2010 x5 35d engine malfunction warning
 

Got this during moderate acceleration. The engine sign showed up on the panel. A subsequent message said something like reduce power ... I reduced speed and the warning went away. The car has only 300 miles on it. Any ideas?

I had this happen about a month ago. The message came on, dissapeared, then came back the next day. Dealer had to replace the fuel pump.

Thanks. I will contact the dealer tomorrow. I also read in a review by USA today that BMW told them the problem might also be due to bad fuel. I had just filled up My first tank at valero which is the nearest brand diesel to me. Now wondering if I should have driven a few more miles and Bought shell!

I only use premium diesel fuel in mine. Buy the best fuel and go where they sell a lot of diesel fuel. I've never seen that message on mine in 4800 miles. I did have to get the air temp. sensor replaced, took 3 months on back order. Now, I'm waiting on a fuel line heater that's been on back order for a month. I've been in contact with BMWNA to speed up the parts. This is unacceptable in my opinion for a new vehicle.

I drove around for 3 months with a check engine light...

Good luck!

Craig

Are there different grades of diesel? I thought after October last year, only super clean diesel is available.

If you are in CA you cannot buy anything but the Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel also labeled Diesel #2. Diesel #1 is for farm and off-road equipment. In 2011 this will become a federal law and you will not be able to buy non ULSD anywhere in the US for highway use.

Here is an update on the situation... Called BMW and talked to my CA who consulted the chief SA and told me that if this warning (Engine Malfunction - reduced power) does not happen again, the car has resolved the issue. Since I got the warning in a short burst of acceleration, I decided to take the car for a spin before going into the dealership. Boy, did I love that drive!!! This puppy is a rocket on wheels. Any how, as hard as I tried (still keeping to 3500 rpm max since this car is less than a week old) the warning did not reoccur. Also found out how to display warning messages using the idrive and it is not stored there. So, by the looks of things, it might have been a fluke. I'll be watching it for a while.

But in the process, I found something very interesting. I had already averaged 30.1 MPG on a 220 mile trip (mostly freeway and some heavy traffic city.) This by itself was darn impressive but after I did an extra ten miles of spirited driving including bursts of rapid acceleration, the average consumption jumped to 30.7! How can this be possible? I have a hybrid and if I did the same thing on it, the consumption would go to hell. If in deed what OB computer is reporting is true, burst and coast driving could actually give you the best mileage. I would not have guessed it. Most gasoline powered cars are very inefficient in high acceleration. Could diesel be different? what say the experts??

There is here where I live. Regular diesel and premium diesel. Only one group of stations carry premium diesel here.

Craig

Do you Premium diesel sellers guarantee a minimum cetane level?

Is there a way to tell by reading on the pump whether it's regular or premium? I asked my local pump guy this question, he seemed clueless.

I've only seen "premium diesel" in large metro areas. The easiest well to tell if diesel is "premium" is the price :)

Seriously, the stuff is pricier and stations that carry it, proudly display "premium diesel" signage. Perhaps to explain the higher price/gal..

Funf Dreisig

Yes, 49-51 cetane...

I've spoken with their lab.

Craig

They don't post cetane levels on the pumps. Where I purchase my fuel, they have signs up stating premium diesel fuel...

Craig

In all states (except CA) look for the attached label if you have a 2007 or later diesel.
Until the end of next year the 500ppm can still be sold.
If your station sells bio-diesel blended fuel it has to be B5 or less for your 2007 and latter BMW.

Somewhere on this board I read BMW recommends SHELL premium.
I would think all major brands would offer premium.

Same thing just happened to me. I have 290 miles on my X5 35d. Engine went in and out of stall mode and within seconds stalled in the middle of a busy 60 mph. intersection. I turned the car off, and then restarted it and it hobbled to safety.

I did refuel it for the first time, with 1/2 tank, but also drove a good 10 to 15 miles before parking it, on the newly topped off tank, and started it multiple times throughout the day before it acted up. The fuel I bought was premium and in Piedmont, CA one of the premier communities in the United States where Diesels are common, as are Ferraris for that matter, so I'm guessing their diesel is clean as can be, and it sure as hell is expensive.

When I started the engine (on a steep downslope hill) the engine malfunction light came on instantly, and "engine operating under reduced power" flashed on the GPS navigation display. I thought it odd, but having knowledge of automobile mechanics, I figured there was a chance to the Onboard Computer / OBD would correct itself.

The car was barely running. It seemed like an electrical glitch to me, but it could have been a fuel supply issue, as they both can replicate each other.

Anyway, Concord, BMW is again showing their true colors. First they told me they could see the car tomorrow, then they connected me to SOS and said it was BMW's responsibility, then SOS sent me back to Concord saying "why would they transfer you to us?," THEN AGAIN Concord transferred me back to SOS via a three way call telling me that SOS could diagnose the car from afar via the car's telemetry, at which point SOS sent me back to Concord. This took about 30-minutes in total, of back and forth B.S.

Now I'm on hold with them. This is turning out to be the worst experience I've ever had with any dealership. Quite frankly I had to speak to a "gum chewing" college kid, who said tough luck, and then to a manager, who finally agreed to give me a sacred appointment.

What a Joke. I told them that I'm leaving tomorrow for a 2,000 mile road trip, my wife has a major health appointment I promised I'd accompany her for (the big C word, is popping up at the age of 31 for her, NOT GOOD) and they could have cared less.

If one more material issue comes up with this dealer, the car's going back, period. I purchased two Hyundai's for a girlfriend in college, and not only did the cars operate in a flawless manner, but their service department was outstanding.

What in the heck is going on with BMW, or is it only the Bay Area Dealerships that are horrendous?

Quite frankly, I told them I had to be there for my wife's appointment tomorrow, it was our only car, and they said "Yeah, everyone needs their car serviced before the holidays. We're really busy."

WTF? DO NOT BUY FROM CONCORD BMW! I've spent 2-hours on this, just to get the to "look" at the X5 tomorrow.

Sorry, keep us posted... I would ask for a loaner and leave your car. I wouldn't risk taking a trip in your X5. It would suck to be stranded...

I asked BMWNA to buy mine back and they said no. I'm still waiting on some sort of compensation from BMWNA.

Craig

Yes.

Hello there ABMW. I just saw your not RE: your significant other's cancer.

I know you don't know me. But, I've had quite a bit of experience with this.

Let me know if you are interested in trying something non-conventional. My GF's mother had a CA125 of 5400 last May. As of yesterday it was 60 with no traditional radiation, chemo, or surgery.

After seeing this it's my new mission in life to save as many people from the cancer industry as possible.

Anyway, I'm available if you need to discuss.

Good luck man!

Brian

P.S. Sorry for the off topic everyone. Private Messages don't work for ABMW.

ABMW, Sorry to hear about your ordeal. BMW of Concord actually has one of the better reviews on Yelp - mind you they are all pretty bad in the bay area.

My case was similar to yours. 300 miles on the car, recent refuel (first time). I did a lot of research. Looks like BMW has some issues with the high pressure fuel pump. A lot of 3 series owners are running into the same problem but not many X5s. In my case the error was very brief and did not result in an actual loss of power. The dealer claimed no error had been logged. They cleared the OBD (why did they need to clear it if there was no error??) So I will not know unless it happens again. They gave the car a clean bill of health and suggested that it must have been a glitch.

The fuel pumps in BMWs use tremendous pressure. Plus all the software. The car picks up every little glitch. Hopefully yours was just a glitch too... The price we pay for the ultimate driving SAV...

I had the same problem on my 2009 X5 35d recently. Took into dealer who replaced the air temp. sensor and updated the latest software for the car from BMW.
Part had to be ordered but car is supposed to be in the shop for only 24 hours.

I had the same problem and took it in to myBMW SA. They say its the air temp. sensor that is faulty and needs to be replaced.
They are also looking to "upgrade" my cars software with the latest upgrades...dont know what that means but it is for some recall on ALL X5s from 2009....will keep you posted when I pick the car up tomorrow.

I had a similar problem with my 2010 diesel. Turned out to be a faulty pump or sensor in the gas tank. They had the car for a week before it was resolved but runs fine now. Strange that there is a recall for another batch of these for same/similar problem but mine wasn't in the recall.

I believe the recall is only for the gasoline engine fuel pumps, not the diesels.

No...they are also for the diesels . I just collected mine from the dealer in Calgary who had the following done:
1.00) Change charge air temperature sensor re: Bulletin 13 81 10 0013900100
2.00) Program Control Unita ( DDE DATA STA
3.00) replaced HP EGR Valve which diagnosed as sticking
All above done FOC.
The car is running beautifully again especially on Winter 19 rims!

Sorry, but I don't see anything in there about a fuel pump, just the air temp sensor and apparently a specific EGR Valve problem on your vehicle.

Am I missing something?

No you are right. They did not check or do anything about the fuel pump.

One recall for Diesels regarding an air temp sensor and programming for this sensor.

A different recall for the fuel pump in gas motors.

12,500 miles and almost exactly a year after I reported the problem, I have not experienced a repeat. I guess I will classify this one as a one-time self-correcting glitch. I never used Valero after that incident and have been using Shell or Chevron ever since.