Constant Problems

[Crispy0001]

Hi everyone,

Unfortunately, everytime I post on the forum is because i'm having issues.

A few weeks ago I got a fault code of rear differential lock and driving stabilisation after the car was sitting for two weeks. After a very short drive it quickly went away.

The issue came back again last week, this time it stayed a little longer but after parking up for a bit it went away.

At this point I wasn't concerned as I was assuming it was a faulty wheel speed sensor until yesterday.

I spent a few hours washing the car and thought i would take it for a drive, no faults on idle, as soon as i start driving i get rear differential lock, driving stabilisation and abs warning codes. I thought id continue driving to see if they would clear but they didnt.

What was worrying is that I noticed the car would not rev above 3K rpms, at this point i started to head back home and around 600m before reaching my house I got a check engine light come up.

Parked the car up and left it until today, went to start it up this morning and all fault codes where still there as well as the check engine light.

I also noticed that it was idling pretty rough and shaking a bit but nothing major. Also it was flickering between N and P a few times without me doing anything.

It is booked to go into the dealers tomorrow but it's stressing me out big time.

[Slowphiveo]

Total shot in the dark here...but does the car sit for long periods of time, especially over the winter? I had a friend who was experiencing issues almost exactly as you described with his F80. Turns out that over the winter, some rodents got up into the engine compartment and decided to have a field day feasting on wires. Ended up being an insurance claim because there was over $2500 in damage that had been done.

[rmanm4]

You should invest in a OBDII reader so you can scan the codes right away. With codes in hand you can google or post here. Without codes it's hard to figure anything out!

[Crispy0001]

Originally Posted by Slowphiveo

Total shot in the dark here...but does the car sit for long periods of time, especially over the winter? I had a friend who was experiencing issues almost exactly as you described with his F80. Turns out that over the winter, some rodents got up into the engine compartment and decided to have a field day feasting on wires. Ended up being an insurance claim because there was over $2500 in damage that had been done.

It doesn't sit for too long, I have another car as a daily but I drive the M4 3-4 times per week. The longest it was sitting was for 2 weeks when i had to self isolate

[Crispy0001]

Originally Posted by rmanm4

You should invest in a OBDII reader so you can scan the codes right away. With codes in hand you can google or post here. Without codes it's hard to figure anything out!

Thanks for that, i think i should invest in a OBDII reader also. Any recommendations?

[noemon]

There are 3 options for OBD readers:

1) Carly WiFi, cheap, easy to use, but limited in scope. It will not diagnose EDC and several other modules. Meh.
2) ISTA+ software on windows coupled with any OBD cable. Best solution and cheapest, but requires a bit of technical installation, nothing too dramatic though.
You buy a cable off Amazon for 10 and download the software from around here. That is the same software the dealer's use.
3) A good car diagnostic reader like Autel(very expensive 1000+) or OBDstar(medium range, 200-400)

Do not waste your money on cheap OBD readers or Carly(which is the best of the cheap ones) in my honest opinion, they will not do the job.

[Crispy0001]

Originally Posted by noemon

There are 3 options for OBD readers:

1) Carly WiFi, cheap, easy to use, but limited in scope. It will not diagnose EDC and several other modules. Meh.
2) ISTA+ software on windows coupled with any OBD cable. Best solution and cheapest, but requires a bit of technical installation, nothing too dramatic though.
You buy a cable off Amazon for 10 and download the software from around here. That is the same software the dealer's use.
3) A good car diagnostic reader like Autel(very expensive 1000+) or OBDstar(medium range, 200-400)

Do not waste your money on cheap OBD readers or Carly(which is the best of the cheap ones) in my honest opinion, they will not do the job.

Thanks man, think I will go with option 2

[PhatLyfe]

Originally Posted by rmanm4

You should invest in a OBDII reader so you can scan the codes right away. With codes in hand you can google or post here. Without codes it's hard to figure anything out!

Any recommendations on the reader?

[rmanm4]

I've got a FOXWELL NT510 that is a BMW specific scanner. It will even register battery for you and reset adaptations. It will also give you a discription of the error. You can get fake ones from AliExpress or even amazon for a lot cheaper that work just as good. These scanners also get updated via computer for latest BMW's.

AUTOPHIX 7910 is just as good for cheaper!

[Crispy0001]

Starting to think this might be a spun crank hub?

[HarryTee]

Originally Posted by Crispy0001

Starting to think this might be a spun crank hub?

What made you think so? Are the symptoms displayed those of a spun crank hub? If you're not sure, don't overthink. Take the car to the dealer and see what they say.

[Crispy0001]

Originally Posted by HarryTee

What made you think so? Are the symptoms displayed those of a spun crank hub? If you're not sure, don't overthink. Take the car to the dealer and see what they say.

The rough idle, limp mode and check engine light. I hope im wrong

Its at the dealers now, anxiously waiting to see what they find.

[Leveredup377]

Originally Posted by Crispy0001

The rough idle, limp mode and check engine light. I hope im wrong

Its at the dealers now, anxiously waiting to see what they find.

Had the same issue and mine was the differential servo motor that went bad on my '15 m4. It started with a coming on irregularly and than eventually stayed..

[Crispy0001]

Originally Posted by Leveredup377

Had the same issue and mine was the differential servo motor that went bad on my '15 m4. It started with a coming on irregularly and than eventually stayed..

Did you also have limp mode and check engine light?

[Crispy0001]

UPDATE: Just spoke to the dealer and he said the fault code was the front suspension sensor, apparently he took it apart and there was loads of condensation on it. Cleaned and replaced it, will put a few miles on the car to see if that was the culprit.

Will have more updates hopefully tomorrow, fingers crossed

[VChenz]

Originally Posted by Crispy0001

UPDATE: Just spoke to the dealer and he said the fault code was the front suspension sensor, apparently he took it apart and there was loads of condensation on it. Cleaned and replaced it, will put a few miles on the car to see if that was the culprit.

Will have more updates hopefully tomorrow, fingers crossed

that shouldn't affect engine performance at all (ie. rough idle).

has any recent work been done on the engine (ex. spark plugs, valve cover gasket, etc.?) - sometimes the techs forget to plug things in and it causes a bunch of issues.

[Crispy0001]

Originally Posted by VChenz

that shouldn't affect engine performance at all (ie. rough idle).

has any recent work been done on the engine (ex. spark plugs, valve cover gasket, etc.?) - sometimes the techs forget to plug things in and it causes a bunch of issues.

I thought it was too good to be true but trying to be optimistic. No recent work has been done to the car either, patiently waiting for news tomorrow.

[PhatLyfe]

Did you purchase a BMW corporate special or test car from the M driving school. Those cars are used and abused to the max.

[Crispy0001]

Originally Posted by PhatLyfe

Did you purchase a BMW corporate special or test car from the M driving school. Those cars are used and abused to the max.

No I didn't, I do not live in the US, I live in Cyprus and they don't really do that over here.
The car was actually the personal car of the dealers son, this was one of the main reasons I went for it as it was very well looked after and all servicing was done on time.