Dreaded Engine Malfunction Reduced Power
 

So at 25009 miles started my car up this morning and all fine with normal cold start at 1500 rpms then the drop to 800 backed it out of the garage and got out to clean the windshield within 5 seconds the car started shaking and sputtering violently, got in the car and had a check control message stating engine malfunction and reduced power. Turned the car off and let it sit for a minute. Restarted fine drove it around the block, Check engine was still on but seemed driveable but little power but it was smooth. Pulled back up in front of the house and put it in park. engine started immediatly sputtering again and car began viloently shaking. Placed in drive and would not smoothly drive forward. Turned car off and called BMW assist. Car was flatbedded to dealer as undrivable.

So seen many posts over the years with this problem and did a search but anyone with experience so I know how to respond to the dealer would be appreciated. Was anyones expereinces similar on an X5M and what was the cause and remedy?

There is nothing for you to do until the dealer comes back with a diagnosis based on their reading of the codes.

It could be a fuel pump issue, but any potential cause would just be guessing, just let them do the diagnosis first.

Well, I have A LOT of experience with this. My almost 1 year old (at the time) X5M developed the same issue. I was driving one day, engine malfunction light came on and had reduced power. Pulled over, stopped the car and let her sit. Restarted and then drove about 10-15 minutes and same thing. Kept happening the rest of the day and car finally went to the dealer.

30+ days later the dealer had replaced both turbos and "adjusted" the turbo software. Drove the 2 hours to pick up the car and about 40 miles away, it started again. Same sputtering and low power feel. Back on a flat bed the next day. Another 40+ days, head engineers coming in from Germany and South Carolina. No idea. Flashed the car. "Could not reproduce symptom." Would always occur for me going up hill, in M mode, and down shift. However, dealer couldn't get it. Came back. Informed BMW service that I would like to discuss a replacement. They said wait and see what happens. Literally after leaving the office home it occurs again. Called BMWNA (with whom I had called after the second tow in to begin a ticket) and told them that I wanted a replacement. I also called BMW HQ in NJ. Discussed it their as well.

Kept the car for another 1 week waiting to hear from BMWNA. On way out of a gas station car refuses to shift forward from 2-3. This as a semi comes barreling at me. I called BMWNA and told them where they could find the vehicle and that I was not driving it. At this point, it was over 120 days from start. I was given the run around that I had bought the vehicle in one state, lived in another but serviced in a third (it was the nearest BMW dealer). The quote was "we are sure how the lemon law would work". I replied with "you have dealerships in every state, lawyers who are well versed in the business of keeping BMW operating, and you tell me that you don't know how the lemon law would apply?". I finally had to have my attorney send a letter to the dealer.

Suddenly I got a call back saying what would you like to order? I had them take my car back and switched to a 2011 Cayenne Turbo. No issues for six months and upgraded to 2012 with custom order. I haven't looked back despite my enormous respect for the X5M/X6M. Thought about going back once, but seems there are more of these occuring.

What was the final result/problem, etc? BMW had no idea. Could not figure out the issue. The codes coming from the car where consistently show turbo faults. No matter how much they adjusted the turbos, replaced the turbos, etc, the problem was not fixed. So, I had to walk away.

I sincerely hope you have better luck. I hope yours is an easy fix and the problem is identified and remedied. Please keep us up to date.

J

Call from the dealer they have identified the problem and stated that it was caused by a broken brether hose. When asked what that was, it was explained to me as a hose that feeds the turbos. I assume for air. Part is on order and they said it will require reprogramming of the engine module.

Well see if this is the fix. I hope so. this car was a replacement of my 2008 X5 4.8 sport which was bought back by BMWNA after unfixable issues. Have had about 15 BMW's and I absolutely love this car but will not own it out of warranty. 4th major component replaced since new.

Active Roll stabilization module
Power Steering Pump
Water Pump
Now Turbo Component.

I had those replaced on the second trip in... :)

Again, I sincerely hope you get yours fixed. They are awesome vehicles, and up to the time mine became a nuisance, I loved it.

J

Great... Well they said they discovered the hose was broken or split so hopefully this is not a guess. We'll see if the burning smell was a symptom then maybe this will be it. Fingers crossed Ill keep you all posted,

i had the same thing like 3 weeks ago , for a few days when starting it would be hesitant and shaky !

then one nite im out beatin on it and i stop at a light and i hear i loud ugly whistle , me being an idiot im like hmmmm lemme beat the crap outt've and see what'll happpen :rofl:

i get to my store like 3 mins later the car is smokin , shakin , and makin very weird sounds from the exhaust which is also spitting ouut oil ! :wow:

i open the hood take off the plenum cover or whatever and see this piece of s**t plastic hose split in half , like a real pos hose prolly no more than $2.00

i duct tape it and limp home , took it in to dealer and they replaced it no biggie

NEIL

Sounds like the same issue. Well see if this is the fix. Just major repeated issues with this thing. I love it and is the best car I have ever had just the reliability issues are phenomenal. I have never had a car that had to be towed for mechanical reasons and I have had about 30 cars in my life. Simply amazing...

Including a 1978 Nova in college

My X5M had the same issue. I thought it was something big that happened. When i was at idle, it was shaking like crazy and the rpm was going up and down so i drove it back to the dealer. It took 3 working days for them to replace a hose. I feel that my car performs better now.

So got the car back on Saturday. Would have been sooner but they had some problems reprogramming.
So far so good the burning smell seems to be gone. Car is running good.
Couple of things I think I have noticed but may be me after being in a 328 for a week. probably due tot he reprogramming more than the new hoses.

• Seems like throttle response is much better in 2nd and 3rd in M mode.
• Sometimes before when starting off in M mode and manual from a stop or light the throttle was very sensitive, you'd have to feather the throttle at start or the car would jerk off the line, that seems to be gone now.
• Exhaust sound does seem more quiet.
• The downshifts in M Mode automatic for instance coming off a freeway offramp are much less pronounced. We all know that sometimes the downshifts could be abrubt especiallyn that 2nd to 1st. Now seems that 2nd to 1st downshift doesn't occur until the car is almost to a stop.

Anyways thats what I have noticed so far. Car is great just hope it stays that way..

Good to hear it all got worked out!

trade for M3
 

So small update, Burning smell is still there no warning indicators but the cold starts are really rough like engine is misfiring. they want the car back to check it out again. So question for you all is I have an option to trade the car for a new M3 sedan manual, one of two left in the country. I have been looking or wanting this car for sometime and as you knwo this is the last opportunity to get a V8 M3 Sedan. I just don't trust the turbo technology in these cars yet. This would be going back to old school.
Plus with the release of the 2013 XM models coming this spring my car will be 4 model years old and likley take another big drop in value especially with the cosmetic changes.

Thoughts?

I have mixed feelings decisions about your decision:

1. M3 is a great car, so you are not really downgrading much.

2. M3 handles better, marginally faster (if any, with manual might even be slower)

3. AWD vs RWD? You live in the climate that looks to be rainy, so are you willing to give up the AWD security as well as the roominess if you have a bigger family?

4. You only have about a year of warranty left so that's definately something to consider in the trade in.

5. Turbo technology has been around for a while, so there is no reason to fear it, as it is going to be the BMW's future.

Tough decision indeed... I don't know. You need to weigh all the pros and cons and see which outweighs each.

Either way M3 is an awesome car, so you can't really go wrong. Good luck with your choice!:thumbup: