[pjs]

Not happy.

Car back to dealer today. 2nd engine problem in 4 months of ownership, related to number 3 cylinder that needed a new coil in November.

Been told it needs a replacement coil, plugs, and injector or injectors (not sure). All under warranty thankfully.

Never had an engine problem before in 10 years of bmw ownership, question is, how common is this on 335i 's? Any advice from those with similar experiences on these issues.?

Will search the tech forum tonight when I have some time

Cheers

[G82Dude]

There have, I believe, been issues with the 35i engine initially (turbos too). Although, I think they have largely settled down now.

[creepy coupe]

What mileage you on PJS?

[pjs]

Originally Posted by creepy coupe

What mileage you on PJS?

Not much

Bought with 26k on it (56 plate) in October 2009

Now done 35k

[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by pjs

Not much

Bought with 26k on it (56 plate) in October 2009

Now done 35k

Not so clever then, I can see extended warranty being a must for long term ownership, hope things improve for you though.

[R12ax7]

You can look forward to a new catalytic converter too in a couple of months. Apparently they are seeing this frequently after the new coils/injectors are installed.

[DrunkenMonkey]

Never had the issues youve described, but the US side does have info on cylinder coils being replaced, if you search you will find info about that as seems like a common thing there.

My issues have been with wastgate rattle and overheating, but touch wood largely fixed.

Would you mind telling the symptoms youve experienced just so that I know what to look out for. Or was it just a case of just going into blimp mode ?

Got the extended warranty recently just because of my experiences and horror stories Ive read on this site .... dont even want to imagine the costs of any works if I didnt

[pjs]

Originally Posted by DrunkenMonkey

Never had the issues youve described, but the US side does have info on cylinder coils being replaced, if you search you will find info about that as seems like a common thing there.

My issues have been with wastgate rattle and overheating, but touch wood largely fixed.

Would you mind telling the symptoms youve experienced just so that I know what to look out for. Or was it just a case of just going into blimp mode ?

Got the extended warranty recently just because of my experiences and horror stories Ive read on this site .... dont even want to imagine the costs of any works if I didnt

Both times it happened have initially been under heavy (but not flat out) acceleration out of motorway roadworks 50 mph zone, resulting yellow warning light and hesitant/rough engine. Message says 'Reduced Power, safe to continue journey, drive moderately etc). Did this intemitently for three occasions. And yes, extended warranty essential.

[ed335d]

Should have bought a denzil

[zltm089]

Originally Posted by pjs

Both times it happened have initially been under heavy (but not flat out) acceleration out of motorway roadworks 50 mph zone, resulting yellow warning light and hesitant/rough engine. Message says 'Reduced Power, safe to continue journey, drive moderately etc). Did this intemitently for three occasions. And yes, extended warranty essential.

exactly same issues here last year....once I got on the motorway, when I floored it the light would come on!...

and 2006 model aswell....

[Shadow]

Are they Bosch coils? I know they have had huge quality problems in the past. You would not believe how many coils I went through on my previous (not BMW) car. Certain French manufacturers seemed to treat coil-on-plug as service items to be replaced every 18 months. I suspect our climate doesn't help, but still. It actually got to the point that I ended up stripping a thread on the cylinder head where no. 1 coil bolted down, it had been unbolted & replaced so many times.

This was definitely a reason for me choosing both a BMW and a diesel, even though I don't quite do the mileage to "justify" it.

[dxb335d]

I know of a 335i which had a coil issue. Seems many do. Annoying really. Something I will want to replace (all of them) if I get one. Or do you wait for them to fail and get it done under warranty.


Is it the same coil agaiin/? are they changing all injectors?

[dxb335d]

There is a new updated coil now. Im not sure when they started manufacturing 335i's with the newer one!?

[pjs]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

I know of a 335i which had a coil issue. Seems many do. Annoying really. Something I will want to replace (all of them) if I get one. Or do you wait for them to fail and get it done under warranty.


Is it the same coil agaiin/? are they changing all injectors?

Originally Posted by dxb335d

There is a new updated coil now. Im not sure when they started manufacturing 335i's with the newer one!?

Dunno chaps. All I know is that each cylinder has a coil. I'm not that arsed if they change them all, I dont really know what a coil does, got a vague idea what a spark plug does, and I guess an injector is something to do with getting the fuel in. I just want it fixed and reliable. If it lets me down again, then the car goes.


I've left it with them to fix and am happily ragging an Insignia SRI CDTi....

[dxb335d]

A coil induces the spark.

Please let us know if they replace all 6 or just the one.

Makes sense to replace all for the newer uprated versions. Knowing BMW they will just change the dud one.

[NFS]

What fuel do you use PJS?

Supermarket stuff? V-power?

[pjs]

Originally Posted by ed335d

Should have bought a denzil

Originally Posted by dxb335d

A coil induces the spark.

Please let us know if they replace all 6 or just the one.

Makes sense to replace all for the newer uprated versions. Knowing BMW they will just change the dud one.

Originally Posted by NFS

What fuel do you use PJS?

Supermarket stuff? V-power?

Ed, thank you for your words of wisdom.

Will do Carl, I'll get stuck into them by email on Monday

SImon? V power most of the time, BP advanced or Esso super 97 if I cant get the V power.

[NFS]

Originally Posted by TrackRat

The brand of fuel has no impact on the chronic HPFP, injector, ignition coil and sparkplug failures on the N54 engines.

So what's this issue?

Fouling plugs and injectors would normally indicate an engine timing or fueling problem. Or at least it would of in the old days when engines were relatively simple.

Is there a warranty 'fix' for this or some inherent reason why these cars will always burn through these particular parts?

I deliberately avoided buying an early 335i as from personal experience I've seen that BMW often have issues when introducing new technology. Direct injection plus turbo charging looked like an opportunity for stuff to go wrong, so I wanted to get a car that had the benefit of most of the 'live' product testing from the outset.

[yatin c]

interesting pjs

mine is a sept 08 335i, ive also experienced the same with my car. always happened after cruising at 50ish for the ridiculously long roadworks on the m1 whilst in 6th gear, and then using some ingear acceleration once the roadworks have ended. the reduced power light comes on and the engine is rough. once it has had new coil, and the other times it hasnt stored a code.

i've found switching the car off, and on again and its fine. ive also found if i do the 50mph bit in 5th gear it never happens. part of me was wandering if it might have something to do with efficiency and part of the engine shutting down when its cruising at so low revs and then not resonding properly to the sudden increased demand.

by the way they only changed one coil on my car.

yatin

[dxb335d]

Dont turn it on and off whilst driving though. Pull over and stop first.


NFS is yours old engine or new one!?

[pjs]

Originally Posted by yatin c

interesting pjs

mine is a sept 08 335i, ive also experienced the same with my car. always happened after cruising at 50ish for the ridiculously long roadworks on the m1 whilst in 6th gear, and then using some ingear acceleration once the roadworks have ended. the reduced power light comes on and the engine is rough. once it has had new coil, and the other times it hasnt stored a code.

i've found switching the car off, and on again and its fine. ive also found if i do the 50mph bit in 5th gear it never happens. part of me was wandering if it might have something to do with efficiency and part of the engine shutting down when its cruising at so low revs and then not resonding properly to the sudden increased demand.

by the way they only changed one coil on my car.

yatin

Thanks for that Yatin, same circumstances, same reaction, in a much newer car. Much as turning it on and off again worked for me too, the car stored the codes, and the dealers reaction sugggests its more than a coil. Will find out more tomorrow

[NFS]

Originally Posted by TrackRat

Since the problems with the N54 engine have existed for four model years and counting you really can't say these are new model issues per se any more. While all new tech has challenges, it's how you deal with the issues that determines the brands reputation and customer loyalty. IMO BMW has failed miserably to still have so many problems on the N54 engines after four years of production.

The 335i has only been available since the very end of 2006. Three years not four.

Originally Posted by dxb335d

NFS is yours old engine or new one!?

Mines the N54 Carl.

Don't think anyone physically has the N55 yet.