[wozzza72]

So I’ve been having DPF issues with my 08 123d, it’s been cutting out all occasionally, jerking under soft acceleration and so on. It used to get used every day doing 30 miles, now it does the odd trip into town and back. I’ve just taken it on a 550 mile trip to Wales hoping it would regen and dirt itself but it’s done the opposite and given me more problems. The car got half way to Wales and lost power intermittently, it wouldn’t pull up hills, wouldn’t overtake on the motorway etc and it’s been really stressful trying to nurse it back home.

What are my best options to sort it? I want to sell the car very soon anyway so I really don’t want to be shelling out lots. Can the DPF be cleaned properly? How much is new DPF and fitting? Would it be worth buying one from a breakers yard?

thanks

 

[dxnnyk]

Just to check, are you 100% sure this is a DPF issue? Have you had the warning symbol come up? I'd expect it to have done so with the problem being as bad as it is.

Otherwise, have you tried a DPF cleaner? Could be a long-enough temporary fix until the car falls into the hands of someone who's able to give it regular long runs. Ideally you'd need to put it in and try and hold 3000rpm for about 50 miles or so for it to take any effect - you need the engine temperature to hit 75C.

The other option would be to have it cleaned, probably looking at a cost of around £100-150. Before forking out on that, however, I would just plug in a diagnostic tool to be sure of what you're dealing with as such issues can also arise due to other components to do with air intake (e.g., MAF sensor, lambda sensor, etc.)

 

[tweeky]

Dpf Regen looks at lots of parameters before it regens, one being coolant temp if this sensor is playing up you can drive around all day at XXXXrpm it will never go into regen. My advice is get the codes read then cleared then deal with what comes back.

 

[stevesurrey]

Agree with what Tweeky said. If you're sure its a DPF issue and a trip to Wales and back didnt trigger a regen then there must be an underlying issue preventing it. Get the codes read to find the cause before just treating the symptom.

 

[tweeky]

So after a little digging about I see you've got another thread on a similar issues only you state the DPF light is on. On the BMW problem section is a guide to service lights. On this page (CBS (Dashboard service lights) *at a glance*) is what's been quoted as DPF light. could it be your fuel filter need replacing ?

 

[tmarshall57]

I can only concur with SteveSurrey.... I see so many posts on here where owners have jumped to conclusions and spent well earned money on labour and/or parts that ends up being wasted. I would strongly advise any owner of an older (or newer for that matter) BMW who doesn't want to spend money at the main dealer or indy to obtain a cheap second hand laptop and appropriate cable and load it with relevant software - Mikes Easy BMW Tools plus ISTA+ for starters - there are loads of forum sources for this - generally what is relevant to an E90 is relevant to the E87 and other E chassis ranges.

The DPF will not regenerate unless certain conditions exist - including quantity of fuel in tank, coolant temperature etc - so you could spend a fortune on DPF replacement or cleaning when all that is required is a replacement thermostat.

ISTA+ will guide you through the diagnostic process. A phone app such as Carly plus Bluetooth adaptor may also enable you to achieve the same although I've no experience of this.

For example not only will ISTA+ provide an overview of how the DPF system works in practice, it will provide error reading and step by step diagnostic facilities.

I've attached a description of the DPF function from ISTA+ for my E87 118d.

When I bought my car in January there was an advisory DPF warning code flagged - this was merely due to the higher mileage - the pressure stats were fine. I merely used ISTA+ to run the process of a new DPF installation and the error automatically cleared. These DPFs will run for well over 150,000 miles if treated with reasonable care.

 

[wozzza72]

Thanks for all the replies, all good info.

Ok so I have called a garage I have been recommended and he is asking £25 for diagnosis. Is this normal? Finding a garage that won't pull the wool over your eyes in pretty difficult.

 

[nivens]

People need paid, £25 is cheap for a diagnosis even if it's only 30min work.

 

[wozzza72]

Fair point! Let's see what comes back...

 

[wozzza72]

This is the light that is coming on. Does this mean its the fuel filter rather than the DPF?

It was taken to a garage today but was told that there was so many warnings on the check they all had to be turned off (along with the engine management light) and was told to bring it back as soon as the management light came on again, which it hasn't yet, but it is still flashing up the above light and has a loss of power so I am still none the wiser.

Would the car actually have a warning light for the DPF or is that it above?

 

[tmarshall57]

That light is the diesel fuel filter light. I believe that there is also a warning light for the DPF. Sorry to repeat this but you are going to continue going around in circles unless you get advice from a garage that has BMW diagnostic capability. Your garage should have read the codes, cleared the codes and then re-read the codes to determine which faults were still present. The warning and check control messages only provide a very basic fault guide. You don't need to go to a dealer - just search for BMW specialist in your area.

 

[tweeky]

change the fuel filter what harm can it do, like i suggested back on the 2/8....what harm can it do.