Glow Plug Fault Code

[PotsyDriver]

2007 X5 3.0d with about 125,000km.

All the glow plugs were replaced about 6 months ago as part of a larger piece of work (i'll save that for another thread - timing chain snapped).

Main and EGR thermostat replaced in last 2 months after DPF was not regenerating. After thermostats were replaced, it is now regenerating.

Now - new problem....

I've recently got the Carly app and when I first run the diagnostic test these are the results - It was showing 3 faults initially (just pasted in the relevant stuff below...)

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BASE: E70
BUILD-YEAR: 2007
MODEL: X5 (E70) alle/all alle/all (43)
FAULTS: 3
ECUs: 25
BATTERY: 14.9V

Engine / Motor:
- Fault: Glow plug cylinder 1
- Code: 004212
- Fault: Fuel filter heater control
- Code: 004B1C

Car Communication Computer CCC:
- Fault: Message failure
- Code: 00E18F

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I then cleared the errors, and reran the test (as per carly's instructions) and this error remained:

- Fault: Glow plug cylinder 1
- Code: 004212

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I've done a few searches for these fault code but have not come up with much. I'm still learning about what glow plugs are (!) so any advice or thoughts appreciated. The work that was done 6 months ago is still under warranty, so I'm just arming myself with all information I can should I need to go back for further work.

The car is otherwise seemingly running fine - doesn't appear to be running rough or anything, and there are no engine/warning lights on the dash.

If it makes any difference, the Carly test/s were done immediately after starting - and just idling. So the car wasn't warmed up.

Thankyou

Pete

[PotsyDriver]

ok, so interestingly, I just went for a longer drive to get the car up to operating temp. After 45 mins, I cleared the codes, and reran the test.

The glow plug error is now not showing, but another one is!...

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Engine / Motor:
- Fault: Particle filter system
- Code: 004667
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again - still no warning lights on the dash.
I'm searching on this code - but if anyone has any insight please let me know.

Carly tells me its only 38km since the last successful DPF regen.

I'm new to the Carly app - Are these 'hidden' fault codes appearing/disappearing all the time? I'm sure some are serious and I plan to take them seriously - but is there a chance some are just transient and not really a sign of a bigger problem?

[ard]

I seem to recall that the glow plug controller may need replacing when a glow plug fails???? Maybe search a bit for this....

[PotsyDriver]

Originally Posted by ard

I seem to recall that the glow plug controller may need replacing when a glow plug fails???? Maybe search a bit for this....

thankyou. researching now. I'm wondering if a failed controller would throw an error on all 6 glow plugs though. I'm just seeing a fault code on cylinder 1.

Also researching batteries to work out if there is a problem there that is causing a little flurry of errors that are remaining:

Particle filter system (004667)
Glow plug Cylinder 1 (004212)
Fuel filter heater control (004B1C)
Computer CCC Message Failure (00E18F)

While driving on the highway the battery voltage was around 14.1-14.2V. This morning before starting I noted the battery was at 12.4V, then immediately 14.9V after starting. (Then I assume drops to low 14s after driving a while?)

The car is otherwise running great. Starts first time, every time, no rough idling at any stage.

[ard]

Originally Posted by PotsyDriver

thankyou. researching now. I'm wondering if a failed controller would throw an error on all 6 glow plugs though. I'm just seeing a fault code on cylinder 1. .

One would like to think so, in the non-digital, 'its all water and flows everywhere equally', linear systems kind of view.

But when I read multiple people with single glow plug faults and a bad controller, I start thinking "huh, maybe a bad module CAN manifest as a single plug fault" or maybe the plug went bad, took out that channel of the controller?

To be 100% clear, I have no idea how BMW has engineered the glow plugs or controllers....

[PotsyDriver]

Originally Posted by ard

One would like to think so, in the non-digital, 'its all water and flows everywhere equally', linear systems kind of view.

...

To be 100% clear, I have no idea how BMW has engineered the glow plugs or controllers....

Thanks again - yeah thats the feeling I'm also getting after reading many threads. Certainly sounds like something that just replacing the controller module may fix.

That would make me feel better in a way - after having all the glow plugs replaced only 6 months ago - I'd be concerned if something was causing them to fail so prematurely.

The error codes all seem intermittent - after clearing, some will now stay cleared and come back a few trips later. I'm now wondering if all these error codes have been intermittent for a while and I'm just picking up on them now after getting the Carly app...