2013 BMW X5 Fuel System Problems

Vehicle died while driving, luckily it happened when pulling in to a store versus on the busy highway that we had just been traveling on, would not restart. BMW Roanoke determined it to be a failed diesel injection pump. If this had occurred on the highway it could have been a very dangerous situation. I had found that previous and later models of this vehicle have been recalled for this issue, but not the 2013 model. Which seems odd since the 2013 uses the same or a very similar diesel injection pump. The repair cost is more the vehicle value.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW X5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NO ACCIDENT, JUST A SAFETY ISSUE WITH ACCELERATION DELAY. TOTAL LACK OF ACCELERATION AT A STOP TO GO. THERE IS AN INHERENT LAG UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION KICKS IN AND GOES, ABOUT A HALF SECOND DELAY. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT GOOD WHEN TRYING TO GET INTO BUSY TRAFFIC WHETHER AT A LIGHT OR MERGING. I HAVE TALKED TO BMW TAMPA AND RAN A DIAGNOSTIC WITHOUT SUCCESS FOR A FIX. THEY EVEN ADMIT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THIS BUT BMW GERMANY GUYS THEY SAY WON'T CHANGE THEIR THINKING OR FIX THE ISSUE. IN A NUTSHELL IT'S AS IF THE FUEL DOESN'T GET TO THE INJECTORS UNTIL A .05 DELAY. THIS IS NOT SAFE, POINT BLANK. *TR

VEHICLE DEVELOPED SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED FUEL MILEAGE AFTER THE FIRST 500 MILES. IN TOWN RANGE DROPPED BY 40% TO 7.8 MPG OVER THE SAME ROUTE, INDEPENDENT OF GASOLINE SOURCE OR GRADE. EXHAUST GASES ARE VERY HOT AND EXHIBIT A PRONOUNCED SULFURIC, GUNPOWDER LIKE SMELL. ELECTRICAL FANS CONSTANTLY ON DURING CITY DRIVING ATTEMPTING TO COOL THE ENGINE. EXCESSIVE CARBON BUILD UP ON EXHAUST COMPONENTS. ENGINE EXHIBITING RICH RUNNING CONDITION. A PERSISTENT MECHANICAL ENGINE WHINE DEVELOPED EMANATING FROM THE OIL PUMP, POSSIBLY THE ALTERNATOR AREA OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, PEAKING AT 1700-1900 RPM UNDER LOAD. AT 1,200 MILES, THE 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DEVELOPED ERRATIC SHIFT BEHAVIOR BETWEEN 1ST-3RD GEARS. AT FAIRLY CONSTANT SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND SECOND GEAR, ALTERNATING UP SHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING WITHOUT ESTABLISHING PROPER GEAR. COMING TO A STOP, VEHICLE SURGES REVOLUTIONS BY UP TO 500 RPM ON THE 3-2 DOWNSHIFT AND UP TO 800 RPM ON THE 2-1 DOWNSHIFT, CAUSING A SUDDEN AND ABRUPT HALT, ENGINE BRAKING EFFECT. BEHAVIOR IS MOST PRONOUNCED IN STANDARD D TRANSMISSION MODE, MINIMIZED IN DS MODE AND COMPLETELY ABSENT IN MANUAL MODE WITH AUTOMATIC DOWNSHIFT. AT 2,200 MILES, GUNPOWDER LIKE EXHAUST GAS SMELL MORE PRONOUNCED AND EVIDENT WHILE AVERAGE FUEL MILEAGE DROPPED TO 6.4 MPG OVER THE SAME COURSE. TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED TWO INCIDENTS OF FAILING TO UP SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR FOLLOWED BY A MECHANICAL CLUNK AND SHARP JOLT AFTER FINALLY GETTING IN GEAR. VEHICLE DOES NOT EXHIBIT ANY STORED OR ACTIVE FAULT CODES WITHIN THE ON-BOARD DIAGNOSTICS. *TR