Check engine light.....help!!!

9iron · 11-22-2014, 08:07 PM

Left for work this morning and the car started and idled very rough. Halfway down the block the check engine light popped on and the car was running very rough (very mild shaking). The engine sounded like crap (almost like an old diesel engine) and lacked power.

My car is an '08 328i and has ~92k miles. It still has the original plugs and i know my valve cover gasket is leaking a little.

1. Is it OK to drive the car 20 miles to the dealer like this???
2. What do you think the problem could be?

Thanks!

Meeni · 11-22-2014, 09:03 PM

Most probably, the leaking valve cover gasket let oil sip into the spark plugs wells, or the timing sensor, flooded them and provokes a malfunction in the ignition system (either by damaging the rubber of the coil sticks, or by sipping into the sensor wires).

Could also be a host of other things, but IMO none would prevent you from limping to the dealership.

11-22-2014, 08:07 PM	#1
9iron Second Lieutenant 66 Rep 262 Posts Drives: 04 WRX Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Louisville iTrader: (0)	Check engine light.....help!!! Left for work this morning and the car started and idled very rough. Halfway down the block the check engine light popped on and the car was running very rough (very mild shaking). The engine sounded like crap (almost like an old diesel engine) and lacked power. My car is an '08 328i and has ~92k miles. It still has the original plugs and i know my valve cover gasket is leaking a little. 1. Is it OK to drive the car 20 miles to the dealer like this??? 2. What do you think the problem could be? Thanks!
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

11-22-2014, 09:03 PM	#2
Meeni Gateropode 329 Rep 2,848 Posts Drives: BMW 330i 06 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: TN iTrader: (0)	Most probably, the leaking valve cover gasket let oil sip into the spark plugs wells, or the timing sensor, flooded them and provokes a malfunction in the ignition system (either by damaging the rubber of the coil sticks, or by sipping into the sensor wires). Could also be a host of other things, but IMO none would prevent you from limping to the dealership.
	Appreciate 0 Quote