Engine fault: reduced power...FML

[Jeef Beef]

Driving home today, I got the dreaded Check Engine Light Very surprising - I've never had a long crank or any sort of symptom before today. The car's got 6,500km on it.

I did however, give the car a good thrashing with some mates last night, but that was only 3 full bore starts in total. Drove all the way to uni and back today, with no problems (around 70km). I was in traffic for around 3hrs though.

I did notice some odd vibrations that would occasionally come through to the cockpit while I was idling, but I've had those for a while now so I didn't think much of it.

Does this sound like a fuel pump failure? Or something more insidious...

[Jeef Beef]

To top it off, I also noticed that my centre brake light has a MASSIVE crack running down the middle.

[Brissie]

does it say anything else apart from showing the check engine light?

[Jeef Beef]

Yeh, the Check Control messages says "Engine fault: reduced power."

The iDrive menu part says the "full power not available.. drive at moderation.. take it to dealership" etc. That's it. Car sounds normal, I can still hear turbo spool.

[Brissie]

let us know what the diagnosis is. It's disappointing, and a pain, when our cars are rather unreliable. At least your car is still drivable. Mine arrived on a flatbed at the dealer.

[alik01]

That's terrible news mate. Know what it feels like to start the car and see things flashing at you.

Hope it gets sorted out soon for you, with no hassles.

[aus135i]

Jeff I told u bro, it the way u drive it! u gota give it more!

[Jeef Beef]

Originally Posted by aus135i

Jeff I told u bro, it the way u drive it! u gota give it more!

Hahaha I guess I gotta learn your style. Taking it into dealership now.

[minijet]

Originally Posted by Jeef Beef

Hahaha I guess I gotta learn your style. Taking it into dealership now.

Hey Jeef

Any update on this?
if its the hpfp are they getting you the new one? with part number 13517594943 ?

My second one is on its way out and its throwing 2FBF codes all over again... All this on an unmodded car!

[Jeef Beef]

Originally Posted by minijet

Hey Jeef

Any update on this?
if its the hpfp are they getting you the new one? with part number 13517594943 ?

My second one is on its way out and its throwing 2FBF codes all over again... All this on an unmodded car!

I was at uni whole day today after I dropped the car off - so I wasn't able to pester my SA. He did give me a call though and said that they are taking a look at it in the workshop - that's it. At least he admitted these cars have the HPFP problem and asked whether I was getting long cranks. And they drove me all the way to University of Sydney

The new pump is part 943 isn't it?

[Bimmerle]

Could someone enlighten me? Is this HPFP problem confined to the 135i or are other turbo-powered BMW's suffering as well? My son-in-law has an X6, and his father has a 335i, so it would be handy to know.

Is there any information that BMW is working to upgrade this part, or are they content just to replace the suckers when they fail?

[BMW //MPOWER]

Originally Posted by Bimmerle

Could someone enlighten me? Is this HPFP problem confined to the 135i or are other turbo-powered BMW's suffering as well? My son-in-law has an X6, and his father has a 335i, so it would be handy to know.

Is there any information that BMW is working to upgrade this part, or are they content just to replace the suckers when they fail?

The HPFP is related to the N54 engine, the 335i's experienced the problems first, then the 135i's. I'd assume they'd have taken steps to address this with newer cars such as the X6, but you never know.

[d3syd]

So far so good with my car and mine is one of the first batches of 135i's to land in Oz. Perhaps it's because I don't use my car much and the problem is just waiting to emerge.

I wonder if BMW would entertain replacing the HPFP under warranty as a preventative measure....?

OT: My car is going in to the dealer next Wed to get the cracked centre brake light cover replaced and an "e-box fan" replaced. Not sure what a e-box fan is, but the car threw a code and was picked up at at the last service.

So many issues. Disappointing really. Still, all is forgotten when one gets in and drives the thing!

[Guran]

Originally Posted by d3syd

I wonder if BMW would entertain replacing the HPFP under warranty as a preventative measure....?

A recall on all N54 equipped BMWs? I reckon you'd have more chance of seeing the Pope convert to Islam. BMW go to great lengths to avoid having recalls ... the last was four years ago. The HPFP issue is not a "safety" matter so they can get away with just replacing them as they break.

[TimMc]

Originally Posted by d3syd

So far so good with my car and mine is one of the first batches of 135i's to land in Oz. Perhaps it's because I don't use my car much and the problem is just waiting to emerge.

Ditto with mine. Now one of the older 135s but no issue yet with; HPFP, centre light, tail lights, etc. I'm worried they're all going to emerge just after my warranty runs out. I've only driven 11K in ~18 months and always try to park in the shade. Car's garaged most of the time and every night. I'm wondering if the cracked centre light issue is heat/cold related with cars parked in the sun and/or parked outside on cold nights?

[d3syd]

Originally Posted by Guran

A recall on all N54 equipped BMWs? I reckon you'd have more chance of seeing the Pope convert to Islam. BMW go to great lengths to avoid having recalls ... the last was four years ago. The HPFP issue is not a "safety" matter so they can get away with just replacing them as they break.

Hmmm not encouraging news. Maybe when the day comes that the Pope swaps his MB G-Wagen based Pope mobile for an X5 based one we might have a chance, eh?

[d3syd]

Originally Posted by TimMc

Ditto with mine. Now one of the older 135s but no issue yet with; HPFP, centre light, tail lights, etc. I'm worried they're all going to emerge just after my warranty runs out. I've only driven 11K in ~18 months and always try to park in the shade. Car's garaged most of the time and every night. I'm wondering if the cracked centre light issue is heat/cold related with cars parked in the sun and/or parked outside on cold nights?

I've done about 15+k on mine. It lives in a carport as well. The brake light crack is rather small, but as it is a known issue I have been keeping an eye our for it.

I believe it is due to over tightening at the factory.

[TimMc]

Originally Posted by d3syd

I've done about 15+k on mine. It lives in a carport as well. The brake light crack is rather small, but as it is a known issue I have been keeping an eye our for it.

I believe it is due to over tightening at the factory.

Taa. I might try and back off the screws a bit...

[SimonB]

Mine lives in a car port but works out in the sun and I am in WA, so it could be heat related :-)

[Jeef Beef]

Alright, SA gave me a call today and told me the problem - the charge pipe "had blown completely off" in his words. I've read about this problem on the forums, so I asked him to put it back on and let me have my car back. But according to him, it was "damaged and needed replacement" so now they have to source the part...fail.

At least it's not HPFP...yet.

[Brissie]

silly question, but what is a charge pipe?

[d3syd]

Originally Posted by bmw135fan

silly question, but what is a charge pipe?

It's the pipe that allows the stealer to "charge" like a wounded bull once your warranty runs out..

Seriously, it might be the pipe supplying compressed air from the turbo to the engine