DEF Fluid Help

Originally Posted by Flyingman

Haha, yes, and their service website pull down list does not even show the 335d as existing, so of course they haven't got a clue!

Next time ask how many 335d's they've sold?

Can't you go to any other BMW service center in the area? I'd expect to see a lot more BMW diesels in the Greater Delaware area.

Well, I finally got through to the service manager and she checked into it and apologized profusely. The DEF wasn't serviced so I had to bring it back for the service. Hopefully, they got it right this time. (I think they did because it took them an hour to do it.)

There aren't any convenient alternatives. The only other dealer in DE is down by Dover or 50 odd miles away. There are dealers in Philly, but Philly rush hours are awful and I'd have to rent a car. Moreover, losing 2-3 hours of work to fart around with the car costs me a lot (>$1K). Frankly, I'd rather do the service myself. Yes, it would be cheaper -- much cheaper -- to buy the darned DEF machine for $328. Dealers don't understand the real economics of professionals. They assume that there is no cost to the customer if they don't charge him anything. Actually, what the dealer charges you is the smallest part of the cost.

In any event, it is done this time - hopefully for another year.

Looks like BMW finally changed their "BMW Maintenance Program" link to say:
Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)3 - refill both tanks (only in conjunction with an eligible engine oil and filter replacement)

Used to be drain and refill -BMW NA Customer Relations was actually listening to my rant.

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...ceprogram.aspx


Oh and the BMWtis.com link to their TSB's no longer seems to be accessible -has it always been subscribe and pay?

-sigh-

i'm book marking this post.

Originally Posted by Tedj101

Well, I finally got through to the service manager and she checked into it and apologized profusely. The DEF wasn't serviced so I had to bring it back for the service. Hopefully, they got it right this time. (I think they did because it took them an hour to do it.)

There aren't any convenient alternatives. The only other dealer in DE is down by Dover or 50 odd miles away. There are dealers in Philly, but Philly rush hours are awful and I'd have to rent a car. Moreover, losing 2-3 hours of work to fart around with the car costs me a lot (>$1K). Frankly, I'd rather do the service myself. Yes, it would be cheaper -- much cheaper -- to buy the darned DEF machine for $328. Dealers don't understand the real economics of professionals. They assume that there is no cost to the customer if they don't charge him anything. Actually, what the dealer charges you is the smallest part of the cost.

In any event, it is done this time - hopefully for another year.

Is the machine really only $328?

Lately I have found it is cheaper for me to have my truck towed to/from the shop than for me to miss all the work it takes to get it to/from the shop. The BMW dealer however is actually in my path.

You guys can add DEF yourself. There's no need to take it to the dealer. Here in Germany where there are diesels everywhere, some gas stations have a separate pump for it.

http://deutschland.air1.info/de/adbl...g/default.aspx

Look online where you can buy it in the states. Pop the lid, use your screwdriver handle to take to cap off & fill it up.

Originally Posted by Mbretl

You guys can add DEF yourself. There's no need to take it to the dealer. Here in Germany where there are diesels everywhere, some gas stations have a separate pump for it.

http://deutschland.air1.info/de/adbl...g/default.aspx

Look online where you can buy it in the states. Pop the lid, use your screwdriver handle to take to cap off & fill it up.

I understand there is a special tool required to connect to the car. Where is it sold?


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Originally Posted by rmorin49

I understand there is a special tool required to connect to the car. Where is it sold?


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The smaller bottles have the correct nozzle. The bigger ones do not. If a funnel or adaptor exists then would be nice to know where to get it.

I use a funnel with a tight fit. I got another mid-cycle low DEF light just last week and refilled again this past Friday. It was a piece of cake. I even showed my wife how to do it.

I haven't done it, but I have read where someone used one of the small BMW bottles of DEF as a funnel, by cutting the bottom half off after emptying it.

I purchased a 2.5 gallon container of DEF and use a section of clear aquarium tubing to siphon the DEF into the storage tank. The tubing is small enough to fit into the small inner hole leading to the tank.

I plan to keep the empty 2.5 gallon container, and refilling at a bulk DEF pump (e.g., http://www.pilottravelcenters.com/Lo...luid+%28DEF%29 ). It appears that bulk DEF can generally be purchased for about $2.599/gallon.

What technique do you use to get the siphon started? Also, I've never removed my DEF cover plate. Is it obvious where to insert the tubing?

When you open up the door for it there are two places you can use to fill up the tanks. As I understand one is for each tank. Someone on here has posted up a picture explaining which one is which. I never can remember offhand. I like this idea of siphoning in using a small plastic tube and I actually have a small siphon pump that is hand operated and would be perfect for this job.

No need to siphon. Let gravity do the job.

Originally Posted by dunderhi

No need to siphon. Let gravity do the job.

I was thinking a siphon to prime the start of the job. My experience with getting something from a jug into something else is you got to prime the line with something, be it your mouth or a pump.

When u get a warning that the DEF is low how much do u need to top it off and do u need to fill both reservoirs on the car? Still a little confused as to how to get the fluid into the reservoirs. I will save some 1 gallon containers and go to Pilot and buy bulk fluid. Thanks for the info. Anyone with pics to illustrate the filling procedure? Do u need a special wrench to remove the caps?


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Originally Posted by Snipe656

I was thinking a siphon to prime the start of the job. My experience with getting something from a jug into something else is you got to prime the line with something, be it your mouth or a pump.

I put the 2.5 gal jug on a cart or box that's higher than the port and pour.

When you get the warning you have a 1000 miles before it will not start again from being low on fluid. I think with that being the case that you are probably then running just on the active tank, but maybe someone knows for certain. Since the passive transfers into the active then you should just need to add some fluid to the passive. As to how much, I guess it would depend on your goal. If the goal is just to make it last until you get to the dealer then probably no point in adding anything.

I can't seem to find it but somewhere on here is a link posted to a DIY howto on adding DEF to these cars with pictures showing how to do it. But you basically just need to know which port behind the fill door is the one for the passive and which for the active. Or guess really does not matter because if you start to fill up the active then it will not take a lot and you can switch then to the other port.

Originally Posted by rmorin49

When u get a warning that the DEF is low how much do u need to top it off and do u need to fill both reservoirs on the car? Still a little confused as to how to get the fluid into the reservoirs. I will save some 1 gallon containers and go to Pilot and buy bulk fluid. Thanks for the info. Anyone with pics to illustrate the filling procedure?


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If you get a warning between services usually means you transfer pump has lost it's prime. So filling the passive tank won't help. The active tank is smaller, but I don't remember the exact capicity at this time. I think about a gallon is enough to reset the light and not to have to worry about it for a few thousand miles. I usually get 5k or so from the active tank.

Originally Posted by dunderhi

If you get a warning between services usually means you transfer pump has lost it's prime.

I wish this had been the case with mine. I simply was out of fluid prematurely. Seems another common reason for the light to come on early is sometimes the technicians screw up and only fill up one tank instead of both.

Once the pump loses its prime is a trip to the dealer the only way to get it working properly again?

Originally Posted by AZDrPhil

Once the pump loses its prime is a trip to the dealer the only way to get it working properly again?

As far as I know the answer is yes.

I've had 2 oil changes on my D so far.
The first one they did refill the DEF as it lasted till my second oil change!

The second time they forgot the DEF as 3 days after the service my D protested with the warning that the DEF is almost empty and I called and had them refill the DEF.

One would have thought that a certified BMW Tech would know the requirements for servicing a D or at least have a check list to follow?

I stood by and watched them refill the DEF and instead of using the prescribed apparatus (which they showed me) they use a funnel and pour the DEF directly into the Active & Passive tanks and in the process I saw a lot of wastage due to spills!

Originally Posted by DC-IT

I stood by and watched them refill the DEF and instead of using the prescribed apparatus (which they showed me) they use a funnel and pour the DEF directly into the Active & Passive tanks and in the process I saw a lot of wastage due to spills!

They spilled a lot when my car had it's second oil change. I bet this is why but I was not there to watch. The first oil change they were still doing the drain and refill method.

Do the caps just twist off by hand or do u need a special wrench? I noticed they had a torx like indentation on each cap. Under one of my caps there is a label but I haven't removed the cap to read what it says. I also confirmed that my local Pilot truck stop does have bulk def for 2.59/gallon. Will they allow it to be dispensed into any type of container?


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Originally Posted by rmorin49

Do the caps just twist off by hand or do u need a special wrench?...

I've been able to twist mine off by hand.