[m3power13]

To me this is odd so I wanted opinions of folks here.

Took the 335 into the dealer because the - Engine malfunction Reduced Power - light came on, car had a little over 1/4 tank of gas when this first happened. Next day car was still throwing limp mode, gas light was not on yet, later in the day still in limp mode the low fuel light came on about a mile from the dealership. Still had 60+ miles left to go.

(HPFP has already been replaced on this car). I figure it is the FP again or plugs/coils causing the issue. No more than an hour after I leave the dealership I get a call that the car is in limp mode because the fuel level was too low. What?? The car was going into limp mode with over 1/4 of a tank, well before low fuel indicator comes in. Tech maintained it was because of low fuel level, filled the car up and limp mode went away. He said if the problem came back further diagnosis would be done at that time.

The code read as "Misfire in cylinder 2 due to low fuel level". I've had many cars and never seen anything like this. The car has 33,000 miles on it and has been down to 1/8th tank many times and never an issue. I'm willing to bet the car is going to go into limp again once I run the fuel back down to 1/4 tank.

Anybody ever heard of this? Something is clearly wrong with the car IMO. Fuel pump, sensor, etc.....

Thoughts?

[noro]

Your car has cholesterol... the fuel lines are plugged

Unless there is some kind of obstruction at the fuel pickup point in the tank I can't see how the fuel level can be an issue. The fuel isn't gravity driven into the lines.

[EDK99]

1/4 tank seems a little high to get that. I had the same issue one time just before my fuel light came my car went into limp mode when I flew around a corner and gave it some gas. The low fuel level and going around the kicking the rpms up cause the limp mode according to the dealer. I now fill up at 1/4 tank and don't let it run to much lower then that. Fuel pump has been fine since that incident which was about 4 months ago.

So under what conditions did you go into limp mode? Hard acceleration? Going around a corner?

You car is still under warranty so I would not worry about it unless it happens again with more then 1/4 tank.

[GGreek5]

Most likely the fuel pump again. That was happening to me for a month straight, and eventually I brought it to the dealer. Every time I filled the tank up, it would be fine. Once I got to below half a tank, I would get a limp. HPFP

[m3power13]

Originally Posted by EK_335i

So under what conditions did you go into limp mode? Hard acceleration? Going around a corner?

Just normal city/highway driving.

Originally Posted by GGreek5

Most likely the fuel pump again. That was happening to me for a month straight, and eventually I brought it to the dealer. Every time I filled the tank up, it would be fine. Once I got to below half a tank, I would get a limp. HPFP

My thoughts as well.

[m3power13]

Originally Posted by noro

Your car has cholesterol... the fuel lines are plugged

Unless there is some kind of obstruction at the fuel pickup point in the tank I can't see how the fuel level can be an issue. The fuel isn't gravity driven into the lines.

My guess is the pump is on its way out. Maybe over half tank allows enough pressure for the FP, but once down to 1/4 the pump is strugguling to keep up since the pump is working harder. Car just thinks the fuel level is low.

[David 12]

I could be wrong but the code may have said misfire in cylinder 2 (P0202) but the mechanic is speculating that the the cause is low fuel (the code reader would not indicate that.)

My guess is a bad spark plug or fuel injector issue. Are you getting long cranks in order to start the engine?

[JoeyFiasco]

weird, my wife's been almost empty (down to like 8-10 miles left according to the comp) and everything's fine. it is an 09 though, which should have 3rd general FP right?

[O-cha]

I severely doubt the code was misfire in cylinder 2 "due to low fuel level"

That last bit was probably added in by the tech.

[Sniz]

thats bs

I've driven my car over 30 miles when the mileage left was '--' and not had a limp.

[Tobias1980]

Originally Posted by Sniz

thats bs

I've driven my car over 30 miles when the mileage left was '--' and not had a limp.

+1 with no problems what so ever!

[meyergru]

You all know that there are two fuel pumps in the car, right?

The error described by the OP points to the "first" feeding pump used to get the fuel out of the tank. Although the "second" HPFP, which is employed to pressurize fuel for the direct injection system, has been changed already, the first one may well be broken.

[u boat]

The tech is probly just buying time intill some new software comes out to fix the problem. These misfires are really haunting these cars. There trying to blame the ethonol content in the gas or the injectors but its programming..

[Terrance28]

I have ran mines down to 0 miles and some and never got a limp.

[m3power13]

Yeah, I called BS on the "due to low fuel" ("Misfire in cylinder 2 due to low fuel level" is actually what the service sheet said) thing as well. The tech and I had a spirited chat about that

Car starts fine, unlike when the HPFP went out the first time.

Upon first starting it up it would run a tad rough and then clear up.

Basically I was just blown away a BMW tech would suggest a 50k car was going into limp mode because it only had 1/4 of gas.

My conspiracy theory is there is more to the story, the tech knows it, but "protocol" for this issue is tell the dumb BMW owner that fuel injected cars don't run right when the gas light comes on.

This car has also been into the shop twice to have the complete door locking assemblies replaced each time, comfort access wouldn't let me in my car. It's also been in because the electrical system was mysteriously draining batteries, took 2 days to get the part to fix that.

Never had so many problems with a BMW or any car for that matter. But damn, when it is running right it is one of the best I have ever driven.

[NinetyEight740]

actually guys, the faults read by the GT1 will indicate that the low fuel light is on

[Sniz]

but do you really think the "low" gas level is the cause of his limp mode? I dont.

[emjei]

Ive had the exact same issues here...low gas tank = limp modes

Originally Posted by Sniz

but do you really think the "low" gas level is the cause of his limp mode? I dont.

[O-cha]

Originally Posted by NinetyEight740

actually guys, the faults read by the GT1 will indicate that the low fuel light is on

And? That's like saying there is a misfire in cylinder two because the tire pressure is low, the gt1 pulls TPMS faults too.

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by emjei

Ive had the exact same issues here...low gas tank = limp modes

sorry to hear that, but what I was suggesting is that the low gas is not the true problem. This car should have 0 problems on low gas UNTIL it runs out of gas! I think there is something else causing the problem when the gas is low.

[O-cha]

Originally Posted by Sniz

sorry to hear that, but what I was suggesting is that the low gas is not the true problem. This car should have 0 problems on low gas UNTIL it runs out of gas! I think there is something else causing the problem when the gas is low.

Low gas can cause limp modes, I'm just skeptical it is in this case.

[ianthegreat]

i've run it down to 10 miles and had no problem..