Prematurely Failing DPF on 530D M Sport due to Software
Prematurely Failing DPF on 530D M Sport due to Software
Author
Discussion

GazzH

Original Poster:

12 posts

49 months

Thursday 15th September 2022
quotequote all
Dear BMW Drivers,

I have a problem with my 2019 530D M Sport with 19,226 miles on the clock. (I have owned it from new)
The engine management light came on in late August, approx 4 weeks after the warranty ran out.

Sytner BMW have advised that the DPF has failed due to a software issue not allowing the DPF to regenerate efficiently.
The car has been serviced from new at Sytner, and they advise they have never checked or updated the software.

I have recently been contacted via a BMW forum by other owners of the same model with the same issue either just inside warranty or outside of warranty with low mileage (22kish).

Can you please advise if any other BMW drivers have experienced similar issues, as currently BMW are advising it is not an manufacturing problem?

Thank You

Gary H

joropug

3,071 posts

219 months

Thursday 15th September 2022
quotequote all
My suggestion is take what I presume is available, a software update - have the codes cleared properly, then go for a long drive and hope for a regen?

Have you checked your thermostats - unsure if this model has water temp gauge, my E60 530d didn't - It wasn't able to surpass 80c so would not start a regen until I had the thermostats replaced.

GazzH

Original Poster:

12 posts

49 months

Thursday 15th September 2022
quotequote all
Thank You for the reply, my car has been in the garage for 3 weeks, as they are suggesting the DPF has failed and a forced regeneration will not do anything even with the software update.

Sytner & BMW suggested it is not a manufacturer issue, so chasing part payment from me

Cheers

Gary

Olivergt

2,267 posts

111 months

Thursday 15th September 2022
quotequote all
What kind of driving have you done over the last 3 years?

19k is not a lot for a diesel with a DPF, but is fine if there have been regular longer distance drives where it would be able to get up to full etmperature and do a regen.

If all your driving has been very short distances without the car getting up to full temperature it's likely it's not been able to any regens in those 19k miles which I don't think would do the DPF any good at all.

Given it is only just out of warranty and it has a full services history, I would be pushing for a big contribution from either BMW or the dealer. What are they curently offering? Please feel free to ignore the final question though as it's not really our business unless you are happy to share.

mmm-five

12,385 posts

314 months

Thursday 15th September 2022
quotequote all
GazzH said:
Thank You for the reply, my car has been in the garage for 3 weeks, as they are suggesting the DPF has failed and a forced regeneration will not do anything even with the software update.

Sytner & BMW suggested it is not a manufacturer issue, so chasing part payment from me

Cheers

Gary
Even if it's now out of warranty, surely any software updates should have been carried out by the dealer during one of your many visits since you bought it?

If it's been caused by the original dodgy software that the manufacturer installed, and the dealer has failed to update the car with manufacturer supplied updates, then it's got to be manufacturer or dealer responsibility.

Or are they implying you've installed some dodgy performance software yourself on top of the original software?

wpa1975

14,738 posts

144 months

Thursday 15th September 2022
quotequote all
GazzH said:
Thank You for the reply, my car has been in the garage for 3 weeks, as they are suggesting the DPF has failed and a forced regeneration will not do anything even with the software update.

Sytner & BMW suggested it is not a manufacturer issue, so chasing part payment from me

Cheers

Gary
Has it been remapped

georgeyboy12345

4,631 posts

65 months

Thursday 15th September 2022
quotequote all
Think it’s a case of tough luck, it’s out of warranty, so you’ll have to pay for it.

You have bought the wrong car really, doing only 6000 miles a year in a diesel with a DPF is asking for trouble. I imagine most of these have been very short trips. You should have bought the petrol version.

Fady

460 posts

234 months

Thursday 15th September 2022
quotequote all
georgeyboy12345 said:
Think it’s a case of tough luck, it’s out of warranty, so you’ll have to pay for it.

You have bought the wrong car really, doing only 6000 miles a year in a diesel with a DPF is asking for trouble. I imagine most of these have been very short trips. You should have bought the petrol version.
Hasty PH-type judgement - does necessarily have to be the case. Have run premium diesels for years covering way less miles with no DPF issues. Also, in a lot of models there were limited engine options as regards petrol alternatives, though obviously this is now changing.

OP is obviously canvasing for support from kindred spirits as regards current predicament, but being new around here does not realise that PH not really the place to do so...

GazzH

Original Poster:

12 posts

49 months

Thursday 15th September 2022
quotequote all
Dear All,
I appreciate your replies.
The car is used once a week for the supermarket run at 6 mile round trip, then on the weekends we go to our caravan, which is 60 miles each way of nearly all motorway plus drives out whilst we are there, which tend to be 30+ miles each way typically in national speed limit, dual carriageway type motoring.
Sytner did suggest the bill would be £3,900.46 with me to pay £726.00, but then this morning they have increased by 20%, as suggested forgot to include the VAT?

ian_c_uk

1,452 posts

233 months

Thursday 15th September 2022
quotequote all
If they are chasing "part payment" - have they already spoken with BMW for a goodwill contribution?

I had a fault just outside BMW warranty - the dealer demanded full payment.

I reached out to BMW customer service directly, explained always serviced at main dealer etc, and they were only too happy to reach out to the dealer and pay in full.

Far Cough

2,482 posts

198 months

Thursday 15th September 2022
quotequote all
You have not answered the question if it has been mapped ?

If it is a bog stock car then I think what they have offered is fair seeing as you have chosen not to remain in warranty.

If it has been mapped then you are lucky not to be paying the whole lot regardless of warranty.

Either way , I think I`d be taking the pragmatic approach and coughing up.

stevemcs

10,341 posts

123 months

Thursday 15th September 2022
quotequote all
Seems a bit odd, I know ford were carrying out software updates due to DPF issues, but it was more to do with the car flagging up it wanted a service than anything else.

It does seem that BMW are going through a software recall at the moment but I think this is down to an emissions fix like VW did.

I would ask them to carry out the software update, tel the car its had a new DPF fitted (but not fit one) and see how it goes.

GazzH

Original Poster:

12 posts

49 months

Thursday 15th September 2022
quotequote all
No the car is standard, so no remapping.
I contacted BMW UK direct and they have advised it is the maximum contribution they are prepared to pay.

I have had contact from others on the bimmer forum who have the same issue on same model and year

wpa1975

14,738 posts

144 months

Thursday 15th September 2022
quotequote all
GazzH said:
Dear All,
I appreciate your replies.
The car is used once a week for the supermarket run at 6 mile round trip, then on the weekends we go to our caravan, which is 60 miles each way of nearly all motorway plus drives out whilst we are there, which tend to be 30+ miles each way typically in national speed limit, dual carriageway type motoring.
Sytner did suggest the bill would be £3,900.46 with me to pay £726.00, but then this morning they have increased by 20%, as suggested forgot to include the VAT?
To be honest, I suspect the 6 mile round trip each week has not helped, it will have blocked the DPF to the extent that the long trip will not clear it.

GazzH

Original Poster:

12 posts

49 months

Thursday 15th September 2022
quotequote all
Even if I carry out motorway driving?

the tribester

2,939 posts

116 months

Thursday 15th September 2022
quotequote all
GazzH said:
Even if I carry out motorway driving?
What revs is the re-gen done at? I think mine was 2500rpm, I'd probably be revving lower than that on a motorway run.

Chamon_Lee

3,948 posts

177 months

Thursday 15th September 2022
quotequote all
OP ignore everyone who says your usage is a problem. It’s not.

Unfortunately you’ll just need to accept the goodwill they give you. Or contact CAB and see what they suggest.

Clearly is a manufacturer defect because software is what they put in at manufacturing so it is a problem.

Depends if it’s worth fighting for you

Jakg

4,050 posts

198 months

Thursday 15th September 2022
quotequote all
the tribester said:
GazzH said:
Even if I carry out motorway driving?
What revs is the re-gen done at? I think mine was 2500rpm, I'd probably be revving lower than that on a motorway run.
Chamon_Lee said:
OP ignore everyone who says your usage is a problem. It’s not.
^ this ^

2008 335d said:
The following conditions must be fulfilled for a regeneration:

The coolant temperature must be in excess of 75 °C
the exhaust-gas temperature before the diesel particle filter must be greater than 240 °C
there must be enough fuel (fuel reserve indicator light is not lit up). Whenever the reserve lamp lights up, the regeneration process is suspended.
no fault codes from the air mass system, exhaust emission system and sensors must be saved in the DDE
The fault codes 480A / 245700 (from F01) and 481A / 245800 (from F01) must display the status "currently not present"
Constant driving speed above about 60 km/h (approx. 38 mph). The optimum speed is about 100 km/h (approx. 60 mph).
GazzH said:
Sytner BMW have advised that the DPF has failed due to a software issue not allowing the DPF to regenerate efficiently.
The car has been serviced from new at Sytner, and they advise they have never checked or updated the software.
I'd be interested to know what a "software issue" means?
I *thought* that updating the software was part of a main dealer service.

Chrismawa

582 posts

130 months

Thursday 15th September 2022
quotequote all
Short journeys isn't necessarily the issue. I do a lot of short journeys in my 2.0 TDI Octavia, mixed in occasionally with longer drives. However I am well aware when the car is regenning due to the higher idle RPM. I then always let the regen process finish before switching off. No DPF issues with the diesels I've owned.

edthefed

828 posts

97 months

Thursday 15th September 2022
quotequote all
OP - BMW UK customer services are working to a script.

I suggest emailing the head of BMW UK (Chris.Brownbridge@BMW,CO,UK)

You will not get a personal response but someone from the "executive complaints" team will contact you.

Give a full explanation - including that the car has a full BMW service history, its usage etc and the fact that no previous DPF issues have been identified.

Include how disappointed you are that for a supposed quality car this expensive failure has occurred just as the new car warranty expired

Also include how Sytners have upped the bill by 20% having overlooked the VAT

Ask for a contribution - full costs of parts and a proportion of labour to be paid for by BMW as a goodwill basis.

Tip... if you pay something towards the repairs parts will be covered by the BMW parts guarantee which i think is 2 years

You may not get an improved offer but unless you ask at the highest level you will never know