DDE warning light comes on and loss of power

[bigel77]

I have a Feb 2008 X3 2.0D Msport auto. On several occasions I've experienced loss of power and rough engine noise and eventually the DDE warning light comes on and stays on. I then switch off the engine for about 5 minutes and restart. It then runs smoothly and the DDE light has gone out. I have asked my main dealer to check it out but as it never happens when they have the car they can't come up with an explanation. This problem occurs every 2 or 3 months.

Can anyone please help? The car has done only 32,000 miles since new in Feb 2008. I'm not mechanically minded and do not do any DIY on the car except for changing the wiper blades. I just need to point the main dealer that services the car in the right direction. I pay for the comprehensive BMW extended warranty every year. It cost me just over £600 this February.

Many thanks in advance

[X5Sport]

Hello & 

If it's covered under BMW Warranty then the best thing to do will be get them to look at it.

With a warning light on they should be able to read the fault codes out and that will (hopefully) point them in the most likely direction.  There are just so many triggers that could cause this.

Good luck anyway.

Richard

[bigel77]

Thank you very much Richard. I'll see if the dealer will try again to identify the fault

[bigel77]

Hi X5Sport (Richard),

The car went in to the garage yesterday to be fixed. They said that the problem was:

When the vehicle sees a throttle input from the driver, an activation signal is received by the throttle actuator which in turn moves the operating linkage between the actuator and the turbo wastegate. The operating linkage has a bearing which has become slightly corroded causing a small amount of resistance, on occasions this will stick and fail to operate the turbo wastegate resulting in loss of power and possible warning lights to come on the dash.
When the vehicle engine is switched off and then back on it clears the issue by reactivating the throttle actuator which in turn frees off the seized linkage.

So they replaced the operating linkage bearing - let's hope it works!!!!

Thank you for your advice

[X5Sport]

Fingers crossed.  I think lots of folks on here have found that being persuasive with Dealers and not taking no for an answer seems to work.  It's not really good enough.

Richard