N55 DCT stalling/dying at idle

[flyboy385]

While i was driving home today, my engine stalled on me several times. about 1 out of every 5 lights the car would stall, and at the other 4 the rpms would bounce up and down for a while. i tried switching the JB4 on to see if that would make a difference, but it didn't. another thing i noticed was that when i started the car back up after stalling, it would start at a lower rpm, and in some cases, stall again. I really dont know what it could be, the only other modifications i have (besides the JB4) are the AR catless DP and the Berk street exhaust.

has anyone else experienced this kind of problem or knows how it can be resolved?

Here are videos of the car stalling while approaching a stoplight and what it sounds like during startup.

[TX135i]

I'm interested in this one. Same thing is happening now on my 2012 and the dealer says it's bad fuel (maybe). I need to stick with one station of three recommended brands he says. Ive used nothing but Mobil super premium since i got it. So I filled out the online survey and told them what I thought about their 'analysis'' and they called back today and said their field tech will take a look in the next few days. This situation pisses me off. I've had a lot of cars over the years, and never had this issue, especially on a brand new BMW. It's my first and we'll have to see if it's my last.

Forgot to mention, mine is bone stock w/8K miles, and at the 2nd stoplight after I picked it up from the dealer, it started this fluctuation at idle much worse than when I took it in. Didn't stall but did this at the next few lights. That was a week ago and it's been fine since. That's the frustrating part.

[mblaber]

I have 2011 6MT with PPK. Car normally idles at 700 rpm. But often when slowing at a light (in neutral, coasting) idle dips to 500 and gets pretty rough. Then recovers to 700. Always use 93 octane gas, and regular service (although local dealer mechs are challenged merely trying to spell BMW).

[Vtec Abuser]

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=620935

[Nifty]

I have an N54, but I had a rough idle nearly identical to this. Scanned it and found misfires on a single bank of cylinders (4,5,6). Took it to the dealer, they confirmed that fuel wasn't the issue and ended up replacing the injectors. Runs great now.

[SinCalgary]

I have this problem too but only when the air conditioning is on. Turn the AC off and the idle is fine and no stalls.

[Alexim]

Originally Posted by SinCalgary

I have this problem too but only when the air conditioning is on. Turn the AC off and the idle is fine and no stalls.

do you have an open intake???

If so, this could be the problem..

[jsublime]

This has been mentioned before, mine stalled 2-3 times but thats over the course of a year. Ever since I got the PPK it hasn't happened. I would suggest taking the jb4 off and it if it continues in such a predictable manner you can take it to the dealer. Bad gas? What will they think of next?

[flyboy385]

Originally Posted by SinCalgary

I have this problem too but only when the air conditioning is on. Turn the AC off and the idle is fine and no stalls.

I have tried that, and it still does it even if the AC is off.

[flyboy385]

Originally Posted by Alexim

do you have an open intake???

If so, this could be the problem..

I used to have an open air intake, but i took it out about a week ago.

[bogart]

Mine has started to do this as well only recently. I have 22,500 on the car. It does the same exact thing as shown in the first video OP. I honestly think it is the fuel pump going, because I've had a couple hard cranks, and I've had the yellow engine malfunction symbol show up twice. I pull over, shut off the car, turn it back on and it's fine. If it happens again I'm taking it in for service to check out the fuel pump. The worst time it happened was recently when the car was completely warmed up. It happens mostly when I'm coming to a stop or stopped and the car goes from about 700rpm to 500rpm and then jumps up almost to 1000rpm and then things settle down for a while... This is weird.

[Clovef]

I have read these post and worried about it as I have a 2011 with a dct but I had never had it happen to me. No longer, I was in the right lane to turn right. I had cars coming but thought I had plenty of space. Well instead of accelerating it almost died and bogged down so much that all my weight shifted forward like I hit the breaks fairly hard for a second and then it took off. I came close to getting hit as a result. This is the first time but it is really dangerous. I am changing the way I drive as a result because I can't trust that the car will operate correctly. If they don't fix this some people are going to get hurt or worse. This is absolutely not acceptable and is not related to bad gas.

[Scoobs]

Hi,

Same happened to me... BMW Australia diagnosed it as the dreaded HPFP. Swapped it out. Updated the DME whilst it was in. Never had the problem since.

N55 DCT

David

[TX135i]

FYI - Just got a call from the dealer about my report. I raised enough hell in the survey that they checked into it further. He says that BMW is aware of the idle problems on this model, and is currently working a software update to address the idle control. The ETA is mid-June to early July on the release, and he's supposed to have me in the system to get it once available. He said it is not a mechanical issue, they are certain it's S/W. Make sense?

[josemh23]

Originally Posted by TX135i

FYI - Just got a call from the dealer about my report. I raised enough hell in the survey that they checked into it further. He says that BMW is aware of the idle problems on this model, and is currently working a software update to address the idle control. The ETA is mid-June to early July on the release, and he's supposed to have me in the system to get it once available. He said it is not a mechanical issue, they are certain it's S/W. Make sense?

It's happening to me too!!!... I've raised hell on a survey once beacause of the screeching brakes, and the service advisor had the balls to tell me not to do that cause his salary depended on that. By the way they didn't fix it right still. (Autogermana in PR)

[wibbit]

Originally Posted by Scoobs

Hi,

Same happened to me... BMW Australia diagnosed it as the dreaded HPFP. Swapped it out. Updated the DME whilst it was in. Never had the problem since.

N55 DCT

David

Ugh, hearing this just makes me want to be buy a boring Lexus.. You'd think they would bother to fix this rather common issue hey

[TX135i]

Originally Posted by josemh23

It's happening to me too!!!... I've raised hell on a survey once beacause of the screeching brakes, and the service advisor had the balls to tell me not to do that cause his salary depended on that. By the way they didn't fix it right still. (Autogermana in PR)

The SA didn't give me any of that crap, and he said he 'appreciated my honesty' in the surevy reply. I kinda doubt that, but there was a follow-up e-mail from the owner of the dealership wanting to make sure they followed up. I still have that e-mail adress on file just in case. Maybe (and sadly) this is the only way to get any real help.

[Scoobs]

Originally Posted by wibbit

Ugh, hearing this just makes me want to be buy a boring Lexus.. You'd think they would bother to fix this rather common issue hey

Nah... Still rather the 1er over a Lexus. While an inconvenience, it was a pretty minor one. Swap my cars out every 24 months as I lease them, and most have been back in with one issue or another. Thank god for warranty !

But agree, u would think that they would have had it sorted by now. Must be costing BMW a bit of coin

[flyboy385]

So I figured out what the problem was. turns out it wasn't any part that was installed on the car. in fact, the problems were from parts that were NOT installed on the car. the people who i hired to install the aftermarket parts were not truly qualified mechanics, and did not re-install a gasket on the air intake, frying the O2 sensor, causing problems with the air-fuel mixture. i later discovered that one of the air scoops at the very front of the hood is missing, and either the stock downpipe or the underbody was re-installed incorrectly, because at certain rpms you can hear the metal rattling together. according to the dealer, thats also due to missing parts. I wouldn't be surprised.

Lesson learned: Do lots of research on your garage. just because they are nice guys , doesn't mean they'll get the job done right.

[Otaku]

Wow, this was an expected end! Unreal.

Glad to see it wasn't anything that could apply to all N55's...

[TZANIDO777]

I have a 2011 N55 6MT with Berk catless downpipes, Berk mufflerless exhaust, Jb4, er intercooler and chargepipe and this happens to me aswell. RPMs are at about 680 idle and all the sudden they go down to 500 and shoot back up to 1000 when I come to a stop. Does not happen everyday, but it really starts to show in stop and go traffic because I have had it stall on me 3 or 4 times in stop and go traffic. Ohh and its happened to me twice where the car stalled on me going in reverse. Hopefully this can be fixed.

[MinasDov]

im having the same problem however i have absolutely no mods on the car. its starting to get on my nerves.