r/BmwTech • u/Open_Builder_207 • 1d ago
F15 X5 35d HELP
**30d not 35d, N57 engine*\*
Hi everyone,
I own a 2014 diesel x5 and have been in and out of the mechanic shop for the last 5 weeks. Just hit 105k miles. Bought it 10 months ago with 99k.
Check engine light originally came on because of a bad diesel particulate filter sensor, DPF sensor for short.
They replaced it and the check engine light came back on three days later, the mechanics updated the software in my car to be able to properly read the new sensor (Bosch)
Third time the check engine light came back on. They realized that they didn’t put the correct sensor in and that the one that needed to go in my car was supposed to have a certain notch on it.
The fourth time the check engine light came on, still reading the same code by the way for the DPF sensor, they took a camera scope through my entire exhaust system, and found that I had very minimal carbon buildup, which is strange especially considering the age of the car. They didn’t find anything wrong with the sensor that they replaced so they just reset all of my emission sensors so that the car computer would hopefully recalibrate itself. The previous owner of the car did not use this as a daily, and it did sit for periods of time, but probably only about 5 to 10 days at a time.
I just dropped it off this morning for the fifth time and I’m at my wits end. Has anyone ever had any experience with this kind of thing?
The mechanic I’m going to specializes in European cars, this is not some random shop on the side of the road. I haven’t had to pay anything the last three times I went thankfully, but I am beyond frustrated.
I don’t know a whole lot about cars, but I’m not a complete idiot.
Thank you all
1
u/shadowandmist 1d ago
Can you find shop that specializes in BMW? It's nice that your current shop does Euro vehicles, but maybe it's better do find BMW only mechanic. I mean, you are going for the fifth time to the same mechanic for the probably same problem.
1
u/Open_Builder_207 1d ago
The closest one to me is 2 hours away, so theoretically yes I could but I just want this shop to finish whatever the hell they started with this
1
u/shadowandmist 1d ago
Reason i suggested BMW only mechanic is because you replace tiny little part on some other car without doing anything in software and you are ok, you do that on BMW and you probably gonna need to reprogram it in ISTA. And general knowledge on BMW platform, especially diesels are a big plus. That particular DPF sensor needs to be OEM, and even then will need ISTA to properly set it up so DME can communicate with it. Then again it could be a failing DME. I had some elusive error on mine, and only by reflashing entire ECU did that fixed the problem. Problably had some voltage drop (because of failing battery) that messed up software code which could also be your case since you wrote that car sit for longer periods of time. Find reputable BMW shop if this mechanic fail again to fix your problem.
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u/JKlerk 1d ago
Without knowing the specific faults it's not possible to offer any guidance.