what could it be?

[boneca]

Hi guys, looking for suggestions….

We had a pretty bad snow storm recently, not so much snow but few inches of snow Saturday following by icy rain on Sunday with freezing near 0 degrees temperatures.

I’m leaving on Monday morning to bring my kid to college about 120 miles away, decided to stop by gas station to fill her up and as soon as I stopped, car starting rough idle and engine malfunction message comes up.
I was able to park my car for a day and borrow my dad’s car to make the trip.

Same night I went to pick up my car, the engine lite is still on but idle is normal, driving home feels underpowered.

Yesterday morning driving to my mechanic to see what’s happening, same driving experience, idle is normal, engine lite is on, underpowered plus battery discharged message.

We reading the codes and see too many of them (multiple misfires etc.,) I do believe those are old codes that I’ve seen before but never bothered to clear, so we clearing the codes, engine lite goes away and car works normal!
So the only way to see if something comes up is to go by my normal daily activities and drive the car to see if anything comes up again!

I drove about 150 miles since and I see nothing out of ordinary, no errors, normal idle, no engine lite, no battery discharge message or else.

I don’t trust Carly too much anymore so mechanic gave me another reader to read errors if when they’ll show up!

So I guess I’m just trying to understand what can be the cause for such behavior!

I own the car for more than 3 years now and I don’t recall anything similar to this!

Car currently at 105000 miles
Spark plugs were replaced back in 2017 around 70000 miles (last time I’ve seen engine lite is on and it was cause by bad spark plug installed by the dealer)
I went to change my coils under recall about 3 years ago and they wouldn’t change them saying my index is too new 11 and they won’t change them to 12
Last time I saw battery discharge message was about 2 years ago and then it went away, I probably should replace my battery soon as I’ve been putting it off for some time.

Thanks all for suggestions and I will keep you posted!

[Naz24]

I was under the impression these cars needed spark plugs every 30k miles (mine were done at both 30k and 60K) and they failed like clockwork at 30k intervals.

When's the last time you did coils, too?

[boneca]

Originally Posted by Naz24

I was under the impression these cars needed spark plugs every 30k miles (mine were done at both 30k and 60K) and they failed like clockwork at 30k intervals.

When's the last time you did coils, too?

u probably right and its about time to get them replaced, sparks and coils.
I assume both of those can cause such behavior

[ncmoore12]

Originally Posted by boneca

u probably right and its about time to get them replaced, sparks and coils.
I assume both of those can cause such behavior

Yup sounds like the sparks and coils. That is how my car behaved when I was having my misfires. I ended up replacing all 8 since it was first time and I figured start fresh, but depends how you feel you could try replacing only the one that Carly is saying is throwing a misfire. Hopefully it is not the injectors...

[Naz24]

Originally Posted by ncmoore12

Yup sounds like the sparks and coils. That is how my car behaved when I was having my misfires. I ended up replacing all 8 since it was first time and I figured start fresh, but depends how you feel you could try replacing only the one that Carly is saying is throwing a misfire. Hopefully it is not the injectors...

Injectors would actually be a great thing to have go -- i believe BMW extended warranty on those, dealership did mine for free through a recall campaign

[boneca]

Originally Posted by ncmoore12

Yup sounds like the sparks and coils. That is how my car behaved when I was having my misfires. I ended up replacing all 8 since it was first time and I figured start fresh, but depends how you feel you could try replacing only the one that Carly is saying is throwing a misfire. Hopefully it is not the injectors...

Originally Posted by Naz24

Injectors would actually be a great thing to have go -- i believe BMW extended warranty on those, dealership did mine for free through a recall campaign

thanks again guys, I just looked at my records, looks like spark plugs and possibly ignition coils were replaced at 72000 miles which is roughly 30000 miles ago!
the timing is spot on!

Now I need to source all the parts myself as my warranty ran out and I'm not paying high premium at the dealer service, will take it to my mechanic!
I looked at ECS and they have 2 set of spark plugs:
1 set of 8 by Bosh is $72
1 set of 8 by Bosh M is $226
Ignition coils are $62 each which makes it pretty expensive
I'm also planning to replace my cooling lines as they were leaking.

Any suggestions on where to look for this parts for reasonable prices?

Thank you all very much!

[ncmoore12]

Originally Posted by boneca

thanks again guys, I just looked at my records, looks like spark plugs and possibly ignition coils were replaced at 72000 miles which is roughly 30000 miles ago!
the timing is spot on!

Now I need to source all the parts myself as my warranty ran out and I'm not paying high premium at the dealer service, will take it to my mechanic!
I looked at ECS and they have 2 set of spark plugs:
1 set of 8 by Bosh is $72
1 set of 8 by Bosh M is $226
Ignition coils are $62 each which makes it pretty expensive
I'm also planning to replace my cooling lines as they were leaking.

Any suggestions on where to look for this parts for reasonable prices?

Thank you all very much!

I got mine from FCP euro, I am all about that lifetime warranty. I figure I'll have to replace mine in another 30k miles like clockwork as well so I paid a little more to buy mine through them.

Didn't pay the ///M tax on my parts and bought everything below it looks like:

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...-12131712219x8
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/12-...ug-socket-14mm
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...ch-12120037580

Used this DIY Guide below and had no problems!

https://www.xbimmers.com/forums/show...rk+plug+change

[Naz24]

Originally Posted by boneca

thanks again guys, I just looked at my records, looks like spark plugs and possibly ignition coils were replaced at 72000 miles which is roughly 30000 miles ago!
the timing is spot on!

Now I need to source all the parts myself as my warranty ran out and I'm not paying high premium at the dealer service, will take it to my mechanic!
I looked at ECS and they have 2 set of spark plugs:
1 set of 8 by Bosh is $72
1 set of 8 by Bosh M is $226
Ignition coils are $62 each which makes it pretty expensive
I'm also planning to replace my cooling lines as they were leaking.

Any suggestions on where to look for this parts for reasonable prices?

Thank you all very much!

If you want cheapest OEM from dealer, try online at BMW South Atlanta, they typically have the cheapest prices online. I typically print out those prices and bring to my local parts counter to have them price-match

[boneca]

Originally Posted by ncmoore12

I got mine from FCP euro, I am all about that lifetime warranty. I figure I'll have to replace mine in another 30k miles like clockwork as well so I paid a little more to buy mine through them.

Didn't pay the ///M tax on my parts and bought everything below it looks like:

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...-12131712219x8
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/12-...ug-socket-14mm
https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...ch-12120037580

Used this DIY Guide below and had no problems!

https://www.xbimmers.com/forums/show...rk+plug+change

I really appreciate links brother
prices seems more than reasonable

Originally Posted by Naz24

If you want cheapest OEM from dealer, try online at BMW South Atlanta, they typically have the cheapest prices online. I typically print out those prices and bring to my local parts counter to have them price-match

yes I know of SA BMW, bought my f85 rotors from them back in April, ty for price match suggestion, still hesitant to go to the dealer for anything with exception of recalls

[argento]

What's your battery voltage at idle?

FWIW, my battery voltage at idle is 14.47V, and it was installed new in Dec.2017.

[9vapors]

Originally Posted by argento

What's your battery voltage at idle?

Yeah, I would start with a battery...

[boneca]

Originally Posted by 9vapors

Yeah, I would start with a battery...

Originally Posted by argento

What's your battery voltage at idle?

thx guys I'll check!

another issue this morning while driving to work got a lower front passenger tire pressure message, stopped and looked, huge amount of air coming out of the tire, so decided to swap with spare, took the wheel off and found that inside cord came out (tire toast) they lasted me 3+ seasons also my alignment not that great due to coilovers. So I swapped with spare and about to drive off but car wouldn't move, guess what my old spare that I transferred from my previous X5 wouldn't clear my front brakes, car wouldn't move and within those 2 feet it did move it scratched corners of my calipers I probably had to know better but I've used my spare once before on the rear without issues. So I ended up moving spare to the rear and rear wide tire to the front (it was fun using OEM jack and rain coming down, at least its in 40s today) just to get to the office (I had important meeting I couldn't miss) so my next step is to go to storage and put my summer wheels on and look for new set asap. Not a great option considering the weather but the only one I have!

January hasn't been great to me so far, between car issues and everything else its been a mess, Hope things will clear up in a near future!

thanks guys and sorry for the rant!

[do_0b]

Originally Posted by boneca

thx guys I'll check!

another issue this morning while driving to work got a lower front passenger tire pressure message, stopped and looked, huge amount of air coming out of the tire, so decided to swap with spare, took the wheel off and found that inside cord came out (tire toast) they lasted me 3+ seasons also my alignment not that great due to coilovers. So I swapped with spare and about to drive off but car wouldn't move, guess what my old spare that I transferred from my previous X5 wouldn't clear my front brakes, car wouldn't move and within those 2 feet it did move it scratched corners of my calipers I probably had to know better but I've used my spare once before on the rear without issues. So I ended up moving spare to the rear and rear wide tire to the front (it was fun using OEM jack and rain coming down, at least its in 40s today) just to get to the office (I had important meeting I couldn't miss) so my next step is to go to storage and put my summer wheels on and look for new set asap. Not a great option considering the weather but the only one I have!

January hasn't been great to me so far, between car issues and everything else its been a mess, Hope things will clear up in a near future!

thanks guys and sorry for the rant!

Im hoping it will clear up for you as I am dealing a similar issue with my car...its been almost a month.. i miss driving her. January hasn't been the greatest ...hopefully February will be a lot better.

[boneca]

Originally Posted by do_0b

Im hoping it will clear up for you as I am dealing a similar issue with my car...its been almost a month.. i miss driving her. January hasn't been the greatest ...hopefully February will be a lot better.

I appreciate it brother, we need some luck coming our way!

[argento]

Hopefully you hit rock bottom and the only way to go is up.

[heatmizr]

The cords came out of the tire.... You mean the tire was worn down to the cords?
or the inside of the tire came apart?

[boneca]

Originally Posted by argento

Hopefully you hit rock bottom and the only way to go is up.

I really hope so!

Originally Posted by heatmizr

The cords came out of the tire.... You mean the tire was worn down to the cords?
or the inside of the tire came apart?

tire was worn down to the cord from the inner side, happened to my 22" last summer but on the rear.
I probably put around 50k miles on these tires and my alignment not great, so its just a matter of time

I've tried to dial in my alignment multiple times with no success, that what coilovers will do for u. (I know one can argue but I have my own story)

[heatmizr]

These vehicles have enough built-in issues without adding more of our own doing...
Maybe sending the kid(s) off to school will free up some time for a closer relationship with the X, sounds like it needs some luv. I have many years to go for that though...