2009 N54 335i - Rough Idle and misfiring when cold

2009 N54 335i - Rough Idle and misfiring when cold

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MikeTFSI

Original Poster:

4,985 posts

101 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
Hi all,

I picked up my 335i on 9th July from a trader some 200 miles away from where I live. All seemed well, save for the alignment being out and a slightly rough idle when cold. It felt as though it was coughing or hiccuping first thing in the morning. I had assumed this to be a characteristic as my old car (also turbocharged direct injection) did the same for the 2 1/2 years I had it..

However a few days later it got much worse as it stuttered badly and thew up an engine management light. It also sounded like a bag of spanners, had no power and shook whenever I touched the throttle. I pulled over and scanned the car with Carista which gave me the following codes:

29D1 Cylinder 5 Misfire
20D0 Cylinder 4 Misfire
29CC Random / Multiple Misfire

After saving the results I restarted the car and all seemed fine again, no engine management light and no major misfires. That evening after work (it was a hot day and parked in the sun) it started 'on the button' and was fine all the way home. This was last week Thursday and I have not driven it since as have been able to get lifts into work with my wife. Using all my will power I am being overly cautious and not playing with my new toy...

I have booked the car into a local specialist for diagnostic work this Friday (soonest they could do). I hope they can diagnose the issue pretty quickly. I shall be looking to get the seller to cover the cost hopefully (they indicate that they probably will) under their 3 month warranty. Obviously I can't just take it back to the seller as that is unpractical.

Having looked online it seems that the most probable cause if cold misfires is injector issues at around £200 each. Does anyone have any experience of this on N54 engines? Are their any other likely candidates that could be the cause of the issue? Is this likely to be covered under the 'warranty' that trade seller's provide?


Thanks for reading and any thoughts would be appreciated. Have posted on BMW forums already but no response as yet.

GregK2

1,651 posts

145 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
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Which Fuel do you use? And do you always fill up at the same place?

MikeTFSI

Original Poster:

4,985 posts

101 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
I have only filled twice (with V Power) since owning the car, prior to this I have no idea but assume it was Sainsburys 95ron as this was close to the seller.

I will be mostly using the same Shell garage as just down the road from me.

GregK2

1,651 posts

145 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
Just asking as I know owners of other turbocharged cars that have recently had rough idle from cold using V-power which has mysteriously disappeared after using Tesco 99. It's a long shot though. Your injector suggestion is probably more plausible.

MikeTFSI

Original Poster:

4,985 posts

101 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
GregK2 said:
Just asking as I know owners of other turbocharged cars that have recently had rough idle from cold using V-power which has mysteriously disappeared after using Tesco 99. It's a long shot though. Your injector suggestion is probably more plausible.
Interesting, I had not heard that before! Might look into this further.

Smuler

2,286 posts

138 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
Symptoms sound just like mine a 59 2009 n54 335i, @ 75k miles then. Injectors and I think they're called buffers were changed by BMW, under warranty.

MikeTFSI

Original Poster:

4,985 posts

101 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
Thanks, that seems to support what I thought. Hopefully this will all be covered by the selling garage. Car was bought on basis of no mechanical or electronic defects and in full working order so should be straightforward to argue through.

Smuler

2,286 posts

138 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
MikeTFSI said:
Thanks, that seems to support what I thought. Hopefully this will all be covered by the selling garage. Car was bought on basis of no mechanical or electronic defects and in full working order so should be straightforward to argue through.
I have read there was a recall on injectors, but it was for cars built up to 31/10/2008. When you say 09, what's your actual build date?
Mine was an August 2009 build so not applicable, but the BMW Tech I called out was given an instruction when he diagnosed to replace all 6 injectors. I would make sure they do this, as I'm assuming there was a logic to BMW wanting this done.

MikeTFSI

Original Poster:

4,985 posts

101 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
I had heard something like that and I know BMW USA had a further recalls. My build date was November 2009 so outside any recalls.

If only I had bought my BMW warranty earlier, doesn't kick in to August (as it is a lapsed warranty). Otherwise it would be so much easier to sort it out!

xjay1337

15,966 posts

117 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
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I would change spark plugs and coil packs also.
If that doesn't resolve then look at injectors.

Many places will refurbish injectors so better to remove them all and send them for repair so they will all be cleaned / balanced.

Changing from Shell 99 to Tesco won't change sh*t and nothing more than a wifes tale lol.


MikeTFSI

Original Poster:

4,985 posts

101 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
Thanks, I guess plugs and coils are service items and not likely to be covered by the sellers warranty though... I am really hoping that, after only owning the car for 2 weeks the seller can make good on these issues with no cost to me!

Dannbodge

2,160 posts

120 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
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I had this issue with my N54 335i.

6 Injectors, 6 Plugs and a new valve cover gasket (Parts cost £1300, labour was £0) it was fixed. Turned out the oil had been leaking into the injector wells and made them leak

I got all my parts from Leebmann 24 (genuine BMW parts) in Germany and saved over £60 on each injector as the euro wasn't very strong at the time.





Edited by Dannbodge on Wednesday 20th July 17:51

Smuler

2,286 posts

138 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
MikeTFSI said:
Thanks, I guess plugs and coils are service items and not likely to be covered by the sellers warranty though... I am really hoping that, after only owning the car for 2 weeks the seller can make good on these issues with no cost to me!
BMW did not treat the injectors as a wear and tear item when they replaced mine under warranty so don't see why anyone else should. They have failed and that's a fault.
Plenty of advice on Autotrader with regards to your rights after sale.
Ten days or so in, you should be on very solid ground. And anyway your first post read to me like there were signs the fault was present on the day you bought it.

MikeTFSI

Original Poster:

4,985 posts

101 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
They were definitely there at point of sale so confident about that, it will be a case of how easy or hard it is to get the money from them! Cant wait to have it all resolved, so frustrating to have it just sat there waiting to be driven!

I know injectors are not wear and tear, but if it's just plugs and coils they surely will be?

Edited by MikeTFSI on Wednesday 20th July 18:21

Smuler

2,286 posts

138 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
MikeTFSI said:
They were definitely there at point of sale so confident about that, it will be a case of how easy or hard it is to get the money from them! Cant wait to have it all resolved, so frustrating to have it just sat there waiting to be driven!

I know injectors are not wear and tear, but if it's just plugs and coils they surely will be?

Edited by MikeTFSI on Wednesday 20th July 18:21
I still think that they should take responsibility and the symptoms showing is proof. I had an ignition coil (if that's the same) changed under warranty on a E46. Spark plugs are changed with services, but I still say that the key is that there was a fault at time of sale and they should deal, 100%. Read the Autotrader advice and if necessary really play tough. They are great cars and its really bad luck you can not be out driving it now.

MikeTFSI

Original Poster:

4,985 posts

101 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
Thanks, really useful stuff on autotrader about the change in law last October

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/content/advice/how-doe...

This makes it much easier for me to seek redress or, worst case scenario, seek a refund from the seller for full asking price.

Smuler

2,286 posts

138 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
MikeTFSI said:
Thanks, really useful stuff on autotrader about the change in law last October

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/content/advice/how-doe...

This makes it much easier for me to seek redress or, worst case scenario, seek a refund from the seller for full asking price.
That was my thinking wink

Did I read earlier in the thread you were taking it to an Indy anyway? If so can they do a good check , injectors are common problem , so not inferring anything suspect with car as a whole, but whilst you are having to enter discussions with the seller its worth making sure everything else is A okay.

MikeTFSI

Original Poster:

4,985 posts

101 months

Wednesday 20th July 2016
quotequote all
It's going to a very highly regarded BMW specialist in Lincoln for diagnostics, so will ask for a once over to check for other issues.

I started the car up this evening and it was spluttering when idling, even when the idle dropped to 600rpm it fluctuated back up to 750rpm and was coughing a little. I've got to use it tomorrow then it's being dropped off for diagnostics. They will have it overnight so will be able to see how it is at stone cold.

Will update the thread when I get some results.

MikeTFSI

Original Poster:

4,985 posts

101 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
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Just by way of update,

Injectors 2 and 4 are knackered so need replacing. Garage correctly recommended all 6 and plugs and total cost including labour, vat and diagnostic check is £1754.

The seller won't return my calls and every time I ring the manager is on his way in and of course will ring me ASAP. I know I'm being fobbed off here but running out of options.

Am putting something in writing to them shortly but that won't illicit a response any quicker I'm sure. I would pay them a visit, but that would be 7 hours of driving in a car that shouldnt be driven. Any ideas?

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Saturday 23rd July 2016
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You may struggle to get the seller to pay for 6 injectors, I'd push for 2.