Another DPF thread.......

[E53Steve]

Ok, I have been trying to research all over regarding the DPF, (I have 2008 X5 E70 3.0D 235ps) Approx 2 weeks ago my car came up with service due on the I drive, when I looked at it I realised that the service was for the DPF, I have read some advice saying run over 20min above 2500rpm should start regeneration process, which I have tried however I don't know if regen started (run for approx 45-50 min) The service is still there, I am wondering if there is an actual fault as there is nothing comes up on the instrument cluster and power still appears to be good on the car, I have also read somewhere that the service may just be a countdown timer, any thoughts on this? I have borrowed a mates C110 scanner (thanks Ian) to read any fault codes but none has come up, if it doesn't come up then I can't reset/erase it. Again have read back pressure must not exceed 65mbar or it will go into limp mode somebody had 40mbar then had regen now single figures. So looking at mine with scanner tonight and tickover back pressure is single figures, normal I assume, but can go well above 65mbar without going into limp mode when revs are high, more revs makes more pressure makes some sense I guess. I am starting to think this is a counter on the service as it runs fine but after a long run for 45m at 3k revs tonight the temp before Cat and temp before DPF  sat around 260-290Deg C no spike/increase up to 500-600Deg C for regen. Surely somebody else has experienced this? I know putting it into main dealer would cost an arm and a leg and there may be nothing wrong with it! Gone are the days where the the exhaust was clogged up I just removed it from my DT 50 and poured some petrol down it and set fire to it, "de-coked" it no problem! Some help appreciated

[E53Steve]

Any thoughts?

[E53Steve]

Anybody ever used dpf cleanteam?
http://www.dpfcleanteam.co.uk/?gclid=Cj ... An2D8P8HAQ

[weirdfish]

I can't really answer your question, but if the car is still running as it should be, then there can't be much of a fault, most dpf blockage faults will cause a performance issue.
Have you tried just calling bmw to ask what the indicator light means. Although you say no fault codes are present using the scanner, have you simply tried to clear all codes anyway, just a thought.

[Horizon]

I think there is a DPF service warning in the IDrive menu that automatically pops up at say 80k, this needs to be reset . It is a mileage generated service warning, where as the normal DPF light is activated by a differential pressure switch in the DPF itself, and will only come on when the pressure differential across the filter reaches a preset parameter.

https://www.bmw-service.co.uk/service_icons

[E53Steve]

Thanks for the replys guys, much appreciated.
Horizon, it is the Idrive that it has come up on, service due it says, however my car has just turned 30k miles so wondered if it was time related as well as distance like the rest of the services on the idrive, thanks for the link, will have a nosey.
Weirdfish, no fault codes present but erased anyway, no lack of performance either, just the first 2-3m in morning when its cold which could be down to cold fluids in engine. (not that I boot it first thing as I believe that's not good for any car either when an engine is cold)
Like you have both said there is no engine management light on, if there was then there would be a fault logged, I had emailed my local BMW dealer about DPF for my car and reply was price for new is £1700, fitted over £2k!
The more I think about it with no faults the more I think there is no issue, but I cant seem to reset the Idrive service using the trip button. The thing that bugs me is that on the idrive on the service it says due for a change contact your nearest BMW dealer.
Went for a 1hr 40m drive this morning mainly dual carriageway and exhaust temp went up to 400 deg C and there is also a count down on the regeneration which it apparently done 3 times during my run, although I don't feel anything happening. I did notice some black soot on the back of the car after the trip but have never seen much/any smoke out the rear exhaust.  So with no faults and it looks like the car is doing everything it should I don't really see a problem, although it is still in the back of my mind so will keep an eye on it, but the bloody service coming up every time i turn the car on is annoying the life out of me! I have also seen reports of exhaust temps 500-600 deg, but I have seen so much lately this was maybe on a different car, apparently Nissan Quasqai are quite prone to DPF problems. I wonder how many people are aware of the possible DPF issues with alot of people now running diesels. Not just the DPF but if ignore the engine trouble it could cause, Years ago I had an escort with first of the Cats on it, the ceramic broke on mine and blocked the exhaust blocking it, start of the 16v engines, unfortunately, 15 valves of mine were bent due to back pressure, I know the faults should come up but last thing I need is to pay for basically a new engine too. Thanks again guys.

[X5Sport]

It comes up regularly in the motoring press so anyone keeping an eye on such, or a half decent forum should be aware.  Of course many owners across current diesel models just start-drive-stop and they are the ones who get caught out.

[E53Steve]

I was aware about the swirl flaps but not about the DPF, although it appears the idrive is just a counter and not a fault, Just not sure how to reset the counter?

[X5Sport]

I think you need the Dealer software to reset it.

[E53Steve]

Is that what is called DIS? :-[ Sorry I have never used any laptop software plugged into my car

[E53Steve]

Anyone tried ISTA bmw software off ebay? Think this would reset the DPF sensor?
:-[

[E53Steve]

update, well forced regen carried out a few weeks back with no joy, programmed to think new DPF fitted but still not resetting on idrive, but now this morning low charge or something on battery and clock/date needed reset, but the DPF service due is now clear! End of 1 problem start of another!

[E53Steve]

Long story but car needed software update which cured the Dpf on the service screen on idrive.

[graemeX5]

Glad you got it sort via a software update.

It appears from what has bee said you just need to give these large diesels a good run regularly to keep the dpf in good operation which I'm sure BMW never mentioned when selling them.

[Horizon]

All cars fitted with DPF' s need to be doing journeys where the exhaust/ DPF reaches a certain temperature . so enabling the DPF to regenerate.
It's not just a BMW problem. Some people who do short journeys and low miles would be better running petrol variants .
I agree people are not advised of this when buying cars, probably because diesels are more expensive.
As an example I'm sure it was with Renault Meganes, Renault put the DPF too far down the exhaust, too far away from the engine and cat that they weren't getting the DPF hot enough to regen properly and this knackered them up.
VW and Audi, as well as lots of other makes have had DPF issues.