[mrbubba]

I had the DPF come up a few months ago, so the car went in to get it fixed. Not 100% sure what was done, but I know glow plugs were changed, along with some thermostats. They took the car out and forced a regeneration and everything has been fine, up until about 2 weeks ago.

I've tried to regen again, but it comes back after a week with DPF yellow warning on the iDrive.
I've looked at the BMW Carly App, as I have the DPF stuff paid for on there.

This is the readings I have from today




This was from last Thursday



I've just checked my temperature after doing the school run and it was at 92°, so surely that's enough to burn off the deposits

[Andy198712]

Are you doing long enough drives do you think?
Isn't one of the criteria a min speed to regen?

[Maxlude]

It's not only the coolant temperature parameters that have to be met before a DPF Regen can take place although they seem to be the most common cause and did work for me for a while.
The other main parameters that have to be met are the exhaust gas temp pre and post DPF and the pressure.
The EGT have to be high enough temp and the difference in value between pre and post not out of tolerance.
I had both replaced as they started reading untrue values which was then preventing the DPF regen from triggering. I used a C110 scanner for this. They are not expensive, about £35 each(I bought Denso ones) for my 56 plate 330d but replacing them can be PITA as the can get seized in the exhaust manifold and can shear off. My mech used a special heat gun on them first and they came out but he said more often than not they shear and then required a new manifold! He did warn me first but we had to attempt it as without the DPF regenerating it would cause all sorts of issues sooner or later.
By the time I had the thermostats and EGTs done, the pressure in the DPF was now too high and also preventing regen as I still had to drive it to get to work. It would try to start a regen but then cancel itself due to the high pressure error (it was over 45mb if I recall).
I drove up the motorway with my Mrs clearing the pressure too high code every time it appeared, after about 5 times, the pressure had reduced enough to complete a regen. It was the first time I had ever felt the car lose some power during a regen as it had never been so blocked before and always did continuous ones and never a forced one. I was only doing 50mph but had to change down to 4th gear uphill. It was like this for about 10-15mins then all normal again

[mrbubba]

Originally Posted by Andy198712

Are you doing long enough drives do you think?
Isn't one of the criteria a min speed to regen?

I travel to work for 6 days, which is around 40 minute journey, on the A331, A31 and then the A3, all dual carriageway roads.
Its about 18 miles there.

I'm probably not doing enough miles now to warrant a diesel, but can't afford to change just yet.

[mrbubba]

This is what shows up under fault codes when the DPF warning comes on

[Benskett]

18 miles is plenty. It'll be warm then and regen.
Download Torque also as you can watch the EGT temps.

[mrbubba]

Originally Posted by Benskett

18 miles is plenty. It'll be warm then and regen.
Download Torque also as you can watch the EGT temps.

I will have a look at that. It's currently with a mechanic friend for a few days.
A new car may be on the cards

[Styvy]

Originally Posted by mrbubba

I will have a look at that. It's currently with a mechanic friend for a few days.
A new car may be on the cards

While DPF is good to have as a last case you might consider dpf delete with remap. its about 400 quid

[Maxlude]

The 0480A code is the initial one that is generated/stored that means DPF back pressure is above threshold 1 - cant remember what mb value it is, about 30-45mb if I recall. Mine is usually around the 8-12mb range at idle.
Stupidly, this does not generate any dashboard warning lights.
The 0481A then is the next level of pressure warning, above around 45-60mb. This will trigger the dashboard warnings.
Please don't quote me on the exact values as I cant remember exactly - you can find on internet!
These codes will prevent DPF regeneration.
Not sure what the 4D00 code means exactly but I guess it is the DPF pressure sensor out of tolerance or out of range. It could be this that is causing the other codes.
When I was investigating how to resolve mine, I read some people swapped the pipe to the DPF pressure sensor with one that had a small bleed hole in it, the sensor then reads lower and fools the ECU to think that the pressure is lower than actual and permits regen - luckily mine did not get to that stage as my C110 scanner was telling me that the EGT sensors were the issue and I had them renewed.

[mrbubba]

I've just had the DPF cleaned as it was really blocked. I don't do the mileage anymore and it'll just keep happening. At the moment it's running good, has all it's power back, has been a pleasure to drive (already been mapped)

[Maxlude]

The DPF doesn't actually need very long journeys to regen. When mine was not regenerating due to thermostats/EGT sensors, and was getting more blocked by the week and getting the 0481A error code, after the causes where resolved it only took a 25mile run up the motorway at 50mph to complete a regen - but the source(s) of the non-regen must be resolved otherwise it will all begin again!

[PETERKAY]

My dpf wouldn't regen due to a glow plug control unit fault and bad fuel filter, £500 later they were fixed & forced regen was done (back in January)

changed jobs since then and only doing short 14 mile A road commute so the dpf error returned, I'm another one that can't warrant having a diesel but can't afford to change it yet. Tried to again have a forced regen but was far too blocked, so last week it had the dpf delete and remap, another (£500). I'm not happy about spending so much on it but over the moon about how it drives now, the guy said it was producing 174 bhp and he's added around 35 bhp I just wish I'd done it sooner, fallen back in love with the car again, the handling has always been great + it now has the power to go with it.

[Andy198712]

ideal! do you get to keep your old DPF? i'm toying with it too