Rough idle and CEL **UPDATE**
 

Yesterday we had some heavy rain so I decided to let the freshly detailed X5 sit in the garage. Today, I started the X5 and noticed the idle was a bit rough, but the RPMs were not fluctuating. On top of that the X5 would shake a bit at idle and when I reved it a bit, it seemed as if the rpms did not want to move much higher. I shut it off and restarted it and took it around the block. Everything seemed normal. No vibrations, no noises, everything perfect. The problem now is the CEL and I checked the code and got the P1345 (cam position sensor circuit malfunction). According to a thread from hewre, it says that cyclinder #2 misfire. It may be the coilpack but the weird thing is that my X5 is running perfect now. Has anyone had the similar code on their X5? Could this be due to the very moist weather from yesterday? Please let me know how I should get this fixed, can I just clear the code?


Thanks,
Jay

This happens occasionally to all BMW models. If it was intermittent, the code will clear on its own after x amount of recycles (start/stop engine). Sounds like you had *something* unusual happen. Bad gas causing a slight misfire, slight misfunction in coil pack, etc... You might have to replace something shortly - either a plug or pack. Suggest waiting for it to clear (or have AutoZone clear it) and see if it pops up again before doing anything.

I've had the same thing happen 3 times in the last 2 months or so but no Check Engine Light. Just rough idle upon morning startup, back out of garage roughly, then put in drive and drive away smoothly with no problems. I have 73K miles and always serviced at the dealer on time. Strange rough startup, but I'm not worried since my X hasn't failed me yet! :thumbup:

Thanks for the input guys, but the issue has came back! After a while the idle and drive was fine and smooth and a day later the CEL disappeared. I had the X5 sit for a day in the garage and after that, I had the same problem. The idle was rough and everything was shaking with the CEL back on.

As bobbyp said, the bad gas may cause a misfire. I put premium BP fuel into the X and filled it up last sunday and I believe this may have caused the problem. For some reason the fill up station had prices better than the other gas stations so I decided to fill it up there.

At the same time, I had my other car filled up there due t the good prices and found out they had a problem with their gas and the station decided to price the regular, plus, and premium all at the same low price. So I filled up my other car with premium as well. Now my other car is experiencing a rough/ shaky idle and ride as if something is clogged when I stomp on the gas. I think the gas station may have had a problem with their gas or maybe even added something into it, which is why they sold it for cheap??


Do you have any suggestions as to solving this problem? Suction out the gas from the tank and replace?

Thanks

Any recommendations as for a fuel cleaner?

Could try a touch of Techron.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayX5 Any recommendations as for a fuel cleaner?

Jay, I know where you put gas. I've heard bad things about that place. Do your self a favor. Drive the car until its half or less in the tank. Go to a Shell and put some V-power. At that time also pour some fuel cleaner in there. Techron is good stuff as well as the stuff BMW has at the dealer. Drive the car after you do that for a few hours and then when you get half way again, go to Shell and fill her up once again. This will take a few times but this is what I was told from my mechanic when I had the same problem as you last year. Good Luck. She will be working just fine...

Thanks for the input bro. I'll do it and hope for the best. Just hope the car won't stop me while trying to get rid of half the gas in the tank.

Was this the gas station on Oakton and Asbury, cause that's where I went.

Should be OK. Cats can suffer sometimes in these situations.

Yeah she should be fine. I know this sucks bad, but this is what you have to do. Its like when you eat something bad. You need to flush your system out. In this case you gave your X some bad fuel. You need to flush this out. Next time, do not look at the price. Put the best fuel in your X no matter if the difference is a few cents. It comes out to be only 5-7 dollar difference when all said and done. Not worth messing about with your expensive car, especially when it breaks down... Good luck my friend, let me know how everything turns out.

P.S. Make sure you only use premium fuel. Very important. Some people on this forum have different views, but trust me I this.

Yeah, I've always used premium fuel from BP or Shell. The thing was they just had slightly lower prices for premium compared to other BP stations.

By the way Jay, I believe it is the one on Oakton. I didn't remember the Asbury street, but I know its on Oakton... Funny how you had the same problem as me. I complained to the guy that owns it, he told me that I was crazy. I swear I almost knocked the guy out. But it's not worth fighting for. Maybe when the weather breaks out we can have a Chicago Meet. Some where close. I'm always in the Elmwood Park area. Send me a Pm, maybe we can get together and have a mini X5 meet. Let me know.

BTW, should it be fine to use HEET gas treatment? Or should I stick with the techron? Heet specifically works to remove water from gas.

Yup, you can use HEET. Doesn't hurt anything, and just might help. Techron won't remove water from gas. And the cheap-o gas stations often have water in their tanks!
When I use it, I usually use the Iso-Heet, in the red bottle, because that is what I have around in the garage for the snowmachines.

Weird.. I started her up to use up some gas and now its running perfect again and CEL is gone. I haen't even used up 1/2 the tank yet and its fine. Hope all the water's gone, but I'll still put the gas treatment once I get past 1/2 tank.