X3 3.0d Manual

[rockwell]

Hello everyone, first post on here and would greatly appreciate some advice.

I have a 2006 X3 3.0d manual, mileage 105,000! Serviced regularly and oil, filters etc changed every 8,000 mls.  At 65,000 mls the previous owner accidentally filled up with petrol and continued for several miles.  A BMW main dealer stripped the fuel system, inlet pipes, fuel pump etc (bill for almost £8000)

I've had the car for 18 months and all well.  For the past couple of months I've noticed a staggered and jerky acceleration in 1st & 2nd gears.  A retired local mechanic friend took the EGR out and thoroughly cleaned it as it was completely coked up. The car ran ok for two weeks but amber engine light came on again a couple of days ago and I just about managed to limp home. No acceleration and virtually impossible to pull away from a standing start in 1st gear. Generally I do some short trips but most are round trips of 35 - 50 mls with some considerably longer. 

I called a local garage who said i probably need a new EGR, inlet pipes and manifold stripped out and cleaned etc. they said could be expensive!  Rather than be ripped by a general garage would a good mobile diagnostic outfit be an idea to obtain all the codes etc.?

Could this possibly be the MAF?  Any advice and thoughts most welcome.

[X5Sport]

As long as the Indy has access to the BMW software you'll get the right meanings for the error codes.

I think Bosch Autocentres have an equivalent system to the OEM version.  Or any Indy with Autologic.

Generic readers will just come back with a generic, and often meaningless fault description.

[jagr]

Buy yourself a C110 scanner from eBay for around £35.

A quick test for the MAF is to disconnect the electrical plug from it and go for a drive and see if it is better.

[rockwell]

Many thanks for the advice. 

XSsport - The local Indy just has a generic so as you say pointless going there.

jagr - I've just checked eBay so will order a C110, at least I'll know what I'm dealing with!
I'll check the MAF today, I think I just about know where it is!

A Corvette....I'm envious!

[rockwell]

Just to add, the temp gauge never seems to reach halfway and is always on the line before vertical.  Forgive my lack of technical understanding here but could this be an EGR thermostat fault?  ie the EGR is always open?

Anyway, my C110 scanner is on the way so we'll see which fault codes come up.

[mikesmith2939]

The EGR doesn't have a thermostat, the cooling system does though.

[rockwell]

Thanks Mike!

[rockwell]

My C110 scanner arrived, plugged in and found the following;

4222 glow plug cylinder 2
4262 "      "          "        6
4242 "      "          "        4
4252 "      "          "        5
4232 "      "          "        3

4501  EGR

4212 glow plug cylinder 1

4507  EGR

Is it usual for all 6 glow plugs to appear?  would really appreciate some advice on this. 

[mikesmith2939]

Just found out the egr does have a thermostat.

With all 6 glow plugs showing a fault I would suspect the glow plug controller.

Sorry for the wrong info in earlier post

[X5Sport]

Failure of plugs and controller is not unusual unfortunately.  They don't all tend to go together but rather over a few months/years.  It will be worth checking them in case one or more really is faulty and kills a new controller.

[rockwell]

Thanks mike & X5Sport, appreciate the help!

I have someone coming over next Monday to check this out, meanwhile I plugged my new toy (C110) in again and found the following in the DME under DPF;

Status:  Last regen  -  2048

Exhaust gas temp before particulate filter  -  -0.1 M
Exhaust gas temp before Cat                    -  1.9 C
Exhaust gas back pressure                        -  0 C

All 6 glow plugs still showing, also 2 fault codes for EGR;

(negative deviation / air mass too high)
(positive deviation  / air mass too low)

I'm lost and wondered if all this makes sense to anyone?

[X5Sport]

The only one I get with no trouble deciphering is that the last DPF regen was just over 2k miles ago.  Seems a tad long as I thought they were every few hundred miles at most - but it will depend upon road/journey types you use it for.  Motorway needing less activity than short school runs as an example.

[rockwell]

Great, thanks X5.  the last regen must have been in August! 

I have someone coming over on Thursday, he's really a remap guy but apparently knows his way around diesels.  Most of the local garages around here are used to dealing with Vauxhall Nova's with one headlight!

[rockwell]

Well, a partial solution at least! 

New EGR fitted, glow plugs replaced, I had no idea how expensive these are and assumed they were the same price as spark plugs!  Fuel pump relay also replaced. 

The main problem is the mechanic could not force the DPF to regen.  Also, his BMW software indicated that the last regen was 6000 miles ago, my C110 said 2000.  I have just ordered a coolant thermostat, once this is in he suggested taking it on a long run.  If this fails he said he could delete the DPF and remap (£350)

Before I do anything else, does anyone know if cleaning the DPF is a viable option?

[jagr]

Go for a drive with the c110 scanner connected and keep resetting the error codes until it forced a regeneration. This took around 30 minutes on my old X3 but it worked.

I did this at night on the motorway while in 5th gear at around 2500rpm.