[Falmouthboy]

OK - Daft question, but how is my DPF ever going to regenerate. I read everywhere that I need to go for a good 30 minute run at above 2500 RPM, however, to do this in a 330d Auto you need to be tanking it at 90 MPH. That can't be right - do I need to lock it in 4th and do a 30 min run? Not easy on Cornish roads!

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Falmouthboy

OK - Daft question, but how is my DPF ever going to regenerate. I read everywhere that I need to go for a good 30 minute run at above 2500 RPM, however, to do this in a 330d Auto you need to be tanking it at 90 MPH. That can't be right - do I need to lock it in 4th and do a 30 min run? Not easy on Cornish roads!

If the regenerations are working correctly you won't need the high revs and or distance.

The autobox will be controlled by the ECU, just don't fight it and put it in a higher gear manually. I find it will want about 1,800rpm, during the first stages of a regeneration. Doesn't up change as normal, during a regen. But if you are cruising at around 60mph, it will drop into 6th during the regeneration.

I was discussing regenerations with one of BMW's technical managers, he said if you notice a regeneration "just give it its head". So if I'm driving locally and notice a regenertion start and get out on the open road, I'll let it cruise in 5th to assist an efficient regeneration. Mine usually are complete after about 8 miles, gearbox back to normal.

I think the real issue is, if there are problems with regenerations, then a harder drive over distance is required, to ensure the regeneration can be successful.

HighlandPete

[Laney]

How often do the regens occur? Is it based on mileage or a sensor?

[rich1068]

And how do you know if one is occurring?

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Laney

How often do the regens occur? Is it based on mileage or a sensor?

Every day if you drive enough miles. Suggested something like every 300 miles, I'd agree with a figure like that, certainly during every tank full in my experience.

Sensor is reading back pressure in the exhaust.

HighlandPete

[Laney]

That explains why my auto box sometimes hangs on to a gear when I expect it to change.

Cheers

[BanziBarn]

I've never noticed mine doing a re-gen. Didn't notice my old Leon doing it either.

We don't do a big mileage in the 330 which I know is bad for cars with a DPF - perhaps I'm storing up some trouble to come!

But to be honest, I hardly ever hear about problems with this component on the forum. Over on Seatcupranet almost every other post was about it!

[TMP]

Originally Posted by BanziBarn

I've never noticed mine doing a re-gen. Didn't notice my old Leon doing it either.

We don't do a big mileage in the 330 which I know is bad for cars with a DPF - perhaps I'm storing up some trouble to come!

But to be honest, I hardly ever hear about problems with this component on the forum. Over on Seatcupranet almost every other post was about it!

Yeap, the VW DPF's rely on temps being raised by normal driving - they are passive. They dont initiate a 'regen' as ours do and raise the temperture via the ecu.

I mate had a leon and he often had to take it for a 20 min mway drive to clear the DPF warning light. Burning that much fuel kinda defeats the point of owning a diesel.

quite a good article here and sounds like a common problem (not for BM owners luckily) http://www.aa-academy.com/Training/L...er%20(DPF).asp

[Laney]

Is the engine performance affected at all during the regen?

Cheers

Andrew

[BanziBarn]

Originally Posted by TMP

Yeap, the VW DPF's rely on temps being raised by normal driving - they are passive. They dont initiate a 'regen' as ours do and raise the temperture via the ecu.

I mate had a leon and he often had to take it for a 20 min mway drive to clear the DPF warning light. Burning that much fuel kinda defeats the point of owning a diesel.

quite a good article here and sounds like a common problem (not for BM owners luckily) http://www.aa-academy.com/Training/L...er%20(DPF).asp

Didn't know that! Good bit of info.

[Pwalo]

The problematic Leon Diesels are running the archaic PD engine - BM's are commonrail and capable of initiating a regen from a hydrocarbon injection into the Oxidation Catalyst . This will occur when the when the Delta pressure sensors sense an increase in back pressure - an OBD plug-in reader can tell you when the temperature has risen in the DPF from the thermistors in the system if you set it up to read them and then you can work out when a regen is taking place. You should se a rise in the DOC/DPF to about 600 ish degrees from a normal temp of around high 200's to 300's.

[bazz780]

Originally Posted by Laney

Is the engine performance affected at all during the regen?

Cheers

Andrew

Gears will hold for longer, car will feel a little less responsive and mpg will drop

[Mr Singh]

I've heard that you can remove the OEM DPF pipe knock out the DPF innards and put it back, and programme the ECU to tell its off. I guess if you can get that front pipe second hand it would a relatively cheap. I am really considering removing mine purely for the MPG gains.

I have noticed when mine regenerates the gears hold longer and feels like its being held back a little.

[badgerbrock72]

hi all

on my usual ride to work today (330D LCI) i noticed the car hesitate and almost stutter for a while (my first thought was dirty fuel) seemed like it was being held back.

when i arrived at work i got out the car and noticed a burning rubber smell near the rear - coolant temp at the time it started was about 89.

could this have been a regen? was holding gears longer than usual in D.

i took it straight to the nearest dual carrigeway for a blast of about 15 mins or so, holding the revs above 2000 and it seems ok now. I have an OBD code reader which states no errors.

Please advise

Thanks

Garry

[mistryn]

Originally Posted by Mr Singh

I've heard that you can remove the OEM DPF pipe knock out the DPF innards and put it back, and programme the ECU to tell its off. I guess if you can get that front pipe second hand it would a relatively cheap. I am really considering removing mine purely for the MPG gains.

I have noticed when mine regenerates the gears hold longer and feels like its being held back a little.

Mr S if you do get yours remvoed can you drop me a pm where you got yours done as I would like to do the same to mine

[Mustard3]

In my first 7 months of ownership I never did notice a re-gen. The exhaust tips were always spotless.

The reason was it wasn't doing a re-gen because the back-pressure sensor had failed, which over time started to cause a significant drop off in power.

I had the sensor replaced and a forced re-gen, which took a couple of attempts by
PMD at Chelmsford.

The exhaust tips now get reassuringly sooty, but I can't say I'm ever aware of any signs of a re-gen taking place except for the occasional 'eggy' smell.

[li21]

I drive very short trips each day to work.
MAybe couple of miles each way and longer on the weekends.
Rarely if ever get on a highway or country

Would I ever see a regen happen because I certainly have no noticed ...

[superflyguy9]

Originally Posted by badgerbrock72

hi all

on my usual ride to work today (330D LCI) i noticed the car hesitate and almost stutter for a while (my first thought was dirty fuel) seemed like it was being held back.

when i arrived at work i got out the car and noticed a burning rubber smell near the rear - coolant temp at the time it started was about 89.

could this have been a regen? was holding gears longer than usual in D.

i took it straight to the nearest dual carrigeway for a blast of about 15 mins or so, holding the revs above 2000 and it seems ok now. I have an OBD code reader which states no errors.

Please advise

Thanks

Garry

Thats a classic regen - water temp needs to get above 75 degrees to initiate and will take a normal running temp of 90 to 100. Runs like an old escort with the choke out during this period too

[IanS100]

Originally Posted by superflyguy9

Thats a classic regen - water temp needs to get above 75 degrees to initiate and will take a normal running temp of 90 to 100. Runs like an old escort with the choke out during this period too

I've never noticed a regen take place on my 320d unless I've got Talk Pro running. Even when it's running the only discernible change is a rise in dpf temp to from 250 / 350 to over 500, & a small increase in water temp, other than that, the car drives & sounds exactly the same.