[coopersim]

I can't quite put my finger on what's wrong, but my car isn't quite running right. Recently I've noticed it's almost hunting when driving along, not it's usual smooth self. Pretty sure it's not dpf as I generally do 26 mile journeys (mixture of a road and motorway)

I've got no dash lights, but wondered if I can interrogate the fault codes without access to obd equipment?

[magic77]

depends on the engine but I do recall from the 5th gear show and swirl flaps. One of the signs on the x5 6cyl engines was hunting for revs. Friend of mine had similar on his x5 engine would hunt for revs on inspection the flaps where removed blanked off and problem went away.

Question is does it do it when idling. Is yours the LCI engine or pre LCI.

[coopersim]

No it doesn't do it when idling, it's dead smooth

It's a 2008 so I guess pre lci?

51,000 miles

[magic77]

low milage then cant see it being injectors or fueling thought might be worth getting codes read as not all will throw a engine light on the dashwhere abouts are you based

[doughboy]

Odd. Hunting is a idle condition, when the idle oscillates.

How does it feel when you are driving?

[coopersim]

I'm up in Notts, not far from Sheffield or Chesterfield.

It's weird, it feels a bit like when the car does the DPF - lacking in power, but then making up for it straight away, slightly lumpy, and a bit like a very subtle cylinder not firing.

It's hard to describe and I think most people wouldn't notice it, but I've had the car for over three years, and I can tell that something has changed just recently.

[magic77]

I think your best call will be get to indy and have the car read as you could have some hidden faults logged. Only times I've had something similar (hesitation in revs etc) is when intake was blocked by ancient air filter.

[coopersim]

Interesting, I'm 5,000 miles from an inspection service, last one was at 34,513 in February 2011.

According to my service book, I've NEVER had an air cleaner element!

[magic77]

On diesels according to BMW its 60K which is crazy I just use pipercross and clean it every 10k as its less wasteful then paper.

Its one open to a lot of opinion but IMO its better to either change regularly say 12months /10k or get something like pipercross and clean it regulary


If its due a service get them to read the car then are you using indy or dealers

[coopersim]

It's 100% main dealer serviced so far. I will ask them to check for faults when I get the obd software upgrade, and in the meantime will look in to changing the air filter. Thanks for the help!

[magic77]

it should get done on next service check with dealer beforehand as its in the cost of the service so just get it done then or bring service forward. Otherwise keep the old one nad put it back before going back into service so you end up with spare post next 10k.

[Statler]

This is one of the things that came to light at my 30K inspection, no air filter change until next service, that would put it around 55K.
I bought a FRAM (Read BMW OEM) replacement and it made a real difference to the driveability...

[coopersim]

I can't believe these things are £50! It's as well they don't need doing every year

[magic77]

Hence bought a piper cross