DESPERATE-very bad engine problems

codered · #1 08-14-2007, 04:09 PM

Hello,
I want to start by THANK YOU to anyone who will reply,I am really desperate because of my engine problems with my X5 (E53,2000,4.4i/286HP,163.000km)
It started 3 months ago,the yellow light (engine service) flashing while the car was running on high RPM's...it flashed couple of times,then it stayed ON.
Now the car has lost significant amount of power,it accelerates slower and is not running more than 160-180km/hour.Even at this speed if it's being "pushed" the engine starts shaking badly and it needs an engine stop,then it will run again.Anywhere near 4000rpm's the engine shaking starts again.
Before it starts shaking the yellow light is flashing again(when the acceleration is being pushed towards the end)
I went to my mechanic,he reset the sensor to see what is happening.After around 100km it went back on again.
The software reading from the tester gives different results depending on the actual software being used

On one tester it said the lambda sensors after the catalytic converters need changing.I changed those,still no result.
On a different tester it said the camshaft sensor and the acceleration sensor need changing(haven't changed them yet) It also says "MISFIRE on Cylinder 1,6,8" I've also changed the ignition sparks and engine oil.
On another tester it said the thermostat (hopefully it's the same in english as it is in romanian) and the engine fun needs changing,but this seems curious to me,as the engine temperature is normal .Also,the tester should not be able to tell if these are damaged?

WHAT SHOULD I CHANGE ? I don't wanna change something that it works,it already cost me a fortune fixing other stuff.

Please,help...very much appreciated.

BimmerDude · #2 08-14-2007, 05:15 PM

My friend, at this point you have no choice but to spend some money here and fix your X. Trying to cut any corners, can damage your X even more down the line. Seems to me that you haven't really maintained your X or the previous owner didn't really do much to it. Meaning having kept up with preventative maintenance. Either way, yes camshaft sensor sounds like something that can make the engine shake, acceleration sensor sounds right too, since you said the X doesn't accelerate properly. Have you done water pump, thermostat, belts, hoses, new plugs, etc.... on this X yet? Maybe your coils are are going bad since you have misfire at 1,6,8.... Sounds to me that your going to have to dish some money out here and get this baby fixed. Or, it will give you more problems and maybe stop running. Good Luck

noncom23 · #3 08-14-2007, 05:19 PM

I would get it to BMW experienced mechanic soon. As above, you are having problems probably too serious to drive it.

codered · #4 08-14-2007, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BimmerDude

My friend, at this point you have no choice but to spend some money here and fix your X. Trying to cut any corners, can damage your X even more down the line. Seems to me that you haven't really maintained your X or the previous owner didn't really do much to it. Meaning having kept up with preventative maintenance. Either way, yes camshaft sensor sounds like something that can make the engine shake, acceleration sensor sounds right too, since you said the X doesn't accelerate properly. Have you done water pump, thermostat, belts, hoses, new plugs, etc.... on this X yet? Maybe your coils are are going bad since you have misfire at 1,6,8.... Sounds to me that your going to have to dish some money out here and get this baby fixed. Or, it will give you more problems and maybe stop running. Good Luck

Thank you for taking the time to answer. I've done waterpump last year,it failed at 138.000km(now it has 163.000km).Belts,air filter as well.Spark plugs a week ago.
The BMW service in Romania is really c*ap,not going to them ever again..It took them 2 months to change the waterpump last year!!!I'm using experienced third party mechanics...not many options in this damn country.
I haven't change the thermostat yet -isn't the engine supposed to run hot if the thermostat fails? The engine temp in normal at all times.
Should I go for camshaft sensor+acceleration sensor changing before or after the coils?

///Manuel · #5 08-14-2007, 05:51 PM

Start changing the cheaper parts first. Especially the ones that involve the least amount of labor. Getting an independent tech look at it is for sure a good idea.

BimmerDude · #6 08-14-2007, 06:39 PM

well try the coils first, then if still there is a problem, do the rest... Good luck...

alpac · #7 08-14-2007, 07:08 PM

Did you check the error code? If you have cylinders which misfired the code should tell you which ones. I agree with BimmerDud, start with the coils. Do not drive your X until this is fixed as you are damaging the engine

codered · #8 08-15-2007, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alpac

Did you check the error code? If you have cylinders which misfired the code should tell you which ones. I agree with BimmerDud, start with the coils. Do not drive your X until this is fixed as you are damaging the engine

It says Misfire on Cylinders 1,6,8...We've taken the coils out of the sparks early this morning,there is a lot of motor oil in them.It seems the rubber sealings are worn-off so the oil enters into the coils. We intend to replace those rubber parts/joints and then the coils..
You're really scared me with the engine damage..is this irreversible damage?already driven 1000km like this

( No one told me here this can cause damage to the engine.Max speed is now 160-180km/h,will it get back to 210km/h and proper acceleration ever again?

(

upallnight · #9 12-14-2012, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codered

It says Misfire on Cylinders 1,6,8...We've taken the coils out of the sparks early this morning,there is a lot of motor oil in them.It seems the rubber sealings are worn-off so the oil enters into the coils. We intend to replace those rubber parts/joints and then the coils..
You're really scared me with the engine damage..is this irreversible damage?already driven 1000km like this

( No one told me here this can cause damage to the engine.Max speed is now 160-180km/h,will it get back to 210km/h and proper acceleration ever again?

(

That's your problem, valve cover gasket. Oil in the spark plug hole is shorting the plugs.