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Long Cranks Starting on 335

13K views 16 replies 15 participants last post by  need4speed  
#1 ·
I have a 2008 335 coupe with 20k miles. Over the last two months I have started having intermittent cold start long cranks. Most times, the engine starts instantly, but every now and then, it turns over for a few seconds before starting. Yesterday, for the first time, the engine failed to start after turning over for several seconds when I pushed the start button and the dash lit up the "check engine soon" when the engine stopped turning over. I hit the start button a second time and after about 2 seconds, the engine started and the fault light turned off.

My understanding is that the dme will store the fault (up to a set number of faults).

For those of you who have been down this road with your dealer, do I need to wait until the engine consistently has a cold start long crank? Or will the dealer try a fix based on the stored fault?

Today the engine started up after about 2 seconds.

I don't want to waste my time with a trip to the dealer for an overnight stay so they can see what happens on a cold start, and refuse to fix the problem unless they see the fault. But I don't get stranded with a failed pump either.

All advice welcome.
 
#2 ·
You sound like you know what you're talking about - in terms of the dealership needing to see a fault code and, most likely, needing it over night for a cold start. Sorry but this is possibly what it will take. FWIW - I'm on my fourth HPFP but a pump failure has never stranded me. The engine idled rough, the check engine light/reduced power indicator came on, etc. (it was intermittent as you describe) but the car was drivable at reduced power (50ish MPH). They may be quicker to acknowledge what this is these days, but you never know. I would notify your service advisor that this is what you've been experiencing. Don't necessarily insist that it's the HPFP - because there are a range of things they're going to look at (software, fuel injectors, waste gates, etc.) Good luck!
 
#4 ·
I had the same problem with my car a few months back. Had long cranks in the morning and then one day, got the half engine light with reduced power. Shut it down, re-started and car ran normal. Made an appointment with my dealer for the next day and based on the fault codes stored, they ended up installing the 933 pump and software update.

Some people have stated they noticed reduced performance, lower mpg, and / or changes in the DS shift mode with their cars after getting the software update. For me, my car performs the same as when I first bought it new. Overall, I've been very happy with the repair and the only bug about the whole process was that I had to re-save some of my settings (seat position, radio station presets, lighting, etc. on the I-drive)
 
#5 ·
I had the same problem with my car a few months back. Had long cranks in the morning and then one day, got the half engine light with reduced power. Shut it down, re-started and car ran normal. Made an appointment with my dealer for the next day and based on the fault codes stored, they ended up installing the 933 pump and software update.

Some people have stated they noticed reduced performance, lower mpg, and / or changes in the DS shift mode with their cars after getting the software update. For me, my car performs the same as when I first bought it new. Overall, I've been very happy with the repair and the only bug about the whole process was that I had to re-save some of my settings (seat position, radio station presets, lighting, etc. on the I-drive)
+1. Magic 8 Ball says that a HPFP and/or injector replacement in is the OPs future. Software seems to be replaced as well. Welcome to the N54 HPFP failure club....
 
#6 ·
Even if there wasn't a fault code stored (if you got a check engine light then there definitely was) you should still complain about it. If you experience a long crank but no fault codes are stored, you can still get your car reprogrammed because it falls under "situation 1" of SIB XX-XX-XX (don't remember it off the top of my head).
 
#7 ·
Same thing was happening w my 2008 335i sedan. First start in the morning would take 2-5 seconds, then about two weeks ago it took 7-8, and then the rpm at idle was fluctuating from 1500-2500 with a check engine light shortly thereafter before I even backed out of the garage. Turned off the car & restarted it, no problems. When I took it in they gave it a software update and it was ready to go. It's only been a week or so since this service was done, but so far so good. No HPFP issues yet at 24k miles
 
#8 ·
I have a 2008 335 coupe with 20k miles. Over the last two months I have started having intermittent cold start long cranks. Most times, the engine starts instantly, but every now and then, it turns over for a few seconds before starting. Yesterday, for the first time, the engine failed to start after turning over for several seconds when I pushed the start button and the dash lit up the "check engine soon" when the engine stopped turning over. I hit the start button a second time and after about 2 seconds, the engine started and the fault light turned off.
I took mine in at your stage - dealer couldn't duplicate. But, complaint was documented.

When it progressed to 7-10 sec starts, they immediately reprogrammed which solved the problem.

Temporarily.

Now, starts quickly but have mildly rough idle w/occasional grind to stop only when starting cold. Getting worse. :wow:
 
#9 ·
I had two long crank starts. Rough idle, engine light on, but once running ran fine. Called the dealer and dropped the car the next day. They changed out the HPFP with the new model and I had the car back the next day, and that was only because I told them I could not pick it up that night. It was rather painless and not even hardly an inconvenience. Lesson learned, just call and make the appointment.
 
#12 ·
Wow. Two months. Should be a federal holiday.
 
#13 ·
I am looking at buying a 2008 335i that is a manufacturer ****back under CA lemon law. The reason for the ****back is noted as "Long Crank - Programmed/encoded control unit with CAS". Any opinions if that description sounds like a good result?

Thanks.
 
#14 · (Edited)
I'd be very wary of buying a 335 that already has had a fuel system issue. They seem to come in bunches on the same car. I would at least wait a while to see if the (yet another) new pump and SW fix works long term. I love my 335, but when it came time to replace my wife's 330 we went with the 335d. I just didn't want both cars to have possible HPFP gremlins. N4S
 
#17 ·
No not anywhere near a majority. IMHO one of the biggest issues with this whole mess is that BMW will not give any solid information about it. The rumors are surely worse than the true facts. No one really knows how wide spread it is, or if the latest, in a long line of "new fixes" will work this time. The new pump and SW fix sound like they have a good chance of fixing the issue. Time will tell. I have seen WAG's of anywhere from 0.5% to 20% of x35 motors have an issue. It is wide spread enough that BMW put a 10 year/100k warranty on the HPFP. Do your home work on the car. If it checks out, and you like it buy it. Know the warning signs and if you have any, go to the dealer and get it fixed. IMHO a few days in the shop is worth it for the fantastic driving experience that a 335 gives you. N4S