Hi I have 2000 BMW 320i. Lumpy idle when cold and oil light for

Replace spark plugs and look at coils. Sounds like a misfire at idle. Car is trying to keep idle high enough with 1 or 2 cylinders misfiring. Car compensates then revs up as the cylinders catch and run again. These cars often have bad coils. Scan car and look for codes 301 through 306. Replace all plugs and if misfire comes back then replace the coils on the cylinders that occasionally misfire. Look at boots and spring wires on coils and replace coils that have bad boots.

Any chance this fault has happened just after topping up engine oil. Oil filler cap not seating properly will give same symptoms. The cap and surround have arrows that need aligned in order for it to be fully seated. Check oil cap first.

You may have a leak directly onto the fuse panel. When new harness was put in the connections were good and tight with the protective cosmoline. But over time it have deteriorated and water is now getting onto the back of the fuse panel. Had a couple Rabbits that had that problem. Turns out it was a common problem.

The smoke is blue, correct?
When you changed the oil separator, did you clean out the hose that goes from the valve cover to the oil separator?
The next suspect for smoking at idle would be the intake valve seals, but that would be the first time that I ever heard of a problem there.

check the fuel regulator valve it may that solve your problem.

If your talking about what would a dealership change, it generally consists of a tune up, including spark plugs, plug wires, air filter, oil change, pcv valve, and fuel filter. Thats also usually when they want to replace the timing belts. There may be one or two other things specific to BMW, but generally thats what you can expect.

Hi Retze

From your report on the symptoms of your problem, it definitely points to an electrical problem, which is aggravated by cold and damp.

The smell of fuel in your oil, points directly to a misfire and non combustion on one, or more cylinders, and the subsequent unburnt fuel washing down the bores and into the fuel, thus breaking down the viscosity of your oil, and going to give you premature , and excessive wear on your engine before too long, if not already.

As you say loosing oil, which I expect is going out the exhaust, due to ring or piston wear.
This problem must be cured quickly !

I would firstly suggest, all the spark plugs are removed, and inspected very closely for contamination signs, from oil or fuel.

This will hopefully give you a clue, as to the problem cylinder/s.

Also a dry and a wet ie:- ( injection of some oil in the cylinder ) compression test should be carried out, on cold engine.
This will tell you if your valves, pistons and rings, head gasket,etc are all serviceable, from the pressure readings.


A master guage should also be connected, and your oil pressure checked to give your oil pump, and lubrication system, to hopefully give it too a clean bill of heath.

Now as to my gut feelings as to where your problems may lie ?

I too suspect the spark plug coils, as they are problematic with BMW, as they are also, with my specialist subject, Jaguars.

They are sometimes difficult to fault, as the problem can be intermittent.
And usually the clear sign is the spark plug condition on removal, which is the give away !

I am also very concerned as to how long ago you changed your engine oil & filter, as if you can smell the fuel in your oil, it must be thinned down considerably, and also affecting your hydraulic valve lifters.
Mind you if worn or faulty, you can usually hear the problem.

Your first line of attack is remove the spark plugs, and inspect those plugs !

Let me know what you find, and give me your feedback as to your thoughts on my comments.

Good Luck !

Remember to give me a rating if you think I have been of assistance, thanks !

John.

most automobiles requires a min of 4 qrts so start there check your dip stick to see if any more is required most bmw's take 5-6 qrt's as far as type its your choice weight depends the sticker located under the hood or by the hood latch should tell you if it is missing i recomend 10w30 depends on temp.if cold 10w30 if warm-hot 10w40.most new auto's after 2000 requires5w oil but im suer yours does not hope this helps

I don't think your trouble is on the ignition side of it but I am sure that you must have a look at the idle speed control(stepper motor).
If with temperatuer your "misfire"changes to better, it means that it's probably running too lean at cold, normally the stepper motor or ISC does this job.
Let us know how you get on.
Cheers.