BMWs are a class of their own when it comes to character and appeal. For many, a ‘Bimmer’ is a status symbol and thrilling drive, but what happens when the iconic turbo fails and the car underperforms?! That’s when the team at A1 Diagnostics can help, as one BMW owner recently discovered bringing their vehicle to our garage pictured below.

BMW turbos push extra boost and power through the car’s engine, upping performance and thrust to improve acceleration. If they are maintained well, a turbo can last for up to 200,000 miles, though most tend to need attention after c.150,000 miles as a general rule. You know when a turbo is beginning to wain when you notice a reduction in power from the engine and performance drops. This may be accompanied by a significant increase of blue or grey smoke from the exhaust, and even a noisy whine when the car accelerates.

The car’s oil levels can also take a hit, with the vehicle burning oil and creating a distinctive smell! The engine oil will deplete much more quickly, indicating that it’s time to review your turbo’s health.

As the turbo is an intrinsic part of the car, a repair requires numerous steps in preparation. The engine must be completely cool before starting work, and all fluids need to be drained – that’s the engine oil and coolant – so that spills and leaks are avoided. The fuel lines and coolant pipes are then disconnected, along with the oil feed and drain. The turbo can now be unbolted and removed.

Before repairing or installing a new turbo, our highly-skilled mechanics will perform a full inspection of the car’s inner workings, including the turbine and compressor to check for damage. Once they are satisfied that the rest of the parts are in good condition and meet safety standards, the work can be undertaken.

Once the overhauled or new turbo is in place, elements that connect to it are cleaned and reattached, and seals replaced. Fuel lines are restored and all fluids reintroduced so that the system is fully operational. Test runs and full diagnostics are performed as standard to ensure that all parts of the car’s engine are working to optimum performance levels.

For this particular BMW, the upgraded turbo gave the car a new lease of life, and our customer went away with a car ready for the next adventure! If you have any concerns about your car’s performance or would like more information about repairing turbos or any other parts of your car’s engine, get in touch with our expert team today.

A1-Diagnostics and ECU Repairs
64 Sloper Road
Leckwith,
Cardiff
CF11 8AB

Tel: 02920 220 380

Opening Times

Mon – Fri: 8:00am – 6:00pm

Email: info@a1-diagnostics.com