[makkan00]

Originally Posted by onima

Hi makkan00

Why did you upgraded the software?. NOx sensor problems?.
Did your dealer call you?.
Do you have misfires at 1500-2000 rpm?
Could you say more about the update?
After reseting the MPG, can you tell me about the fuel consumption?

Thanks

I upgraded it just for fun. I have the equipment and wanted to see what differences do I see. I had no troubles on the car.

Here is my finding:
1- with the new software, clutch juddering is less when the clutch / engine is cold.
2- car feels smooth.
3- I feel more torque in lower rpms in 3, 4, 5 and 6th gears.
4- I had to downshift the gears before this update if I was on higher gears with low speed. Now with this, call still accelerates in higher gears.
5- No difference to mpg or at least I did not pay attention.

[Terryk]

Originally Posted by makkan00

I upgraded it just for fun. I have the equipment and wanted to see what differences do I see. I had no troubles on the car.

Here is my finding:
1- with the new software, clutch juddering is less when the clutch / engine is cold.
2- car feels smooth.
3- I feel more torque in lower rpms in 3, 4, 5 and 6th gears.
4- I had to downshift the gears before this update if I was on higher gears with low speed. Now with this, call still accelerates in higher gears.
5- No difference to mpg or at least I did not pay attention.

I know that there are some different versions of n46b20 engine and bmw used the letters a,b,c in order to separate one from the other...(probably the a was the initial one and the c the last one of this engine)

just for our info, do you have n46b20a, b or c version?
also, what was your previous software edition that you just updated and where we can see our car's installed software edition? (is it the one we can read in the hidden BC? for example, in my bimmer I can read in the hideen menu of the BC at the 1.06 sub-menu something like xx.xx.xx)
finally, have you got any info that you could share with us regarding the code name and the release date of the updated version that you just installed?

many thanks for sharing your experience

[raj55]

I have a E91, 320i from 2009 (first owner) and I have had no problem what so ever. I have driven around 35000Km so far, not much I know, but enough to pick up the faults with the engine. During the last routin service they changed the ignition coil and sparkplugs and re programmed something via the OBD port (new firmaware?). The mechanic said that the sparkplugs were not hot enough due to my short driving distances. The onyl judder I noticed was when the car was new, it once juddered and stalled in the drive way and the lights came on but when I re started the car the lights and the problem went away never to return. It is expensive to service at the BMW garage once every two years or so other wise no complaints.

[TheBlondeFella]

Despite having 3 coils, 2 injectors, a nox sensor, 4 new plugs and a 'cat clean out' in the last 8 months, I still get an occasional stutter just before 2000 rpm. The problem is it may only happen once every other 20 minute journey and my local dealers can't seem to fix it. It's not a major problem by any means but I'm now constantly worrying if the problem is going to get worse which is spoiling my ownership of my loverly e93 320i M Sport somewhat.

[PeKKeR]

ive changed all 4 coils and injectors and been running trouble free for the past 2 years. the studder before the 2000rpm happened since day 1 and never went away and neither got worse. we just have to live with it... drop a gear and get up to 4000rpm and make it rooar

[johnfm]

A bit of a joke isn't it.

4 coils replaced 13 months ago under the recall (the car is a 2007 and out of warranty).

Now car running like a bag of spanners when cold. Codes say 'random misfire' cylinders 2 & 3.

BMW say the coils replaced only warranted for 12 months.

Seems that £100+ worth of coils are a consumable now after just 8000 miles.

Shockingly poor service really.

[yoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyoyy]

Edited 24/02/14 - My car had the coils replaced under dealer warranty and software updated to stop this happening

Thanks for your help at the time

[jean019]

Hi,
Is there any issue with the Pre-LCI e90 150hp 320i 2005-2006 ? (N46 classic I think)
thanks

[Pov1]

I was wondering if anyone could help. My car is currently severely misfiring or appearing to. It loses all power and makes a ticking noise when you increase the rpm. However, there are no engine management lights on or fault codes registering. I have replaced coil packs, spark plugs and the vanes system and still nothing!

[Luke88]

Have noticed my 320i has been smoking abit more than usual during the last week, any ideas on what could cause this?

[Terryk]

@ jean019: I own a pre-lci 2007 n46b20 and didn't have any issues at all till now. bare in mind that I don't drive a lot, only 45k mlies till now. during end of January I started to hear a rattling noise from engine bay when accelerating in normal conditions with 1st gear and a bmw specialist said that its the alternator pulley. I haven't replaced it yet since I travel a lot but will do this week.


@ luke88: have you seen/ feel any lack in performance too? also, when was the last time you serviced the car?

[nikoladjurovic88]

Hi to all,

newcomer here

I am a day ahead of buying a 2009 320i LCI, but now extremely worried about everything I have read. The car is coming from a single owner in Germany, and has constantly been serviced in a BMW service.

Now I am not able to talk directly to the owner, but through BMW in my county I was able to check all that was replaced on the car, and one of the things was coils and spark plus at the end of 2011. Since then, and before, nothing but regular maintenance.

Now my question to you is: Has this problem finally been resolved with the release of new coils, and do you think I should go for the car or not?

Thanks

[Terryk]

@nikola: hi nikola and welcome. did you eventually bought the 320i lci? I own a pre-lci model with no problems in electrical system at all. the lci models often appear some issues with their electricals such as ignition coils. a friend of mine who owned a lci model from new said that he had some issues in the past but after a software update he finally relaxed and got rid off these issues.

[Mikex101]

2005 N49 E90 320i with full BMWSH
Owned 12 months and this is my list:

Exhaust cam sensor failure.
Ebox full of water causing all manor of spurious codes and limp modes.
Timing chain guide failure.
NSR knocking/squeak (think its a ball joint but needs checked)
Oil leak - Changed seals on Vac pump which has helped. needs a good engine clean to get rid of the residue and ensure its just this and not head gasket.
Sticky door handles.
Rocks on the hand break (they are shite!)
Pulls to the left on runflats ?
And I drove into a post. But that was my fault.
And its just started to shudder in 1st when pulling away.

[Terryk]

@ mikex101: N49 engine? I have never heard of that engine in E90
lots of problems mate.
I own a 320i N46 7/2007 with only 2 mechanical problems, an alternator pulley and a left tie rod ( No 4 in image: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...10&hg=32&fg=25 )

I guess I am lucky

[pusb365]

So my first BMW and i'm thinking of getting rid of it already...


At the end of April I bought a car from a dealer. It’s a E90 320i, has Full BMW service history and had around 65k on the clock. I thought it was a good price (£5k).

However I’ve had no end of problems with it:

Started off with a major oil leak just a couple of days after I had it. It was pissing oil everywhere and needed a valve cover gasket replacement.
Car would occasionally go into limp mode, would reset itself if left alone for a good few hours but needed sorting. Needed a new valvetronic motor.
Squeaky steering
Another oil leak
Now it has serious clutch judder when pulling away in first gear, not all the time but far too regular. Probably going to need a new clutch.

Some of the above I have paid for, some the dealer has paid for.


Now, should I get the clutch done and hope that’s it and that I’ve just been unlucky so far, or should I just cut my losses and sell it (almost certainly for less than I paid for it, plus obviously the money I have spent on repairing it)?


And yes, I'm aware it's an old-ish car and that there are bound to be problems with it now and then. I just did not expect this many problems in such a short space of time

[nikoladjurovic88]

Hi,

I would just like to give you an update.

I ended up taking a risk and buying the car. LCI model, 2009, 90.000km.

For now the car runs perfectly with absolutely no problems. Did around 10.000km for now and everything is as expected.

full service history came with a car, but I didn't see any software updates noted.

Good luck to others.

[jotty]

Originally Posted by pusb365

So my first BMW and i'm thinking of getting rid of it already...


At the end of April I bought a car from a dealer. It’s a E90 320i, has Full BMW service history and had around 65k on the clock. I thought it was a good price (£5k).

However I’ve had no end of problems with it:

Started off with a major oil leak just a couple of days after I had it. It was pissing oil everywhere and needed a valve cover gasket replacement.
Car would occasionally go into limp mode, would reset itself if left alone for a good few hours but needed sorting. Needed a new valvetronic motor.
Squeaky steering
Another oil leak
Now it has serious clutch judder when pulling away in first gear, not all the time but far too regular. Probably going to need a new clutch.

Some of the above I have paid for, some the dealer has paid for.

Now, should I get the clutch done and hope that’s it and that I’ve just been unlucky so far, or should I just cut my losses and sell it (almost certainly for less than I paid for it, plus obviously the money I have spent on repairing it)?


And yes, I'm aware it's an old-ish car and that there are bound to be problems with it now and then. I just did not expect this many problems in such a short space of time

I would be tempted to keep it now you seem to have done most of the regular stuff. It sounds like thecae had been serviced by someone who didn't really know what they where doing previously hence the leaks. The clutch could be the bearings which is a problem on many 3 series not just the 320, but a good indy should sort that out.

[Hobby]

Hi all
I've read a fair amount of this thread now and rather than start a new one, thought it might be handy to post here for future readers.
I am considering buying a 2009 / 2010 320i (Touring with efficient dynamics). However the injector/coils issue has me worried.
This thread has been getting fewer posts in recent years, which may be because BMW finally found a fix. Searching for the problem on google shows forum posts mostly up to about 2011 / 12. Again, I'm hoping this is due to the issue being fixed.
Can anyone shed any light on this? If I bought an 09 320i Touring can I assume that either the fix has been applied (can I check this with a BMW dealer?) or if not and the issue occurs that BMW will be able to fix it once and for all? Is it a free fix at a dealer or would I be facing a hefty bill?
Thanks in advance.

[pusb365]

What chance do I have of getting anything out of a dealership with an old (06 plate) 320i, with full BMW service history?

I bought the car fairly recently as per my post up the page a little.

I've taken the time to read through most of this thread now and people have had success calling up main dealers and getting stuff (coils, injectors etc) replaced for nothing.

I'm guessing I have no chance with a car so far out of warranty?

[SmallWave]

Originally Posted by makkan00

I upgraded it just for fun. I have the equipment and wanted to see what differences do I see. I had no troubles on the car.

Here is my finding:
1- with the new software, clutch juddering is less when the clutch / engine is cold.
2- car feels smooth.
3- I feel more torque in lower rpms in 3, 4, 5 and 6th gears.
4- I had to downshift the gears before this update if I was on higher gears with low speed. Now with this, call still accelerates in higher gears.
5- No difference to mpg or at least I did not pay attention.

Totally agree with your remarks!
After coils & 2 probes replaced during 4-year-period, with new software upgraded, my car now into the 5th year, I begin to feel finally expected smooth and full power.

[hussainpatel]

Hi mate,
I bought my first ever BMW 320i. I had an Audi A3 2.0TDI which was an amazing car, never let me down.

After buying the BMW, 2 months into driving it I noticed the slight jerking when changing gear which happened quite bad resulting in the engine management light coming on. In addition, sometimes it over revs in 1st and I feel a loss of power. BMW specialist plugged it in and the outcome was NOX sensor. £450 repair and no difference.

The Mrs Toyota Yaris is a better drive! No hassles with that...

Never a BM again,

Any comments?