E90 325i 3.0 N53 problems 2007/57

tim.buckley · 11-30-2016, 07:15 AM

I bought a 2007/57 325i SE 3.0 saloon a couple of weeks ago, and have had engine problems from day one. I bought it blind to a degree from an independent dealer 5 hours drive from me.

The engine management light came on as it was unloaded from the transporter! This was put down to it had been stood on a forecourt, maybe it needs some miles on it. Well that didn't go to plan, the car got worse each day - starts fine every time, but very poor idle, whole car shaking on idle, engine management light on, then on the motorway the big engine management light came on which meant it had reduced power, just prior to this was a jolt/jerk from the car. The misfire got so bad the car became undriveable so has been with my trusted mechanic for 1 week now.

So far - diagnostics showed a fuel pump issue causing the misfire on multiple cylinders, so the high pressure fuel pump was replaced for new (the garage I bought the car from is paying for the work, in fact they purchased the pump and sent it to my mechanic). The replacement pump did nothing, so next was a new set of 6 plugs, this did nothing, then we read about the low level fuel pressure sensor, so replaced this, still no better off. All 6 injectors were removed for physical inspection, looked fine.

My mechanic found an injector specialist who can test high pressure ones, so the injectors were sent a few hours away for testing, which takes place today. I will get feedback on the injectors some point today.

If the injector tests show they are OK, what next? My mechanic is adamant it's a fuel system issue causing the misfires.

The car has been back to BMW for warranty/recall work in 2009, 2010 and 2012, it's had a replacement NOX (?) sensor, some or all coilpacks replaced, I think 4 of the injectors replaced too.

My mechanic says news injectors are £215ea plus VAT, sounds expensive) He has read changing all 6 for new ones is best when one or more fails, but it's an expensive suggestion when it might not resolve the misfires.

I mentioned last weekend to the garage I bought the car from that I appreciate they can't throw good money after bad forever, therefore an option is to take the car back for refund. The response was they'd rather get it fixed/sorted for me.

On the face of it, it's a lovely car, sparking graphite paintwork in very good order, 17" alloys, 73k miles, 1 previous owner, 4 out of 5 service stamps at BMW main dealer, MOT until June 2017, great overall condition but we're fast approaching a stalemate where my mechanic is out of ideas, and us probably wanting to return the car for refund. Pretty much everything is documented on email between myself and the garage I bought it from.

frenchi · 11-30-2016, 02:30 PM

100% injectors issue...replace all 6 with latest index 11,recode them to Dme and your car will be fixed.

welsh8oy123 · 12-06-2016, 04:42 AM

any updates on this bud? mine has an engine management error on start up for the first 10 mins, engine off and back on and its cleared and it runs fine... BMW error showed 3 injectors were failing, and had 3 replaced 3 months ago by the previous owner.

BMW wanted 1260 plus vat for the work to be carried out. but I'm getting low 20's on mpg and the other night was doing 10!!!

tim.buckley · 12-12-2016, 08:02 AM

The test results for the injectors showed that 2 of the 6 had failed, so needed replacing. I've had the car back from the garage for a few days, not used it much, but it has been OK until this morning when my wife drive the car and the engine management light came on again. Later this morning she started the car and there was no management light. She's going to take it down to the garage later for a diagnostics, I'll try to post with an update tomorrow.

Stoatmaster · 12-12-2016, 09:21 AM

Do keep in mind if that faulty injectors were found, it's likely the others will need replacing soon as they have to work that much harder to compensate for the failed ones.

BMW changed all six on mine to resolve a cold start problem.

Dormermike · 12-12-2016, 01:53 PM

Injectors are basically consumable on these engines. Not cheap. .

marc l · 12-12-2016, 05:48 PM

I have bad idle on my N53 when cold too. The injectors are very dear new! Has anyone had any luck getting their injectors reconditioned?

Phil325i · 12-13-2016, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc l

I have bad idle on my N53 when cold too. The injectors are very dear new! Has anyone had any luck getting their injectors reconditioned?

Supposedly a waste of time as they can't be re-calibrated.

tim.buckley · 12-13-2016, 04:22 AM

The car has had problems this morning. It ranged from not starting at all to starting and cutting out, then starting but "hunting" i.e. the revs were going up and down erratically. My mechanic is in the process of recovering the car to his garage on his trailer. Very soon, if it's not running right for a good week then I'll be looking to return the car back to the garage I purchased it from at their cost. It's a shame as the car is what I've wanted for quite a while, nice looks, performance, build quality, spec etc but if it doesn't run right, it's an expensive garden ornament and can't be used by my wife for getting to and from work and running the kids around (ages 5 and 6).

crocodile110 · 01-24-2017, 06:33 PM

How did you get on with this situation, did you end up returning the car to the original dealer or just replace the injectors?

11-30-2016, 07:15 AM	#1
tim.buckley Enlisted Member 2 Rep 31 Posts Drives: 325i SE 3.0 N53 saloon Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Winsford, Cheshire iTrader: (0)	E90 325i 3.0 N53 problems 2007/57 I bought a 2007/57 325i SE 3.0 saloon a couple of weeks ago, and have had engine problems from day one. I bought it blind to a degree from an independent dealer 5 hours drive from me. The engine management light came on as it was unloaded from the transporter! This was put down to it had been stood on a forecourt, maybe it needs some miles on it. Well that didn't go to plan, the car got worse each day - starts fine every time, but very poor idle, whole car shaking on idle, engine management light on, then on the motorway the big engine management light came on which meant it had reduced power, just prior to this was a jolt/jerk from the car. The misfire got so bad the car became undriveable so has been with my trusted mechanic for 1 week now. So far - diagnostics showed a fuel pump issue causing the misfire on multiple cylinders, so the high pressure fuel pump was replaced for new (the garage I bought the car from is paying for the work, in fact they purchased the pump and sent it to my mechanic). The replacement pump did nothing, so next was a new set of 6 plugs, this did nothing, then we read about the low level fuel pressure sensor, so replaced this, still no better off. All 6 injectors were removed for physical inspection, looked fine. My mechanic found an injector specialist who can test high pressure ones, so the injectors were sent a few hours away for testing, which takes place today. I will get feedback on the injectors some point today. If the injector tests show they are OK, what next? My mechanic is adamant it's a fuel system issue causing the misfires. The car has been back to BMW for warranty/recall work in 2009, 2010 and 2012, it's had a replacement NOX (?) sensor, some or all coilpacks replaced, I think 4 of the injectors replaced too. My mechanic says news injectors are £215ea plus VAT, sounds expensive) He has read changing all 6 for new ones is best when one or more fails, but it's an expensive suggestion when it might not resolve the misfires. I mentioned last weekend to the garage I bought the car from that I appreciate they can't throw good money after bad forever, therefore an option is to take the car back for refund. The response was they'd rather get it fixed/sorted for me. On the face of it, it's a lovely car, sparking graphite paintwork in very good order, 17" alloys, 73k miles, 1 previous owner, 4 out of 5 service stamps at BMW main dealer, MOT until June 2017, great overall condition but we're fast approaching a stalemate where my mechanic is out of ideas, and us probably wanting to return the car for refund. Pretty much everything is documented on email between myself and the garage I bought it from.
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11-30-2016, 02:30 PM	#2
frenchi Lieutenant 89 Rep 452 Posts Drives: F30 340i M Performance Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: France iTrader: (11)	100% injectors issue...replace all 6 with latest index 11,recode them to Dme and your car will be fixed.
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12-06-2016, 04:42 AM	#3
welsh8oy123 New Member 2 Rep 14 Posts Drives: 325i E93 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Cardiff iTrader: (0)	any updates on this bud? mine has an engine management error on start up for the first 10 mins, engine off and back on and its cleared and it runs fine... BMW error showed 3 injectors were failing, and had 3 replaced 3 months ago by the previous owner. BMW wanted 1260 plus vat for the work to be carried out. but I'm getting low 20's on mpg and the other night was doing 10!!!
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12-12-2016, 08:02 AM	#4
tim.buckley Enlisted Member 2 Rep 31 Posts Drives: 325i SE 3.0 N53 saloon Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Winsford, Cheshire iTrader: (0)	The test results for the injectors showed that 2 of the 6 had failed, so needed replacing. I've had the car back from the garage for a few days, not used it much, but it has been OK until this morning when my wife drive the car and the engine management light came on again. Later this morning she started the car and there was no management light. She's going to take it down to the garage later for a diagnostics, I'll try to post with an update tomorrow.
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12-12-2016, 09:21 AM	#5
Stoatmaster Private First Class 9 Rep 104 Posts Drives: E92 330i M Sport (MT) Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Wales iTrader: (0)	Do keep in mind if that faulty injectors were found, it's likely the others will need replacing soon as they have to work that much harder to compensate for the failed ones. BMW changed all six on mine to resolve a cold start problem.
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12-12-2016, 01:53 PM	#6
Dormermike Captain 102 Rep 681 Posts Drives: Bmw f10 Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Uk iTrader: (0)	Injectors are basically consumable on these engines. Not cheap. .
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12-12-2016, 05:48 PM	#7
marc l Private 0 Rep 60 Posts Drives: E93 325i N53 Engine Join Date: May 2016 Location: London iTrader: (0)	I have bad idle on my N53 when cold too. The injectors are very dear new! Has anyone had any luck getting their injectors reconditioned?
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12-13-2016, 04:22 AM	#9
tim.buckley Enlisted Member 2 Rep 31 Posts Drives: 325i SE 3.0 N53 saloon Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Winsford, Cheshire iTrader: (0)	The car has had problems this morning. It ranged from not starting at all to starting and cutting out, then starting but "hunting" i.e. the revs were going up and down erratically. My mechanic is in the process of recovering the car to his garage on his trailer. Very soon, if it's not running right for a good week then I'll be looking to return the car back to the garage I purchased it from at their cost. It's a shame as the car is what I've wanted for quite a while, nice looks, performance, build quality, spec etc but if it doesn't run right, it's an expensive garden ornament and can't be used by my wife for getting to and from work and running the kids around (ages 5 and 6).
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01-24-2017, 06:33 PM	#10
crocodile110 Enlisted Member 1 Rep 47 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Uk iTrader: (0)	How did you get on with this situation, did you end up returning the car to the original dealer or just replace the injectors?
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