Engine Spluttering Then Limp Mode?

Kyosho · 04-22-2009, 02:58 PM

So just now, I started my car, and immediately it sounded horrible. The engine was spluttering and it sounded like it was about to die anytime. It would randomly rev up to 2.5k and then come back down to 800. Then on the nav screen, it says "Engine Malfunction, Reduced Power."
When I opened the hood, there was foam everywhere, it came from the foam cover thing on the hood. I'm pretty sure a rodent got in and started gnawing at my engine harness.
Any idea what parts he chewed up? or what else could have happened?
I'm having it towed to Sterling BMW in Newport Beach. Hopefully, they can fix it ASAP.
Oh yeah, I have no engine mods.

RambleJ · 04-22-2009, 03:03 PM

If it is due to a roddent chewing at your engine.. GL on getting BMW to cover that under warranty.

Kyosho · 04-22-2009, 03:04 PM

Damn, you dont think they can somehow cover it under warranty?

tek818 · 04-22-2009, 03:06 PM

I guarantee the issue is your spark plugs. I just had the EXACT same problem. I took it into the dealer, and they replaced all six fuel injectors and upgraded the software. Doing so made the idle a little better and it didn't throw a code, however when I put my tune back in that has a 4 degree timing advance at idle, the issue came back immediately. I replaced the plugs this weekend by myself and the issue is completely resolved-- tuned or valet mode (stock).

bmwzimmer · 04-22-2009, 03:13 PM

BMW won't cover it but your insurance company will... Of course you need to pay the deductible.

RambleJ · 04-22-2009, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyosho

So just now, I started my car, and immediately it sounded horrible. The engine was spluttering and it sounded like it was about to die anytime. It would randomly rev up to 2.5k and then come back down to 800. Then on the nav screen, it says "Engine Malfunction, Reduced Power."
When I opened the hood, there was foam everywhere, it came from the foam cover thing on the hood. I'm pretty sure a rodent got in and started gnawing at my engine harness.
Any idea what parts he chewed up? or what else could have happened?
I'm having it towed to Sterling BMW in Newport Beach. Hopefully, they can fix it ASAP.
Oh yeah, I have no engine mods.

What is that on your air filter? I can't really make it out in the pic..

Kyosho · 04-22-2009, 03:37 PM

foam and what looks to be like a hardened orange peel.

Kyosho · 04-22-2009, 05:36 PM

Dropped the car off at Sterling BMW in Newport Beach. I talked to my SA Chris Zappia. He said that they would take a look at it in the morning, but if it is damage caused by a rodent, it is NOT covered under warranty. But he would do his best to get a good discount on parts and labor. Also, only the Check Engine Light is on, so he said it isnt that bad to the point where all the lights on the dash are on.
Hopefully I will be hearing good news from him tomorrow

but if you guys are in the area and need service or anything. Give Chris a call he will hook it up.

luca335i · 04-22-2009, 05:40 PM

Put moth balls in the hood from now on.

Kyosho · 04-23-2009, 06:18 PM

Got the car back today.
They switched out spark plugs and fuel injectors. One of the cylinders was misfiring. Anyways, the car runs great again

My SA says that I should take some precaution with the rodents because they did see some chewing on different parts of the engine.
But everything is good

Thanks Chris for all the help.

tek818 · 04-23-2009, 09:02 PM

glad to hear it!

kyleb350 · 04-23-2009, 09:11 PM

Sounds familiar. I had the exact same issue/resolution (minus the hood insulation everywhere

)

SI B12 06 09

04-22-2009, 02:58 PM	#1
Kyosho Lieutenant 17 Rep 568 Posts Drives: 991.2 GT3 // Panamera Turbo Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Irvine CA iTrader: (4)	Engine Spluttering Then Limp Mode? So just now, I started my car, and immediately it sounded horrible. The engine was spluttering and it sounded like it was about to die anytime. It would randomly rev up to 2.5k and then come back down to 800. Then on the nav screen, it says "Engine Malfunction, Reduced Power." When I opened the hood, there was foam everywhere, it came from the foam cover thing on the hood. I'm pretty sure a rodent got in and started gnawing at my engine harness. Any idea what parts he chewed up? or what else could have happened? I'm having it towed to Sterling BMW in Newport Beach. Hopefully, they can fix it ASAP. Oh yeah, I have no engine mods. __________________ Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car and oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, torque is how far you take the wall with you."
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04-22-2009, 03:03 PM	#2
RambleJ Colonel 60 Rep 2,014 Posts Drives: F10 535i M-sport Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Back in teh so cal iTrader: (2)	If it is due to a roddent chewing at your engine.. GL on getting BMW to cover that under warranty.
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04-22-2009, 03:04 PM	#3
Kyosho Lieutenant 17 Rep 568 Posts Drives: 991.2 GT3 // Panamera Turbo Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Irvine CA iTrader: (4)	Damn, you dont think they can somehow cover it under warranty? __________________ Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car and oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, torque is how far you take the wall with you."
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04-22-2009, 03:06 PM	#4
tek818 Lieutenant Colonel 136 Rep 1,954 Posts Drives: 2020 X3M Competition Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2018 M3 ZCP [9.50]	I guarantee the issue is your spark plugs. I just had the EXACT same problem. I took it into the dealer, and they replaced all six fuel injectors and upgraded the software. Doing so made the idle a little better and it didn't throw a code, however when I put my tune back in that has a 4 degree timing advance at idle, the issue came back immediately. I replaced the plugs this weekend by myself and the issue is completely resolved-- tuned or valet mode (stock).
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04-22-2009, 03:13 PM	#5
bmwzimmer Major 35 Rep 1,084 Posts Drives: 335 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: 91 octane states iTrader: (0)	BMW won't cover it but your insurance company will... Of course you need to pay the deductible.
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04-22-2009, 03:37 PM	#7
Kyosho Lieutenant 17 Rep 568 Posts Drives: 991.2 GT3 // Panamera Turbo Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Irvine CA iTrader: (4)	foam and what looks to be like a hardened orange peel. __________________ Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car and oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, torque is how far you take the wall with you."
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04-22-2009, 05:36 PM	#8
Kyosho Lieutenant 17 Rep 568 Posts Drives: 991.2 GT3 // Panamera Turbo Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Irvine CA iTrader: (4)	Dropped the car off at Sterling BMW in Newport Beach. I talked to my SA Chris Zappia. He said that they would take a look at it in the morning, but if it is damage caused by a rodent, it is NOT covered under warranty. But he would do his best to get a good discount on parts and labor. Also, only the Check Engine Light is on, so he said it isnt that bad to the point where all the lights on the dash are on. Hopefully I will be hearing good news from him tomorrow but if you guys are in the area and need service or anything. Give Chris a call he will hook it up. __________________ Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car and oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, torque is how far you take the wall with you."
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04-22-2009, 05:40 PM	#9
luca335i Major 57 Rep 1,193 Posts Drives: 335I Sedan Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Unknown iTrader: (3)	Put moth balls in the hood from now on.
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04-23-2009, 06:18 PM	#10
Kyosho Lieutenant 17 Rep 568 Posts Drives: 991.2 GT3 // Panamera Turbo Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Irvine CA iTrader: (4)	Got the car back today. They switched out spark plugs and fuel injectors. One of the cylinders was misfiring. Anyways, the car runs great again My SA says that I should take some precaution with the rodents because they did see some chewing on different parts of the engine. But everything is good Thanks Chris for all the help. __________________ Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car and oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car. Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, torque is how far you take the wall with you."
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04-23-2009, 09:02 PM	#11
tek818 Lieutenant Colonel 136 Rep 1,954 Posts Drives: 2020 X3M Competition Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (2) Garage List 2018 M3 ZCP [9.50]	glad to hear it!
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04-23-2009, 09:11 PM	#12
kyleb350 Brigadier General 424 Rep 4,709 Posts Drives: '21 X3MC Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Milwaukee iTrader: (6)	Sounds familiar. I had the exact same issue/resolution (minus the hood insulation everywhere ) SI B12 06 09
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