little shinier. We have the same rims and color, except for the racing stripe somebody painted on it somewhere along the way. We only have 99,000 miles though.

I think you should call Metric Motors and get one of their naturally aspirated motors for it. It is so clean it must be saved.

[jca]

Your car is beautiful and well worth repairing in my opinion. If the engine it shot I would replace it rather than rebuilding it if were mine. Good luck.

[urbanmisfit]

Originally Posted by 98318ti

Very clean Ti. It looks like my sons only a little shinier. We have the same rims and color, except for the racing stripe somebody painted on it somewhere along the way. We only have 99,000 miles though.

I think you should call Metric Motors and get one of their naturally aspirated motors for it. It is so clean it must be saved.

X2! The car doesn't owe you a nickel and if it's as good as it looks it's definitely worth a rebuild if it needs it
Apart from a general rebuild the worst case scenario would be to have it need a line bore and a new/ground crank