[Col Mustard]

I had a SES light on for a month, and took it to my local euro repair shop. He pulled codes:

4BAC DEF tank fill sensor
46F9 DEF tank temp sensor
47FE DEF tank metering valve
3F30 rail-pressure sensor

My 335d was out of warranty, but he told me it was covered by the extended warranty on the Emissions System. State of California would cover it.

I finally got around to taking it to the dealer yesterday. The SA confirmed the codes, and said the tank assembly would need to be replaced. $1200 in parts, and about $1000 labor. I asked about the extended warranty period, and he said it was only for up to 7yr/70000 miles.

My car has 70243.

Since my commute is 64 miles/day, if I would have taken it there 4 days ago, I'd be under 70k. Fuck.

So my question is this a reasonable alternative? Has anyone worked with this company? Is there a DIY guide for DEF Tank removal? Also, why hasn't BMWNA put a SB out on these tanks? I seem to be finding a lot of similar stories.

http://xemodex.ca/ca/product/scr-con...eturn-for-bmw/

[Barmlot]

My SA just told me a few weeks ago that the tanks had such a high failure rate they are being redesigned. He told me they expect the shipment of the "new" tanks to be in mid july. Can anyone else verify? Mine is a 2011 335d for the record

[Hoooper]

You should give the dealership your information from the other shop and show them that the failure occured before the warranty expired. They might cover it given that it failed before the warranty ran out and you can document that

[Col Mustard]

The dealer said the State will not cover if the car is over 70000. I will try again, but I think the mileage cap is at time of repair, not at time of diagnosis.

Please correct me if I'm mistaken.

[Hoooper]

Originally Posted by Col Mustard

The dealer said the State will not cover if the car is over 70000. I will try again, but I think the mileage cap is at time of repair, not at time of diagnosis.

Please correct me if I'm mistaken.

The state doesnt cover anything, its a mandated warranty period through the dealer. I would try another dealer if these guys wont help you. Someone might even be willing to fudge the paperwork and put the mileage at original inspection on there. For warranty repairs, if the issue is documented at the dealer to begin before the warranty expires it is covered, even if the repair doesnt happen until after. This happens all the time for issues that they dont have a grasp on how to repair. They make a "fix" at 49000 miles, then the same issue comes back at 50500 (the original fix was incorrect) and its still covered.

[Col Mustard]

Hooper: Thanks. That's what I'm hoping for.

I have the documentation from the independant shop that the defect occurred at 56200 miles. I can only assume the dealer will be able to pull the same codes, with the mileage timestamp, just as the other shop did.

BMWNA said they cannot help, since the code/mileage stamp document is not from a dealer. I will have to ask the dealer to print out the Fault Memory list.

[FLUndertaker]

I did the same repair to my 2011 D about 2 months ago. I was 200 miles outside of the 50k warrantee and since Florida doesnt have the 70k emissions requirement, Fields BMW was all to happy to tell me F off. Yeah, technically I was outside of the warrantee period but my car had been in the the dealership less than a 1000 miles prior for an intermittent SES light that was off while there so they supposedly couldnt do anything about it. I suspect the issue was well known and in place long before my warrantee expired. I sucked it up and did the repair of the tank to the tune of $2500. Now it has a 2 year warrentee on it. If, and thats big if, I have the car in two years and I ever have another emissions related problem, all that crap is coming out and Im going deleted. I would rather spend the money on deletes than this emissions crap, as poorly designed and functioning as it is.

[Got_Diesel]

Call BMW of North America. Escalate to them.

[montr]

I and many others 335d owners had their DEF tank replaced. If it is true that BMW is coming up with a new DEF tank design for a car that do not sell anymore in the USA is a proof that the original design is flawed.

It is a design flaw from day 1. My opinion is BMW should replace for free every 335d DEF tanks.

[taibanl]

According to mySA THERE ARE CURRENTLY ABOUT 450 On back order.

[NC335d]

To those that don't live in Ca and other emission states just do the alphabet delete, especially if you plan on keeping the car. They do not make these anymore and they are a blast to drive. I for 1 will be driving mine for many years to come.

[Hoooper]

Originally Posted by taibanl

According to mySA THERE ARE CURRENTLY ABOUT 450 On back order.

Wow that is a huge number for a car that had pretty low production numbers here

[dixy2k]

I got the codes a while back, but the car still runs. Eventually I need to pull the trigger.

[charlie fairmont]

I had a new one put in about a month ago. I'm gonna have to call my SA to log an inquiry about having had a potentially out-dated unit installed...

[Col Mustard]

I got the "official" diagnostics printouts from the dealer. Here's the codes w/ mileage stamp. I talked to the tech who ran the diag, and he said these numbers are the last time the error was thrown, not the first time.

3F30 @ 69474
4687 @ 69419 (They replaced the throttle value under SIB 01 12 14)
46F9 @ 64294
47FE @ 70244 (my current mileage)
4D32 @ 63981
5DC6 @ 60282

Even after I escalated to the Service Manager, and pointed out that these faults occured BEFORE I reached 70K miles, he still insisted that the mileage for the warranty work is when the car arrives on lot.

When I said I will be escalating to BMWNA, he said he would call his regional manager tomorrow morning, to get advice.

I *REALLY* feel like I'm getting jerked around, and wasting my time by having to research this issue, and tell this service dept how to do their f'n job, and service the god damn customer.

[bvanlieu]

I was fortunate PA has 7/70. I have aftermarket extended but they could try to weasel out of it you never know.

at 56K miles it threw 4BCC (passive tank level sensor) 4C7C (metering valve). The former 152 times, the later 1

Sensor is what failed really but its in the tank, so SCR container was replaced.

I really like the car and the engine, but this stinks. 20 years of Japanese car ownership prior, I had 0 personal CELs (one for the ex, Honda replaced a cam). this covers over 500K miles of driving, 4 different makes.

2.5 years into zee german car experience and the 335d has been to the shop 4 times for emissions related repairs. Our X1 just had steering shaft replaced. Cayman gave up its water pump at 36K this week.

Damn fun cars...automotive heroin.

OP keep pressing: if you can prove the code happened prior to expiration you should have a legal leg to stand on (not a lawyer, don't play one on TV but seems like common sense). Service 'managers' are just clerks who have been there longer. Rarely do you seem to get one who has a clue by my experience. The good ones seem to leave and do their own thing.

- b

[Bavarian Tech]

Your well within "GoodWill" policy, call the dealership and ask to speak the service manager. Just explain the situation. You'll have to pay some of the repairs. Its a percent based off the year of the vehicle and mileage. Your under 8 years old and 80k FYI its not just E90 Tanks, E70 throw the same type of faults.

[Barmlot]

Wow that is a huge number for a car that had pretty low production numbers here

My SA mentioned something about the X d's needing it as well.

[Col Mustard]

Originally Posted by bvanlieu

.....

I really like the car and the engine, but this stinks. 20 years of Japanese car ownership prior, I had 0 personal CELs (one for the ex, Honda replaced a cam). this covers over 500K miles of driving, 4 different makes.

2.5 years into zee german car experience and the 335d has been to the shop 4 times for emissions related repairs. Our X1 just had steering shaft replaced. Cayman gave up its water pump at 36K this week.

Damn fun cars...automotive heroin.

- b

My thoughts exactly. I've had a 4Runner since 2002, and its only issue was the rear seal. Half a day at the shop to get it replaced, no more issue.

This is the 5th or 6th time the 335d has been at the dealer in 3 years. Everytime is for at least 2 days.

[Barmlot]

6 times in 3 years doesn't sound too bad to me...mine's been at dealer twice since i bought it a month ago. Pretty sure it was the same issue, but hey i got a brand new throttle for $50

[msauls]

Originally Posted by Col Mustard

So my question is this a reasonable alternative? Has anyone worked with this company? Is there a DIY guide for DEF Tank removal? ....
http://xemodex.ca/ca/product/scr-con...eturn-for-bmw/

Regarding the OP's initial question- Does anyone have input?
Is the Alphabet process the only alternative?

I have been unable to find any DIY regarding the tank removal. And of course, Bentley doesnt help much with "d"'s.

I have called and discussed with xemodex about their part, but they have no real direction on the removal/reinstallation (understandably)

I have the same issue as everyone; out of warranty, running around with oft-appearing SES light, same code errors (55k mi, 2010 335d)

[m9bm]

Originally Posted by Bavarian Tech

Your well within "GoodWill" policy, call the dealership and ask to speak the service manager. Just explain the situation. You'll have to pay some of the repairs. Its a percent based off the year of the vehicle and mileage. Your under 8 years old and 80k FYI its not just E90 Tanks, E70 throw the same type of faults.

This is the correct answer. Escalate to BMW NA.