Nothing but problems with my 2005 E53 3.0d

[powers1]

Imola 38,
Since you say you been a Bmw technician for 8 years ,maybe there is something comstructive you like to add to help the OP with some of his issues and make him change his mind about selling his car!I am personally trying hard

[powers1]

Originally Posted by prism

Hmmm, unforutnately I dont have the error code but I also dont think the dealer was making it up when he told me that the spray pattern of injector # 4 was not working within specs. Would their be a difference between an injector that is not spraying correctly and an injector that is just out of order?
One thing for sure, the vibrations I get when the engine starts cold is something new, I didnt have it before.
I dont get any black smoke unless I really accelerate hard in which case I notice a black plume. Also I do sense a strong fuel smell when after switching off the engine and getting out of the car.
I will do the 20 second test and get back to you.

Difficult to advise you unless I know when did what start to happen!
I mean,was the injector fault diagnosed before or after you got the cold start vibrations?
A injector with an incorrect spray pattern still functions but an out of order injector is a dead one and your car would be on 5 cylinders!BAD vibration!
I am not doubting the dealer on their injector diagnostics but they will never tell you if its an intermmitent error because they will want to sell you a new one.You do need to ask them ,however,why they want to replace your starter when you car always cranks first time?
All X5 3.0D have an annoying characteristic exhaust smell after you turn it off !Is the smell you are noticing now ,different?
I will wait for your glow plug test....

[prism]

To answer your question, I first started noticing the vibration and notified it to the dealer soon afterwards as the car itself was due for servicing. During servicing the dealer did the diagnostics and discovered that injector #4 spray pattern was not within specs.
About the smell, yes it is a bit stronger than the normal smell that I got used to after 5 years of use but maybe its the cold weather?
Anyways I will get back to you with the glow plugs test.
Cheers.

Originally Posted by powers1

Difficult to advise you unless I know when did what start to happen!
I mean,was the injector fault diagnosed before or after you got the cold start vibrations?
A injector with an incorrect spray pattern still functions but an out of order injector is a dead one and your car would be on 5 cylinders!BAD vibration!
I am not doubting the dealer on their injector diagnostics but they will never tell you if its an intermmitent error because they will want to sell you a new one.You do need to ask them ,however,why they want to replace your starter when you car always cranks first time?
All X5 3.0D have an annoying characteristic exhaust smell after you turn it off !Is the smell you are noticing now ,different?
I will wait for your glow plug test....

[imola38]

Originally Posted by prism

Excuse me fanboy but you are borderline rude unless you have trouble processing?
Yes I am complaining about my horrible experience and I think that given what I went through, I have a right to vent about it. At the same time I was seeking the good advice of members in this forum who probably know much more than I do with this car. Powers1, for example, has been extremely helpful with the troublshooting. In the end I will probably fix the problem and sell the car.
No one is forcing you to read my threads, if you dont like its content then please move on, but for me I am clearly getting some very helpful advice.

Sorry, farthest thing from a "fanboy" here. If you read any of my posts, you'll see that I have respect for many well made vehicles and can appreciate something about almost all of them. Anything that's well engineered in some form or fashion deserves props.

What strikes me as hilarious is the fact that someone comes to a place seeking "good advice" by prefacing that request with a rant about how bad the product is and how your "selling the damn thing". Guess what? everyone here paid hard earned money for their X5 just as you have, yet you basically call their vehicle crap. You don't walk in to a place of business, immediately insult their product and then expect great service do you? I dunno, just seems like common sense stuff to me. I guess I am kind of old fashioned... Or maybe Powers 1 is just a much nicer guy than I

-Ben

[prism]

Sorry, but you dont make any sense. I seem to have had more problems than average so to compare me with others that also spent their hard earned money is unfair because, unless they experienced as many problems as I have, they dont really have a reason to rant, right? In fact if my case was the norm, BMW would probably not exist. It is NORMAL to expect top notch quality when you spend a lot of money on it. If the quality is sup par, which is exactly what it has been for me, you wonder if you made a mistake.
As far as I am concerned, for the problems that I have experienced, I am not very happy and mind you, I did mention that I was wondering if maybe what I got was a lemon. Thats not the same thing as saying this must be crap because I had a bad experience.
Is that clear enough for you?

Originally Posted by imola38

Sorry, farthest thing from a "fanboy" here. If you read any of my posts, you'll see that I have respect for many well made vehicles and can appreciate something about almost all of them. Anything that's well engineered in some form or fashion deserves props.

What strikes me as hilarious is the fact that someone comes to a place seeking "good advice" by prefacing that request with a rant about how bad the product is and how your "selling the damn thing". Guess what? everyone here paid hard earned money for their X5 just as you have, yet you basically call their vehicle crap. You don't walk in to a place of business, immediately insult their product and then expect great service do you? I dunno, just seems like common sense stuff to me. I guess I am kind of old fashioned... Or maybe Powers 1 is just a much nicer guy than I

-Ben

[prism]

Powers1,
I started the engine this morning waiting 20 secs before but it didn't matter, the starterwent on a couple of seconds before tue engine actually started.

[powers1]

Originally Posted by imola38

thing". Guess what? everyone here paid hard earned money for their X5 just as you have, yet you basically call their vehicle crap. You don't walk in to a place of business, immediately insult their product and then expect great service do you? I dunno, just seems like common sense stuff to me. I guess I am kind of old fashioned... Or maybe Powers 1 is just a much nicer guy than I

-Ben

Not a nicer guy!I understand your frustration when someone does put down a car as prism has done because of his problems with it.But a lot of people read this Forum and if I can convince the OP that most of the issues he had with car were covered under warranty(which is what its there for!)and the ones he has now are "wear and tear" issues,then anyone reading this will get the right information,not just read about someone "pi**ed" off with his car.
In fact most members that have contributed to this thread confirm that they had very few problems with the 3.0D(one is upto 142,000)and are happy.
Its only one unhappy member that was unlucky to have some bigger issues (transmission) but even then he still kept it and even bought another E71!

[powers1]

Originally Posted by prism

Powers1,
I started the engine this morning waiting 20 secs before but it didn't matter, the starterwent on a couple of seconds before tue engine actually started.

Just replace your glow plugs for now..You dont have to take it to the dealer as they will charge you a fortune in labour costs(as I already stated).Spend a few hundred Euros,not a few thousand!
Buy the plugs and get someone independent who worked on a 2.0D or 3.0D engine to fit them.Or try to fit them yourself!At the dealer,they will put the least qualified mechanic to perform this task.believe me!
With new plugs,the car will start fine and then only will can you see if you have an injector issue.
At least you not needing a starter motor,which the dealer stated!

[X5Sport]

In fact I could have traded my E53 as part of the purchase of the E71, but I found that it's too useful, and I think I've just been unlucky, so made some sacrifices and kept her. Sure I got as pee'd off as others have having spent my 'hard earned cash'. I wanted to ditch mine too, but I now have three Beemers a good indy locally and have stuck with it. Some of the fixes are pretty straightforward to diy if you have a bit of mechanical ability and are prepared to have a go. That saves a lot of money, and gives the enjoyment of having fixed it yourself. Having a go at another member just because they're annoyed is unfair - there are a good deal of members who have had a rant in one way or another about their cars and we accept that, offer to help, let them calm down and move forward to help sort it. We don't give em both barrels!!

[prism]

Originally Posted by powers1

Just replace your glow plugs for now..You dont have to take it to the dealer as they will charge you a fortune in labour costs(as I already stated).Spend a few hundred Euros,not a few thousand!
Buy the plugs and get someone independent who worked on a 2.0D or 3.0D engine to fit them.Or try to fit them yourself!At the dealer,they will put the least qualified mechanic to perform this task.believe me!
With new plugs,the car will start fine and then only will can you see if you have an injector issue.
At least you not needing a starter motor,which the dealer stated!

Thanks but the dealer told me specifically that 1 injector was not functioning properly according to the diagnostic tests. Should I really ignore that? Didn't you tell me that I risk having the same problems with the other injectors if I let this problem unfixed?