[dlm8751]

2011 335d E90
67,000

Can anyone offer advice on how to approach the dealership with this?

Nov 2014 - Carbon build up. $2500 (64,000 mi)
Feb 2015 - Mass Air Flow & ERG $2000 (66,700 mi)
Two weeks later (67,000) the light it back on. I've not taken anywhere to read the code(s) yet. Maybe later today.

I'm thinking this is the last straw. I bought the car last summer used, from a friend. It's got a little over 67,000 miles. It has been meticulously maintained. I'm thinking I get this fixed, for the third time and then sell it. Enough is enough. I'm not dropping $2,000 every three months for repairs.

I think they are misdiagnosing the car. When I first took the car back in Feb they came back with carbon build up, again which they supposedly fixed 3 months earlier. I fired that dealership and went to another one that an independent recommended. I've checked the gas cap. It doesn't click, but it never has.

[BB_cuda]

we can only guess without codes to start diagnosis

[kbsilver]

Originally Posted by dlm8751

I've checked the gas cap. It doesn't click, but it never has.

As others have said, without any codes really cannot help. The last repair may not have actually fixed what was broken.

A loose fuel cap on a diesel is not an issue. Because the vapor pressure of diesel is so low I do not think there is even any kind of vapor recovery system.

On our 2011 with 60K miles we have only had (so far) a single SES at 53K miles for CBU cleaning (which triggered a code for an injector).

[rogerdiaz]

purchase bmwhat app and bt adapter to see the codes

[dlm8751]

DPF is what they are saying now. So . . .

Last Nov - Carbon build-up
This Jan - Mass air flow
This Feb - DPF

Very tempted to sell the car after this fix, before the light comes on again.

[GottaBeKD]

Get the codes and post them here. Without it we are doing what the dealership is being accused of - guessing.

[Mik325tds]

Dlm, where are you located? If you're close to Detroit, MI I can help you reading the codes.

[dlm8751]

I'm in ATL. I got lazy and did not read the codes before I took it to United in Roswell (local independent shop recommendation), and I'll have to wait until I get the car back.

They are saying the DPF and it is still covered by the federal warranty.

I do like that car. Compared to the loaners it's a rocket. Embarrassed an M3 off the line the other day.

Any recommendations on the myriad USB/Bluetooth dongles and phone software; android?

[AzureHaze]

Originally Posted by dlm8751

Embarrassed an M3 off the line the other day.

An E46 M3 right?

[rulonger]

I bought the wireless dongle for BMWhat app off of Amazon and then bought the app - that is the solution for iPhones.

For the android, you can purchase the app and a cable. The generic cable is sold on Amazon, but there are mixed reviews. I also believe that there is branded BMWhat dongle also. A bit more expensive, but should be warranted to work with their app.

I hope that helps.

[Hoooper]

Originally Posted by AzureHaze

An E46 M3 right?

Well we do have something like 140 lb ft over e90/92 m3s so we should put a pretty big hurt on them for the first 10, maybe 15 ft.

[AzureHaze]

Originally Posted by Hoooper

Well we do have something like 140 lb ft over e90/92 m3s so we should put a pretty big hurt on them for the first 10, maybe 15 ft.

[dlm8751]

Got the car back. What a mess. I need to find the other invoices and look that the prior codes.
Code (this time): 4D16
RP-exhaust pipe scr cat

The mess:
They ordered the cat.
Started to replace the cat and found an oil leak.
Had to order parts for oil leak and stopped working on the car.
Got the parts for oil leak and restarted the work.
Discovered they had the wrong cat.
Had to order "the right" cat.
Got the right cat and discovered the manual didn't call out replacement of aluminum torx bolts for oil pan.
Had to order torx bolts.

So, I took the car in on 2/28 and got it back 3/20.

[ingenieur]

4D16 is a fault for SCR efficiency too low. Could be caused by a number of things....If it was not the SCR cat the fault will return - updates in a week or so would be good.

[dixy2k]

Originally Posted by dlm8751

DPF is what they are saying now. So . . .

Last Nov - Carbon build-up
This Jan - Mass air flow
This Feb - DPF

Very tempted to sell the car after this fix, before the light comes on again.

Before my car was diagnosed with CBU the dealer had to replace DPF, SCR, one turbo, MAF, and EGR valve and cooler.

It was so badly clogged up with soot that it couldn't be cleaned.

If your car is going through the same thing as mine, then everything may need to be replaced.

[ingenieur]

Originally Posted by dixy2k

Before my car was diagnosed with CBU the dealer had to replace DPF, SCR, one turbo, MAF, and EGR valve and cooler.

It was so badly clogged up with soot that it couldn't be cleaned.

If your car is going through the same thing as mine, then everything may need to be replaced.

I doubt it - sounds like they did not have a clue and shotgunned parts at it. Especially it they replaced the turbocharger for low air flow - these rarely fail.

[dixy2k]

There was diesel fuel inside the SCR due to incomplete regens.

[ingenieur]

Originally Posted by dixy2k

There was diesel fuel inside the SCR due to incomplete regens.

Really? - your driving style would cause this is what they are implying?

The DDE would set DPF faults for this if sooted heavily enough to the point that regens would no longer complete at a safe temperature.

CBG - crystal ball guess...ATMO....

[dixy2k]

Yes, for the first 50k miles I had no idea when the regen takes place and how long it takes to complete.
After I got everything cleaned up, I got the torque app and monitor everything ever since.
Driving in the city the regen will never be complete, so everything will add up and cause problems later.
Regen have to be completed at highway speeds at a steady speed/RPM above 1100F for at least 10 min.
Nobody tells you this at the dealer.
My regens take 10-15 miles usually.

[CharlesCA]

Originally Posted by dixy2k

Yes, for the first 50k miles I had no idea when the regen takes place and how long it takes to complete.
After I got everything cleaned up, I got the torque app and monitor everything ever since.
Driving in the city the regen will never be complete, so everything will add up and cause problems later.
Regen have to be completed at highway speeds at a steady speed/RPM above 1100F for at least 10 min.
Nobody tells you this at the dealer.
My regens take 10-15 miles usually.

How does one know when a regen is happening?

[335dwanted]

I watch for regens with my Torque app which I run most the time. I keep Exhaust Gas Temps as one of my dials. You can easily see a regen take place when the EGT jumps from normal range 400-700F to 900-1150F. I also have an alarm set in Torque when temps get above 950F.

If you are real sensitive to the car you can feel when a regen takes place, it is not quite as responsive. I think some have suggested the trans will also run a slightly different program holding on to gears a little longer but I can't confirm or deny that. Also, if on the highway running constant speed you'll easily see the instant fuel economy lower than you would expect, about 5 MPG lower or so.

[dixy2k]

and EGR goes to 0%