Help - car died on the highway today

[motopsycha]

Looking for some help on where to start.

I was 25 minutes into a drive today running around 75 mph in cruise control when my car suddenly lost power. No warning lights or loss of electronics, just no throttle response and a gentle coast to a stop. I got the yellow car on a lift symbol when stopped but no other messages. It would turn over but not start.

I sat for 30-45 minutes trying to figure out where to get towed to (I was in the middle of nowhere, central Wisconsin). I tried one more time to start it and it fired right up. I cautiously drove for a few miles with no trouble and then continued on the rest of my 200 mile drive with no further issues.

Car is an 09 128i MT with the N51 engine. Stock except for an AFE intake. Car was running flawlessly before and after. I'd like to figure out what happened and avoid it in the future.

[Gangplank]

I'd recommend pulling the codes to see what the issue was. You can do it your self using the Carly app & an OBD dongle. Or take it to an Indy shop and they will do it for a fee. Or the dealer who will charge a bit more.

If it gave you the car on lift there should definitely be a stored code telling you what it was.

[02Pilot]

Pulling codes is a must. In all likelihood they will tell the tale.

That said, had any work been done on the car recently?

[olds350]

Wow, this almost sounds heat related where after the engine had a chance to cool, the connection was reestablished. Very strange. Please post back once you find the issue...

[motopsycha]

Originally Posted by 02Pilot

Pulling codes is a must. In all likelihood they will tell the tale.

That said, had any work been done on the car recently?

Thanks, I'll pull the codes this evening

I haven't done any work done recently

[motopsycha]

Update

I am seeing the following fuel pump related codes:
2AAE
6292
6293

I am also getting 2 oxygen sensor codes: 2C3B and 2C3C

I will note that I was getting low on fuel. The fuel range was showing around 50 miles. The outside temp was around 42F.

[motopsycha]

I think any fuel pump related parts may be covered under the N51 SULEV warranty. The car originated in PA and is under 15 years or 150,000 miles.

I have an appointment at my local dealer next week. I'll report back on what they say

[Gray_Panther]

Please. All of us n51 owners are always curious to sulev warranty work.

[motopsycha]

My local BMW dealer got back to me today. They believe there is an issue with the fuel pump and the fuel pump control module.

I had to push a bit but finally got agreement they fall under the SULEV warranty. I'm in MN but the car was originally sold in PA. That along with the fact it is a 2009 means these components are covered.

[Gray_Panther]

Originally Posted by motopsycha

My local BMW dealer got back to me today. They believe there is an issue with the fuel pump and the fuel pump control module.

I had to push a bit but finally got agreement they fall under the SULEV warranty. I'm in MN but the car was originally sold in PA. That along with the fact it is a 2009 means these components are covered.

This thread wins. The OP won the sulev battle and he is the best kind of OP that follows up with a report rather than disappearing into a cloud of smoke like Captain Vape usually does inside of his Subaru WRX.

[dtla1]

Let us know if the fuel pump and it's controller where the issue... I jumped in here to suggest it might have been the battery cable, and to check pending or completed recalls:

https://www.motortrend.com/news/reca...le-fix-330857/

[motopsycha]

It pays to do your research, know what the warranty says and what your car history is. I had to hear them say no 3 times before breaking through.

[chris82]

Originally Posted by motopsycha

Looking for some help on where to start.

I was 25 minutes into a drive today running around 75 mph in cruise control when my car suddenly lost power. No warning lights or loss of electronics, just no throttle response and a gentle coast to a stop. I got the yellow car on a lift symbol when stopped but no other messages. It would turn over but not start.

I sat for 30-45 minutes trying to figure out where to get towed to (I was in the middle of nowhere, central Wisconsin). I tried one more time to start it and it fired right up. I cautiously drove for a few miles with no trouble and then continued on the rest of my 200 mile drive with no further issues.

Car is an 09 128i MT with the N51 engine. Stock except for an AFE intake. Car was running flawlessly before and after. I'd like to figure out what happened and avoid it in the future.

My car is ALSO an 09 128i MT with the N51, this is scary!!!

[Lucky1]

Originally Posted by chris82

My car is ALSO an 09 128i MT with the N51, this is scary!!!

My N52 non-SULEV had a faulty crankshaft position sensor. Coming down an offramp (on the brakes thankfully) the engine just shut off as the revs dropped closer to idle. If I hadn't been on the brakes who knows what might have happened. We're all in complex machinery barreling down the highway at 60+mph hoping it all holds together.

Life is scary, wear your helmet