30i Track Day Power Loss

[B21]

Thanks for the offers of help, we’re in a travel lodge at the moment & relying on lifts from our friends.
I’m leaving the mess to the insurance guys, power is off & we can’t even flush the toilets as the treatment plant is off as well.
Looking at buying a couple of replacement cars soon as we need transportation, they don’t seem to be in much of a hurry to get us sorted out so will have a bit of a wait for any settlement.
The guy who dragged my z4 away said i won’t be seeing it again after that amount of flood damage
Rob

Rob, general view from insurance company is once water has gone over the sills that’s it end of..primarily due to long term corrosion damage to dozens of connectors and maybe some ECUs…

Yeah, that tallies with what I’ve already heard. Shame as over 7 years of ownership it’s not even blown a bulb, it’s been 100% reliable.
Mrs Smartbears yeti had filled with water as well
Rob

Ah well..when the time comes you can start the eternal debate on what are you going to buy?

I assume the bikes are less affected?

[john-e89]

Could be oil starvation ..many BMW engines cannot cope with race track G loadings as oil surges in sump losing oil pressure..

The DME if it senses that may try and protect the engine..

It’s definitely an issue with the N20 and N54…

Source..? Just interested.

https://www.bimmerworld.com/Engine/BMW- ... 4-35i.html

https://www.rudiemods.co.uk/bmw-f-serie ... erformance

https://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1023546

https://advancedautofab.com/p/aaf-oil-pan-baffle-n54/

Dozens of incidents if you check on the relevant forums..

OP's car is a G29 B48 engine....

[B21]

Source..? Just interested.

https://www.bimmerworld.com/Engine/BMW- ... 4-35i.html

https://www.rudiemods.co.uk/bmw-f-serie ... erformance

https://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1023546

https://advancedautofab.com/p/aaf-oil-pan-baffle-n54/

Dozens of incidents if you check on the relevant forums..

OP's car is a G29 B48 engine....

Yes as earlier stated the B48 is a derivative of the N20..very similar design..so likely to suffer from similar issues

[john-e89]

https://www.bimmerworld.com/Engine/BMW- ... 4-35i.html

https://www.rudiemods.co.uk/bmw-f-serie ... erformance

https://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1023546

https://advancedautofab.com/p/aaf-oil-pan-baffle-n54/

Dozens of incidents if you check on the relevant forums..

OP's car is a G29 B48 engine....

Yes as earlier stated the B48 is a derivative of the N20..very similar design..so likely to suffer from similar issues

Yep could be, be better knowing if they re-designed the sump though.

[MikeyH]

The power on my z4 has also been considerably reduced recently (to zero) that’s for a different reason though
E2DCBD68-FD4A-4C91-84F5-09260CB1AE65.jpeg
Rob

Of course the Somerset flooding, I feel for you

[john-e89]

The power on my z4 has also been considerably reduced recently (to zero) that’s for a different reason though
E2DCBD68-FD4A-4C91-84F5-09260CB1AE65.jpeg
Rob

Of course the Somerset flooding, I feel for you

Absolutely Bear.....cars are one thing, but your home.... seriously gutted for you big lad....

[ronk]

Im sorry to see that flood damage SB

The house a furnishings will no doubt be replaced with new kit and repairs will be made as good as, but the fight for replacement of the cars is always a struggle unfortunately.
I can only hope that you've lost nothing that is of sentimental value and thus is not replaceable.

[StanDiego]

I have been at 3 track days with 2 similar G29 30i's and both exhibit SIGNIFICANT power loss regularly during the session. Happens intermittently several times during most sessions including at the beginning so unlikely to be a heat issue and on straights as well as curves. The Sport Display shows the immediate loss of 50% or more power and torque but full power will always return seemingly instantly after 5-20 seconds or so. Shifting down or up does not help. I do not think it is fuel starvation since it happens all around a track and comes and goes nearly immediately.

Thanks in advance for any ideas, I am baffled and doubt a dealer would be of any help with this.

I would think such issues would record codes (without necessarily displaying a fault) that could help identify the issue. There are apps such as Bimmerlink and many others that would allow you to read any fault codes and potentially narrow down the cause or you could take it to a shop.

I'm not familiar enough with the B46/B48's oil sump to dispute the claims of others in this thread regarding oil starvation. However, what you're experiencing is abnormal behavior, not an engineering flaw that you must live with. BMW provides cars with this engine in many driving events. They get thrashed for hours per day, driver after driver, around courses such as auto-X where they're subjected to high G forces, events where they'll burn through 200+ tires (total for all vehicles) over a three day event. Just a few days ago, I attended one of the driving events, driving a 3 series with the B46/48 on an auto-X track and I hammered it, braked hard, accelerated hard a total of six laps and it didn't once hesitate.

I haven't taken my 30i on the track so I can't speak for it. Nonetheless, I'm confident the B46/48 engine is capable of handling track days and what you're experiencing is abnormal behavior that merits further scrutiny.