Weird stalling issue happened today.......

[e46m3to135i]

Today I was in my car waiting in line at a fast food restaurant. There were 7-8 cars in front of me. When I begin to move forward as each car in front of me did something weird followed:

Each time I would give it a little gas to move forward about 10 feet, my car would start surging as soon as I got off the gas and started to apply the brakes. Best way to describe the surging is it dropped all the way down to 100-200 rpm's and then shot up to 1800-2000 rpms a couple times and then surged between 500-1200 until I moved forward again.

When I attempted to move forward again, it did the exact same thing but this time the engine stalled as soon as I applied the brakes from the slow the crawl forward.

The car did this another 4-5 times until I got my order at the window.

During this entire ordeal, it never threw a single SES, CEL, Half Engine, NOTHING.

Once I exited the drive through, I pulled in to the parking and plugged in my BT OBD-II. Checked for any codes and none were present. I'm aware OBD-II smart phone apps aren't 100% accurate, so there very well may be some shadow or PENDING codes stored in the DME.

I called my SA and explained to him what my car just did and he told me to bring it in and he would give me a loaner until they could get it diagnosed.

During my 45 minute drive to the dealer in a lot of stop and go traffic, the car didn't have a single hiccup the entire way. Drove perfect as it has the day I brought it home.

Only other thing worth mentioning is that I filled up my tank 2 minutes prior to entering the drive through.

Does the weird surging/stalling issue sound like an isolated hardware fault or something different? I've searched pretty deep today prior to posting this and couldn't find anything that matched my exact issues. I've read multiple threads on IAC valves and throttle actuators causing surging but have yet to read about them causing a car to stall.

Also if the dealer comes back with the infamous "Unable to reproduce reported problem", what should I do if anything can be done??

I've owned this car for about a month and its been a VERY solid car thus far and a blast to drive.

Sorry for the long post, just want it to be as understandable as possible.

-Nick

[e46m3to135i]

Almost a 100 views and not a single opinion or guess. Hmmmmmm

[e46m3to135i]

I haven't ruled bad gas out as a possibility yet but how would bad gas display these symptoms upon a fresh fill up and not continue to do it? Doesn't add up to me. Just the way I see it though.

[e46m3to135i]

Might also help to add that I always fill up gas from the same station on post and its 92oct.

[fastmike]

My car does this almost every time I fill up. It'll only do it once within of 1 mile of filling up then never again until I fill up next time. I've tried keeping logs it seems to not happen as often if I fill up sooner like 1/4 tank left. I usually fill up 91 octane premium (SoCal) Chevron or Mobil.

I've never seen any weird lights but haven't scanned codes.

[fastmike]

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=828104

Here's another thread for a similar issue. OP said it hasn't happened since he updated his DME software.

[e46m3to135i]

Originally Posted by fastmike

My car does this almost every time I fill up. It'll only do it once within of 1 mile of filling up then never again until I fill up next time. I've tried keeping logs it seems to not happen as often if I fill up sooner like 1/4 tank left. I usually fill up 91 octane premium (SoCal) Chevron or Mobil.

I've never seen any weird lights but haven't scanned codes.

Originally Posted by fastmike

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=828104

Here's another thread for a similar issue. OP said it hasn't happened since he updated his DME software.

Good find. Seems like were not alone with this issue

Just got the car back from the dealer today. I got the infamous "unable to duplicate reported issues". It is running normally as it did on the drive down to the dealer.

One of my co-workers called me as I was at the dealer waiting to take delivery of my car. He asked me where I filled my tank up at. I told him where and he informed that he filled up his tank today at the same place as I did and now his car(Audi TT) is idling and surging some. He stated that his car has never acted this way also.

Once I heard this from him I pretty much knew the gas station on post must have just received a bad batch. While I was at the dealer I picked up a bottle of the BMW fuel treatment and added half the bottle to my full tank.

So far all is well.

-Nick

[fastmike]

Personally I find it hard to believe it's the gas for this symptom.

It only happens once after I fill up. It happens across all major brands across many different gas stations in the LA area for me.

I would think if its the gas it would happen through the whole tank

Originally Posted by e46m3to135i

Good find. Seems like were not alone with this issue

Just got the car back from the dealer today. I got the infamous "unable to duplicate reported issues". It is running normally as it did on the drive down to the dealer.

One of my co-workers called me as I was at the dealer waiting to take delivery of my car. He asked me where I filled my tank up at. I told him where and he informed that he filled up his tank today at the same place as I did and now his car(Audi TT) is idling and surging some. He stated that his car has never acted this way also.

Once I heard this from him I pretty much knew the gas station on post must have just received a bad batch. While I was at the dealer I picked up a bottle of the BMW fuel treatment and added half the bottle to my full tank.

So far all is well.

-Nick

[Mr. Liu]

I get the same kind of surging and buckling just pulling out of the gas station... feathering the throttle my car would lunge. Only lasts like less than a mile.

[fastmike]

Originally Posted by Mr. Liu

I get the same kind of surging and buckling just pulling out of the gas station... feathering the throttle my car would lunge. Only lasts like less than a mile.

How many miles do you have on your car? What brand of gas do you usually buy?

I have 69k, usually buy Chevron or Mobil.

[e46m3to135i]

Originally Posted by Mr. Liu

I get the same kind of surging and buckling just pulling out of the gas station... feathering the throttle my car would lunge. Only lasts like less than a mile.

Originally Posted by fastmike

How many miles do you have on your car? What brand of gas do you usually buy?

I have 69k, usually buy Chevron or Mobil.

Have either of you brought this issue to the dealer?

My idle started randomly surging (500-1700) yesterday. This time it happened on my way to fill it up(tank was a little under a 1/8th of a tank).
It did this 4 traffic lights in a row as I was stopped and waiting for the light to turn green. It didn't stall this time, just surged up and down over and over until it was time to move forward. Its been fine ever since I filled up. Weird

Really seems like its a fuel pressure related issue or something. Its pretty frustrating that it wont throw a code. At least it would give me a place to start.

I'm almost thinking about changing the fuel rail pressure sensor for shits and gigs. Other than this intermittent issue, its runs awesome.

At this point it's pointless to take it back to the dealer. Odds are they won't be able to replicate the issue and as I said before, it's not throwing any codes while or after it does this.

-Nick

[Mr. Liu]

^ I use all different types of fuel lol. It really isn't a big issue for me - we all know our cars have some quirks here and there. My car has 23k miles roughly.

[nishboo]

This is really odd, and my car did this today. I have to note the ac was off every time it did it. Not sure if that matters, however with the ac on it doesnt feel like it will stall.

And mine also happened directly after refueling all the way full.

[UroGator]

Originally Posted by nishboo

This is really odd, and my car did this today. I have to note the ac was off every time it did it. Not sure if that matters, however with the ac on it doesnt feel like it will stall.

And mine also happened directly after refueling all the way full.

How low was your fuel (how many miles left to empty) before you filled up? I have had a complete stall out when I tried to let the tank get too empty. I don't have any problems when I refill with around 40 miles left on tank.

[fastmike]

Originally Posted by UroGator

How low was your fuel (how many miles left to empty) before you filled up? I have had a complete stall out when I tried to let the tank get too empty. I don't have any problems when I refill with around 40 miles left on tank.

My car does this when I fill up also.

I mentioned this to my mechanic, he had a plausible theory (which I don't remember). Something to do with the charcoal canister could be failing, something about a valve not opening, so it dumps into the engine when its idling causing the sputtering/stall out because its too rich. He didn't make it sound like a big deal and mostly for smog.

[4corners]

Idle control device

[swhat]

It happened to me too. I think it's the child temperature and bad gas. I normally use shells, but recently changed to chevron and hasn't happened yet.

[nishboo]

Originally Posted by UroGator

How low was your fuel (how many miles left to empty) before you filled up? I have had a complete stall out when I tried to let the tank get too empty. I don't have any problems when I refill with around 40 miles left on tank.

I had 58 miles til empty.. Its not doing it anymore, only after a complete refueling.

[Vic311]

Could be vapor lock, air in the system? Would explain why it seems to happen on fill up. Should maybe check the fuel filler neck for any leaks

[Cadmus130]

I just put 93 octane fuel into my 08’ 650i and it stalled out several times after doing so. Before this I had only put in 91 octane.

It was literally immediately after putting higher octane gas in. Perhaps the car couldn’t sense it and burn the fuel the same way right away? I never had a single stall until the moment I changed the fuel…

[spammysammich]

Not likely. You probably have a bad fuel breather valve it is the same one that the S65 Motor uses.