2009 X5 35D Diesel Exhaust Urea Reservoir Problem

Originally Posted by NewGTGuy

I agree about the cold weather issue. Seems fishy.

What time of year in 2010 did you guys get your X5s? I received mine very late (a month before they released the 2011 model) and do not have an issue with the DEF sensor. I seem to recall reading somewhere on this board that they changed it mid-year, but I could be mistaken.

Mine was built in October. About 10K miles now and have had NO issues with DEF whatsoever.

The European xdrive40d is exactly the same car and engine except the urea injection. We got this "green" system here thanks to the strict CALI emission requirements.

I strongly believe, that there should be a way to hack the system and bypass the urea injection (talking about after warranty time)... this is just matter of time, be patient.
There should be a way to trick the computer and make it work without this complicated system.

Originally Posted by 2002Dinan5

Other than truck stops where DEF can be easily purchased?

You can buy it online and have it delivered:looks like you can get 2 x 2.5 gallon bottles for $19.40: http://thelubricantstore.com/default...FQ5O2godSjzFvQ

There is some interesting info on DEF distribution on this oil company website-http://www.mansfieldoil.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=198&Itemid=348

I imagine it wont be very long before you can find it at any auto parts store- or gas statiion- its going to be big business. I saw an image on the mansfield oil website where it forecasts the demand for DEF by state:http://www.mansfieldoil.com//index.p...per&Itemid=375

Any truck stop should also have DEF...

Craig

The dealer refills it for free when I need it, and gave me a few extra bottles to keep on hand just in case. I keep one in the car under the rear storage bin, and a couple more at home.

My fuel exhaust reserve count down started...I have about 8,000 miles on the car, and it is saying I have about 952 miles before the car will not start. What is the normal about of miles before this should happen? Any idea? I will have to call in the morning...

Dealer told me it would need to be replenished at each oil change (12k miles), but might run out sooner, depending on driving conditions, etc.
I think the car based the time left on number of starts from when it runs low, not miles.
Either way, the dealer fills it at no charge. They gave me a few bottles so I can top it off myself if I run low and can't get in soon enough.

Ok...thx. I guess since I do mostly in town driving and stop and go alot perhaps I am running out sooner. I thought it was based on mileage.

Originally Posted by Collie1

Ok...thx. I guess since I do mostly in town driving and stop and go alot perhaps I am running out sooner. I thought it was based on mileage.

I'm going to guess that the DEF is directly (first order) related to total fuel consumption. Simply how many liters of diesel have you used.

Originally Posted by tol4o

We got this "green" system here thanks to the strict CALI emission requirements.

It's a Federal requirement.

Originally Posted by ard

I'm going to guess that the DEF is directly (first order) related to total fuel consumption. Simply how many liters of diesel have you used.

I have used about 1252.835 liters...about 331 gals of diesel. (no sure about the conversion)...although I save my gas slips so the 331 gals is accurate.

I called BMW and they said that the diesel needs service every 9,000 mls, not 15,000 as for gas. At the time of service they refill the fuel exhaust fluid. They said if it gets down to 250 mls before it won't start then bring it in and they will top it off, but it should be ok until I get to my 9,000 service.

Impressive to have that tally.

Per google, I read that DEF is about 2% of the diesel usage...so 2% of 331 gal is 6.6 gallons..and as I recall the X5 holds 6.5 gallons of def.

My 35d is coming up for the second oil change and I'm baffled with my DEF situation. At first service (10K miles) the dealer put in one can which I believe is 2.5 gallons. I insisted that he needed to put in more and had the service advisor go back and double check. He confirmed it only needed one can! I told him I'd be back. Now nearly 10K miles later, I am getting ready for the next oil change in 600 miles and there is no count down yet. It will be interesting to see how much they put in this time. It appears that I have plenty of DEF that's over a year old! That can't be good with stuff I've read about DEF crystallization and such like. Does anyone know when the DEF flush is due?

How many miles total, how many for the first 2.5 gallon fill?

I'd be concerned that the system is not metering enough DEF and is therefore not working properly. Less concerned with old DEF.

Originally Posted by ard

How many miles total, how many for the first 2.5 gallon fill?

I'd be concerned that the system is not metering enough DEF and is therefore not working properly. Less concerned with old DEF.

Hi Ard, My odometer reads almost exactly 20K miles and I got the refill at the first oil change at roughly 10K miles. Assuming the tech correctly reported one can of DEF, the first 10K miles used up only 2.5 gallons. My average mpg based on a rough calculation is 21. So, my DEF usage is roughly 0.5% of diesel consumption! I hooked up the OBD reader and there were no errors. I seriously doubt a dosing error. If the dosing system had an issue, the NOx sensor would pick up the increased amounts of NOx. Given how widely the SCR system is used in the US, I would think this is the most basic kind of failure manufacturers would prevent!!??

Well, what are the options?

1. You really used only 2.5 gal and your car is somehow meeting NOx at only 0.5%.>>>>>>> Maybe old DEF will be a concern. ask them to flush with the next service, or at least at year two

2. You actually used more than one "2.5 gal can"...and this next service will show 2.5 cans each 2.5 gallons.... ergo the first tech 'mis-spoke'>>>>>>>>>no problems.

After all the analysis, the DEF countdown just came on!! Another mystery solved! Looks like my DEF consumption rate is just under 1.5% of Diesel fuel consumption.

Also by a bizarre coincidence the dreaded CEL came on today as well. The code is P007B which I believe is the air temp sensor. I also managed to break a glass shelf in my fridge. It's been an eventful weekend and it's only Saturday night!

Edit: Corrected the OBDII code

Just put 1200 miles on the X5 total now. Went into the dealer to talk to my CA and they said they can't check the levels on the tank so they just decided to fill it up anyways. So much easier than having to complain and bitch about it later when it runs out prematurely