Got out to my car after work the other day, started the car, and started idleing really rough. Drove it straight to the dealer and left it there for the night. Turns out it was a bad ignition coil that also burned out the spark plug. The dealer fixed it and it has run fine ever since. Anyone else have this problem? By the way, the car has 15,500 miles on it.
Bad Coil on 2003 325i
- Thread starter jstiebe
- Start date
I've had a very rough idle (revs bob up and down between 500-1100 RPM seemingly at random) upon startup that eventually became noticeable even at full engine temp. It has even died at a stop light. I noticed it around 4k miles; now its got 10k.
After taking it in 3 times, the dealer claims nothing is wrong. The first time, they installed new software. The second and third times, they said that their computer checks showed nothing wrong. The problem is intermittent - some days its worse than others.
My question is two-fold: 1) does a failed ignition coil / spark plug show up in computer tests? 2) is it possible that the dealership didn't do anything besides simply check the computer codes?
I'm ready to take it in for a second opinion, but don't know where (in Austin, TX) to go.
JR
After taking it in 3 times, the dealer claims nothing is wrong. The first time, they installed new software. The second and third times, they said that their computer checks showed nothing wrong. The problem is intermittent - some days its worse than others.
My question is two-fold: 1) does a failed ignition coil / spark plug show up in computer tests? 2) is it possible that the dealership didn't do anything besides simply check the computer codes?
I'm ready to take it in for a second opinion, but don't know where (in Austin, TX) to go.
JR
My experience is similar.
On the frist time rough idle, the computer car picked up the problem and lid the "Check Engine" light. I brought it to the dealer and they fixed it.
Then, came the recall of the window electric control thing which requires replacement of some computer stuff. This requires installation of new software and set up.
Then, I had my second rough idle, but the "Check Engine" light never came on. It went away after several days.
So, I am not sure if this is a known BMW problem by the dealers and they somehow disable this part during my service to give an illusion to the computer that it is not a problem. Like you said, the computer said nothing is wrong.
[???1]
On the frist time rough idle, the computer car picked up the problem and lid the "Check Engine" light. I brought it to the dealer and they fixed it.
Then, came the recall of the window electric control thing which requires replacement of some computer stuff. This requires installation of new software and set up.
Then, I had my second rough idle, but the "Check Engine" light never came on. It went away after several days.
So, I am not sure if this is a known BMW problem by the dealers and they somehow disable this part during my service to give an illusion to the computer that it is not a problem. Like you said, the computer said nothing is wrong.
[???1]
in my case the check engine light comes on and claims a misfire. i haven't physically pulled the coils yet on the two misbehaving cylinders, but my plugs have 5000 miles on them, and my car is still running fairly strong, idles well, just doesn't have all the power i'd like (ecu tames her down when it reads misfire) so i've narrowed it down to the ignition coils being a little shoddy, just not up to letting the plugs do their job in the upper rpm's.