BMW recently serviced- questions

No, only you are making that assumption.

Bullshit. I doubt you've even got a LGV provisional. Oh and 7.5 tonners don't count....

Then you doubt wrong

But I'm the only lorry driver in the newsgroup

;)

What's this 'throttle' in a diesel truck?

I suspect it's more to do with a unified centralised engine controller than your reasoning. The name popped up when a single system took over from the previous separate fuel and ignition control systems.

But those are only two of many parameters an ECU works to.

Assuming the engine is not under limitation (e.g. on a rev/speed limiter), when you depress the accelerator fully, the fuel and ignition maps should read out values that deliver the specification maximum power and torque possible at that instantaneous rpm. This is on command from the driver and is not subject to ECU saying "oh no you don't" (unless it's in limp home mode). Imagine the safety issues if it did say no! I would suggest that on most vehicles, at that point, fuel efficiency and emissions considerations take a back seat in the ECU priority list. Heck, on my last car even auxiliary systems were shut down to maximise engine performance on a flat accelerator.

But that *limitation* only kicks in as you approach 155mph. Below that limit, the engine will deliver all the torque and power of the 180mph car (to use your example) as the driver requests.

Im not a lorry driver i just have a licence which allows me to drive lorries and i used to always have a healthy interest in vehicles

(stripped my first engine down when i was nine , rebuilt it and it worked very memerable because i got my arse slapped for walking oil through the lounge up the stairs )

It wasn't you I was having a pop at :)

Most lorries are though on motorways usally 56mph

Not totally accurate , the management systems take into account many other things , traction , effort required to maintain speed , speed with given load the incline or decline of the lorry even which roads you are driving on with interlinked gps systems

Gone are the days when drivers have complete control over the engine output

(unless it's in limp home mode). Imagine the safety

yes some good some bad depending on the senerio

even the citroen/ peugoet fiat panel vans have tis facility

I would suggest that on most vehicles, at

The engine management will also adjust that power and torque delivery to allow for maximum stablity and traction of the vehicle

In fact in some cars the drivers can adjust this even switch it off

I know in the farrari you have this option it takes the car from a tame little pussycat , through to a spirited drive to nutter mode with traction control , stability control etc switched off and the engine running at full power

I am aware of that ;)

Have you tries Specsavers? If you had read my assumption you might have spotted that I'm describing the situation where the engine is

..I'm assuming you're lost now as you have appeared to ignore the essential assumption mentioned earlier.

Yes, but only at less than a flat accelerator.

Fundamentally, if your vehicle is unable to respond correctly to control inputs you're driving a safety hazard..there's no buts about it.

Indirectly. Certain wheels will be braked and the accelerator input to the cpu reduced..the knock-ons follow. Regardless, these are all limitations and I described what happens when the engine is free of limitations!

You don't need a Ferrari for that..a BMW 3 series has three settings.

Or almost anything else with traction control.

I think they do so that can charge for a full 5L can of oil. Most 4cyl cars doesn't take as much as 5L oil.

They dont use cans of oil generally its bulk delivered

I have read that overfill can actually damage the engine. When excess oil has nowhere to go, then something has to give...

Generally you have to really overfill them to do that though. Overfilling them a bit increases your fuel consumption

It can

Re: fuel consumption, I was really really surprised how much difference a new air filter can make. My air filter was over a year old, but I was busy so I left it thinking that it wouldn't matter. When I finally changed the filter, the motorway mpg went from 35mpg to 40mpg and the car felt responsive again. Probably indicates a high level of dust in the air where I live, but that's another problem.

Wouldn't surprise me at all. I put my 528 in for an oil service and to have a leak on the power steering fixed. Naturally I looked under the bonnet when collecting the car to find the steering hose still wet - but they claimed to have fixed it. The hose has crimped connections and the crimps were obviously original. I then dipped the oil - it was near minimum. The oil filter housing also looked like it hadn't been touched. The car had been valeted, though.

Went back to talk to the supervisor who said it was impossible for the oil to be low as their machine dispensed the correct amount for each model so I obviously didn't know how to use a dipstick. Nice one that. So took him out to the car (which I hadn't even started) and asked him to show me the correct procedure. Even gave him a tissue. He then started mumbling about oil expanding when heated. Next I asked about the undisturbed dust on the filter housing. Then hit him with the obviously original crimps on the still wet hose, which the bill stated had been removed and refitted. The service book had been stamped and signed.

Never got a proper apology - his attitude was I was a smart arse.

Once the car was out of warranty I never went near a BMW dealer again. And never will.

Of the 10 or so visits it had for servicing etc while under warranty there was always something not right - parts replaced that didn't need to be etc. And at every service I asked for the handbrake to be fixed as it simply didn't work. They never did anything. After it was out of warranty I replaced the rear discs and pads - and found one of the drum shoe adjusters jammed on minimum. Had to remove it and put it in the vice to free it. And then adjust the cable correctly which had been tightened to max.

I did actually write to BMW UK after one particularly bad service and their reaction was to just pass on my letter to the dealer who again gave no satisfaction.

I'm no rabid garage hater. I now use the specialist AMC and have nothing but praise for them - even although they're not perfect. I realise perfection isn't possible. But expect honesty.

I know one large garage in shirley , near birmingham used to just valet the cars , wipe the oil filter and top the oil up on cars they thought the owners wouldnt check . Mechanics used to keep the parts charged to the customers for forigners on a Saturday or evenings

At least they paid my bill