Replacement Diesel Injectors

[handyman]

My 3.0d X5 wouldn't start anymore. The starter motor turned the engine over but the engine wouldn't take. The recovery people squirted some spray into the air inlet, which brought the engine back to life. The recovery mechanic suspected a faulty fuel (return) valve.

I then drove the car to the local BMW dealership for repair (car was perfectly normal when driving - just wouldn't start on its own). They have looked at the engine and told me that the 6 injectors need replacing for a cost of 2600 Euros.

Does that sound plausible to anybody or am I being taken for a ride?

Felix

[X5Sport]

How many miles/km have you done?

Have you ever run poor quality/contaminated fuel with too high a water content through the car? Are you using biodiesel? E53s cannot be run on biodiesel, although BMW really ought to have made that possible as most other German cars will run on it and have been able to for a few years.

Fuel injectors usually go on for a long time, and to lose all six at once sounds odd unless contaminated fuel has been used. Diesel ones last even longer. Diesel fuel is a good lubricant after all. Did they tell you what is wrong with the injectors and why they need to be replaced?

The only time I lost all of them was on an old 1990 Opel when I was advised that 'unleaded' petrol was OK. It turned out that it was OK, but only if a lubricant was added every fifth tank. The lack of lubricant wrecked all of the injectors and they leaked so flooding the engine. It was an expensive lesson as the injectors were then $200 each. I went back to leaded fuel after that.

Are yours leaking, or failing to deliver fuel? If they are failing to deliver fuel it could be that the fuel system is not pressurising and that could indeed be the NR Valve. On mine, as soon as I unlock the car I can hear the fuel pump priming the system - does yours do this?

[handyman]

Hi,

I have done 131,000 KM

As for fuel quality, I havn't done anything wrong to my knowledge. I always fill up with regular Shell or Q8 from the same local petrol stations.

What I don't understand is that once the engine is running, performqnce is perfectly normal. There are no rough sounds and accelleration is fine. Fuel consumption seemed normal as well.

I could understand or accept that one had gone but it seems an incredible coincidence that all 6 should go simultaneously.

Unfortunately, the car is stranded at the Waterloo, Belgium dealership, waiting for me to give the green light to repair, so I can't check up on your last point.

Before giving the green light I need to find the money and also be convinced that the work is really necessary.

Thanks,
Felix

[Laurence]

The injectors seem to be a favourite thing to replace on the diesels.
I had a very similar problem to yours, the car would turn over but not start.

Having been in the shop for over a week and having replaced 4 injectors and fuel pump, the fault turned out to be the fuel pressure rail sensor.
Because the fuel pressure rail sensor had gone faulty, the engine management system thought there was a lack of fuel pressure and wouldn't let the engine start.
So, a £15 part cost £800 in diagnosis.

BTW, the reason for replacing the injectors was because they were "leaking" - this seems to be a common fault

[handyman]

Hi Laurence,
Many thanks for your post. I have a gut feeling that my problem is similar to what you describe. I shall challenge BMW's diagnosis on Monday.

I can't help thinking that some technician at BMW has plugged the diagnostics computer into the car's dashboard and received the response "Computer says no...", to which he concludes that it's best to replace everything.

I can almost hear the dealership thinking "Never mind the cost, it's a rich X5 driver who's paying anyhow !!!" ...

Felix

[ruffnexx_uk]

it really bugs me when i hear stories like this , ive got an E53 x5 diesel, and the fuel injectors started to leak back and prevented the car from starting...cost about 400 pounds to fix, but still didnt run right, after reading through these forums i started a process of elimination, bought a new maf sensor- £99 from germany...car started running 75% better though at 3500 revs wouldnt change gear (downshift to accelerate) i then bought and fixed the cam sensor...now it accelerates beautifully 95% better, over the weekend im going to change the crank sensor, i believe that should make my car sweet...total savings from not using the stealership?...my sanity and at least 500 quid as all parts cost me less than 200 pounds.
just for every ones info, you can actually service fuel injectors, those of you in UK and near wokingham google alan Darby...at lynxdiesels.com might save you loads of dosh.
MAF sensors can be gotten from airmassmeters.com...the guys name is paul and quick delivery...50- 75% cheaper than BMW. hope this info is helpful

[blueagle]

Very informative to other X5 diesel owners like myself. Keep it up guys !

[handyman]

Thanks ruffnexx for your experience. As I'm often in the South East with my car, I'll bear your places in mind if I come to need them.

[Eric Dawkins]

I seem to have a problem with my 2003 30ltr diesel x5, all i get is black smoke and low fuel ecconomy, ith hasnt happened over night but has gotton worse lately, can anyone advise