330 pops service engine light - AGAIN!!!

[///ACS330Ci]

BMWNA, I'm not a happy camper. My 2001 330Ci just popped a "service engine soon" light again. This is the 5th time it's done it since I purchased the car. The first time it happened the car was only one week old. The first time the dealer checked everything out and said nothing was wrong and reset the light. Unfortunately the dealer didn't give me any paperwork and I didn't think anything about it since the car was only one week old, they didn't find anything wrong, and they rest everything without charge. I now regret that though because despite it being a US spec 330, the warranty on it here in Germany is (was) only 1 year long and the subsequent times it has done this I have had to pay for the diagnostic tests and computer resets. The time previous to this, I even had to pay to have the dealer upgrade the DME software because they thought that might be the problem. So far I'm out over 100 Euro and it looks like the dealer still doesn't have a clue. All for something that should have been covered under warranty!!!

BTW, the code it keeps popping is (228)(P0174). Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[TheBry]

I've not had this specific issue, but have had one similar. I was driving to work (45 mile commute each way) one morning and was at speed on the highway when my car started vibrating really badly, the Check Engine light came on, and the car continued making a really bad chug-chug sound, and engine power started to fade -- to the point where I was practically flooring it but only going 50MPH. I exited the highway and called BMW Assist. They sent a tow truck and I had it towed to the dealer. The dealer found nothing wrong with the car! They started it and everything was fine. The Check Engine light didn't even come on again.

My service tech said I could have temporarily lost the use of one or two of my cylinders, which would explain the Check Engine light, the vibration under the hood, and the reduced power. However, what frustrated the HELL out of me is that he couldn't tell me what caused two of my cylinders to shut down in the first place! It's a mystery. He had the fault codes reset and sent me on my way. It hasn't happened again since then, but it has really soured the experience of driving with peace of mind. Since they couldn't tell me what caused it, I'm in constant fear that it'll happen again.

 

[geneo]

what is the code, most of us dont have a way of telling what the number code is, is it o2 sensor, fuel trim , missfire gas cap?

 

[TheBry]

what is the code, most of us dont have a way of telling what the number code is, is it o2 sensor, fuel trim , missfire gas cap?

If you're referring to my mishap, I don't know what the codes were (that were reset). The service tech never told me, and they're not anywhere on my service receipt. He just said they "reset" the fault codes and that it shouldn't happen again.

 

[Average Jae]

sometimes the issues w/ codes are that, they don't remain in the system when the light is off. (or so the techs tell you.) kinda stupid if you ask me, and almost seems like a really bad excuse. i mean, if you had a major melfunction ie: the check engine light (altho, now a days, it could be anything, like not placing your fuel cap correctly.. *sigh*) wouldn't there be a log for the diag tools to pull out. like: it's ok now, but when we turn the light on, this and that happened..

Steve, hope your ordeals get resolved soon. it is utter BS to have to put you through that crap. uh.. i don't know, it sometime happens.. what the hell kind of explaination is that? my parents had their ecu replaced, and check engine light came back.. and went away again. i think 3+ times in about 15mos they had their ride.. hope it never come back

 

[jrt67ss350]

sometimes the issues w/ codes are that, they don't remain in the system when the light is off. (or so the techs tell you.) kinda stupid if you ask me, and almost seems like a really bad excuse. i mean, if you had a major melfunction ie: the check engine light (altho, now a days, it could be anything, like not placing your fuel cap correctly.. *sigh*) wouldn't there be a log for the diag tools to pull out. like: it's ok now, but when we turn the light on, this and that happened.

Yes, the codes should remain in the system even after the SES light goes off. This is the way it works with GM cars, so I can't see why BMWs would be any different. In fact, I'm pretty sure it is a requirement for the system to store the codes in order to meet the OBD standard. It's actually a necessity for the computer to store codes after the light goes off in order to diagnose lots of problems. My parents were having intermittent problems with the electronic EGR valve in their 1994 Bonneville where it would only periodically throw a code to light up the SES light only after driving the car at interstate speeds for about an hour. After a little while, the SES light would then turn off again. The computer stored the code, because I pulled it with a code reader when the light wasn't on (it had been days since the light came on when I pulled the code). If the computer hadn't stored the codes after the light turned off, there is no way we would have been able to diagnose the problem as coming from the EGR valve.

You can also think about it this way - if the codes didn't remain in the system, then why would the dealer tell you that they "reset the codes??"