Engine Fault Reduced Power Warning?

[mtech8]

Was debating on getting a X5M or 50i. Went with the 50i only because I can't see when I'd be able to enjoy the extra benefits of the X5M for my uses.

Was just poking around the forum and noticed in the M section of this forum that there are a lot of complaints about a Engine Fault Reduced Power Warning. Did a quick searh and noticed that it has affected some of the 35d's also. Know if this is a problem for the 50i? Don't want to get a car that's gonna be in the shop all the time. I could wait a bit so that BMW can sort things out before buying the car.

[ard]

Originally Posted by mtech8

Was just poking around the forum and noticed in the M section of this forum that there are a lot of complaints about a Engine Fault Reduced Power Warning. Did a quick searh and noticed that it has affected some of the 35d's also. Know if this is a problem for the 50i? Don't want to get a car that's gonna be in the shop all the time. I could wait a bit so that BMW can sort things out before buying the car.

OMG

If you are going to wait to buy a car only when forums no longer have any complaints, you will be riding a bicycle.

[JCL]

Actually you may be walking. We get lots of complaint threads over on the Cervelo bicycle forum.

OP: The Reduced Power Warning happens when the engine computer knows something is wrong but isn't sure what. It isn't a failure itself, but rather a safety precaution. It reduces turbo boost until you can get to the shop. You can continue driving. It has happened on the 35i, the 35d, the 50i, and the M. It isn't a reason not to buy a vehicle, although the M do seem to be having first year teething issues at the moment.

[ard]

Originally Posted by JCL

Actually you may be walking. We get lots of complaint threads over on the Cervelo bicycle forum.

.

Damn it! Just checked out the Nike forum...I'm screwed.

[mtech8]

Originally Posted by ard

OMG

If you are going to wait to buy a car only when forums no longer have any complaints, you will be riding a bicycle.

I hear what your saying. There's always something someone's gonna complain about. It's a drawback of forums. Most people that are happy aren't gonna log in to a forum to express how happy they are while the ones with problems always log in to complain. This forum is actually an exception as I see quite a number of happy X5 owners expressing themselves here.

But to decide not to buy (or wait to buy) a car based on something like an engine problem isn't too stupid. Not buying a car based on something like the "steering wheel peel issue" would be. I actually wished I listened to the forums complaints about the rear view camera and waited for the new iDrive or even on the poor gas mileage of the 4.8 and waited for the 35d. I would have been much happier with the X5. Those are the two only things that I care about that would have made my X5 perfect. I know there will always be something better that comes out. I think eventually the X5 will get the option to do soft close doors (probably at the last year run).

Thanks JCL for the explaination. So it's sounds like a wide spread problem across the BMW turbo line, but isn't something that it too frequent and something that is too big of a deal.

[ard]

The engine fault reduced power "issue" is actually a 'mode' that every modern engine possesses. BMW, Lesus, Porsche, Acura, Ford, Nissan, Toyota (get it?) This mode is tripped when there is an issue which leads to a 'dangerous' AFR or other operating condition to protect the motor. I see it in non-turbo cars too.

To ascribe a "problem" to a particular version of a BMW motor because several people report this message that they see on the dashboard after their cars trip one of a hundred possible causes, is like voodoo medicine.

It is like when people have a problem with their car, rough running, a code on the dash, etc.... and think "huh, only thing I did different this week was fill it with gas, ergo it must be 'bad gas".

I do agree with your conclusion though.

A