new DDE needed

Purchased an '09 "d" with 75K miles. While driving about 15mph the car suddenly died. Took it to my indy mechanic who determined that the HPFP is supplying fuel to the front but the injectors are not pulsating. Then towed it to the dealer and they are informing me the "DDE", which I believe is actually an ECU, is bad and needs replacing. It's a $1600 part plus $800 install. Any advice on saving some money on this procedure? I'm guessing I cannot use a used one but can I order from Germany and save money? Is the price to install/program normal? I have owned high end cars in the past including the S600, and to replace an ECU here seems excessive.


Rob Frey
Buffalo NY/ Columbus, OH
2009 335d
2006 Smart cdi

damn amigo thats a tough one to bite

Originally Posted by robfrey1

Purchased an '09 "d" with 75K miles. While driving about 15mph the car suddenly died. Took it to my indy mechanic who determined that the HPFP is supplying fuel to the front but the injectors are not pulsating. Then towed it to the dealer and they are informing me the "DDE", which I believe is actually an ECU, is bad and needs replacing. It's a $1600 part plus $800 install. Any advice on saving some money on this procedure? I'm guessing I cannot use a used one but can I order from Germany and save money? Is the price to install/program normal? I have owned high end cars in the past including the S600, and to replace an ECU here seems excessive.


Rob Frey
Buffalo NY/ Columbus, OH
2009 335d
2006 Smart cdi

I haven't been keeping track of prices, so consider this remark with a grain of salt. Almost sounds like they're letting you off easy. Where it gets messy is if that doesn't solve the problem.

It's covered under the warranty for emissions control equipment.
I'm having mine replaced right now by BMW @ 65,000 miles (106,000 KM).
The expensive part is cleaning the cylinder off carbon + replacing the injectors & intake manifold. Those repairs can cost over $10k!
I had those done out of warranty but BMW paid for the parts out of goodwill and I paid for the labor ($3,800)!

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DC, did your D finally come back around from the dark side of the moon? I read all your drama with the inectors, DDE, intake coking but then i recall the dash light going on again. All done?

Originally Posted by BB_cuda

DC, did your D finally come back around from the dark side of the moon? I read all your drama with the inectors, DDE, intake coking but then i recall the dash light going on again. All done?

I'm still driving an f30/328xi loaner for the last two Weeks and counting.
It had 4,500 km when I took it and currently am at 6,500 km.

It seems that BMW doesn't stock any parts for our D here and shipping from Germany takes at least 2 Weeks.

The SA said replacing the DDE is not a guaranteed fix! So looks like BMW isn't sure what the cause is.
Fortunately my D is stock with no mods.

At this rate by the time my D is ready the 328d might be available for me to trade down to!

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This also my experience here in Atlanta. The dealer are replacing parts hoping that at some point the car will be fixed. Often the parts are expensive and not stock locally. My car is stock and I had one injector replaced multiple time. I do not think it is the fuel because I have 5 injectors that are original and injector #2 failed 3 times! One time it was less than 10 miles from the dealer, just after the injector was just replaced.

Must be a batch of faulty injectors.
I wonder if the 4 cyl diesel and the new 6 cyl powertrains for the 328d and f10/535d use the same injectors?

I think it may be time to avoid BMW diesel vehicles if the injectors keep failing.

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This parts switch out guessing really concerns me. Dad always taught me to diagnose a problem before buying parts. From a owner having warranty coverage perspective, perhaps this is not a bad thing at first glance. But, service doesn't truelly learn how to fix a problem the next time around if they change out 5 things and only 1 of them was the root of the matter. Here is how it screws us over in the long term. Above happens and then later an uncovered owners comes with same problem. They are pushed to change parts that may or may not have to do with the problem. Not to mention waiting 2 weeks for a parts that may or may not be needed.

This gives signs that US based BMW diesel tech is lacking. I wonder how much tech help from Europe is being offered. Of course some of the stuff only existing here and no where else doesn't help matters.

The point is the injectors are not actually failing. In most cases it turns out to be either an updated DME program is needed or the DME needs to be replaced. I also read one case where the engine wiring harness had to be replaced. Lets get real, the same injector is not going to fail 4 times when none of the others have failed. And one fails after 10 miles. Don't think so.

Now carbon buildup, that is real. But it doesn't seem to happen to all the cars, just a small percentage at this point.

I had a long discussion with the SA and technician about the injector problem. As I said in an earlier post, the problem is in the DDE software and the emission control. The technician plug the car to the diagnostic tool, the tool say: "Injector #2 is defective, replace". The dealer has to do what the diagnostic tool said if he want to get paid.

At the third injector replacement, the dealer opened a PUMA case. My understanding is that BMW instructed the dealer to erase the software in the DDE and install new software.

Ugh..makes sense but still a PITA.



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Stealership just called to say the car is fixed and running fine. $2,466 was the total bill to replace the DDE. I called BMW NA that happened to be in Columbus, OH, just 10 miles from the dealership where the car was towed to, and filed a claim to get them to cover the part due to premature wear. Within 30 minutes they called back and denied the claim. I asked them if it isn't premature wear, can I count on having to replace the DDE every 4 years and if so, I'm immediately selling this car and telling my 19.4 friends not to buy a BMW. They replied back that my problem is a very unusual problem that is likely not to occur again. So the obvious reply is, so from what you just told me, you agree it is premature wear! Rrrrrrrrrrrr.

Originally Posted by robfrey1

Stealership just called to say the car is fixed and running fine. $2,466 was the total bill to replace the DDE. I called BMW NA that happened to be in Columbus, OH, just 10 miles from the dealership where the car was towed to, and filed a claim to get them to cover the part due to premature wear. Within 30 minutes they called back and denied the claim. I asked them if it isn't premature wear, can I count on having to replace the DDE every 4 years and if so, I'm immediately selling this car and telling my 19.4 friends not to buy a BMW. They replied back that my problem is a very unusual problem that is likely not to occur again. So the obvious reply is, so from what you just told me, you agree it is premature wear! Rrrrrrrrrrrr.

Rob, I assume you don't have the extended warranty?

I'm not sure electronic parts would be considered premature wear, as they aren't really subject to wear and tear like mechanical components or body parts. Premature failure, perhaps, but it is 4-5 years old and electronics can fail at anytime. Certainly not something expected to occur, but then that is why folks buy the extended warranty on the bet that it might. The companies selling the warranty are betting they won't fail, but then they are armed with all of the accuarial data that supports their pricing of these warranties so they can make a profit on it.

As we say in the South, "Tough Titty!"

But we feel your frustration!

All this is real big BS on BMW Engineering's part. That is the blunt truth.
They advise the dealerships exactly what to repair, dealer does as protocol so they get paid.

So far, it's over 40+ days (total 90+ days) since my car has been at the dealership for SES light that keeps coming back.

So far, cylinder head, intake manifold cleaned, DDE replaced, ALL 6 injectors replaced (the most recent repair), and anything else BMW Engineering comes up with. Car is STILL NOT fixed. SES keeps coming back.
According to the dealership, over $5k in parts have replaced to address this issue. Forget the labor costs. Still no resolution. This is mind boggling for me that it can be this complex to fix. I feel the right people in Engineering are not involved to address these issues.

I am on the 4th loaner; so far I put over 8k on the loaners. Dealership has been great, BMW Engineering clearly is not working on this problem properly. It should take a maximum of 2 weeks to get a complete Engine replaced. 40+ days for an check engine light makes no sense.

They really better get their act together, otherwise their new diesel market in the US is going to be hit hard.

@135_vs. Yikes! With all them parts replaced and your D is still not fixed!
Clearly BMW hasn't a clue how to solve our D's issues.
This is very disheartening.