F32 Drivetrain warning

F32 Drivetrain warning

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whiteonyx

Original Poster:

369 posts

222 months

Sunday 2nd April 2023
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Hi everyone, i keep getting a drivetrain warning during very mild acceleration which is driving me mad. If the warning comes up twice i lose drive completely which can be dangerous on the motorway.
I'm not a heavy right foot driver either, i this a common fault or does my car have a faulty sensor?
2016 418D

d_a_n1979

9,683 posts

79 months

Sunday 2nd April 2023
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Could be all sorts; could be a failing battery/bad battery connections - have you checked the voltages to see what the battery is running at etc?

What about getting the codes read?

No point in guessing until you do the basic etc

idrussell

28 posts

113 months

Monday 3rd April 2023
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Have you had the EGR replaced under the recall? My bet would be this if it hasn't been done nut you need to get the codes read.

deutsche.diagnostics

152 posts

20 months

Monday 3rd April 2023
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Yeah, most likely EGR failing/sticking.

You can remove it and give it a good clean, will probably sort it.

However, they do fail electrically as well.


There is a new recall out, so check with BMW as they may swap it anyway.



If you are cruising along at say 1800rpm and the slowly accelerate, you often get a slight delay before it picks up, followed by the drivetrain error if the EGR is failing.


whiteonyx

Original Poster:

369 posts

222 months

Tuesday 4th April 2023
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Going to invest in a OBD2 reader to see if that gives me the answer, it was recalled in November 22 for the EGR but Halliwell Jones said it was a software update recall. Don't trust Halliwells in Southport so may contact another BMW dealership.

okenemem

1,375 posts

201 months

Tuesday 4th April 2023
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had this twice

once on x5 which was egr and nox sensor, egr replaced on recall

on the 320d f30 it was intermittenent so i didnt bother fixing

deutsche.diagnostics

152 posts

20 months

Tuesday 4th April 2023
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Is it doing this?

deutsche.diagnostics said:
If you are cruising along at say 1800rpm and the slowly accelerate, you often get a slight delay before it picks up, followed by the drivetrain error if the EGR is failing.
If so it is failing EGR.

Not EGR cooler, the actual EGR.

Also, tends not to leave a code.




whiteonyx

Original Poster:

369 posts

222 months

Friday 7th April 2023
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OBD2 reader saying O2 sensor 1 is faulty, would that cause a drivetrain warning? How easy is that sensor replaced?

deutsche.diagnostics

152 posts

20 months

Friday 7th April 2023
quotequote all
whiteonyx said:
OBD2 reader saying O2 sensor 1 is faulty, would that cause a drivetrain warning? How easy is that sensor replaced?
No.

O2 sensor 1 is pre cat from memory, and these often throw a fault code.

I wouldn't worry about it.




You still haven't answered the question, when you are cruising along at 30mph or so, 1800rpm and then accelerate, do you sometimes get a bit of hesitation?
If so your EGR is sticking, and this will throw the drivetrain warning.

It is one of, if not, the most common failure on the B47 engine.


whiteonyx

Original Poster:

369 posts

222 months

Friday 7th April 2023
quotequote all
Sometimes there’s slow pick up & when cornering using low acceleration (junctions) I get the drivetrain warning.
The warning sometimes comes on during steady driving and no acceleration.

W201_190e

12,738 posts

220 months

Friday 7th April 2023
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I would just take it into the dealer/independent. They’ll tell you the problem and how to fix it.

deutsche.diagnostics

152 posts

20 months

Saturday 8th April 2023
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whiteonyx said:
Sometimes there’s slow pick up & when cornering using low acceleration (junctions) I get the drivetrain warning.
The warning sometimes comes on during steady driving and no acceleration.
The slow pick up, almost like the tinniest of jolts, is sign your EGR is sticking.

The warning is after it has not done what is expected x amount of times, or if it won't open/close at all rather than delayed.


It is your EGR.

You remove it and clean it up, may sort it. But it is that.

deutsche.diagnostics

152 posts

20 months

Saturday 8th April 2023
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W201_190e said:
I would just take it into the dealer/independent. They’ll tell you the problem and how to fix it.
Hopefully, but unless they have seen this numerous times and take it for a drive, they may not. The codes left point at various possibilities.


But I agree, I would speak to them and ask if they know about failing EGRs on B47 engine. If they say yeah, done loads, great. If they say "No" or "Do you mean EGR cooler?" then try elsewhere.


BMW have just started a 3rd recall for EGR cooler and so would definitely call them as depending on what has been done when it went in before they may fit a new EGR anyway.


New one can be had for £120 and take 15 minutes to swap.


But the test is to drive along at 1500-2000rpm for 30 seconds and then slowly accelerate, if you get any sort of split second hesitation it is a failing EGR.

whiteonyx

Original Poster:

369 posts

222 months

Saturday 8th April 2023
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have ordered a new EGR valve, will keep you on the results

deutsche.diagnostics

152 posts

20 months

Saturday 8th April 2023
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Oh, OK. Did you do the test cruising and then hitting the throttle then?





Anyway, you will need 200mm security torx drivers to remove it.

Something like this will be good enough. One of the torx screws is deep down and there is sod all room to get a regular extension on a socket down there, hence a long torxdriver makes it a 2 minute job rather than hours.


https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07898CGW5/ref...


When you get yours out, it should be pretty spotless inside, if not give it a good clean and pop it back in, it might be all it needs.
Some EGR cleaner is good, let it soak.

But they do also fail on the electronics side, a lot.

But you might be able to return the one you ordered if yours cleans up and works.




Oh, and make sure the car is properly off when you put the EGR back in, so the flap doesn't come out and get damaged.
Nothing to worry about, but make sure the dash is all off, or at least no one presses the start button while you're fitting it in, that's all.

whiteonyx

Original Poster:

369 posts

222 months

Saturday 15th April 2023
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Removed EGR valve, a wee bit sooted

deutsche.diagnostics

152 posts

20 months

Saturday 15th April 2023
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Wow, a bit mucky.
Did you clean it up and put it back in?

What oil and diesel do you run?

Mine was a bit dusty. But I do change the oil every 8000 miles or so.

And I use a Millers diesel additive too. If you scan the car you can see the DPF is getting far less clogged with decent fuel and additives than just using the local Tesco diesel. If the DPF is getting less clogged then surely the EGR is staying cleaner too?


whiteonyx

Original Poster:

369 posts

222 months

Saturday 15th April 2023
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Cleaned first with some oven cleaner to get most off then some EGR spray.
Not managed to get into the gears as it seems the torx bit is a special 5 star type.
Using normal Shell fuel and the car get a 500 mile run once a month to Scotland n back so i thought long runs would keep the system in good shape.
It gets an oil change every 8-10K.
Fitting the EGR back in tomorrow, hoping it will be trouble free experience.
Is there a method or trick in closing the valve to re-seat it when fitting to prevent damage?


Edited by whiteonyx on Sunday 16th April 03:56