Engine Malfunction, Decreased Power WTH???? M3 died???

ebohon · 05-21-2009, 12:50 AM

On my way to drop off my wife at work in Irvine this morning at below speed limit due to traffic, I get an error code indicating excessive exhaust / smog, service required. So I figured OK... I'll drop her off call the dealer...well, within minutes, I got an engine malfuction, redline drops to 5k, engine power decreases drastically, DSC malfunction and a bunch of other error codes, including the brakes. WTF???

Car was at Crevier all day and got a call after 4pm to tell me they still did not know the problem and still diagnosing the car... this sucks... this is the second time I bring this car for problems since purchased (not leased) in November ... first it was a central light head unit that was giving all sorts of system restraint errors that took a month to get from Germany...now the motor problems. I love this car but in the 10 years with Lexus and Infinity cars...not ONCE did our cars ever go back to the dealer for problems outside of normal wear stuff. Even my daughter's Acura took a beating for who knows how long with no oil before it blew a gasket and its over 10 years old. I don't want any crap about 'going' back to those cars if I think they are better... they are not, but certainly more reliable it seems. I read somewhere that another member had a similar problem and their motor was crap and being sent back to Germany??? I hope not to mine. This would really suck until they put me in a new car.

Blotman · 05-21-2009, 01:03 AM

Yeah, this seems like it's been happening quite a bit

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252758

In short, have them check the idle actuator governor (or idle control valve or whatever). Fuel rails may be another possibility.

endofanera7 · 05-21-2009, 02:36 AM

and you have a 6MT....

I now fear for myself

powertrip · 05-21-2009, 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by endofanera7

and you have a 6MT....

I now fear for myself

The Idle Actuator has nothing to do with which transmission you have....

Lil. Lucas · 05-21-2009, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powertrip

The Idle Actuator has nothing to do with which transmission you have....

Us manual drivers like to tell everyone we shift our own gears at any given opportunity. Don't worry, its a guy thing

URBAN LEGEND · 05-21-2009, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lil. Lucas

Us manual drivers like to tell everyone we shift our own gears at any given opportunity. Don't worry, its a guy thing

I shift mine too... With my fingers that is. DCT FTMFW.

Finnegan · 05-21-2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebohon

Car was at Crevier all day and got a call after 4pm to tell me they still did not know the problem and still diagnosing the car...

Hi, please see this thread. There is service bulletin about this problem and there are several causes/fixes and that's been updated in the past couple of days by BMW. (The post is from a BMW Master Mechanic on our board.)

You might want to show it to the dealership since it sounds like they need some help....

Space Ghost · 05-21-2009, 07:53 PM

I've had the check engine-reduced power twice this week. I hope it's only this. Do you have mods not listed in your sig?

ebohon · 05-21-2009, 08:13 PM

No other mods besides the air filter and springs....and the dealer was very quick to ask... even how the escort was wired. They did call me today to say that it was the valve/idle control unit or whatever terms they use but it sounds like the same issue from the service bulliten. The SA told me that they have never seen any cars come in with this problem blah blah blah... car should be ready by tomorrow since they may have to reflash the car... i think the SA was just fishing to see if I would protest in case I had my ECU flashed...which I had planned to do with AA.

Eliminator · 05-21-2009, 09:34 PM

I had the same problem. Diagnosed at the dealer as the idle control valve. Never got it fixed and never touched it. Just re-start the car to clear codes. It happened about 10 times always in the bitter cold winter. Since the weather warmed, about 4 months now, i never got the problem again. If i do, i'll clean out the idle valve and connecting tubes, but it'll take a lot to get me to a dealer. Have you read the horror stories on dealers?

Space Ghost · 05-21-2009, 09:35 PM

THanks for the reply. I have all of the AA mods so we will see how that conversation goes.

jojogoya88 · 12-07-2009, 12:36 PM

Problem happened to me yesterday, except that i was reversing and by accident released the clutch too early and stalled. Start it back up, and Next thing i know, the transmission picture is up, i have reduced power and revs are limited to 5k.

So i started it back up again, and its gone. Drove it today and theres no problems at all.

SHould i be concerned?

max08e90 · 12-07-2009, 04:49 PM

How many miles were you at when this happened?

jojogoya88 · 12-07-2009, 05:05 PM

precisely 1132 miles

JCtx · 12-07-2009, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jojogoya88

Problem happened to me yesterday, except that i was reversing and by accident released the clutch too early and stalled. Start it back up, and Next thing i know, the transmission picture is up, i have reduced power and revs are limited to 5k.

Didn't know we had any sensors on our manual tranny. And if we have any, it's probably an oil temperature one. Never heard of this, even with the idle valve going out. And even less in winter weather. Weird. Your idle valve might be on its last breaths. Good luck.

max08e90 · 12-07-2009, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jojogoya88

precisely 1132 miles

Sorry to hear...If it makes you feel any better my car also had problems within the first 1,000 miles (2008) and since then it's been perfect. I now have 8k on her...Hope things work out

05-21-2009, 12:50 AM	#1
ebohon Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 255 Posts Drives: 2009 M3 Coupe, 6MT Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Anaheim Hills, CA iTrader: (2)	Engine Malfunction, Decreased Power WTH???? M3 died??? On my way to drop off my wife at work in Irvine this morning at below speed limit due to traffic, I get an error code indicating excessive exhaust / smog, service required. So I figured OK... I'll drop her off call the dealer...well, within minutes, I got an engine malfuction, redline drops to 5k, engine power decreases drastically, DSC malfunction and a bunch of other error codes, including the brakes. WTF??? Car was at Crevier all day and got a call after 4pm to tell me they still did not know the problem and still diagnosing the car... this sucks... this is the second time I bring this car for problems since purchased (not leased) in November ... first it was a central light head unit that was giving all sorts of system restraint errors that took a month to get from Germany...now the motor problems. I love this car but in the 10 years with Lexus and Infinity cars...not ONCE did our cars ever go back to the dealer for problems outside of normal wear stuff. Even my daughter's Acura took a beating for who knows how long with no oil before it blew a gasket and its over 10 years old. I don't want any crap about 'going' back to those cars if I think they are better... they are not, but certainly more reliable it seems. I read somewhere that another member had a similar problem and their motor was crap and being sent back to Germany??? I hope not to mine. This would really suck until they put me in a new car. __________________ 2009 M3 : 6MT : Carbon : Silverstone : Fox Red Novilo : Aluminum Trim : Tech Package : iPod : MODS: Performance Spoiler: Clear Reflectors : H&Rs : Escort 9500ix hardwired : Tint : Macht Schnell Filter : RPI Scoops : Rogue Pulley : Fabspeed resonated x-pipe with Remus Race : ESS Tune: TVinMotion
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05-21-2009, 01:03 AM	#2
Blotman Private First Class 4 Rep 169 Posts Drives: 08 E90 M3 6MT Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bay Area CA iTrader: (2)	Yeah, this seems like it's been happening quite a bit http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252758 In short, have them check the idle actuator governor (or idle control valve or whatever). Fuel rails may be another possibility.
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05-21-2009, 02:36 AM	#3
endofanera7 Major General 514 Rep 5,392 Posts Drives: 08 JB E92 M3 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (16) Garage List 2018 Porsche GT3 [9.50]	and you have a 6MT.... I now fear for myself
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05-21-2009, 07:53 PM	#8
Space Ghost Captain 11 Rep 619 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: USA-PA iTrader: (5)	I've had the check engine-reduced power twice this week. I hope it's only this. Do you have mods not listed in your sig?
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05-21-2009, 08:13 PM	#9
ebohon Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 255 Posts Drives: 2009 M3 Coupe, 6MT Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Anaheim Hills, CA iTrader: (2)	No other mods besides the air filter and springs....and the dealer was very quick to ask... even how the escort was wired. They did call me today to say that it was the valve/idle control unit or whatever terms they use but it sounds like the same issue from the service bulliten. The SA told me that they have never seen any cars come in with this problem blah blah blah... car should be ready by tomorrow since they may have to reflash the car... i think the SA was just fishing to see if I would protest in case I had my ECU flashed...which I had planned to do with AA. __________________ 2009 M3 : 6MT : Carbon : Silverstone : Fox Red Novilo : Aluminum Trim : Tech Package : iPod : MODS: Performance Spoiler: Clear Reflectors : H&Rs : Escort 9500ix hardwired : Tint : Macht Schnell Filter : RPI Scoops : Rogue Pulley : Fabspeed resonated x-pipe with Remus Race : ESS Tune: TVinMotion
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05-21-2009, 09:34 PM	#10
Eliminator First Lieutenant 33 Rep 311 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 SSII 6M, '87 911 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0)	I had the same problem. Diagnosed at the dealer as the idle control valve. Never got it fixed and never touched it. Just re-start the car to clear codes. It happened about 10 times always in the bitter cold winter. Since the weather warmed, about 4 months now, i never got the problem again. If i do, i'll clean out the idle valve and connecting tubes, but it'll take a lot to get me to a dealer. Have you read the horror stories on dealers?
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05-21-2009, 09:35 PM	#11
Space Ghost Captain 11 Rep 619 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: USA-PA iTrader: (5)	THanks for the reply. I have all of the AA mods so we will see how that conversation goes.
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12-07-2009, 12:36 PM	#12
jojogoya88 Second Lieutenant 32 Rep 262 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 M3 IB Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: LI, Ny iTrader: (1)	Problem happened to me yesterday, except that i was reversing and by accident released the clutch too early and stalled. Start it back up, and Next thing i know, the transmission picture is up, i have reduced power and revs are limited to 5k. So i started it back up again, and its gone. Drove it today and theres no problems at all. SHould i be concerned? __________________ 2008 E90 M3 - Interlagos Blue (stock for now)
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12-07-2009, 04:49 PM	#13
max08e90 Second Lieutenant 25 Rep 211 Posts Drives: E92 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: LA iTrader: (2)	How many miles were you at when this happened?
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12-07-2009, 05:05 PM	#14
jojogoya88 Second Lieutenant 32 Rep 262 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 M3 IB Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: LI, Ny iTrader: (1)	precisely 1132 miles __________________ 2008 E90 M3 - Interlagos Blue (stock for now)
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