[DQuinny]

I have been having a few issues with my new 118i recently (1 month old). It suffers from an occasional cough or hiccup and feels like the power has been turned off and on again within 0.5 seconds. It feels very severe and quick shocking. You think that the car has died but almost immediately it seems to recover.

I am very frustrated with this. It has been into the dealer and naturally they haven't found anything wrong with the car. The 'fault' happened twice this week, once whilst cruising at 70mph in 6th gear and tonight whilst corning in 3rd gear at 30mph.

Has anyone had or heard of the same issue? Could it be related to using 91RON petrol? I am so frustrated that my new BMW is behaving like this that I almost don't want to drive it. Please help!

 

[tminal]

Could it be related to using 91RON petrol?

I'm no expert on this but I am sure that the performance figures quoted in the brochure state that it is best to use 98RON fuel, so i guess that if you use 95 there will be a drop in performance, again using 91RON there would be another drop however slight.

On the fuel flap it states to use fuel graded between 95-98RON so give it a few fill-ups and see if there is an improvement, worth a try!

I didn't know 91RON fuel was available!

I use between 95 to 98RON and have no issues.

Tony

 

[AndyM]

And with the lean burn technology that the new engines employ that could be another factor.

 

[DQuinny]

91 RON, what was I thinking? 95 RON is more like it!

I'll try 98 RON at the next fill up but will still be contacting the dealer. I appreciate that the lean burn technology means that the car does drive differently to cars I have driven previously but the condition causes what feels like a sudden cut-out and is quite worrying when it happens. It makes your heart skip.

As I have said it is only very occasionally but I can't believe that this is normal. My main concern is that it is so infrequent that the dealer is unlikely to experience the issue thus entering a round of repeated visits to the service reception.

 

[AndyM]

Hopefully, if you can say that, if there is a fault it will be recorded in the computer. If not get them to keep the car until they do find the fault. It's amazing how having the thought of a car taking up space and time in the workshop and you driving round in one of their cars gets them to find intermittant faults more quickly.

 

[DQuinny]

Yeah, I did think about that. It just doesn't seem fair to buy a new car and then let the dealer drive around in it and put miles on the clock whilst I am still paying for it!

Sorry if this seems as if I am not appreciative of your advice but the car has already been with the dealer three times (for other faults) and the prospect of going back again and leaving without my new car doesn't fill me with joy.

 

[AndyM]

I bet it doesn't! Unless this is a fault they already know of and can identify the cause easily sadly there isn't much else you can do. As you've already had to go back several times this should give you the upper hand as you would hope they would want to do everything in their power to keep you happy.

 

[DQuinny]

Spoke with the Service Manager at the dealers this morning. He contacted the BMW technical team and they have confirmed that this is a known issue. BMW describe it as a hard jolt and occurs between 1500 and 2200rpm and is software related. Unfortunately for me the fix to the software has yet to be released.

The Service Manager has promised to get back to me within 2 days to let me know when I can expect the s/w to be released. He was very polite and asked if I can live with the car as is whilst waiting for the new 'patch'. I'm just pleased that they have acknowledged that it is a known fault.

All I need now is the new software before I can start enjoying my new car, apart from sorting out the squeaky door seals but there does seem to be a lot of passion and comments expressed on the forum relating to this matter so I'll not dwelll on it!

 

[AndyM]

Out if interest how is your idle on first startup?

 

[tminal]

Out if interest how is your idle on first startup?

I'm interested too as sometimes mine runs a bit lumpy but soon settles down!

I used to have a few 'coughs' up to about 2K miles at around 1900 revs, took this to be the running in period, can't say it happens anymore though but I am keeping an eye on it! almost 4K miles and it gets better all the time! 8)

Tony

 

[AndyM]

Exactly why I asked tminal, mine is lumpy on first start too Mine tends to splutter everso slightly rather than cough when coming from no/partial throttle.

 

[DQuinny]

Start up doesn't feel that lumpy but not as smooth as my previous Zetec Focus!

It sounds as if you have had a similar experience as me and under the same circumstances but not quite as severe. I do also get the slight splutter when under partial throttle and hope that this is part of the same thing. It certainly happens within the quoted 1500 to 2200rpm quoted by the dealer. Time will tell.

I'll keep a look out for lumpy start up. I haven't really checked as I have been preparing myself for another sudden jolt wilst driving to and from work.

 

[AndyM]

I've come from a straight 6 2.5 so I expect it to feel different but my wife's 1.6 Escort idles more smoothly than the 1 first thing in the morning. Whether it is down to it still being in the 'running in' period or the lean burn or if there is a problem I have no idea. I'll mention it when I pay the dealer a visit on Saturday.

 

[DQuinny]

Let me know how you get on. I'll certainly mention it when mine goes in to have the software updated, but at the moment I have no idea as to when this will be.

 

[gmcelroy]

My LCI 120i seems to behave in a similar way in that between 1500 and about 2000 rpm it seems to be a bit "rough" when opening the throttle and this can seem like the engine is surging - its almost like the injectors are not progressive enough? Start up is ok, but can be a little rough - it almost feels like its perhaps running a bit too lean?

The "old" 2.0 143/150hp unit didn't feel like this at all - it was smooth and progressive in its delivery. However the top end of the new unit is much improved - above 3.5K rpm it seems to pull much better than the old one.

 

[AndyM]

Sounds like it very well could be the new Effecient Dynamics lean burn characteristics then. I asked my dealer today and he wasn't aware of anything but is sending an email to the technical guys at BMW.

 

[DQuinny]

My dealer contacted me on Friday to say that BMW still do not have a software fix but there is a later version available than that already installed on my car which should improve the situation but does not cure it completely. I believe that the latest version is 7.1 and my car is fitted with version 6.2.

It takes 7 hours to re-program the car so they want the car for 2 days. I will post next weekend once the software has been up-issued on Friday.

 

[AndyM]

Is there a way to check which software version you have?

 

[DQuinny]

There may be but I'm not aware of it. I asked the Service Manager what version I have in my car and he said that it would be 6.2. If it is anything like where I work then you'll have scheduled software upgrades and these will be released on a regular basis. I guess that 6.2 is the latest issue. This doesn't mean that further versions aren't being worked on to improve performance, fix bugs and add new features. 7.1 sounds like an interim s/w build to me but if that helps reduce the 'jolting' until the full fix is available then I'll take it.

 

[AndyM]

Yep totally agree.