Car shakes on startup- Deterioration of exhaust emissions

[julezw]

Hi everyone,

Occasionally, say once every 3 months, when I startup the car after being garaged overnight - the car will shake quite a lot for a couple of minutes if i don't drive away immediately, followed by a yellow engine light, which in the manual says Deterioration of exhaust emissions, have it checked.
The shake feels like it is coming from the engine.

I find it happens when i just have to re-park the car, with the engine cold on start-up and cold when i shut it off.
I had the dealer check it and they found no codes i explained the situation they think it is normal.

Is it normal?? any thoughts?

cheers

[primetime]

Could be bad fuel..thats been known to cause this. And in your warmer climate I would guess thats what it could more likely be..Much more likely then an oil seperator problem like most of us are experiencing in the frigid USA..

[julezw]

Thanks for the reply... the dealer said the same thing regarding bad fuel, told me to use same fuel all the time of a high quality. They recommended BP Ultimate which is what i use?

Is the oil separator only prone to issues in very cold weather? I can't remember the last day i would describe as being very cold down here....i also read that all 4.4i need oil separator replacements is this true or just for the states?

[anguswolfendale]

I have the 4.4i Sport E53. Yesterday the same warning light came on, yellow outline of engine. Manual says its Emission Control Valves - what are these? There has been no change in the running of the car - its running fine. Is it safe to continue driving it with this warning light on?

[killcrap]

Originally Posted by julezw

Thanks for the reply... the dealer said the same thing regarding bad fuel, told me to use same fuel all the time of a high quality. They recommended BP Ultimate which is what i use?

Is the oil separator only prone to issues in very cold weather? I can't remember the last day i would describe as being very cold down here....i also read that all 4.4i need oil separator replacements is this true or just for the states?

BP is not a recommended fuel for BMW. Only use Top Tier Fuels. Top Tier Gasoline

the pre 10/03 production 4.4 require separator replacement at around 70-100k, its a rubber diagphram, and will fail eventually. also check the 2 crankcase hoses on top of the intake manifold for mushyness.

[Skip110]

I'd say in your case it is probably fuel. I had the same problem for the longest time. Every once in a while when I'd start the vehicle it would shake a little and sound upset. I would always get fuel at the station right by my house. Once I started putting fuel in from another station the problem went away. Runs like a champ now!

[rocky1536]

Possibly a smog pump?

[primetime]

Always try to use the highest octane fuel possible and best quality fuel available..Contrary to what someone said above I filled my x5 with BP consistently 92 octane and the car ran great on it...its when i switched up fuel brands every now and then (when i had to because i needed gas) i would notice the X wouldn't perform as well and i had the cold start shaking as well..

[julezw]

cool....i feel better about it now, don't have that 'somethings about to break sensation' thanks everyone

[snkpkp]

I have the shaking at cold start a bit but no SES light , but it sounds aweful when I start it in the morning , it sounds as if one or two plugs are dead , but it gos away whenthe engine heats up , my car is a 2004 E 53 so it won't need an oil seperator ?