Unsolved Problem!!

[nlb91]

ongoing problem with my 1series for probably over 2 years. 
 

It started with the EML illuminating in orange back then, this was intermittent and could be weeks/months until it happened again with no recognisable symptoms. Fast forward a little, now I have some symptoms when the EML appears… and that is a sluggish/lack of power but not in limp. I took it to the garage and they plugged it in and diagnosed a problem with EGR, I paid £600 for this to be replaced with a genuine BMW part and left the garage. After driving for roughly 15 minutes the light reappeared with the same symptoms to my horror! 
I took the car back, they checked some plastic pipe and said it was cracked and replaced it, again told me it was fine and I drove home to the light reappearing again. 

The garage at this point didn’t know what the problem was, and so I took it elsewhere for a second opinion. 
The second garage plugged it in, and it threw out what I’m assuming is the same code as before as they said it was EGR issue. 
I booked it in and they had a good look around it, they apparently cleaned the system, and spoke to BMW to ask for any further guidance. When I returned, the car was still the same and they had exhausted all avenues.

Since the cars age, I have just put up with the light flicking on and off and nobody being able to diagnose and fix and was running it to its death. 
 

Fast forward again to now…

I have a new problem, which was the car shaking when idle, and was told it could be a misfire. When the car went in for a check they plugged it in and it wasn’t showing misfire, up the ramp it went and they came back and said it was the crank. That it was all cracked and they could see it shaking which was causing the car to shake. I mentioned my clutch that I could feel the shake through the pedal, and it felt a little off and would that have any impact etc and was told no. 
Car goes in, crank and belt replaced. Gets in the car, exact same as before. With new rattle on the dash! 
Goes back in, he sent somebody out and listened to the engine (unsure why..the sound was coming from the dash and the shake was a visual on the whole car). I asked again, would this be anything to do with my clutch? He starts messing with the clutch, and noticed when it is fully pressed engine was quieter, and bringing it up to bite it was getting louder. Next thing, they’re telling me they’ve misdiagnosed it and that they should have looked further into the clutch issue and now say it’s that/flywheel. I am no mechanic, but this leaves me with questions as to why that wasn’t done in the first place. 
Anyway, I left the garage fuming that day, and started driving home. I got about 4 minutes down the bypass and started to hear a bit of a noise, like the exhaust of a kevved up car. Continues down the road and the noise gets louder and louder - this is no noise I have ever had before.

Goes back to the garage following day, apparently the flexi pipe is corroded and needs replacing/patching. Now, as I said I didn’t have this problem before the car went in for the crank and I’m reluctant to agree it coincidence. I have now noticed, that when the EML is on is when it is loudest, when the light goes off it’s pretty much non existent. However the light spends most of its life on at this point so it’s constantly noisy. 
 

Does anybody have any suggestions with the new issue in regard to the EML? Obviously the cost of the clutch is a big one, but if the EML can’t be fixed/the noise from engine/exhaust I don’t think I’ll be putting any more money in to it.
 

If you made it this far - thank you 😅 

[X5smw]

Hello!

what engine is it? What model ?

could be crank sensor, sticking throttle body, idle control valve, maf sensor…. 
 

I know as my x5 is giving me jip with similar symptoms

[Kevmond]

7 hours ago, nlb91 said:

 

ongoing problem with my 1series for probably over 2 years. 
 

It started with the EML illuminating in orange back then, this was intermittent and could be weeks/months until it happened again with no recognisable symptoms. Fast forward a little, now I have some symptoms when the EML appears… and that is a sluggish/lack of power but not in limp. I took it to the garage and they plugged it in and diagnosed a problem with EGR, I paid £600 for this to be replaced with a genuine BMW part and left the garage. After driving for roughly 15 minutes the light reappeared with the same symptoms to my horror! 
I took the car back, they checked some plastic pipe and said it was cracked and replaced it, again told me it was fine and I drove home to the light reappearing again. 

The garage at this point didn’t know what the problem was, and so I took it elsewhere for a second opinion. 
The second garage plugged it in, and it threw out what I’m assuming is the same code as before as they said it was EGR issue. 
I booked it in and they had a good look around it, they apparently cleaned the system, and spoke to BMW to ask for any further guidance. When I returned, the car was still the same and they had exhausted all avenues.

Since the cars age, I have just put up with the light flicking on and off and nobody being able to diagnose and fix and was running it to its death. 
 

Fast forward again to now…

I have a new problem, which was the car shaking when idle, and was told it could be a misfire. When the car went in for a check they plugged it in and it wasn’t showing misfire, up the ramp it went and they came back and said it was the crank. That it was all cracked and they could see it shaking which was causing the car to shake. I mentioned my clutch that I could feel the shake through the pedal, and it felt a little off and would that have any impact etc and was told no. 
Car goes in, crank and belt replaced. Gets in the car, exact same as before. With new rattle on the dash! 
Goes back in, he sent somebody out and listened to the engine (unsure why..the sound was coming from the dash and the shake was a visual on the whole car). I asked again, would this be anything to do with my clutch? He starts messing with the clutch, and noticed when it is fully pressed engine was quieter, and bringing it up to bite it was getting louder. Next thing, they’re telling me they’ve misdiagnosed it and that they should have looked further into the clutch issue and now say it’s that/flywheel. I am no mechanic, but this leaves me with questions as to why that wasn’t done in the first place. 
Anyway, I left the garage fuming that day, and started driving home. I got about 4 minutes down the bypass and started to hear a bit of a noise, like the exhaust of a kevved up car. Continues down the road and the noise gets louder and louder - this is no noise I have ever had before.

Goes back to the garage following day, apparently the flexi pipe is corroded and needs replacing/patching. Now, as I said I didn’t have this problem before the car went in for the crank and I’m reluctant to agree it coincidence. I have now noticed, that when the EML is on is when it is loudest, when the light goes off it’s pretty much non existent. However the light spends most of its life on at this point so it’s constantly noisy. 
 

Does anybody have any suggestions with the new issue in regard to the EML? Obviously the cost of the clutch is a big one, but if the EML can’t be fixed/the noise from engine/exhaust I don’t think I’ll be putting any more money in to it.
 

If you made it this far - thank you 😅 

Sounds like you've not had much luck!

When you say the crank has been replaced, I assume you mean crank pulley?? They're a vibration damper and not unknown to fail.
Why the garage didn't listen to you when you said the clutch felt odd I do not know!

Perhaps the EML is on due to Pre/Post cat sensors not tying up due to exhaust leak?