[335i-AZ]

DME nightmare !
My car started vibrating and ran very rough on Friday. I was driving to work and all of the sudden the car started running rough and almost stall. I parked the car and pulled the codes with my Peak BMW Scanner :

30 a3 ignition coil input signal
2e 1b battery
30 a4 ignition coil input signal
30 a5 ignition coil input signal
29 d0 cylinder 4 misfire
2dec

I towed the car home and tried to replace the faulty coils. The original Coil was cracked and kind of coming apart on one of them. I replaced it but one of it literally Exploded. I saw a lot of smoke, and actual coil of wires running out the engine bay. I replaced the coils but the car died so i called a tow truck company to jump the car. I think the tow truck driver didn't know what he was doing and probably fried something. (I'm not trying to blame everything on him. just saying)

I had my car towed to AZBimmer Works in Mesa, AZ and they think its DME to blame. I was wondering how much would it typically cost to replace and reprogram the DME. They quoted me $2,300 with a new battery!! I almost to start crying

The car keeps blowing coils on cylinder number 4 and drained the battery as well. I am going to pay $170 for the diagnostic charges and tow it to Chapman BMW to get a second look.

What would you guys suggest i should do at this point?

Attached are the pics of the original coil not the exploded one.

[335i-AZ]

[galahad05]

I do note that the codes indicate something going on with that bank (cylinders 3, 4, and 5)....

Other than that....man I don't know. I guess not enough information.

You did the right thing in getting a second opinion.

[TrAcK TRaP]

oouucchh!! sorry to hear that bro

[MORTON]

Sorry to hear this. I will try and help you man. What type of spark plugs are installed? Are they ALL the same? Who changed the coil packs last? Was it you? How many have broken on #4 cylinder?

[335i-AZ]

Originally Posted by MORTON

Sorry to hear this. I will try and help you man. What type of spark plugs are installed? Are they ALL the same? Who changed the coil packs last? Was it you? How many have broken on #4 cylinder?

Thanks man. Yea it's running stock plugs and coils. Although the replacement I got that exploded was a off brand coil from auto part store. I had no choice since they didn't have Bosch. 2 coils have exploded so far. Only on the 4rth cylinder. I think they are running original coils.

[MORTON]

I would order OEM coil pack man. You cannot put the cheap coil pack in your bmw they do not work well, same goes with plugs. If I were you I would just go ahead and replace all depending on the last time you had them replaced. How many miles are on you vehicle ?

[Delta0311]

DO NOT USE AFTER MARKET COILS. Only use BOSCH or BMW (which is BOSCH re-badged as BMW) and at this point just replace all 6 and have peace on mind that you won't have any coil issues for a while.

[MORTON]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

DO NOT USE AFTER MARKET COILS. Only use BOSCH or BMW (which is BOSCH re-badged as BMW) and at this point just replace all 6 and have peace on mind that you won't have any coil issues for a while.

+1

[trixdout]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

DO NOT USE AFTER MARKET COILS. Only use BOSCH or BMW (which is BOSCH re-badged as BMW) and at this point just replace all 6 and have peace on mind that you won't have any coil issues for a while.

Does have Bosch Germany stamp right below the clip......

[doogee]

Originally Posted by trixdout

Does have Bosch Germany stamp right below the clip......

Yup. That coil isn't aftermarket.

[Delta0311]

Sorry your pics didnt load for me before but yes that coil is NOT aftermarket.. Last time I bought coils was for an N52 and I believe that the N54/N55 coils where not the same part number as the N52 coils. This leads me to believe that there is a possibility that they sold you the wrong coils. Just google "BMW (part number)" and you will be able to tell if you got the wrong coil or not.

[335i-AZ]

Originally Posted by trixdout

Does have Bosch Germany stamp right below the clip......

Originally Posted by doogee

Yup. That coil isn't aftermarket.

thats the original coil that came with car. its Bosch and was made in 2002. not sure why is so old considering my car's built date was 12/2007

The coil that exploded almost killed me. I will post a picture of its remains when i pick up the car.

[335i-AZ]

Update Today i towed the car to Chapman BMW. They are going to see if its really the DME. They told me if there is a DME failure they are going to contact the BMW of NA to and see if they will cover it under the emission recall. My car was also a CPO but its out of warranty.

I CANNOT believe this. But for once Dealership has a lower diagnostic fee than a Independent BMW shop. They charge $150 Plus a free Loaner ! I Paid $170 an hour ago at the AZBimmer Works in Mesa....without a loaner.

[DJtoad]

It's not an emissions recall. The DME is covered by the Federal Emissions Warranty for 8 years / 80K miles. If that's what failed, BMW NA has no choice but to authorize it's replacement and if they don't, the warranty book that came with your car provides information on how to contact the US EPA to file a complaint.

[trixdout]

Originally Posted by 335i-AZ

thats the original coil that came with car. its Bosch and was made in 2002. not sure why is so old considering my car's built date was 12/2007

The coil that exploded almost killed me. I will post a picture of its remains when i pick up the car.

Assuming that different part numbers means different types of coils, you have an issue right there that the manufacturer warranty should cover and that's a manufacturers defect. A 2002 coil should not have been used on 335i that was built in 2007.

[335i-AZ]

Originally Posted by DJtoad

It's not an emissions recall. The DME is covered by the Federal Emissions Warranty for 8 years / 80K miles. If that's what failed, BMW NA has no choice but to authorize it's replacement and if they don't, the warranty book that came with your car provides information on how to contact the US EPA to file a complaint.

Sorry, my mistake. Also my car has 82k miles... so passed the 80k

Originally Posted by trixdout

Assuming that different part numbers means different types of coils, you have an issue right there that the manufacturer warranty should cover and that's a manufacturers defect. A 2002 coil should not have been used on 335i that was built in 2007.

Seriously !

[335i-AZ]

Another UPDATE:

Dealer estimated the repairs for a whopping....wait for it.... $3,100 !

That includes a DME, 6 new coils and a battery. They are going to contact BMW NA to see what they say.

This sucks... Its finals week, I have a full time job and have to deal with this nightmare.

[Miller335]

In theory you could do all of this for $400 yourself.
Get the DME mosfets repaired locally and buy new coils, plugs and install yourself.

These cars are not for everyone, you sound like you can't be down for a week or two so that could pose some challenges.

[mike3000fl]

How many miles are on your spark plugs? Have you inspected them (especially the one in on cylinder 4) ?

Maybe the plugs are worn to shit (mine were) and the electrode is so far gone that the coil is being asked to do too much and blowing up.

[Karbon]

I would wait to see what BMW NA says. For something like this and only being 2k over I could see them possibly covering it.

I had a 9 year old e39 5 series that had a faulty Dash display and they covered half of the cost to replace it because of driver safety issues.

BMW NA was pretty cool about it. Props to them.

Hope you have some good luck from here on out!

[335i-AZ]

Originally Posted by Miller335

In theory you could do all of this for $400 yourself.
Get the DME mosfets repaired locally and buy new coils, plugs and install yourself.

These cars are not for everyone, you sound like you can't be down for a week or two so that could pose some challenges.

Thats very true! the thing is i moved away for school. I would totally do that if i was home and had a garage and tools. i would do everything myself. good thing i brought the Peake Scan tool with me

Originally Posted by mike3000fl

How many miles are on your spark plugs? Have you inspected them (especially the one in on cylinder 4) ?

Maybe the plugs are worn to shit (mine were) and the electrode is so far gone that the coil is being asked to do too much and blowing up.

The Spark Plugs were replaced in 2012 @ 62k miles. They checked them. All good

Originally Posted by Karbon

I would wait to see what BMW NA says. For something like this and only being 2k over I could see them possibly covering it.

I had a 9 year old e39 5 series that had a faulty Dash display and they covered half of the cost to replace it because of driver safety issues.

BMW NA was pretty cool about it. Props to them.

Hope you have some good luck from here on out!

I freaking hope so !