We have yet to observe another occurrence of the non-start issue in our long-term 2008 BMW 135i coupe. However, a pattern has emerged: If the car has been sitting for a while, we're looking at extra crank time before the engine will fire up. It happened when I left work last night and again this morning in my carport.
After reading your comments regarding the known fuel pump issue with the N54 engine (i.e., the direct-injected and twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 in our 135i), we've decided to make a service appointment.
In addition, we ran across this TSB dated April 2009 that apparently covers our 2008 135i. It starts out, "BMW has become aware of a potential problem that could affect the durability of the High Pressure Fuel Pump (HDP) of certain MY 2007/2008 BMWs with the N54 engine."
The bulletin continues, "Vehicles affected may have the Service Engine Soon lamp illuminated with various low fuel pressure-related faults (e.g., 29DC, 29F1, 29F2 ) stored in the Engine Control Module (DME). Also, the affected vehicles may experience an extended engine starting time ("long crank") or reduced engine performance ("engine failsafe mode") when the High Pressure Fuel Pump malfunctions."
A fix for the problem is detailed in the TSB, right down to the part numbers. In addition, the bulletin says the emissions warranty on affected cars is extended to 10 years/120,000 miles.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 24,064 miles
lysine says:
06:07 PM, 07/ 8/09
Friends 135i sputtered and went into limp mode on freeway at 5k miles on the day he got the TSB.
HPFP replacement fixed it.
bimmerjay says:
06:22 PM, 07/ 8/09
Yes, this is a well-known issue and your symptoms are exactly indicative of the impending failure of the HPFP. I received the bulletin as well but I luckily haven't experienced any problems.
drewsrx says:
06:24 PM, 07/ 8/09
So, all three of your long term BMW's have problems, LOL!
equ says:
06:51 PM, 07/ 8/09
My 2006 330i sometimes takes a tad longer to crank, especially if it's been sitting a week or longer. It doesn't have a HPFP as far as I know. What gives?
huyracing says:
07:00 PM, 07/ 8/09
Yep, its a common issue. Ask them to make a higher flowing one so that us tuner guys can up the power more. Nothing aftermarket is currently available... oh and colder spark plugs!
compliance says:
07:44 PM, 07/ 8/09
Are the replacing with updated fuel pumps or are they prone to failing again?
bimmerjay says:
08:04 PM, 07/ 8/09
^^ Siemens supplies the pumps, they've had continuing trouble for some reason, so even the updated pumps have been failing, although less so.
shaddai says:
08:58 PM, 07/ 8/09
Updated pumps suck just as much.
PaulBubel says:
09:56 PM, 07/ 8/09
But at least the sunroof doesn't have that minimal gap, right?
kyolml says:
10:15 PM, 07/ 8/09
Your car is out of warranty because you changed the ECU mapping....????????????
Any luck, please let us know.
greenpiece says:
07:29 AM, 07/ 9/09
Just curious, where was this photo taken? Is that a restaurant to the left?
redwoodaggie says:
07:58 AM, 07/ 9/09
@equ, I've heard of fuel pump failure in the E9x naturally aspirated cars as well. It's just less common.
joefrompa says:
09:47 AM, 07/ 9/09
I didn't care when this issue emerged in 2007 on the new 335is.....but c'mon, it's been 3 years now since the engine has come out. Fix your freaking fuel pumps or find a new supplier.
I have no patience with quality issues that leave owners stranded.
08lr3 says:
10:17 AM, 07/ 9/09
i have 09 135i - just sat for 3 weeks as i was stateside.. fired up on the slightest touch of the start/stop...ahh music to my ears..
now i wish i could put start up sound on the idrive to be the transformers funky sounds (that electrical sound)
indy_mistert says:
11:54 AM, 07/ 9/09
The TSB might give you some help - will be very curious to see if they detect and/or mention your tune... let alone try to deny the HPFP work under warranty because of it.
I'd normally sort of side with the mfgr's warranty denial (engine problems after a tune)... but with all the years of fuel pump trouble in stock and modified engines, certainly not in this case.
subscribed & good luck
1speedbike says:
08:41 PM, 07/ 9/09
A lot of people are getting denied the HPFP fix because the problem can't be replicated and/or there are no error codes thrown. I got mine replaced without error codes but I had to complain a bit.
You should be fine if you insist they keep it overnight (the long crank time usually only rears its ugly head on cold starts) and if you print a technical service bulletin such as this: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5347172&postcount=3
Good Luck! It's a shame about the HPFP failure. It's a one time really easy fix/recall. Get it done once, it never happens again. They should just recall them once and get the issue fixed already...
bkochuk says:
06:48 AM, 07/10/09
might want to have them check this out, too, while you're there:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/results.cfm?rcl_id=09V257&searchtype=quicksearch&summary=true&refurl=email
jasper53 says:
07:09 AM, 07/10/09
I will be very interested to hear what happens when you roll into the dealership with a non-standard ECU. Just like kyolml above, I would expect that they will tell you that you are on your own on this one. Why should BMW cover engine repairs under warranty after you have gone in and fooled around with their software? Are you going to put the stock software code back into the ECU before you take the car in? This is a popular issue on the BMW forum pages. Unless you take out your mod before handing the car over to the service advisor I think that you are going to run into a big problem. BTW -- what are you going to do if part of the high pressure fuel pump fix is a software change to the current code?
shaddai says:
10:35 AM, 07/10/09
@1speedbike It sure would be nice if it was one time only. It's just a matter of when, not if.
blueguydotcom says:
11:52 AM, 07/10/09
jasper, there are mod-friendly dealers.
roadburner says:
09:10 PM, 07/10/09
blueguydotcom; I agree about mod-friendly dealers, but there are some dealers that will use any excuse to deny warranty coverage. Over on the Mazda boards there are dealers who won't bat an eye no matter how much the car is modded while there are others who try to void the warranty because the car has a Mazdaspeed intake that they didn't install. Unfortunately the same is true with regards to BMW dealers.