E70 3.0D cutting out

[Greydog]

The car starts and runs first time no matter what the weather tick over is smooth no mis-fires or hiccups, pick up is as it has always been. Only 2 codes previously recorded 1. Glow plug 1 activation and 2. Tranfer case oil degradation, 132k covered.
Then Feb 1st while driving on the A24 car cuts out Trans selects N engine Off, Hazards on coast to a stop Key out Key in car starts first time and runs faultlessly for the rest of the day. No reoccurance untill yesterday then 4 times it repeated the cut out ? Back home and plug in no codes recorded other than the 2 already known ? Been scratching my head any one seen anything similar

[Leslie]

Neither of those codes will be the issue as I have both , I wonder if its suddenly losing fuel pressure but there should really be a code for that ? I suspect there are codes but your equipment isn't seeing them , id check the battery positives in the engine bay are tight too incase its suddenly losing voltage ,think there is one down to the alternator sometimes comes loose was mentioned on there a long time ago or it could be the crank sensor which would stop the engine instantly but this would have a code too.

[Greydog]

Morning
Thanks for the reply
Initial scan was carried out with iCarsoft only the fault codes mentioned showed up yesterday I scanned it with ISTA/INPA same results. I removed the engine covers and checked the injector and glow plug looms carefully. No sign of water ingress around injector 5 and 6 as I had read that can be a cause (and we have had plenty of rain of late) The confusing thing is still no codes, like you I would have thought there would be some trace? Unplug injector 5 car starts with misfire and a code. I have read that a failing crank sensor could be the culprit, but surely there would be some trace of a code? Not an expensive sensor but the starter motor needs to come off to get to it (thanks BMW) I will check all connections suggested and earth points as I work through but with the weather as it is and my age, shall we say enthusiasm is not high at the moment My wifes trusty Subaru Outback will be shared for awhile

[Leslie]

Crank sensor tends to drop out aftet a certain time running as it will be heat related , I remember a story of an e46 used to grind to a halt on the same road every day so id make a note see of the fails follow any pattern.If you have a code reader stick it on the minute it stops do not turn ignition off as you need to catch it when its active. 4 stops in 1 day is unuseable even if it goes again as its a danger to you losing power.

[Greydog]

Quick update
Took all the engine covers and inlet manifold off again today cleaned and checked all injector and glow plug connectors and harness's for any sign water ingress or wear and tear applied contact cleaner to connectors and reassembled the lot. Started first turn and ran smooth as you like, ran a quick diagnostic and even managed to clear the Glow plug fault ?
Car ran on the drive for an hour no problem took it for a short drive no problem then pulling back onto the drive it cut out again still no faults showing ?? Looks like I may have to pull the starter and change the Crank sensor

[Greydog]

Update. After driving with diagnostics connected running live data I have a code that indicates Injector 5 is the culprit plus the Glow plug fault returned
So it's raid the piggy bank time, while I am in there I may as well change all 6 Injectors along with the Glow Plugs and Controller

[X5Sport]

Make sure you soak the heaters for a few days. They are put in with no lube and have a nasty habit of snapping. If that happens it is not necessarily an engine surgery job though. I had two snap and the garage used an extractor tool to get the part out. Still cost me £800 for an Indy to do the job mind. That was for all six, controller and the extractor kit.

I think it’s recommended to use a special high temp ceramic lube when you put new ones in. Makes the job easier for next time.

[Leslie]

Id just change injector 5 , these won't be cheap and id run a smooth running test on your diagnostic if possible first to see how the others compare . Its usually just the one unless you have had water get into the back 2 from above due to split plastic cover over the master cylinder on the right and same plastic on the left . This goes unnoticed until you get injector issues .

As said glow plugs are risky to change and not really needed , mine are faulty but given the horror stories I ain't touching them , if you are in that far id suggest you ohm them one by one to see how many are bad and maybe just try those first , I it feels bad stop do not snap it off i'm guessing they should be 2 ohms or less certainly very low if working and if the codes say all 6 its likely the controller is faulty.

[Greydog]

My thinking on changing 6 injectors is if one has failed changing just one may require a repeat performance in the near future. As for the water ingress that was one of the first things I read and checked, I found absolutley no sign of water getting in there I even jet washed the screen area and scuttle then checked again. Though with the amount of rain we have had last year and the start of this all things are possible.

Only changed Glow plugs on our sons Toyota Pickup and know what a PITA some can be we brought a Glowplug removal/rescue kit (was about £30 iirc) and needed it for 2 of them. However there was a lot more crud under the bonnet of the Toyota (he is a tree surgeon so it lives a hard life) So again I have read it's better to change all plugs and the controller to avoid repeat performances

The head scratcher is why no fault code for the injector until actually driving with live data running ? I tried with iCarsoft and Foxwell INPA and ISTA before finding it. It seems as soon as the engine cutout and I stopped and restarted it cleared the fault? So do I have another issue to find ??? I do love my BMW though (just not quite as much just now)

[Leslie]

Its possibly a brief short in the injector shutting them all down, quite dangerous really, volkswagen ordered injectors recalls for similar in the past after a few people were killed because of it at high speed resulting in crashes.

[Greydog]

Well all back together and running really well changed all 6 injectors all 6 Glowplugs and the Glowplug Controller. I have to say the job I thought would be a real PITA was the glow plugs while the controller is buried and a fiddle all the Plugs came out easily (after a soaking in penetrating fluid)
The real struggle was with the back 3 injectors I made my own removal tool I welded an M14 wheel nut to an M12 nut to act as an adaptor for my slide hammer. Numbers 1 2 and3 popped out without any problems numbers 4 5 and 6 I couldn't budge. Then after talking to a local Truck mechanic he told me they use an air driven vibrator to remove injectors. Back home I got one of my sons to use an SDS hammer attachment against the under side of the Slide hammer still took the best part of Saturday to get the last 3 out but worked a treat.
Reset all adaptions for the injectors 30 seconds of cranking to bleed the system and it came to life.

[X5Sport]

And nothing snapped! I’ll call that a massive success.

[Leslie]

I Have seen those air slide hammer injector pullers they do a fantastic job but well improvised , the parts bill must be eyewatering but if its all fixed and you are keeping it then that's all that matters and I can only imagine the relief when the last one broke free Top work

[Greydog]

Using the SDS made it a 2 man job and still took time (don't know what HSE woul dmake of the Hand/Arm vibration ) but it worked Total parts bill is just under £1300 I know I could have saved around £800 by just changing the duff injector but the thought of a repeat performance made up my mind for me.
As i was stuck with an unusable X5 Drive ornament and worth very little. I think having it back running smoothly was the way to go

[Alan Gunn]

Nice result there.
It cost me £500 well just shy of for just 2 injectors and that was 6 years ago.
Only problem i was getting was hot starting took ages to fire up.