HPFP: Does dealership always try a software fix first?

roscoe · 06-22-2010, 06:32 PM

I know there's been plenty written on this forum regarding HPFP issues. My car is at the shop right now because of long cranks (only when engine is cool, for now) that have been going on for a month or two.

What I want to know is, do dealerships always opt to try the software fix first, then explore the possiblity of replacing the pump if the software doesn't work? Or are there cases where the dealership skips the software crap and just replaces the pump from the outset? If the latter, under what circumstances or conditions does that occur (other than the car not starting at all)?

Finally, I've read that the software "fix" is not really a fix at all, but rather a temporary band-aid designed to hide the fact that a faulty HPFP will eventually fail altogether, no matter what. Is that true?

tritonx · 06-22-2010, 06:36 PM

In these days of electronics, a software fix is always the first alternative. I got the same crap about my radio,"let's see if the next software upgrade fixes it"

dbtk · 06-23-2010, 03:58 PM

I had the software upgrade done and I still have issues with long cranks. I decided not to bother until the HPFP actually starts to fail. Not worth having th car in the shop for a week while they try to figure out how to flash correctly with my DINAN Stage 2.

ianc · 06-23-2010, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Finally, I've read that the software "fix" is not really a fix at all, but rather a temporary band-aid designed to hide the fact that a faulty HPFP will eventually fail altogether, no matter what.

Hard to say for certain, but it seems reasonable. If nothing was actually wrong with the fuel pump, long cranks would not have begun to appear.

My view is that the HPFP is slowly deteriorating over time from new. The software fix masks those symptoms for awhile until the point where the car begins to run roughly or throw codes at which point BMW will replace the pump.

Pity it takes that long...

ianc

AntonV · 06-23-2010, 06:09 PM

just got my car back yesterday for long cranks. they only did a software update.

IZAGLO · 06-23-2010, 07:45 PM

delete

ianc · 06-23-2010, 08:45 PM

Quote:

just got my car back yesterday for long cranks. they only did a software update

Same here. They said if it was running rough they would have done the pump, but it wasn't...

ianc

BahamaBart · 06-24-2010, 06:48 PM

visit 1 - we moved plugs and injectors around
visit 2 - we replaced plugs
visit 3 - we replaced some injectors and an ECU update (fuel pump would come on when I opened the car door).
visit 4 - got my car back today - replaced HPFP, replaced rear tail lights (they said there was an issue and they are replacing all of them), had commented about radio on/off issues and they replaced it. Also reflashed ECU.

4th time was a charm.

RPM90 · 06-25-2010, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tritonx

In these days of electronics, a software fix is always the first alternative. I got the same crap about my radio,"let's see if the next software upgrade fixes it"

I had the software update that was supposed to address the no audio problem, where the car is running and the audio system is powered but there is no sound. Well, I haven't had a no audio problem for nearly a month so I thought the software fixed it. Nope. Yesterday morning, power on, no sound. I had to shut the car off, just like before, and restart, then the audio came on.

So, the software did NOT fix the audio problem.
Did it fix my long cranks?
Well, in my case, the long cranks started when the weather turned colder. The software update was done a month ago and it has been warm since then, so I can't give a definitive "yes". That said, I have not had a long crank since the software update. However, I still have occasional idle studder just like before when a rather hard studder resulted in a yellow dash light.

So far, my opinion is that the software is a band-aid.

roscoe · 06-28-2010, 06:33 AM

Update:

Got my car back a few days ago. The long cranks have stopped, fortunately, which were occurring in both warm and cold weather. I've also noticed some side benefits from the software:

1. The engine seems to run a lot smoother. Not that it ran rough before - it just feels more refined and responsive now.

2. I have noticed a considerable improvement on fuel economy, at least on the highway. Before the fix I was returning about 28 mpg @75 mph (sometimes as high as 30 mpg, but that was rare). Nowadays, however, I am seeing more like 32-33 mpg, driving the same route at the same speeds.

Has anyone encountered either of these phenomena after getting the software update?

I do hope that these changes are permanent. But if the software fix is just a temporary band-aid solutions as most of you say, I'm bummed out that the cranking issue might reappear and the side benefits disappear. I sure hope not...

rotts4u · 07-07-2010, 10:55 PM

I had the software done several months ago and so far no more long cranks. Now when I approach the car and hit the unlock button I can hear the fuel pump running to build pressure, same thing happens if I open the door and dont use the key fob.

x5mad · 07-08-2010, 06:53 AM

My car is currently in for long cranks. Been happening for about a month now. Not very long, perhaps 3 seconds would be the longest but more usual about 1-2 seconds. Only happens when it's cold and only on the first crank of the day. Have not had any dash warning lights or fuel pump codes thrown. Car is actually running very smoothly with good fuel consumption.

However, I did not fancy being stuck somewhere with a failed hpfp. My SA actually did say that BMW were being more difficult with changing out the hpfp without first trying out the software programming.

Got the call back today to say my car was getting a new fuel pump, no arguments from BMW Australia. Great result, very happy with that!

06-22-2010, 06:32 PM	#1
roscoe Private 15 Rep 64 Posts Drives: '09 135i White w/M Sport Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	HPFP: Does dealership always try a software fix first? I know there's been plenty written on this forum regarding HPFP issues. My car is at the shop right now because of long cranks (only when engine is cool, for now) that have been going on for a month or two. What I want to know is, do dealerships always opt to try the software fix first, then explore the possiblity of replacing the pump if the software doesn't work? Or are there cases where the dealership skips the software crap and just replaces the pump from the outset? If the latter, under what circumstances or conditions does that occur (other than the car not starting at all)? Finally, I've read that the software "fix" is not really a fix at all, but rather a temporary band-aid designed to hide the fact that a faulty HPFP will eventually fail altogether, no matter what. Is that true?
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06-22-2010, 06:36 PM	#2
tritonx Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 247 Posts Drives: '11 128i, '92 325is Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Quebec, Qc, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 128i [0.00] 1992 325is [0.00] 1994 318is [0.00]	In these days of electronics, a software fix is always the first alternative. I got the same crap about my radio,"let's see if the next software upgrade fixes it" __________________
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06-23-2010, 03:58 PM	#3
dbtk Private First Class 7 Rep 101 Posts Drives: BMW 135i Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Francisco,CA/ Woodbury,CT iTrader: (0)	I had the software upgrade done and I still have issues with long cranks. I decided not to bother until the HPFP actually starts to fail. Not worth having th car in the shop for a week while they try to figure out how to flash correctly with my DINAN Stage 2. __________________ 2010 Mercedes GL350 Bluetec l 2009 BMW 135i DINAN l 2007 Mercedes CL600 l 1997 Porsche 993 Turbo l 1972 Mercedes 600
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06-23-2010, 06:09 PM	#5
AntonV Lieutenant 39 Rep 524 Posts Drives: Sedona/Savanna 135i Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (0)	just got my car back yesterday for long cranks. they only did a software update. __________________ 2009 135i Coupe - Sedona Red Metallic - Savanna Beige - 6MT- ///M Sports Package - Boston Leather - Power/Heated Seats 2005 BMW F650 GS - Mandarin Yellow - Farkled
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06-23-2010, 07:45 PM	#6
IZAGLO Mbira 30 Rep 1,011 Posts Drives: Sedonna Red 09 135i SOLD Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Garage cleaning Brake Dust iTrader: (3)	delete Last edited by IZAGLO; 06-23-2010 at 07:51 PM..
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06-24-2010, 06:48 PM	#8
BahamaBart Lieutenant 30 Rep 586 Posts Drives: 2009 135i Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: in front of you iTrader: (0)	visit 1 - we moved plugs and injectors around visit 2 - we replaced plugs visit 3 - we replaced some injectors and an ECU update (fuel pump would come on when I opened the car door). visit 4 - got my car back today - replaced HPFP, replaced rear tail lights (they said there was an issue and they are replacing all of them), had commented about radio on/off issues and they replaced it. Also reflashed ECU. 4th time was a charm. __________________ 2009 135i Black on Black Options\|Leather\| Sport Package\| Premium Stereo\| Steering Assist \| V1 Engine MODS\| JB4 install \| AR DPs \| Berk Axleback \| ITG Filter \| BHS OCC \| Exterior Bling\| Kerscher splitter \| Interior Bling \| Bimmian pedals \| 3P Cars gauage \|
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06-28-2010, 06:33 AM	#10
roscoe Private 15 Rep 64 Posts Drives: '09 135i White w/M Sport Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Update: Got my car back a few days ago. The long cranks have stopped, fortunately, which were occurring in both warm and cold weather. I've also noticed some side benefits from the software: 1. The engine seems to run a lot smoother. Not that it ran rough before - it just feels more refined and responsive now. 2. I have noticed a considerable improvement on fuel economy, at least on the highway. Before the fix I was returning about 28 mpg @75 mph (sometimes as high as 30 mpg, but that was rare). Nowadays, however, I am seeing more like 32-33 mpg, driving the same route at the same speeds. Has anyone encountered either of these phenomena after getting the software update? I do hope that these changes are permanent. But if the software fix is just a temporary band-aid solutions as most of you say, I'm bummed out that the cranking issue might reappear and the side benefits disappear. I sure hope not...
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07-07-2010, 10:55 PM	#11
rotts4u Private First Class 8 Rep 104 Posts Drives: Audi A3 TDI Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: chattanooga, TN iTrader: (0)	I had the software done several months ago and so far no more long cranks. Now when I approach the car and hit the unlock button I can hear the fuel pump running to build pressure, same thing happens if I open the door and dont use the key fob. __________________ 2012 Audi A3 TDI www.ppiparts.com
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07-08-2010, 06:53 AM	#12
x5mad Lieutenant Colonel 352 Rep 1,772 Posts Drives: iX 40 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List bmw [0.00]	My car is currently in for long cranks. Been happening for about a month now. Not very long, perhaps 3 seconds would be the longest but more usual about 1-2 seconds. Only happens when it's cold and only on the first crank of the day. Have not had any dash warning lights or fuel pump codes thrown. Car is actually running very smoothly with good fuel consumption. However, I did not fancy being stuck somewhere with a failed hpfp. My SA actually did say that BMW were being more difficult with changing out the hpfp without first trying out the software programming. Got the call back today to say my car was getting a new fuel pump, no arguments from BMW Australia. Great result, very happy with that!
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