[jhbodle]

My 2008 335i E92 started playing up today. I started it this morning and it started to rumble and shake. After a few seconds the yellow engine light lit up (not in the center status display where the time and outside temp are, but to the top left of the tacho). There was a strong gas smell and it was sounding like an old V8 on carbs.

I started to drive it to the dealer and there was very little power and it was very rough. Halfway to the dealer (about 2 miles) the idle evened out and the engine light went off. It's been fine since.

The dealer can't look at it until March 10th

What could this be? I know a lot of people will say HPFP but we don't really have that issue over here in the UK as our fuel has much less ethanol than the US. The starting cranks are always short as well. My dad's 320i had similar symptoms 6 months ago and that was a bad coil pack - could it be that or are the engines so different that this is unlikely?

[chromisdesigns]

coils, injectors, HPFP (yes, they do fail other than in the US), sensor, who knows?

Don't you have another dealer you can go to who can take a look at an ailing car without a two-week wait? That's ridiculous -- I'd show up on his doorstep demanding he cover the rental, if that happened to me.

[galahad05]

See if this re-occurs, specifically with a cold engine....

[mrwma237]

something similar happened to me too...very similar symptoms as you described...especially when starting up after the car's been idled in low temperature..

took it to the dealers, they replaced... some injectors or what not.. . have them take a look at it. it took them 2 bus. days to fix it.

[e92htx]

Sounds like your car is not getting fuel/spark.

I too think its either coil, spark plugs, injectors, fuel pump.

[jhbodle]

I'll update this thread when I try and start it up from cold tomorrow and see what it does

[Enjoiyourlife]

Originally Posted by jhbodle

My 2008 335i E92 started playing up today. I started it this morning and it started to rumble and shake. After a few seconds the yellow engine light lit up (not in the center status display where the time and outside temp are, but to the top left of the tacho). There was a strong gas smell and it was sounding like an old V8 on carbs.

I started to drive it to the dealer and there was very little power and it was very rough. Halfway to the dealer (about 2 miles) the idle evened out and the engine light went off. It's been fine since.

The dealer can't look at it until March 10th

What could this be? I know a lot of people will say HPFP but we don't really have that issue over here in the UK as our fuel has much less ethanol than the US. The starting cranks are always short as well. My dad's 320i had similar symptoms 6 months ago and that was a bad coil pack - could it be that or are the engines so different that this is unlikely?

Interesting. Mine has been at the dealer now for the past 4 days. Same exact symptoms as you are experiencing. Today is the 5th day. I'm thinking they are waiting for NA to approve some big repairs because I haven't heard anything.

[LJS330i]

I had the same issue with my 09 E90 335i and still have it.

Repairs so far:
HPFP
All injectors
All coils
All plugs
Valve seals (That nearly fixed it)

I'm in the process of a trade assist.

Good Luck!

LJS330i

[chromisdesigns]

Originally Posted by LJS330i

I had the same issue with my 09 E90 335i and still have it.


I'm in the process of a trade assist.

Ouch! I'm guessing your new car won't have the N54 engine?

[mkato13]

if its was running rough and sort of stumbling and a smell of gas then you have fuel which should mean the HPFP wasnt cutting out and if your smelling fuel then its not being burned which sounds like a spark issue. Thats just my $0.02 though GL and let us know

[jhbodle]

Started it up this morning and it was fine, which is quite annoying as it looks like it's going to be one of those intermittent things that can never be replicated.

A year ago the car went into limp mode and the error code related to the fuel pump but they just cleared the code and the problem never reoccurred.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by jhbodle

Started it up this morning and it was fine, which is quite annoying as it looks like it's going to be one of those intermittent things that can never be replicated.

A year ago the car went into limp mode and the error code related to the fuel pump but they just cleared the code and the problem never reoccurred.

For me, my car had died 3X with no codes or explanation. It was always wishful thinking that getting an AOK from the dealership meant it was a fluke. It really isn't, because it just happens again unless a root cause is found. Again, I say my Nissan has gone 12 years and 187k and never stalled or died once. That's actually normal. A BMW shutting off for no reason, and then having no code, may be normal for a BMW, but it's not normal for most cars.

The dealership isn't stupid, either, they probably know officially that BMW does not know what's going on with 335's, and they probably cannot fix the root cause. I too have an appt. in March.

It would be quite interesting if when the N55 starts selling, it has zero problems.

[LJS330i]

Originally Posted by chromisdesigns

Ouch! I'm guessing your new car won't have the N54 engine?

Nope. Good riddance. I think I'm the only one on this board looking forward to the N55.

[Spydeputy]

Originally Posted by Enjoiyourlife

Interesting. Mine has been at the dealer now for the past 4 days. Same exact symptoms as you are experiencing. Today is the 5th day. I'm thinking they are waiting for NA to approve some big repairs because I haven't heard anything.

I would be calling everyday for an update. 5 days and no diagnostic?

[jmsent]

Originally Posted by jhbodle

Started it up this morning and it was fine, which is quite annoying as it looks like it's going to be one of those intermittent things that can never be replicated.

A year ago the car went into limp mode and the error code related to the fuel pump but they just cleared the code and the problem never reoccurred.

Once you have a check engine light, the OBD system will have recorded the fault which your dealer should be able to diagnose. Given what your dealer did the last time, my strongest suggestion is to get another dealer.

Originally Posted by jhbodle

Good riddance. I think I'm the only one on this board looking forward to the N55.

What makes you think the N55 will be any better? It will also have an HPFP, direct injectors, coils, etc.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by jmsent

Once you have a check engine light, the OBD system will have recorded the fault which your dealer should be able to diagnose. Given what your dealer did the last time, my strongest suggestion is to get another dealer.



What makes you think the N55 will be any better? It will also have an HPFP, direct injectors, coils, etc.

My dealership said there were no codes. My understanding (may be wrong) is that the service engine would stay lit??

My wife took a pic the other night of my dash with the lights lit up--also, you can see I'm driving due to the tach and speedo. Upon restart, the lights are all gone. This is the 3rd time, it's like I know the drill.

BMW claims the N55 is way better--is it lowered costs, or is it reliabilty?? Seems like their trend is to lower costs and charge more for the product. It's not like their sales are so good that they could afford to R&D and come out with a better design.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by LJS330i

Nope. Good riddance. I think I'm the only one on this board looking forward to the N55.

And you think the N55 won't have its own set of problems??? For the most part N55 appears to be cost reduced N54 with valvetronic (some emissions improvements and slight fuel economy improvements). Since its 2nd gen it could have higher reliability or it could be the same thing all over again. Time will tell.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by jhbodle

Started it up this morning and it was fine, which is quite annoying as it looks like it's going to be one of those intermittent things that can never be replicated.

A year ago the car went into limp mode and the error code related to the fuel pump but they just cleared the code and the problem never reoccurred.

Between now and March 10th see if the issue returns. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Heck, my E36 M3 engine did that every morning when I started it cold. At the time the dealer and BMW area rep referred to it as character.

[jhbodle]

Originally Posted by claykin

Between now and March 10th see if the issue returns. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Heck, my E36 M3 engine did that every morning when I started it cold. At the time the dealer and BMW area rep referred to it as character.

Lol sounds like something my dealer would say!

I drove it 2 miles on a cold engine with strong fuel smells in the car - if that unburnt fuel made it to the catalytic converter how will the damage manifest itself? Will it be immediate or will the cat fail after another year when i'm out of warranty?

[02themax]

Originally Posted by mkato13

if its was running rough and sort of stumbling and a smell of gas then you have fuel which should mean the HPFP wasnt cutting out and if your smelling fuel then its not being burned which sounds like a spark issue. Thats just my $0.02 though GL and let us know

I agree with this statement, it doesnt sound like HPFP but more like coil pack/injector issue.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by jhbodle

Lol sounds like something my dealer would say!

I drove it 2 miles on a cold engine with strong fuel smells in the car - if that unburnt fuel made it to the catalytic converter how will the damage manifest itself? Will it be immediate or will the cat fail after another year when i'm out of warranty?

Murphy's law says your cat will fail 3 days after the warranty expires and the UK dealer will tell you to piss off.

Really, you have another year of warranty so keep an eye on it and see if the problem returns or if the fuel smell continues. My philosophy has always been to avoid mechanics whenever possible. Even with the better than average training BMW provides to techs, too many of them don't know how to assemble/disassemble and repair things properly.

[galahad05]

Originally Posted by 02themax

I agree with this statement, it doesnt sound like HPFP but more like coil pack/injector issue.

+1