[deeebo8452]

Hi hoping one of you kind souls can advise me on my 2007 BMW 320D M SPORT COUPE E92 95K MILEAGE which is causing me all sorts of headache and stress. I believe it may be linked possibly with DPF, EGR, Swirl Flaps, MAF, or some kind or perhaps a vacuum leak somewhere, after doing some research of my own, however I would rather seek your advice to narrow it down:

1. There is a constant weird metallic clanking sort of noise from the engine area which goes in line with the engine as you rev the car (please refer to youtube video for a better idea especially 0:28 to 0:41). When driving like above 30mph you cannot hear the noise as it is drowned out. Also when you start the engine it doesnt fire immediately - perhaps glow plugs issue?

2. DPF light came on a week ago, tried going for a long motorway drive and used DPF cleaner however stayed on and there was an unusual whining hissing noise from the exhaust at times, but I don’t think this was a regeneration as there was no smoke. A friend cleared the codes using basic hand help device the size of a mobile phone and DPF light has since stayed off.

3. The same day I cleared DPF codes the car began to experience momentary flat spots (not that the rpm goes down, rather stays constant) whereby as you put your foot down there is little or no response in terms of acceleration. This mainly happens whilst in 4th gear at 2000rpm but also happens at slower speeds. Its important to note it doesn’t happen all the time rather it may happen randomly say a couple times a day each time lasting anywhere between 5 seconds to 30 seconds.

4. When I experience these flat spots I cannot feel the turbo kicking in nor hear that normal whooshing sounds from the exhaust.

5. When driving above 70mph there is a clicking kind of noise that comes from the passenger side air vent (where the heat or AC comes out of) – happens both when AC is on or off.

6. Earlier today I remove the MAF sensor (the electric plug) as someone suggested and the car ran fine. However 15 minutes in I went to the petrol station and when I turned the car on again the Engine Management Light came up on the dashboard – this light has not come on before.

7. Later today after the car had been left off for a few hours I turned it on as usual however it started to shudder left to right and struggled to keep its rpm and stalled. I then tried again whilst revving the car, it held for 10 seconds or so and soon as I left it idle it stalled again. I then started the car once again and this time kept the car revving and put it into reverse however I saw very heavy white smoke and a nasty smell coming from the exhaust and it stalled again whilst reversing not even a meter distance. This happened a good 5 times until I kept the revs really high and literally forced the car to pull away in 1st gear although it was struggling at first. However once I did 20 meters or so it was fine and didn’t even cut out when left idle at the traffic lights. When I turn the car off, the engine isn’t as smooth when shutting down, rather it shudders a little even whilst its turning off for that second or so. This is the first time it actually has stalled on me and the first time I saw any type of smoke coming from the back.

8. Its worth noting the area around my EGR looks really dirty with what seems to be black oil or something (please refer to picture).


I know the first thing is for me to obtain the faults codes. I have purchase a DIS INPA diagnostic online and am waiting for it to arrive – should this be sufficient or do I need to take it to a garage? In the meantime before I get the fault codes, any advice or suggestions on where the problem may lie and what do you recommend I do? Are there any tests of some kind? Should I try to do a DIY or is it better to hand it in?

Thanks in advance guys would really appreciate any help

[Hoooper]

Can you pinpoint the rattling location? Sounds similar to a blown to pieces cat which coil in this case be a dpf, but pinpointing the location would make or break that idea.

[ptpending]

you should bring your car to indepedent bmw mechanic asap and check timing chain problems
these early n47 engines have problem

[deeebo8452]

Originally Posted by ptpending

you should bring your car to indepedent bmw mechanic asap and check timing chain problems
these early n47 engines have problem

Okay thx. How much would timing chain cost...ive seen 30-70 quid does that sound right?

[ptpending]

nope, this can be 1500-3000 gbp job, because on N47 chain is located at the rear of motor and sometimes it is need to remove motor to replace chain and sprockets

[deeebo8452]

So I did a more detailed diagnostic on the DDE Diesel Electronics, output is as in the pictures below.

1. Am I right in reading that the dpf regen has not taken place in 29k miles and is this normal?

2. After how many miles on avg should it regen?

3. The exhaust backpressure 35mbar...is this really high? My brothers 520d only showed up as 11mbar!

4. Also how about the other measurements, are any of the item exceptionally high/low in relation to what it normally should be?

Help please

[deeebo8452]

Here is the dpf output i missed

[cypis007]

Check inlet around gasket No 12 from drawing below:



I checked mine and after 56 000 km since new if looked only little better than this:



After cleaninig all residuals (including No 3) engine works much smoother and quieter.

[Yozh]

Originally Posted by deeebo8452

1. Am I right in reading that the dpf regen has not taken place in 29k miles and is this normal?

I just want to point out that where you had posted screenshots of diagnostics, in the last shot it shows distance travelled since last regeneration is 29055 m. This is not in miles, it is in meters and is 29km. BMW outputs all it's parameters in metric.

[deeebo8452]

Originally Posted by Yozh

I just want to point out that where you had posted screenshots of diagnostics, in the last shot it shows distance travelled since last regeneration is 29055 m. This is not in miles, it is in meters and is 29km. BMW outputs all it's parameters in metric.

Oh right blonde moment lol :/

Are u sure its just 29km thats means it was very recent right

[dy63]

29000 metres is around 18 miles according to google