Sluggish after service

[essjay2730]

Hi All

I drive a 3.0d 2004 X5 and had it serviced last week by a small but good indy garage. Used them before for a number of things but never for a service. Picked up on Saturday morning and the car now seems sluggish after having an Inspection 2 service - kick down is OK but no real pulling power at low revs - wondered whether it might be becaue they used lower grade oil/ air filter/ fuel filter and the engine's not getting the right mix? Any one have an opinion? The garage do normally fit OEM gear but you have to ask for it and I didn't so maybe have sub-standard equipment fitted at the service. Any help appreciated.

[JCL]

Second rate filters won't last as long, or filter as well, but they won't usually impact performance.

Sounds more likely that something was left loose.

[jst2878]

Make sure there's no vacuum leaks and check to see if everything is put back on correctly

[powers1]

Originally Posted by essjay2730

Hi All

I drive a 3.0d 2004 X5 and had it serviced last week by a small but good indy garage. Used them before for a number of things but never for a service. Picked up on Saturday morning and the car now seems sluggish after having an Inspection 2 service - kick down is OK but no real pulling power at low revs - wondered whether it might be becaue they used lower grade oil/ air filter/ fuel filter and the engine's not getting the right mix? Any one have an opinion? The garage do normally fit OEM gear but you have to ask for it and I didn't so maybe have sub-standard equipment fitted at the service. Any help appreciated.

When you take your car for a service to a Bmw dealer,they always diagnose your car for the latest sofware.Sometimes when they update cars software they forget to code the engine sensors.The ECU then self-adapts but takes some miles to do so!But since you say its a local indy garage,I doubt it if they would do this,but you can still ask them if they scanned your car!
A software update will also erase any "re-map" your car may have had before!Was your car remapped before going in for a service?
If a software update wasnt the culprit,then its down to something they did in the service!I work with these engines all the time and I dont see how replacing any service items will affect you cars performance,providing they fit an compatible air and fuel filters properly!Maybe they damaged a sensor or the MAF when they replaced the air-filter .Most likely the MAF!Dont you have a EML on the dash?Anyway,do ask them what work they did on the car or post us your invoice here..

Keep us posted..

[Weasel]

The dealers don't always check for the latest software, and E53's aren't one of the vehicles that get programmed for all kinds of problems like E70's do. And sensors on the engine aren't coded. Vehicles only get programmed if that is the fix BMW warranty wants to address a concern/complaint of the customer and/or a service action/recall is due that is a software issue.

And he didn't go to the dealer but an indy. I'm not too familiar with the ins and outs of the E53 diesel because we don't have them in the states, but I'd start with double checking all the work they did just in case they did dislodge the MAF or something. Did they use a different oil than you normally run? Also, did you happen to refuel about the same time right before/after the service?

[powers1]

Originally Posted by Weasel

The dealers don't always check for the latest software, and E53's aren't one of the vehicles that get programmed for all kinds of problems like E70's do. And sensors on the engine aren't coded. Vehicles only get programmed if that is the fix BMW warranty wants to address a concern/complaint of the customer and/or a service action/recall is due that is a software issue.

Here,maybe its an European thing,but its standard procedure to always check for software updates and when there is one available,its obligatory to do it,before you can go ahead with any other diagnostics.You should know that??????Well ,I do ,I used to work at a dealer and my mates still do ,so I still know what goes on!
With regards to your other comments,about E53 not being programmed and sensors arent coded,its not worth an answer because you obviously dont know what you are talking about.
Hope the OP gets it sorted.

[essjay2730]

Originally Posted by powers1

When you take your car for a service to a Bmw dealer,they always diagnose your car for the latest sofware.Sometimes when they update cars software they forget to code the engine sensors.The ECU then self-adapts but takes some miles to do so!But since you say its a local indy garage,I doubt it if they would do this,but you can still ask them if they scanned your car!
A software update will also erase any "re-map" your car may have had before!Was your car remapped before going in for a service?
If a software update wasnt the culprit,then its down to something they did in the service!I work with these engines all the time and I dont see how replacing any service items will affect you cars performance,providing they fit an compatible air and fuel filters properly!Maybe they damaged a sensor or the MAF when they replaced the air-filter .Most likely the MAF!Dont you have a EML on the dash?Anyway,do ask them what work they did on the car or post us your invoice here..

Keep us posted..

The car, to my knowledge, has not been remapped. I bought it 2nd hand 18 months ago but as its had a proper BMW service a year ago i would have thought the software would have interfered with it then. Got no warning signs at all on the dash. They replaced the oil, pollen, air and fuel filter. New wiper blades. Oil flush and replace. Bushes for for front control arms and that was it. Can the MAF come dislodged when the air filter comes out? Its going back tomorrow buyt the Indy seems as bemused as me at this point.

[Weasel]

Originally Posted by powers1

Here,maybe its an European thing,but its standard procedure to always check for software updates and when there is one available,its obligatory to do it,before you can go ahead with any other diagnostics.You should know that??????Well ,I do ,I used to work at a dealer and my mates still do ,so I still know what goes on!
With regards to your other comments,about E53 not being programmed and sensors arent coded,its not worth an answer because you obviously dont know what you are talking about.
Hope the OP gets it sorted.

Hold on one minute.... I'm trying to not take offense to this and I've been at the BMW dealer for 6 years. The only sensor I can think of that needs to be coded after replacement is the steering angle. The cam sensors, crank sensors, coolant temp sensors, MAF, etc. can't be coded as they are simple sensors. NTC, pressure, hot film or whatever the case may be. And apparently it is very different from the US with BMWNA to Europe as the warranty claim for programming will be denied by BMWNA unless it is warranted by: Part replacement, GWCODE, Service bulletin, instructed by PuMA case or teileclearing, or instructed by FSE. If we just program it just because it isn't at the currently highest integration level we will not be paid and the claim will be debited. And what does that matter on non-integration level vehicles like E53, E39, E38, E46 etc? Honestly enough most common drivability problems do have bulletins or other service info getting you to program it anyways, but the above info does still apply. (I can provide info in writing from BMWNA to back this all up as well)

I am an easy going guy and hard to bother, so feel free to talk openly to me. And no need to be condescending.

[essjay2730]

All

X5 back at the Indy's today. Had a call at 1400 to say all fixed. As the air filter was replaced one of the lines in to or from the turbo had been removed or come displaced - they put the line back in and the turbo is now working properly. Not sure why no EML lights weren't showing but anyway, she was returned to outside my house with the keys through the front door by the time I got home from work.

Thanks for all your help.

[ALX5]

"did you happen to refuel about the same time right before/after the service?"

Sorry to hijack this thread but my wife just called me and informed me a similar problem to this. The X5 loses power after refill. what happend guys?

ALX5