Compression Testing My Broken S54 - BMW E46 M3

[@WannabeRacer]

CORRECTION! The proper torque spec is 30 nm not 30 ft-lb for the spark plugs! Torque the spark plugs to 30 nm (22 ft-lb) not the stated torque in the video.

[@e46_land]

The PSI is just too low, healthy engine should push 180 PSI+

[@matthewnicholas6365]

Did this a few days ago. I misread the numbers and waited 10 minutes for the fuel to stop before realising I pulled the horn fuse next to it 😂

[@mrgizmo7975]

Check all the shims/retainers in place. Might still be worth doing a leak down. Check the fuel pressure at the scheader valve. All the vanos bolts/tabs intact? Any other leaks you can see around the bellhousing, or either side of the engine with the belly pan off?

[@WannabeRacer]

Vanos seems fine, had someone look at that at track, had the valve cover off. No leaks that I can find. Theres a leak from something power steering related, and a leak coming from the oil drain plug, but no other leaks coming from the engine and transmission.

[@RK-ed1em]

Spark plugs are 18 ft-lbs. The value you stated could strip the threads and cause more damage.

[@WannabeRacer]

Sorry meant to say 30nm not ft-lb and that would actually be 22 ft-lb which would be stock. I'll pin a comment and add it to description as a correction.

[@PRAGEETHKARUNADHEERA]

Did you fix it. Where is the car now. Please tell us what happened and how you solved it (if you did). Thanks.

[@WannabeRacer]

I never discovered the issue, but the car still runs. It has some issues, mostly in fuel starvation with a half full or more tank. Its one of those things I chased down but couldn't find, so when it still worked, I just decided to go with it.

[@boxpimp]

What are the symptoms?

[@WannabeRacer]

A sudden change in tone occured while on track going from the normal tone to a much deeper tone, the check engine light came on and giving it gas caused the whole car to shake. Imagine if you were starting from 4th as the car shakes trying to get power, but obviously the power is already there, its just the shake that I get. Take it to my paddock spot turn it off then back one, no check engine light, no codes, wasn't turned off by kill switch, just key. In my diagnoses, check the oil, its higher than it was the day before, check it later, its lower. Coolant level is fine. run the car while jacked up and there's a yellow fluid coming out of the exhaust pipe just after the cat, only comes out when cars running, and its dripping a lot. Fluid is unknown. Theory was head gasket, and it hasn't been run since then.

[@RK-ed1em]

@@WannabeRacer If the check engine light came on, there should be codes stored. Did you use a generic code reader or INPA?

[@WannabeRacer]

@@RK-ed1em Some Snap On one that someone from on of the at track shops used. I didn't bring any OBD2 readers so I asked a shop if they had one. Their were no stored codes we could find.

[@michaelblacktree]

Hopefully it's nothing major.

[@WannabeRacer]

Thats the hope, but I'm more worried I wont be able to track down the problem.