How safe to drive 40 miles on limp mode?

[Apex Everything]

How safe to drive 40 miles on limp mode?

I was driving home today half way through my journey I got hit with limp mode. I received a Engine Malfunction and Increased Emissions messages on the dash.

When I got home I diagnosed it with Carly BMW (which luckily was delivered today). I have misfire with cut of on Cylinders 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

My only option is to drive 20 some miles to work tomorrow, then from work drive it to my BMW dealer which is around 10 miles away (I know 20+10 is not 40, I just rounded up to be safe.)

What is the longest anyone drove on limp mode? and did you drive on limp mode after already limping home? (basically did you limp somewhere then limp somewhere else?)

[redpriest]

Originally Posted by Apex Everything

How safe to drive 40 miles on limp mode?

I was driving home today half way through my journey I got hit with limp mode. I received a Engine Malfunction and Increased Emissions messages on the dash.

When I got home I diagnosed it with Carly BMW (which luckily was delivered today). I have misfire with cut of on Cylinders 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

My only option is to drive 20 some miles to work tomorrow, then from work drive it to my BMW dealer which is around 10 miles away (I know 20+10 is not 40, I just rounded up to be safe.)

What is the longest anyone drove on limp mode? and did you drive on limp mode after already limping home? (basically did you limp somewhere then limp somewhere else?)

If it were me I'd have it on the flatbed.

[redpriest]

Are those the only codes? Anything that would trigger limp mode seems dangerous to me. I've had cylinder misfires and still tracked the car afterward, but that's because I knew what was wrong - the car did not go into limp mode on me. (Engine Coolant Temperature sensor was busted)

[Apex Everything]

Originally Posted by redpriest

Are those the only codes? Anything that would trigger limp mode seems dangerous to me. I've had cylinder misfires and still tracked the car afterward, but that's because I knew what was wrong - the car did not go into limp mode on me. (Engine Coolant Temperature sensor was busted)

Yep all the codes have to do with cylinder misfires and emissions on the cylinders. I have not attempted to clear them yet, I will be clearing them in the morning to see if it can make at least part of my drive easier in the morning.

[BPMSport]

Would definitely not drive it with an entire bank misfiring.

[redpriest]

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

Would definitely not drive it with an entire bank misfiring.

There's your definitive answer Apex Everything

[Apex Everything]

Originally Posted by redpriest

There's your definitive answer Apex Everything

Not entirely, I have been on major encyclopedia through the forum searching limp mode regardless of code and it appears on significant occasions all the service person does is clear codes out the door.

I am not that dumb, but I want to clear codes to hopefully give me back some cylinders to make driving in easier. To then get it into the dealer to inspect the car.

[BPMSport]

Originally Posted by Apex Everything

Not entirely, I have been on major encyclopedia through the forum searching limp mode regardless of code and it appears on significant occasions all the service person does is clear codes out the door.

I am not that dumb, but I want to clear codes to hopefully give me back some cylinders to make driving in easier. To then get it into the dealer to inspect the car.

It's your car, I know what I would do if it was my car. It didn't misfire in a whole bank "just because".

[Umi|all|day]

Did the engine get wet or did you wash it or anything like that? My friend was dumb enough to Wash his S65 with water and some water got in the cylinders which caused it to miss fire.

[BPMSport]

Originally Posted by Umi_All_Day

Did the engine get wet or did you wash it or anything like that? My friend was dumb enough to Wash his S65 with water and some water got in the cylinders which caused it to miss fire.

I don't see how that's possible.

More than likely a sensor got wet and caused limp mode.

[Rat3d ///M]

sounds like bank 2 throttle actuator to me. only thing that throws me off is misfire on cyl 4.

[pbonsalb]

I have driven 60 miles in limp home mode. I would not be concerned about your plan to drive to work and then get the car looked at. Probably you could clear codes, reset adaptions and the codes would not come back right away.

[fulltilt444]

Obviously you are going to get all kinds of answers here on the forum. If it were me, I would clear codes and take a quick drive around the block and see if the limp mode comes back. If so, read codes, and go from there.

If the car is in limp mode but driving OK, that meaning, not stuttering, jerking, etc, I would consider driving 40 miles while in limp mode. But if the car is clearly not running on all cylinders, I would NOT.

My 2 cents. :-)

[spiderspider]

you don't have roadside? Get roadside.

[E46M3forRay]

I think You should be ok driving it in limp mode and just drive it slow. However, just get the car looked at as soon as possible. I define Limp mode as a safety feature where the ecu will start to pull timing back etc to ensure your motor doesn't blow.

From experience, I drove my 335i from Reno to sf Bay Area in the snow in limp mode which is about 200 miles. It misfired in Reno when I started it up On a cold 10 degree morning and the whole dash just lit up. i decided to limp it back home to the Bay Area and was told by the dealer it needed 3 new injectors and a high pressure fuel pump. Car still running fine so it's feasible to drive it in limp, just don't wait it out at the last minute.

[redpriest]

Did you make it OP

[Apex Everything]

Originally Posted by redpriest

Did you make it OP

Nah in the morning it went from limp mode to gimp mode. I could not make it to the neighbors drive way, called my warranty people they have a tow company picking it up Monday then worked on Tuesday.

[redpriest]

Originally Posted by Apex Everything

Nah in the morning it went from limp mode to gimp mode. I could not make it to the neighbors drive way, called my warranty people they have a tow company picking it up Monday then worked on Tuesday.

Hope it's nothing too serious. Thankfully you have a warranty

[BPMSport]

Originally Posted by Apex Everything

Nah in the morning it went from limp mode to gimp mode. I could not make it to the neighbors drive way, called my warranty people they have a tow company picking it up Monday then worked on Tuesday.

Figured that would happen. Better right away than en route.

Good luck with the fix.