Problems with E82 125i - do I admit defeat?
Discussion
Just hoping to get some objective options here regarding what others would do in the same situation. Ive had my e82 coupe now just over a year. Its a 125i with the N52. For most of the time ive had it its always felt a bit flat performance wise in terms of acceleration - however sometimes it feels better than others. I have no fault codes and I use Bimmerlink and various other odd based apps
When it goes it goes very well but majority of the time something just feels off. I use it everyday with a lot of stop start journeys admittedly.
Below 1500 or generally at low revs it does not seem to have much punch. Recently I replaced the VCG and spark plugs along with coils and it felt better for a while however now it feels flat again. My Indys ive used have reportedly done a smoke test and compression test and all seems ok. At idle you can also feel what feels like a misfire or a hiccup every now and then.
As I can't get to the bottom of what may be causing it ive started to lose patience, often looking for others with similar issues on forum posts to no avail. I don't think im getting the full benefits of the lovely inline 6 characteristics and the car just generally feels heavy and slow to drive most of the time and unless you're really trying.
At this stage I dont know where to go next as I dont want to start throwing parts and money at it blindly. Im in half a mind to sell up however I dont know what else I would get for the value of the car and its a shame as I have spent out on other things to freshen it up, I thankfully bought it before used prices skyrocketed. Or do I just stick it out and wait for something to actually break. So far it has started and stop and not caused any major troubles but its just disappointing to drive most of all.
When it goes it goes very well but majority of the time something just feels off. I use it everyday with a lot of stop start journeys admittedly.
Below 1500 or generally at low revs it does not seem to have much punch. Recently I replaced the VCG and spark plugs along with coils and it felt better for a while however now it feels flat again. My Indys ive used have reportedly done a smoke test and compression test and all seems ok. At idle you can also feel what feels like a misfire or a hiccup every now and then.
As I can't get to the bottom of what may be causing it ive started to lose patience, often looking for others with similar issues on forum posts to no avail. I don't think im getting the full benefits of the lovely inline 6 characteristics and the car just generally feels heavy and slow to drive most of the time and unless you're really trying.
At this stage I dont know where to go next as I dont want to start throwing parts and money at it blindly. Im in half a mind to sell up however I dont know what else I would get for the value of the car and its a shame as I have spent out on other things to freshen it up, I thankfully bought it before used prices skyrocketed. Or do I just stick it out and wait for something to actually break. So far it has started and stop and not caused any major troubles but its just disappointing to drive most of all.
Have you checked all the rubber induction pipes as leaky ones can cause issues like you have, but splits aren't always too easy to see.
Failing that I'd try a specialist BMW Indy - there is a list of them in the BMW section on here. If it's any use to you I'd recommend RBM Hampshire in Hook. I've been going there since Ross started up in 2019 after 15 years at Sytner.
Failing that I'd try a specialist BMW Indy - there is a list of them in the BMW section on here. If it's any use to you I'd recommend RBM Hampshire in Hook. I've been going there since Ross started up in 2019 after 15 years at Sytner.
Probably not bad suggestion. I am currently using a Bmw indy at the moment whos suggested to wait until it worsens but i dont hold out much hope. It actually pulls well higher up the rev range but it loses momentum quickly when just driving normally. Whatevers going on has affected the steering too as it definitely requires more heft.
It would be a shame to give up on it as these are rare cars now and last of the n/a 6cyl bmws but its not living up to its reputation at the moment. I know the 125i is a detuned 130i but i have driven examples of both and im just sure something isn’t quite right.
It would be a shame to give up on it as these are rare cars now and last of the n/a 6cyl bmws but its not living up to its reputation at the moment. I know the 125i is a detuned 130i but i have driven examples of both and im just sure something isn’t quite right.
Edited by E82_125i on Friday 9th September 22:27
Admittedly i mainly do my driving around town so i often wonder if it adapts to the driving. However even then i noticed some days it feels less responsive. Would you say it’s similar to that of Vtec engines. I do think it does feel somewhat torquier lower down so i really on that a little more-in my old 1.8 civic i would definitely change down a gear!! Lol!
Would a rolling road advise what would cause any loss of power? Sorry i havent had much experience with any.
Would a rolling road advise what would cause any loss of power? Sorry i havent had much experience with any.
It is very odd. Thats what i thought that it should pull nicely through the whole rev range. Im guessing even in 125i tune?
Mine makes enough noise under 1500revs but doesnt feel like its moving very much…but the clutch isnt slipping and the revs arent surging.
My only other thought is something small like a wheel speed sensor, a fault popped up on a front one recently but never came back. Im clutching at straws really…a rolling road might clarify if it has lost power but im not sure how to tackle it.
Mine makes enough noise under 1500revs but doesnt feel like its moving very much…but the clutch isnt slipping and the revs arent surging.
My only other thought is something small like a wheel speed sensor, a fault popped up on a front one recently but never came back. Im clutching at straws really…a rolling road might clarify if it has lost power but im not sure how to tackle it.
Get it to a specialist for an assessment. This is not the N52 engine I know and love.
My 130i now has 152K miles on it (55 plate), requires rocker cover gasket, sump gasket - £1K of work quoted by specialist.
Pre-requisite for this is getting the exhaust flanges just under the engine renewed / replaced before I can get the gaskets's done. (£160)
You may spend £1k-£1.5k a year maintaining on these older cars, but it' well worth it unless a complete basket case.
BMW's last ever production N/A engine - hydraulic steering (on mine anyway).
Trying to replace in the current climate even for a 5 year old car would be £20-£30K.
Feel the love - get it to a specialist and get it fixed
Cheers,
Dougie.
p.s. Get it remapped also, you'll be up to around 260 bhp + serious torque gain.
My 130i now has 152K miles on it (55 plate), requires rocker cover gasket, sump gasket - £1K of work quoted by specialist.
Pre-requisite for this is getting the exhaust flanges just under the engine renewed / replaced before I can get the gaskets's done. (£160)
You may spend £1k-£1.5k a year maintaining on these older cars, but it' well worth it unless a complete basket case.
BMW's last ever production N/A engine - hydraulic steering (on mine anyway).
Trying to replace in the current climate even for a 5 year old car would be £20-£30K.
Feel the love - get it to a specialist and get it fixed
Cheers,
Dougie.
p.s. Get it remapped also, you'll be up to around 260 bhp + serious torque gain.
Edited by driver67 on Monday 12th September 23:40
My 125i wasn't too keen to pull from below 1500 rpm until I had it remapped - now as long as you aren't trying it in anything above 4th it will just pull. Remap is definitely worth doing, considering the power gains are considerable (I've seen 280bhp quoted, although 265 is probably more accurate), then you'll really see it zip up to the redline
Also worth giving the VANOS solenoids a clean, as if they get gunked up or start failing, they can cause the behaviour you're seeing.
Also worth giving the VANOS solenoids a clean, as if they get gunked up or start failing, they can cause the behaviour you're seeing.
E82_125i said:
It is very odd. Thats what i thought that it should pull nicely through the whole rev range. Im guessing even in 125i tune?
Mine makes enough noise under 1500revs but doesnt feel like its moving very much…but the clutch isnt slipping and the revs arent surging.
My only other thought is something small like a wheel speed sensor, a fault popped up on a front one recently but never came back. Im clutching at straws really…a rolling road might clarify if it has lost power but im not sure how to tackle it.
I thought my other half’s 125i was pretty flat about 4,000rpm compared to my 130i. A trip to P Torque remedied this nicely; it’s now got the power it should have and pulls smoothly throughout the rev range. Whilst it was plugged into his laptop, he was very happy with the condition of the engine.Mine makes enough noise under 1500revs but doesnt feel like its moving very much…but the clutch isnt slipping and the revs arent surging.
My only other thought is something small like a wheel speed sensor, a fault popped up on a front one recently but never came back. Im clutching at straws really…a rolling road might clarify if it has lost power but im not sure how to tackle it.
You could try the throttle reset adaptation (google it for the process because can’t remember it off the top of my head). It might perk it up.
Failing that, take it out for a good Italian tune up!
Well ive tried spraying some carb cleaner around the intake area to see if any idle spikes happen from a vacuum leak. No result there. My biggest fear is that I have a faulty plug, coil another gasket leak after replacing them but surely this would have been more or less instant straight afterwards.
While a remap is tempting, I would rather get to the bottom of any running issues beforehand...The main thing which tells me there is, is that the idle hiccups or judders even thought the actual amount of revs remain stable. It just doesn't feel as smooth as a 6cyl usually does. I cannot complain too much as the car runs fine and starts, stops and goes when I want- it just feels a bit sh*t to drive at the moment.
While a remap is tempting, I would rather get to the bottom of any running issues beforehand...The main thing which tells me there is, is that the idle hiccups or judders even thought the actual amount of revs remain stable. It just doesn't feel as smooth as a 6cyl usually does. I cannot complain too much as the car runs fine and starts, stops and goes when I want- it just feels a bit sh*t to drive at the moment.
aka_kerrly said:
When the camshaft sensor on the inlet cam started failing my n52 E90 started feeling flat and didn't have any buzz until 2000+rpm.
No error codes , I've just had enough BMWs to know how sensitive they are to cam+crank sensors... Only ever get genuine BMW sensors.
How did you manage to diagnose in the end? Did id eventually flag up? It sounds very similar to what im experiencing. No error codes , I've just had enough BMWs to know how sensitive they are to cam+crank sensors... Only ever get genuine BMW sensors.
Have you tried resetting throttle adaptations? From memory you turn the ignition on, then floor the accelerator for 30seconds, release the pedal and then start the engine. Then go for a spirited drive to see if it has worked.
The other thing to try might be to check tyre pressures are right (you comment about the steering feeling heavy made me wonder) and also going for a drive without TC on to see if there is an electrical/ sensor issue. I wonder if it is cutting power as it thinks there is slip.
Might be worth putting in some 99ron fuel to see if that makes a difference too.
The other thing to try might be to check tyre pressures are right (you comment about the steering feeling heavy made me wonder) and also going for a drive without TC on to see if there is an electrical/ sensor issue. I wonder if it is cutting power as it thinks there is slip.
Might be worth putting in some 99ron fuel to see if that makes a difference too.
MikeM6 said:
Have you tried resetting throttle adaptations? From memory you turn the ignition on, then floor the accelerator for 30seconds, release the pedal and then start the engine. Then go for a spirited drive to see if it has worked.
The other thing to try might be to check tyre pressures are right (you comment about the steering feeling heavy made me wonder) and also going for a drive without TC on to see if there is an electrical/ sensor issue. I wonder if it is cutting power as it thinks there is slip.
Might be worth putting in some 99ron fuel to see if that makes a difference too.
Thanks Mike. I have so far tried all those things to no avail. Admittedly I do need new rear tyres which may be causing the TC to cut power but so far driving with all the TC intervention off doesn't make much difference. The other thing to try might be to check tyre pressures are right (you comment about the steering feeling heavy made me wonder) and also going for a drive without TC on to see if there is an electrical/ sensor issue. I wonder if it is cutting power as it thinks there is slip.
Might be worth putting in some 99ron fuel to see if that makes a difference too.
driver67 said:
Get it to a specialist for an assessment. This is not the N52 engine I know and love.
My 130i now has 152K miles on it (55 plate), requires rocker cover gasket, sump gasket - £1K of work quoted by specialist.
Pre-requisite for this is getting the exhaust flanges just under the engine renewed / replaced before I can get the gaskets's done. (£160)
You may spend £1k-£1.5k a year maintaining on these older cars, but it' well worth it unless a complete basket case.
BMW's last ever production N/A engine - hydraulic steering (on mine anyway).
Trying to replace in the current climate even for a 5 year old car would be £20-£30K.
Feel the love - get it to a specialist and get it fixed
Cheers,
Dougie.
p.s. Get it remapped also, you'll be up to around 260 bhp + serious torque gain.
I'd like to think mine is worth spending on. Its an SE but has some M Sport bits on it aswell as the lower ride height and the bodywork and interior are in decent condition for its age. I really wanted to get some nice mods on it but im preoccupied with sorting out how it runs and I do use it for my work duties swell. Its just frustrating when you can't pinpoint the problem. I do see what you mean about replacing it in this climate.My 130i now has 152K miles on it (55 plate), requires rocker cover gasket, sump gasket - £1K of work quoted by specialist.
Pre-requisite for this is getting the exhaust flanges just under the engine renewed / replaced before I can get the gaskets's done. (£160)
You may spend £1k-£1.5k a year maintaining on these older cars, but it' well worth it unless a complete basket case.
BMW's last ever production N/A engine - hydraulic steering (on mine anyway).
Trying to replace in the current climate even for a 5 year old car would be £20-£30K.
Feel the love - get it to a specialist and get it fixed
Cheers,
Dougie.
p.s. Get it remapped also, you'll be up to around 260 bhp + serious torque gain.
Edited by driver67 on Monday 12th September 23:40
I need to find a specialist with good availability my way, my usual one - while good, is often very busy. Im based down in Surrey and I find most are fully booked most of the time or dont offer courtesy cars annoyingly.
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