[Hoooper]

I didnt want to have any extra because I hear even keeping it long term in the bottle is not good storage for it. Buying in bulk might be good once you have filled enough times that you know pretty well how many gallons it is at how many miles you have left

[mact3333]

I just got the dreaded exhaust fluid warning light...Im going to have dealership do it...what is the cost of this service????

[GreekboyD]

What did the warning light say?

[kbsilver]

Originally Posted by mact3333

I just got the dreaded exhaust fluid warning light...Im going to have dealership do it...what is the cost of this service????

Not sure of the dealer cost but this is pretty easy to do yourself. Go to VW and purchase the 1/2 gallon bottle of diesel fluid ($10 at VW, something like $28 at BMW for the exact same thing). This will have the correct valve and adapter to screw right onto the DEF fill ports. Go to your auto parts store and purchase one or two 2.5 gallon jugs of DEF for about $13 each. Actually the truck place where I get my fuel sells them right out front, along with the windshield washer fluid.

Once you filled with the 1/2 gallon bottle use the empty container again for putting the rest in. You can either twist off the top and keep refilling it from the 2.5 gallon jug, or cut a hole in it using it like a funnel attached to the car filling from the 2.5 jug (this is what the dealer does). Spilled DEF will not hurt anything, just flush with water to prevent it from crystalizing.

If you purchase 2 2.5 gallon jugs you will probably not be able to use it all in conjunction with the 1/2 gallon from the fill bottle, but will be able to fill both tanks to the top. If you only purchase one, fill the active first (with at least a gallon) and put the remainder in the passive.

Once I get out of free maintenance I will just let the DEF get down to near empty (200 miles to no start or so), then fill with 5 gallons. I will not try and keep in sync with the oil changes.

[335dFan]

Originally Posted by kbsilver

Not sure of the dealer cost but this is pretty easy to do yourself. Go to VW and purchase the 1/2 gallon bottle of diesel fluid ($10 at VW, something like $28 at BMW for the exact same thing). This will have the correct valve and adapter to screw right onto the DEF fill ports. Go to your auto parts store and purchase one or two 2.5 gallon jugs of DEF for about $13 each. Actually the truck place where I get my fuel sells them right out front, along with the windshield washer fluid.

Once you filled with the 1/2 gallon bottle use the empty container again for putting the rest in. You can either twist off the top and keep refilling it from the 2.5 gallon jug, or cut a hole in it using it like a funnel attached to the car filling from the 2.5 jug (this is what the dealer does). Spilled DEF will not hurt anything, just flush with water to prevent it from crystalizing.

If you purchase 2 2.5 gallon jugs you will probably not be able to use it all in conjunction with the 1/2 gallon from the fill bottle, but will be able to fill both tanks to the top. If you only purchase one, fill the active first (with at least a gallon) and put the remainder in the passive.

Once I get out of free maintenance I will just let the DEF get down to near empty (200 miles to no start or so), then fill with 5 gallons. I will not try and keep in sync with the oil changes.

Some guys have suggested filling the passive tank and letting the passive tank refill the active tank. Keeps the plumbing working is the theory. What do you think?

[kbsilver]

Originally Posted by 335dFan

Some guys have suggested filling the passive tank and letting the passive tank refill the active tank. Keeps the plumbing working is the theory. What do you think?

It does make sense. If you don't mind filling more often you could just fill the passive with one 2.5 gal jug each time you get the 999 miles to no start. It should take the whole thing with nothing leftover to go to waste. You also would avoid a possible overfill condition that could plug up the vent (where def gets out the vent and crystallizes).

Of course we understand the system is designed to hold enough to sync with oil changes. When I saw the 328d at the autoshow, it only had one DEF port. Not sure how they have that arranged.

[mact3333]

Surprising this service was free along with free oil change... Pleasant surprise as I didn't think this car free maintenance.

[kbsilver]

Originally Posted by TDIwyse

Good suggestions/advice on filling. Thanks.

Any of you buy bulk DEF? The truck stop near me added a bulk DEF dispenser. $2.69/gallon. Will eventually need to start doing this myself ...

Seems as DEF from the parts store is $6 a gallon. Assuming 5 gallons per fill you would be saving $21.50 per/ every 13K miles or so. While that is real money, is it worth the hassle of filling a transport jug, to get the DEF home?

The DEF pumps of course are for the big rigs with a DEF tank that holds like 50 gallons. That same place probably sells DEF in the 2.5 gallon jug for less than the parts stores.

[TDIwyse]

Originally Posted by kbsilver

Seems as DEF from the parts store is $6 a gallon. Assuming 5 gallons per fill you would be saving $21.50 per/ every 13K miles or so. While that is real money, is it worth the hassle of filling a transport jug, to get the DEF home?

The DEF pumps of course are for the big rigs with a DEF tank that holds like 50 gallons. That same place probably sells DEF in the 2.5 gallon jug for less than the parts stores.

Well, since I primarily stop there to fill up my 3 diesel vehicles, figured it wouldn't be much trouble to fill up a 5 gal "fuel container" of DEF when I eventually need to do my own DEF fillups. Don't see why this would be much more hassle than getting 2 2.5 gal jugs of DEF, but in a couple years I'll find out.

[Hoooper]

any reason you cant just fill it from the truck stop DEF pump?

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by Hoooper

any reason you cant just fill it from the truck stop DEF pump?

Fill rate is too high at the pumps and the nozzle won't work.

DEF is a once a year thing. People making way to big a deal over it.

[Puerto Rican 335d]

Walmart sells the urea crap

[Hoooper]

Originally Posted by Socom

Fill rate is too high at the pumps and the nozzle won't work.

DEF is a once a year thing. People making way to big a deal over it.

Figured, but had to ask.

Yeah I filled mine, both tanks about a half hour including two trips to the parts store. Not a big deal.

[ilmdc]

Thanks for this post. I just got the DEF low warning and am still 5k away from my oil service. Will attempt the fill myself I think.

Some news on the 6 cyl 3L diesel in the 2014 535d's... No more exaust fluid!!

(Excerpt of email from bmw dealer)

------------------------------------------------------------

BMW of North America will be adding the 535d and 535xd (all wheel drive)*to the model line-up for 2014.*
The engine*is similar the the engine in your 335 but*will not require the diesel exhaust fluid.*
*
Feel free to contact me for more details
*
Regards,
Kevin

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Ian

[Quasimodem]

Wow, I wonder if we can mod our 335ds to use the same system and remove the DEF tank. I suspect it is probably something integral to a new version of the m57 and such a mod is not possible. Hmmm, maybe when this engine is worn out a new DEFless version could be dropped in.

Originally Posted by ilmdc

Thanks for this post. I just got the DEF low warning and am still 5k away from my oil service. Will attempt the fill myself I think.

Some news on the 6 cyl 3L diesel in the 2014 535d's... No more exaust fluid!!

(Excerpt of email from bmw dealer)

------------------------------------------------------------

BMW of North America will be adding the 535d and 535xd (all wheel drive)*to the model line-up for 2014.*
The engine*is similar the the engine in your 335 but*will not require the diesel exhaust fluid.*
*
Feel free to contact me for more details
*
Regards,
Kevin

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Ian

[kbsilver]

Originally Posted by ilmdc

BMW of North America will be adding the 535d and 535xd (all wheel drive)*to the model line-up for 2014.*
The engine*is similar the the engine in your 335 but*will not require the diesel exhaust fluid.*

Ian

I'll believe it when I see it. The 2014 4-cyl 328d needs DEF, can't see how the larger engine in a heavier car can get by without it. Is the dealer confusing it with the 535i?

[GreekboyD]

Originally Posted by kbsilver

I'll believe it when I see it. The 2014 4-cyl 328d needs DEF, can't see how the larger engine in a heavier car can get by without it. Is the dealer confusing it with the 535i?

I agree.

[ilmdc]

I will ask. Standby

[Hoooper]

DEF is waayyyyyyy down the list of concerns I have with the engine, I would happily add DEF once a week of there was no more carbon/soot buildup and they replaced the tranny with one that can handle at least 650 ft. Lbs

[cybermaster]

How long does the 6 gal tank of DEF last on 335d. 10K miles or 15K miles?


Thank you,

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by cybermaster

How long does the 6 gal tank of DEF last on 335d. 10K miles or 15K miles?

Yes. Come on, now. It's used at a variable rate. The center of the bell curve is probably between those two, but it's not an absolute; everyone drives differently.

[kbsilver]

Originally Posted by cybermaster

How long does the 6 gal tank of DEF last on 335d. 10K miles or 15K miles?


Thank you,

Personally I only have 2 data points (car was not new when I purchased). Working with the approximately 13,500 mile OBC driven oil changes, once I got the low warning at 2500 miles to go and right now I am at 1100 miles to service and have not seen the low warning indication yet. The first time when I needed to add some, was on a version of DDE software that was not yet "optimized". This time it sure looks like I will make the full 13500 miles.

The amount of DEF used is a ratio to the amount of fuel used, but the service intervals are also related to the amount of fuel used. So if you drive the car harder, DEF may not make as many miles but the service interval should also be fewer miles with the point being the DEF fill (if indeed fully filled) should last between OBC driven oil changes.