[dixy2k]

Yes that happened to me yesterday.

I have a few codes regarding the EGR valve and some other stuff P205a and b I think.

Before I left home I made sure the tires had proper air pressure in them since they all leak a lot. Jumper cable since the battery shows increased discharge.
Checked engine oil level too and off I go.

Went to Brian Head in Utah, I think 9000 ft altitude.
I cleared the codes before the trip because I always have the CEL on - EGR related.
The drive there was uneventful. Plenty of power, normal operating parameters, regeneration on the way there as it was supposed to happen.

Parked the car in front of the hotel, got the family out and the luggage.
Decided to drive around to check out the place just to see what's there, places to eat, ski slopes, etc.

As I left the hotel, I probably drove 20-50 feet and got the dreadful warning on the dashboard and radio display.
Slight panic, a 1000 thoughts going through my head. What to do, where to go and fix it, etc.

I have torque on my phone so I can monitor the regens. Stop the car, clear all the codes, drive around. Everything went back to normal. Wow, I dodged that bullet.

Bought a couple of things at the local general store and drove back to the hotel.

BAM! again with the reduced engine power message. Drove for a short distance in limp mode. Parked the car and could really sleep well at night thinking about it.

This morning I went to the car to check the air filter and engine oil.
The air filter was dirty and a bunch of junk inside the box.
Last night while I was counting sheep and miles to the nearest BMW dealer I had a thought about what was probably wrong with the car.

Since I had some previous codes, dirty air filter and high elevation, the engine did not get enough air inside.
Being a BMW bitch that she is, there are a bunch of sensors everywhere monitoring everything.

If it was the altitude and less O2 to go inside the engine, why didn't the car adapt to the environment and open up the air valve to let more air in?

The car started right away, well I let her sit for a few seconds with the ignition on so it would preheat. I even got the light on the dashboard about that.
It ran for about a minute and then shut off by itself.
Cold sweat down my spine.

Started the engine again and drove home. No other issues.

What a dumb blonde german bitch she is.

[eurojulien]

What are the codes?

[dixy2k]

P205C powertrain
P0401 powertrain - exhaust gas circulation flow insufficient detected
P205B powertrain
P240F powertrain

[BB_cuda]

As the Eagles say, "She turns her pretty head and walks away"

[dixy2k]

I wanna slap her so hard you can't believe it.

40mpg on the way back including some traffic on the freeway, speeds below 3 digits, 2 adults, 2 kids some luggage, climbing to 4000+ ft a few times.

[Timujin]

I don't think these d cars like thin cold air.

[Got_Diesel]

Originally Posted by Timujin

I don't think these d cars like thin cold air.

Turbo chargers change the characteristics of the thin cold air regardless of what is outside.

[Hoooper]

There is still a significant difference between sea level and several thousand feet.

[BB_cuda]

OP said ~9000 feet in Utah.

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/ai...ure-d_462.html

Careful, that plot is kPA vs meters. 10,000 ft is 3048 meters. So, ~30% drop of in inlet pressure to airbox vs sea level 101 kPa. The question is does the turbo have to work harder to accomplish same required pressure (that is an absolute pressure not gauge I recall, in mbar)?

[335dFan]

This may be completely irrelevant, so I apologize in advance if it is.

The only time (so far) that I have got limp mode with a very confusing associated code was when I was going up hill at about 9,000 ft in the back country of Utah, I think on SR12 somewhere between Bryce and Capitol Reef. I didn't record this particular code, but I remember it not being one I usually get when I tromp on the fuel pedal before the JBD warms up. I cleared that code and it never came back. But the only thing unusual was that I was at a higher altitude than ever before, and I was trying to aggressively accelerate up a hill.

[command_liner]

Originally Posted by Got_Diesel

Turbo chargers change the characteristics of the thin cold air regardless of what is outside.

It has been a while since I had to think about this, but my memory is that turbine-driven superchargers are constant work devices. With limits.

As density on the intake side goes down, turbine speed goes up so that the mass flow remains mostly equal. The limits come in from the place we all know. The oil sheer energy for the bearings does go up with turbine speed, so there is a slight problem there. Also it may be that the intake area makes for sonic choking past a certain flow speed in the intake, but this depends on geometry.

None of this applies for variable geometry turbos -- like the one on my Duramax. Are the BMW turbos fixed geometry? It seems to me they are.

[Hoooper]

Originally Posted by command_liner

None of this applies for variable geometry turbos -- like the one on my Duramax. Are the BMW turbos fixed geometry? It seems to me they are.

the ones attached to the E90 M57 are, yes.

[dixy2k]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Head,_Utah

I was really sick that day too. My pulse was 95-96 bpm, dizzy the entire time (without and external stimulants). Headache, frontal sinus pressure, short of breath.
I think I was running at reduced engine power too.
As soon as we left (10 miles away, which is a few thousand feet below where we stayed) everything turned normal with me.

I really think now it was all related to altitude. I've been at that altitude before, but never felt sick. Never been at such a high altitude with my d.

[Quasimodem]

Originally Posted by dixy2k

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Head,_Utah

I was really sick that day too. My pulse was 95-96 bpm, dizzy the entire time (without and external stimulants). Headache, frontal sinus pressure, short of breath.
I think I was running at reduced engine power too.
As soon as we left (10 miles away, which is a few thousand feet below where we stayed) everything turned normal with me.

I really think now it was all related to altitude. I've been at that altitude before, but never felt sick. Never been at such a high altitude with my d.

Altitude sickness can be nasty. I love the Sierras so I guess I am lucky I have never had a problem with it. I was in Truckee in December, almost 6,000 feet and it was in the teens at night, up to 24 in the day. No problemo for my 2009 335d.

[Hoooper]

Should have taken a Viagra, works a treat for high altitude.

[dixy2k]

Too bad I remembered that 2 days later.