New Motor at 20k Miles: Fuel Injector

[xcuzem3]

Hi everyone,

Well my worst nightmare came true a couple of days ago when my 2011 e92 M3 with only 20,100 miles decided to randomly go into a limp mode when coming off a stop. Cause? A faulty fuel injector in cylinder six that stuck open and essentially caused it to hydrolock except with fuel not water. This also caused multiple other cylinders to misfire. Due to the extent of damage to the cylinder and other components, BMW decided that it needed a new engine, which I agree with.

Good news, my CPO warranty had just taken effect due to my factory warranty expiring last month. Thankfully, it will cover all the repair costs. The dealership that is doing the work on the car is extremely knowledgable and reputable, therefor I am completely confident in that my car will run like new. But still a crappy situation at the least.

My question from all of this, which I have not seen any forumns or threads touch on, is will the replacement of my engine have any type of effect on the after sale of my car? It still has an accident-free and clean title, two owners, and a fully loaded competition package. To some, having a new engine is a great thing. To others, it may scare them away or make them think the car is worth less. Any inputs?
Thanks!!

[Beedub]

that is a rare fault and thing happen, very pleased its been covered under warranty for you!!

[Richbot]

How did they determine a fuel injector was stuck open?

[8600RPM]

Happens on the s85 v10 relatively commonly but first I've heard on an s65

[B767capt]

Originally Posted by 8600RPM

Happens on the s85 v10 relatively commonly but first I've heard on an s65

It sure does. Because of that I installed a mechanical fuel pressure gauge under the hood at the fuel rail disconnect. I always pop the hood and keep a Cetek charger on the jumpers posts since it's not a daily driver so I immediately see what the pressure is after shutdown. It stays at 80 psi for 12+ hours and slowly falls over a few days due to one way check valves. If I had an injector leaking I would see the pressure fall immediately. This problem has ruined many S85's in short order. It scores the cylinder wall too by washing the oil away let alone bending the connecting rod.

[xcuzem3]

Originally Posted by Richbot

How did they determine a fuel injector was stuck open?

That I do not know, however it did smell like burnt fuel around the car and the exhaust pipes. Not sure if that means anything. I will be picking the car up next week and will have the full break down of the cause and correction.

[xcuzem3]

Originally Posted by B767capt

It sure does. Because of that I installed a mechanical fuel pressure gauge under the hood at the fuel rail disconnect. I always pop the hood and keep a Cetek charger on the jumpers posts since it's not a daily driver so I immediately see what the pressure is after shutdown. It stays at 80 psi for 12+ hours and slowly falls over a few days due to one way check valves. If I had an injector leaking I would see the pressure fall immediately. This problem has ruined many S85's in short order. It scores the cylinder wall too by washing the oil away let alone bending the connecting rod.

That's what a technician told me. Once the fuel burns off all the lubricants in the cylinder, it's done.

[jcolley]

Originally Posted by Richbot

How did they determine a fuel injector was stuck open?

This is the easiest way:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkXZdIyAqF4

[redpriest]

Originally Posted by jcolley

This is the easiest way:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkXZdIyAqF4

Wow, that's horrible. Any forewarning or does it pretty much grenade the engine when it happens?

[Doc Oc]

Does the s85 use a different fuel injector than the s65?

[xcuzem3]

Originally Posted by redpriest

Wow, that's horrible. Any forewarning or does it pretty much grenade the engine when it happens?

completely random! Just coming off a traffic light at a easy pace and boom, engine failure and limp mode

[e92zero]

Originally Posted by Doc Oc

Does the s85 use a different fuel injector than the s65?

Based on Realoem.com. It looks like the 2 engines use different injectors:

S85: 13647839098
S65: 13647838440

[Richbot]

No doubt a stuck fuel injector can kill a motor. What I'm skeptical of, and you should be too until they show you something concrete, is that they correctly diagnosed it.

[Doc Oc]

Originally Posted by e92zero

Based on Realoem.com. It looks like the 2 engines use different injectors:

S85: 13647839098
S65: 13647838440

Good to know thanks

[iBoosted]

Is your car currently in Atlanta area? Saw one at the dealer the other day about to get a new motor due to the same problem.

[m3aviator]

Honestly who cares. OP got a new engine. Now another 1200mi break in.

[Properstyle]

Funny Iwas doing a supercharger install and when I put the stock injector back in my car the same thing happen. Injector 1 stuck open. How ever this is very easy to see when it happens as the car starts dumbing gas out he tail pipes. I mean a lot of gas. I pulled the rail out of the motor and let it sit up with out the injectors connected and assume as the car was keyed on the injector locked like one at full lock.

[Merlin_83]

Originally Posted by B767capt

It sure does. Because of that I installed a mechanical fuel pressure gauge under the hood at the fuel rail disconnect. I always pop the hood and keep a Cetek charger on the jumpers posts since it's not a daily driver so I immediately see what the pressure is after shutdown. It stays at 80 psi for 12+ hours and slowly falls over a few days due to one way check valves. If I had an injector leaking I would see the pressure fall immediately. This problem has ruined many S85's in short order. It scores the cylinder wall too by washing the oil away let alone bending the connecting rod.

Very interesting, anyway you could post a pic of that ? I'm curious of how I could have that done by my tech in the future.

Thank you,
Merlin

[xcuzem3]

Originally Posted by iBoosted

Is your car currently in Atlanta area? Saw one at the dealer the other day about to get a new motor due to the same problem.

No, Florida but that is interesting..

[xcuzem3]

Originally Posted by Properstyle

Funny Iwas doing a supercharger install and when I put the stock injector back in my car the same thing happen. Injector 1 stuck open. How ever this is very easy to see when it happens as the car starts dumbing gas out he tail pipes. I mean a lot of gas. I pulled the rail out of the motor and let it sit up with out the injectors connected and assume as the car was keyed on the injector locked like one at full lock.

Did they replace the entire exhaust system as well in case of internal damage to the catalytic converters or no?

[Properstyle]

Originally Posted by xcuzem3

Did they replace the entire exhaust system as well in case of internal damage to the catalytic converters or no?

I noticed this my self and changed the injector, no nned to change the whole system. changed the injector, let the car run for a bit, problem gone.

[B767capt]

Originally Posted by Merlin_83

Very interesting, anyway you could post a pic of that ? I'm curious of how I could have that done by my tech in the future.

Thank you,
Merlin

Hi Merlin all my parts were purchased at Jegs. The S85 has a 5/16 quick disconnect from the hard fuel line to the injector rails rubber hose. We have 2 fuel pumps so this also aids in finding out suspected fuel delivery problems. Our normal fuel pressure is 45 psi and bumps up to 90 or so when the second pump kicks in at cold start idle or high engine load during driving. Most of the time it's 45 psi. Now on shutdown the fuel pressure spikes to 80 and stays there for a long time due to a one way check valve in the fuel pump housing. IF you don't have an injector leak, it will stay there for a while.

This is what you see after several days:


This is cold start idle with both pumps running:


Here is normal operation with one pump running:


Here is 80 psi and that's what you see when the car is shutdown. If an injector is leaking, you'll see it right away:


Here is what the next day looks like:


Location in the engine bay. The quick disconnect is just below the gauge:


Here is what all the parts look like: