[Jdouglas10]

well wasnt expecting to make a post like this so soon, got my 07 335i with 38k miles 2 weeks ago. done HEAPS of driving and the car felt solid. until i was making my way back from a weekend at Edinburgh, cruising in 6th gear, 70mph went to overtake smoothly, as the car approached 80mph & 2000rpm the car really hesitated, felt down on power and just shook like mad if i tried to keep on the power.

other gears and rev ranges were running ok, just that particular range. but by the time i got home onto b-roads i think the car went into limp mode because it started struggling in every gear and felt weaker than my old 1.2 corsa! after a key out and restart the car runs ok, until i put strain on the engine by trying to accelerate. The car idles fine.

so anyway on the phone i go to the guy that sold me the car (trevor jones car company) and honestly, just like the experience i had buying the car, i cannot fault the bloke. He thinks its the injectors as he previously took the car to BMW on a recall, but they only replaced injectors that needed replacing, rather than all of them. So with me being at the other end of the country hes booked the car into Prestige German Autos a BMW specialist in south sheilds to get sorted this week, and has said hes going to pay for all injectors to be replaced. Hes also very apologetic. most dealers i know would totally shun you off if you contacted them wanting a £1k+ job doing and would play the "bought as seen" card. Not trevor.

From reading online it seems like there could be a few things causing this problem though.

1. Injectors - thats being seen to by PGA.

2. Spark plugs? my car is coming up to its 45k service (was guna get it done at 40k) so plugs are probably due a change now, depending on how the cars been driven over the years i guess the plugs could be worn and be the problem?

3. Carbon buildup - apparently this happens to all n54 due to direct injection engines. But with my car on average covering only 5k miles a year, leading me to believe it hasn't often been really pushed and opened up wouldnt that worsen the carbon buildup

Im a newby to all of this and wverything ive wrote is just from 1 nights research, lastnight i didnt know what an injector was. So feel free to correct me on anything

Also anyone had experience with prestige german autos?

cheers

James

[zltm089]

typical missfires...

i would read the error codes first...

coil packs, spark plugs and last injectors...

[Mikex101]

Prestige are a good bunch of guys. Very knowledgeable from my dealings with them.

[phil200tdi]

If they replace the injectors ask to keep the old ones. You never know!

Replace the spark plugs, then coils and then injectors.

[Jdouglas10]

Originally Posted by phil200tdi

If they replace the injectors ask to keep the old ones. You never know!

Replace the spark plugs, then coils and then injectors.

yeah i will do, its happened at a good time really as im back offshore today for 2 weeks so they can crack on with the car.

i was planning on getting the plugs changed next service anyway so if that gets done its a bonus, i just hope this doesnt drag on for months as ive read a few threads on here where people just havent been able to get to the bottom of it. just last week i switched from regular unleaded to shell v-power, surely that couldnt have a negative effect could it?

also ive asked the garage to have a listen to the turbos, at idle if i give the car a rev theres a VERY slight rattling noise coming off the revs, im talking not noticable. but when accelerating if i give it a bit of a hoof up to 4000rpm then drop off it sounds a bit more noticible (with the windows down and if there are any cars/walls for the sound to bounce off).

the mechanic suggested thw software update (this is before he had even listened to the car) but im not keen on that from what ive read.

i think this forum defo causes wastegate paranoia lol!!

[Jedimindtrix]

Originally Posted by Mikex101

Prestige are a good bunch of guys. Very knowledgeable from my dealings with them.

I've had a couple of bad experiences with Prestige, never again.

I now go to Scott Alexander @ valley motor works (07711764688) in Team Valley, he's an ex Mini and BMW technician and a very honest guy.

[Mikex101]

Originally Posted by Jedimindtrix

I've had a couple of bad experiences with Prestige, never again.

I now go to Scott Alexander @ valley motor works (07711764688) in Team Valley, he's an ex Mini and BMW technician and a very honest guy.

Ill give him a shout, Its service time as it happens so why not.

[C.J]

Originally Posted by Jdouglas10

yeah i will do, its happened at a good time really as im back offshore today for 2 weeks so they can crack on with the car.

i was planning on getting the plugs changed next service anyway so if that gets done its a bonus, i just hope this doesnt drag on for months as ive read a few threads on here where people just havent been able to get to the bottom of it. just last week i switched from regular unleaded to shell v-power, surely that couldnt have a negative effect could it?

also ive asked the garage to have a listen to the turbos, at idle if i give the car a rev theres a VERY slight rattling noise coming off the revs, im talking not noticable. but when accelerating if i give it a bit of a hoof up to 4000rpm then drop off it sounds a bit more noticible (with the windows down and if there are any cars/walls for the sound to bounce off).

the mechanic suggested thw software update (this is before he had even listened to the car) but im not keen on that from what ive read.

i think this forum defo causes wastegate paranoia lol!!

I had lack of power under load (high gear, low rpm) hesitation, limp mode.

Turned out to be the wastegates. Replaced, no problem since (6months).

[Jdouglas10]

Originally Posted by C.J

I had lack of power under load (high gear, low rpm) hesitation, limp mode.

Turned out to be the wastegates. Replaced, no problem since (6months).

how long did it take for them to figure that out? Did they know it was wastegates straight away or did they end up changing this that and everything before hand?

And i seem to have power high in the rev range, just not low down.

[C.J]

Originally Posted by Jdouglas10

how long did it take for them to figure that out? Did they know it was wastegates straight away or did they end up changing this that and everything before hand?

And i seem to have power high in the rev range, just not low down.

Sorry for the late reply (I don't come her often).

It took them (BMW) quite some time to sort mine. Off the top of my head it took 8 visits and I was without the car for about 3 months (10 weeks in one go from August 27th - November 5th).

They replaced the Turbos 3 times, spark plugs twice, coils twice, updated SW, did compression tests. Each time it came back to me the fault would reappear within a few days/weeks. They knew it was the wastegate, but couldn't understand why it was coming back on brand new turbos.

Eventually they fixed it, fortunately for me everything was under warranty and I had a courtesy car provided.

I've been fault free since January 3rd this year.

[Jdouglas10]

Originally Posted by C.J

Sorry for the late reply (I don't come her often).

It took them (BMW) quite some time to sort mine. Off the top of my head it took 8 visits and I was without the car for about 3 months (10 weeks in one go from August 27th - November 5th).

They replaced the Turbos 3 times, spark plugs twice, coils twice, updated SW, did compression tests. Each time it came back to me the fault would reappear within a few days/weeks. They knew it was the wastegate, but couldn't understand why it was coming back on brand new turbos.

Eventually they fixed it, fortunately for me everything was under warranty and I had a courtesy car provided.

I've been fault free since January 3rd this year.

ah thats a bit shit init! Atleast its all sorted now mate, and for free aswell!

now time to enjoy the car with the summer coming up

update on the injectors, #4 failed, guy who sold me the car paid for 4,5&6 to be replaced. £900 bill dodged