Engine Malfunction//Reduced Power//Increased Emissions...great day!

Blitzblau · 01-24-2012, 12:42 PM

Peeps...My 2008 E90 M3 is at BMW of Alexandria right now. Tech told me I lost 7 cylinders...potentially coils...amongst other indicators. All I know is that it is alarming to have a car that has been put through the trials already and all of a sudden takes a shit on me.

She has 50,190 miles on it. Extended warranty (thankfully) was sorted out last week...so Murphy is chasing me!!! Hopefully he doesn't catch up...

I just wanted to post to let you all follow the saga and the outcome in case any of you experience the same issues at some point.

I was driving down the US-50 service road in Falls Church, came to a stop sign and slowly accelerated in 1st gear....it felt as though I was driving on a cobblestone street in Europe...then all the faults and alarms. I pulled off on to the next side street (about 100ft) and let it idle for a sec. Turned the ignition off and started again a minute later...same. Called roadside and got the car to the dealer...stay tuned.

THE TECH · 01-24-2012, 01:00 PM

Hate to hear this. Hopefully they get it sorted for you.

M5V10 · 01-24-2012, 01:02 PM

Wow thats weird. This is a supposed to be a very reliable engine.

skins333 · 01-24-2012, 01:27 PM

Sorry to hear. So classic that this would occur 190 miles after your warranty would have expired and good thing about the extended warranty. I feel like I have to hold my breath and baby the car for the first several months after warranty runs out, since that's when it would be the most painful to have any issues. Let us know how it turns out.

abehwang · 01-24-2012, 01:47 PM

Can you let us know about your past history for your car? As in how frequent your oil changes were, any major problems, etc... How you normally drive and is this your daily driver?

Blitzblau · 01-24-2012, 01:47 PM

So...it's not the coils or fuel pump or clogged air filter...as if. On to the Compression and Leak Down diagnostic. This will ultimately show the root cause...intriguing.

Stay tuned...

Blitzblau · 01-24-2012, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abehwang

Can you let us know about your past history for your car? As in how frequent your oil changes were, any major problems, etc... How you normally drive and is this your daily driver?

History of the car is that it has been ROCK SOLID!! Driven hard and a daily driver. All maintenance was done at the intervals BMW does them. Never an issue...

checkmate · 01-24-2012, 02:22 PM

Possible that the alternator or battery went dead. My E46 M3 had the same exact issue as soon as it hit 51k miles. I replaced the alternator and battery and since then had no issue.

mdosu · 01-24-2012, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blitzblau

History of the car is that it has been ROCK SOLID!! Driven hard and a daily driver. All maintenance was done at the intervals BMW does them. Never an issue...

any engine related mods?

Just curious for all us 2008 stock M3s looking to buy extended warranty this year.

Blitzblau · 01-24-2012, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdosu

any engine related mods?

Just curious for all us 2008 stock M3s looking to buy extended warranty this year.

None

MDyDinanM · 01-24-2012, 02:32 PM

subscribed...

OP, let us know how BMW of Alexandria treats you, who your SA was, and any shenanigans if pulled, etc....

Blitzblau · 01-24-2012, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by checkmate

Possible that the alternator or battery went dead. My E46 M3 had the same exact issue as soon as it hit 51k miles. I replaced the alternator and battery and since then had no issue.

Good info...I wonder if the tech tested those two pieces?

The thing is..the fuel pump had the correct voltage. He swapped the coils and spark plug wires and still had failures on cylinders 1,2 and 4.

Blitzblau · 01-24-2012, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdyaman

subscribed...

OP, let us know how BMW of Alexandria treats you, who your SA was, and any shenanigans if pulled, etc....

They always treat me good..but I will recap after this is over.

My SA is Maryham...she is money!

Raja Ventureshield · 01-24-2012, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blitzblau

They always treat me good..but I will recap after this is over.

My SA is Maryham...she is money!

pretty sure it's maryam, not with a "h"

good luck. bring the m to life and come on over on the 12th.

Raja

mdosu · 01-24-2012, 03:04 PM

also let us know what the final costs are as billed by BMW. I know it's zero to you, but just curious how they bill it. I want to see how common this problem could be and how expensive it is.

Blitzblau · 01-24-2012, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raja Ventureshield

pretty sure it's maryam, not with a "h"

good luck. bring the m to life and come on over on the 12th.

Raja

No..it actually DOES have an "H" in it. I know...I thought it was a typo as well. If I get everything sorted and don't sell it immediately I would be happy to join. Thanks for the invite!!

MDyDinanM · 01-24-2012, 03:45 PM

hopefully it's just something small and can be easily fixed

best wishes OP! We all know the stress of having our cars undergo the knife.

crazycarl16 · 01-24-2012, 04:16 PM

After just under 5000 miles, my 09 went into limp mode unexpectedly and without any prior problems or warning. All the indicators you mentioned came on for me and it turned out to be the idle control valve, a problem that is well-documented in this forum. I originally took it to Tischer, but they said they fixed it and didn't, so I took it to Passport who did fix it and car has been fine ever since...13000 miles now. Good luck!

Blitzblau · 01-24-2012, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazycarl16

After just under 5000 miles, my 09 went into limp mode unexpectedly and without any prior problems or warning. All the indicators you mentioned came on for me and it turned out to be the idle control valve, a problem that is well-documented in this forum. I originally took it to Tischer, but they said they fixed it and didn't, so I took it to Passport who did fix it and car has been fine ever since...13000 miles now. Good luck!

The fact that it is well documented leads me to believe it isn't the same issue...but that is for the techs to figure out.

If it IS only the idle control valve and they ran an $800 diagnostic...I will be heated!

abehwang · 01-24-2012, 07:31 PM

I don't know if I should get an extended warranty... mine expires July this year
because if this car is reliable I rather spend the money fixing it than paying for the warranty which might cost more than fixing the car

kmarei · 01-24-2012, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blitzblau

The fact that it is well documented leads me to believe it isn't the same issue...but that is for the techs to figure out.

If it IS only the idle control valve and they ran an $800 diagnostic...I will be heated!

My 08 had a similar problem
Throttle Valve actuator
Replaced under warranty, and car was perfect till I sold it for the 2012

reechar · 01-25-2012, 01:45 AM

I have an 08. A few months ago I also had the throttle valve actuator go bad. Limp mode and all that jazz... It actually isn't that hard to replace yourself if you like mucking around in your engine bay.

01-24-2012, 12:42 PM	#1
Blitzblau Field Marshall 15 Rep 249 Posts Drives: 2012 Black Saph Metallic X5M Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Oakton, VA iTrader: (0)	Engine Malfunction//Reduced Power//Increased Emissions...great day! Peeps...My 2008 E90 M3 is at BMW of Alexandria right now. Tech told me I lost 7 cylinders...potentially coils...amongst other indicators. All I know is that it is alarming to have a car that has been put through the trials already and all of a sudden takes a shit on me. She has 50,190 miles on it. Extended warranty (thankfully) was sorted out last week...so Murphy is chasing me!!! Hopefully he doesn't catch up... I just wanted to post to let you all follow the saga and the outcome in case any of you experience the same issues at some point. I was driving down the US-50 service road in Falls Church, came to a stop sign and slowly accelerated in 1st gear....it felt as though I was driving on a cobblestone street in Europe...then all the faults and alarms. I pulled off on to the next side street (about 100ft) and let it idle for a sec. Turned the ignition off and started again a minute later...same. Called roadside and got the car to the dealer...stay tuned. Last edited by Blitzblau; 01-24-2012 at 02:16 PM..
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01-24-2012, 01:00 PM	#2
THE TECH BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 307 Rep 13,093 Posts Drives: BPMsport 2012 E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Kansas iTrader: (45) Garage List 2013 Nissan GTR [0.00] 2019 Sierra Denali ... [0.00] 1999 Nissan Silvia [0.00] 1999 Nissan Skyline ... [0.00] 1998 Toyota Supra [0.00]	Hate to hear this. Hopefully they get it sorted for you.
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01-24-2012, 01:02 PM	#3
M5V10 Private 3 Rep 90 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: va iTrader: (0)	Wow thats weird. This is a supposed to be a very reliable engine.
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01-24-2012, 01:27 PM	#4
skins333 Major 48 Rep 1,017 Posts Drives: 08 E93 BMW M3 MR/21 X7 40i AW Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northern VA iTrader: (2)	Sorry to hear. So classic that this would occur 190 miles after your warranty would have expired and good thing about the extended warranty. I feel like I have to hold my breath and baby the car for the first several months after warranty runs out, since that's when it would be the most painful to have any issues. Let us know how it turns out.
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01-24-2012, 01:47 PM	#5
abehwang Captain 36 Rep 547 Posts Drives: e90 m3 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: US iTrader: (0)	Can you let us know about your past history for your car? As in how frequent your oil changes were, any major problems, etc... How you normally drive and is this your daily driver? __________________ 2008 E90 M3: Alpine White/ Fox Red Novillo/ Brushed Aluminum \| 6MT \| Premium \| Cold Weather \| Technology \| EPS \| PDC \| Ipod/USB \| Fuelly :: Adelei's Gas Mileage
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01-24-2012, 02:22 PM	#8
checkmate Major 119 Rep 1,497 Posts Drives: AW M3 E90 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Bel Air, MD iTrader: (2)	Possible that the alternator or battery went dead. My E46 M3 had the same exact issue as soon as it hit 51k miles. I replaced the alternator and battery and since then had no issue.
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01-24-2012, 02:32 PM	#11
MDyDinanM OIF Veteran 246 Rep 2,106 Posts Drives: ///M Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: East Coast iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW M5 [6.88]	subscribed... OP, let us know how BMW of Alexandria treats you, who your SA was, and any shenanigans if pulled, etc.... __________________ Retired: '06 BMW E46 ///M3 Current: '08 BMW E60 DINAN ///M5, Interlagos Blue, SMG DINAN Stage 2 Suspension, Exhaust, Stage III Software, Front strut braces, Intakes, 13% Underdrive pulley, 3.91 Differential, RPI Scoops.
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01-24-2012, 03:04 PM	#15
mdosu Banned 314 Rep 8,496 Posts Drives: Double Vanos'd Civic-M3 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (6)	also let us know what the final costs are as billed by BMW. I know it's zero to you, but just curious how they bill it. I want to see how common this problem could be and how expensive it is.
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01-24-2012, 03:45 PM	#17
MDyDinanM OIF Veteran 246 Rep 2,106 Posts Drives: ///M Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: East Coast iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW M5 [6.88]	hopefully it's just something small and can be easily fixed best wishes OP! We all know the stress of having our cars undergo the knife. __________________ Retired: '06 BMW E46 ///M3 Current: '08 BMW E60 DINAN ///M5, Interlagos Blue, SMG DINAN Stage 2 Suspension, Exhaust, Stage III Software, Front strut braces, Intakes, 13% Underdrive pulley, 3.91 Differential, RPI Scoops.
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01-24-2012, 04:16 PM	#18
crazycarl16 Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 270 Posts Drives: 18 X5M // 08 X5 4.8i // 03 M5 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bethesda, MD iTrader: (1)	After just under 5000 miles, my 09 went into limp mode unexpectedly and without any prior problems or warning. All the indicators you mentioned came on for me and it turned out to be the idle control valve, a problem that is well-documented in this forum. I originally took it to Tischer, but they said they fixed it and didn't, so I took it to Passport who did fix it and car has been fine ever since...13000 miles now. Good luck! __________________ 18 Alpine White F85 X5M // 03 Titanium Silver E39 M5 // 13 White Porsche 991 911 Carrera (Gone but not forgotten) 15 Mineral White Metallic F15 X5 XDrive50i M Sport // 09 Melbourne Red E92 M3 // 08 Space Gray E70 X5 4.8i // 07 Black Sapphire Metallic E86 Z4 M Coupe
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01-24-2012, 07:31 PM	#20
abehwang Captain 36 Rep 547 Posts Drives: e90 m3 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: US iTrader: (0)	I don't know if I should get an extended warranty... mine expires July this year because if this car is reliable I rather spend the money fixing it than paying for the warranty which might cost more than fixing the car __________________ 2008 E90 M3: Alpine White/ Fox Red Novillo/ Brushed Aluminum \| 6MT \| Premium \| Cold Weather \| Technology \| EPS \| PDC \| Ipod/USB \| Fuelly :: Adelei's Gas Mileage
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01-25-2012, 01:45 AM	#22
reechar Poorhouse 15 Rep 131 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Northern Virginia, US iTrader: (1)	I have an 08. A few months ago I also had the throttle valve actuator go bad. Limp mode and all that jazz... It actually isn't that hard to replace yourself if you like mucking around in your engine bay.
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