Bmw 3 litre X3 - coasts to a halt and won’t restart.

[andy97]

Grateful for some help please.
I was in the middle of a 100 mile journey home yesterday when without warning the car lost power, would not respond to the throttle and coasted to a halt before the engine stopped completely. Engine mgmt light then came on.
The engine won’t restart and the gearbox reset itself to park.
We had to get the RAC to transport us the rest of the journey.
Any ideas?
Any advice on how to get it out of park so I can tow a garage?
Car is 2013 3 litre X3 with 115k miles and serviced last Nov, not many miles since, probably a 1000.

[Huskyman]

It’s a bugger to do if it’s the 8 speed tranmision
https://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/130190-engaging-n-s...

I’d give the recovery company a heads up and they should know this.

[andy97]

Managed to get the car to start yesterday about the 12th attempt so could at least move it to a reasonable position on my drive. Our local mechanic came out and investigated with an OBD reader and discovered fault codes on the EGR valve and the air mass sensor.
It is booked in with him to sort tomorrow.
I did try the local BMW dealer as it is subject to an EGR recall (yes, I know I should have had it done already, and now it appears that it has bitten me in the bum) but they kept me on hold 6 times for over 10 mins each so gave up and will let my local mechanic fix it.

[BFleming]

That's probably an EGR cooler recall and not the EGR valve. But try your luck with BMW anyhow.

[andy97]

BFleming said:

That's probably an EGR cooler recall and not the EGR valve. But try your luck with BMW anyhow.

That’s correct, but to be honest I would rather give my money to the local chap. He may not have a shiny chrome and glass showroom, or a receptionist or coffee machine but he answers his phone, is extremely knowledgeable and is very helpful.

[BFleming]

andy97 said:

BFleming said:

That's probably an EGR cooler recall and not the EGR valve. But try your luck with BMW anyhow.

That’s correct, but to be honest I would rather give my money to the local chap. He may not have a shiny chrome and glass showroom, or a receptionist or coffee machine but he answers his phone, is extremely knowledgeable and is very helpful.

The reason it's being recalled and replaced is the fire risk associated with it - and it's a free recall. I doubt your local guy is free - i.e. I know where I'd be going first. I'm surprised it's taking you that long to get through to your local dealer... might this have been mid-lockdown?

[andy97]

BFleming said:

The reason it's being recalled and replaced is the fire risk associated with it - and it's a free recall. I doubt your local guy is free - i.e. I know where I'd be going first. I'm surprised it's taking you that long to get through to your local dealer... might this have been mid-lockdown?

Understand all that but after spending an hour on the phone yesterday (not mid lock down) with it ringing out I would still rather pay the local chap who came out to see the car within 15 mins of my call (answered straight away), connected his OBD reader and will now collect the car at 0800 this morning.

Free isn’t free if I am spending hours on the phone whilst the car sits on my drive and can’t be used.

[BFleming]

andy97 said:

BFleming said:

Free isn’t free if I am spending hours on the phone whilst the car sits on my drive and can’t be used.

I still find that bizarre; can't say I've ever experienced service like that from a main dealer - and I cross their palm with as little silver as possible.

[andy97]

BFleming said:

I still find that bizarre; can't say I've ever experienced service like that from a main dealer - and I cross their palm with as little silver as possible.

As someone pointed out above, the EGR valve and the EGR cooler are not the same thing. Clearly related and a problem with one may have caused the problem with the other. However, quite simply I don’t have time to mess about with companies who can’t even be bothered with the basics of customer service by not answering 6 different phone calls.
I will pay for good, prompt customer service and I would rather support “the little guy” who made an effort rather than the main dealer who clearly don’t care.
I need the car relatively quickly. The “little guy” responded very quickly, the dealer didn’t. I don’t expect the dealer to drop everything to get me in straight away if they are fully booked up but I do expect them to answer the phone and to have a discussion about the art of the possible. That said, “the little guy” did drop everything and the car is with him now after he came out straight away to diagnose the fault and then picked the car up this morning.
And to be fair, this isn’t the first time I have had problems with Stratstone BMW - Derby. I had issues with them a few years ago with an 123D.

Edited by andy97 on Wednesday 5th May 12:53