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Limp Mode

11K views 25 replies 13 participants last post by  Bk650 
#1 ·
650i with 69,000 on clock (I have done only 4,000 miles in 8 months).

Anyone help, as every garage I take it to haven't a clue!!

5 months after buying the car from a "reputable" dealer...

Engine Warning Light came on
Took to Garage who repaired the diaphragm breathers

Engine Warning Light re-appeared
Took to BMW specialist
Told me faulty battery – replaced battery
Also changed the oil and pollen filters and replaced the shock absorbers.

Engine Warning Light 3rd time…
BMW specialist investigated and told me there had been a fire in the boot and someone had cut the main wire from the battery to the front of the car.

Returned car to Amari Preston, UK (where bought car from).
Repaired faulty wiring test drove car and told me no problems…and the car hadn't been in a fire!
Next day - Engine Warning Light re-appeared – car went into Limp mode…
Electric Windows stopped working.
Parking Sensors stopped working.

Took car to BM specialist
Told me car had signs of water damage as Window Motors had "gunge" on them.
Replaced Both Window Motors
Their auto-electrician downloaded a load of software and re-calibrated the engine & PDL system which took car out of limp mode and the engine warning light.

Next day...engine warning light and limp mode.

Car starts in limp mode every morning and miss-fires when started.
Eventually improves as engine warms.

Any ideas!?
 
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#3 ·
Do you have "lemon" laws over there in the UK? It sounds like the car did indeed have an engine fire and while extinguishing the fire they did water damage to the car.

Maybe bring the car to a good independent BMW specialist and ask them to look for some concrete proof then confront the dealer with this evidence and try to get them find you a new car.
 
#4 ·
did u try auto viagra? awwww common guys he walked right into that one:angel:
 
#5 ·
Need to get the codes read properly. That's a lot of excess work done that doesn't sound like it is all related to your actual engine problem.
 
#23 ·
Did you get the codes read? The car's on-board computer probably has the answer.
 
#6 · (Edited)
fire/water damage

Hi, if your car has suffered from some form of fire or water damage, no matter how well repaired you should still see some tell tale signs. Water always leaves salt type stains and if it has caused a short there are often scorch marks, as the current in cars is very high. if fire damage you would see some plastic damage, whilst not an issue in the repair but left as not considered worth changing.
Many threads on here can tell you where water can get into your car, especially if it is a convertible. When you purchase the car, if it had been a fire it will possibly have been categorised d or c. The DVLA should be able to advise.
My view would be that I doubt that it is fire damage, as this is such a rare occurrence in modern BMW cars, Ferrari is a different matter lol.
 
#7 ·
Update!!!

Codes came up with a battery earth lead error, so replaced this lead with a new one together with an IBS lead (another £200!!!).

So, good news is the car was great for 2 days... then the dreaded engine management light re-appeared (first thing in morning when starting the car)

But the car has only once gone into limp mode and the warning light disappears once the car has warmed up.

Took it back to the garage who told me there is no longer a fault code on the battery, but it now shows a problem with the valvetronics.

Now, this I presume is gonna be another HUGE bill!

Anyone else experienced problems like this??
 
#9 ·
Sorry to say but it seems you have inherited a lemon. :( With all the replacement cost you have done so far, you probably could have gotten a better car by now. Unfortunately, not all things are reported that happens with a car so records sometimes cannot tell you the true details of a car. The car may have indeed have fire and water damage and they fix it just enough to put it back on the road. You are replacing things that do not have any thing to do with your engine warning light which means that these mechanics are trying anything at this point. Personally, I would get rid of this car. This car is basically a computer on wheels and if water gets in, you will see all kinds of errors develop over time. I think this will be a money pit.
 
#12 · (Edited)
Sounds like your battery is dead. Try jump starting the car and get a battery tender.

You probably need a new alternator since you appear to have changed the battery already. The battery is probably running down due to a bad alternator or some other problem putting an excessive drain on the battery.
 
#13 ·
Bad news is, it isn't the battery or the alternator...looks like it is an engine issue. Garage told me they had customer with similar problem - ie engine management light and starting/limp mode problems when it's cold - BMW repaired the valvetronics (£700) but the issue re-occurred so took it back to BM main dealer who said he needed a new engine (quoted £4,500 on a 3 series).

Not looking good.
 
#14 · (Edited)
I hate when I hear stories like this. I think you need to find a new mechanic. If you have no good independent BMW specialists in your area maybe even go to a BMW dealer for a diagnosis. (and hopefully not the dealer that recommended changing the motor on the 3er in your prior post).

If the mechanic cannot tell you exactly what the problem is then they have no clue what they are talking about and are just changing things randomly until the problem is solved. Except in this case it's an entire motor! How does this mechanic know that your issue is the same on the 3er?

You change an engine only when it's more economical to change vs repairing. Typically when you run an engine without oil or coolant are the only times you need to replace an entire motor.

Note that it also affects the value of your car when you change an engine.
 
#17 ·
OK, mechanic thinks he knows what the problem is - water in the control unit.

He has another customer who has had the exact same symptons on his 3 series and after BMW main dealer charged him £800 to replace an engine part which didn't cure the problem they diagnosed replacing the whole engine! - He wasn't prepared to do this so after testing the cylinder heads which were fine - they took out the control unit which had water in it.

After replacing it (£350) the car has been fine.

Unfortunately, my 6 series will be a lot more expensive!

Anyone know where the control unit is located so I can check it out before parting with loads of cash?
 
#19 ·
Update!!

Mechanic removed the VVT control unit and there is no water damage.

To replace the unit will cost another £500, but it may NOT solve the problem.

He has told me however that another BMW that had all the same symptoms as mine (limp mode on start up which eventually goes when engine warms) replaced the VVT unit and now all is fine.

Do I risk another £500???
 
#20 ·
Does anyone know any really good BMW auto-electricians in the UK???

I replaced the VVT control unit but it made NO difference.

Still not resolved my engine management issue - it's obviously an electrical issue, but apart from totally re-wiring the car I have no idea how to resolve the problem.

Limp mode isn't as bad now, but it's constantly miss firing and when I put my foot down the engine warning symbol flashes and then the car judders as if it's only firing on a couple of cylinders.

My mechanic has no idea what to do (despite being a specialist BMW mechanic).

NEVER buy a car from Amari Cars in Preston!!!!
 
#21 ·
Have you replaced the coils and plugs?
Did you get a scan tool to find what the codes are?
If valvetronic the first thing is to replace the valve cover gaskets and sync the servos.
Is the battery and alternator good?
If you have any electrical supply problems, solve them first. Poor battery and alternator performance throws random errors. It did to me. Once that is solved it will throw correct and relevant errors.
 
#22 ·
Good news is the car is no longer in Limp Mode (mechanic changed the timing on the valvetronics). Bad news is the engine management light is still on and when I take the car over 3,500 revs the light flashes and the whole car judders - stop, restart and it is all fine again!!???

Any ideas as every garage I go to in the UK haven't got a clue!
 
#26 ·
Damn get rid of it man.. Im suprised you held on to it this long. horror story
 
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