[adamf30e90]

Hi all,

I need everyone's help from good folks and sherlock's on this forum ���� i will briefly explain the incident and then provide some background on the car. I need help with understanding what could be the likely cause given the circumstances explained.

Car: 2016 328i w M package, 60k miles

Incident:
I was driving to Los Angeles from Bay Area on a hot day and after around 4-5 hours (taking a break/refuel) couple times, the car started giving DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION error and the error had suggestion to "drive moderately & consult bmw center" etc.. I know this error is common but I will explain my situation if anyone can help narrow the issue. It was a stop and go traffic at the high elevation on the mountains and during the incline at lower speeds the car started shutting down. I immediately restarted to pull it to a side. I waited and went back to the freeway and it happened again. This time the car didnt start. It was struggling but the RPM wouldn't pick up.. i waited couple min and tried and it worked. Before the issue occurred, I was with my wife and had been driving uphill with the AC ON and MUSIC ON. For hours prior to this. The issue occurred after the first slowdown on the road and during long incline. After this happening couple times (scary as almost got rear ended once), i waited 25 mins, then started and now the engine light went away and so did the error. I drove to the closest BMW dealership at moderate speed and left it there now waiting to hear back. For the last stretch, i did not use AC or music. I still need to drive back 500 some miles so crossing my fingers it is a small and quick fix but hey one can hope!

Background:
I had taken this car 2 days prior to this trip to BMW dealership for inspection and they did not find any issues and topped all fluids. Car has been going through all routine maintenance.
Couple months ago, i had a front end collision. Most damage was to the front bumper but oil filter compartment was also replaced with many front grill etc cosmetics/hood. OEM parts. I had driven shorter trips since the repairs and they had assured that no engine or transmission issue. This was the first long haul trip i had done since and now this incident!

Thank you everyone ������������ Please share if you had this issue and how it was resolved. I experienced this after a treacherous drive and waiting a while helped for the short term. Now afraid waiting for that call


UPDATE: car is still at shop and currently working with dealer to apply SULEV warranty and cover all repairs

UPDATE LATEST:
Just an update for everyone!

Got a voicemail from the tech that the car will be ready on Wed. Also - $0 cost because he was able to ultimately get everything covered under the SULEV warranty.

Couldn't have gotten here without everyone's responses and suggestions. Really appreciate it guys. You all helped me save lot of money.

As per my experience with the dealership, I am satisfied although I had to put in the work and push them to cover due to warranty. They didn't make it easy but I guess that is the business model.

As for the root cause, I guess I was driving at low fuel through the mountains for long duration? Not sure how else fuel pump low pressure failed. I am disappointed at BMW reliability - I will take precautions next time but for it fail me like it did.. i learned it the hard way. Still love driving this car. But will seriously consider my options before it gets past 70k and most of SULEV warranty goes away. Until then, hope to continue enjoying the best it has to offer.

[sspade]

Very interesting, please update us with what the dealer says.

Personally… I would not anticipate anything major but stranger things have happened at lower mileage.

Im wondering if you got a bad tank of gas or something? Good luck, hope the rest of your trip goes well.

[adamf30e90]

Originally Posted by sspade

Very interesting, please update us with what the dealer says.

Personally… I would not anticipate anything major but stranger things have happened at lower mileage.

Im wondering if you got a bad tank of gas or something? Good luck, hope the rest of your trip goes well.

Thanks for your response! still waiting to hear from them. Hoping you are right!

I always get 91 from Costco so not sure what could have changed this time but i was nearing 70 miles to go before issue came up. Really praying its a quick fix. Pretty shocked how many people have reported this error, I find it quite serious. Hoping its not anything ridiculous!

[adamf30e90]

Originally Posted by sspade

Very interesting, please update us with what the dealer says.

Personally… I would not anticipate anything major but stranger things have happened at lower mileage.

Im wondering if you got a bad tank of gas or something? Good luck, hope the rest of your trip goes well.

I got the estimate from the bmw service center and they say the reason is due to the extreme heat lately. This is the quote i got:

replace fuel pump $900.00
replace ekps $600.00
reprogramming $200

Anyone feel this is reasonable? Tech seemed confident this is the rootcause.

[cfm56d7b]

Originally Posted by adamf30e90

I got the estimate from the bmw service center and they say the reason is due to the extreme heat lately. This is the quote i got:

replace fuel pump $900.00
replace ekps $600.00
reprogramming $200

Anyone feel this is reasonable? Tech seemed confident this is the rootcause.

Did the technician indicate what codes were stored? Fuel pump = low pressure fuel pump?

The prices are definitely dealer prices. The cost of parts will be nearly the same at an indy shop or BMW dealer.

Do you have an indy shop in the area to get a second opinion?

[adamf30e90]

Originally Posted by cfm56d7b

Did the technician indicate what codes were stored? Fuel pump = low pressure fuel pump?

The prices are definitely dealer prices. The cost of parts will be nearly the same at an indy shop or BMW dealer.

Do you have an indy shop in the area to get a second opinion?

Thanks for checking this. I am pretty limited in options so they are the best and most convenient option at this point. If i was local to the area, would have certainly looked into it. I am just thankful it is not an engine or transmission issue.

[cfm56d7b]

Indy shop would charge less for labor but there is a price for convenience of course.

Glad that the root cause was found. That's the main goal.

[adamf30e90]

Originally Posted by cfm56d7b

Indy shop would charge less for labor but there is a price for convenience of course.

Glad that the root cause was found. That's the main goal.

Certainly. I was told this has been a very common issue lately and parts are backordered for this specific instance. I know BMW is known for its plastic parts but if it means unreliability on a hot day - i might consider switching to a Lexus or other actual ultimate driving machines!

[tturedraider]

Yeah, I don’t buy the high temperature argument. Folks in Arizona drive Bimmers every day and have high temps. Hope this fix resolves your issues.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

Yeah, I don’t buy the high temperature argument. Folks in Arizona drive Bimmers every day and have high temps. Hope this fix resolves your issues.

My guess is that OP got into trouble@grapevine which is 2600 ft climb in 12 miles heading into LA.

If car has cooling/engine/fuel system issue, that stretch of road will expose it quickly esp. in stop-and-go amidst long weekend traffic jams.

[drdino]

Why replace both the fuel pump and the EKPS? I assume they mean the LPFP as that's what's controlled by the EKPS?

[adamf30e90]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

Yeah, I don’t buy the high temperature argument. Folks in Arizona drive Bimmers every day and have high temps. Hope this fix resolves your issues.

Yeah i agree its a cheap excuse.. for an ultimate driving machine 4-5 hrs nonstop 100 deg fahrenheit with mixed fast and slow stop and go traffic thru inclines + full AC on shouldn't need a $1800 service. Like i mentioned, the car was fully inspected and had no issues prior.

I had changed the settings from sport mode to comfort to eco couple times on the way. Still don't see how any of this was unbearable for the car.

[adamf30e90]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

My guess is that OP got into trouble@grapevine which is 2600 ft climb in 12 miles heading into LA.

If car has cooling/engine/fuel system issue, that stretch of road will expose it quickly esp. in stop-and-go amidst long weekend traffic jams.

Definitely the 3000+ ft... car didnt have any issues so best justification so far is it damaged fuel pump during that incline/drive.. i was still able to drive at moderate speeds for short term.

[auburnf30x]

Heat issues, maybe, but I've never heard of high ambient temperatures causing fuel pump failure. Only thing close is consistently running the car with the tank seriously low on fuel, as the pump relies on adequate fuel levels to cool itself. Otherwise, with enough (more than 1/4) of gas in the tank I can think of no reason ambient temperature would affect the fuel pump at all.

Fuel pump reliability can be affected by low quality gas, and I've heard California is pretty low on the scale in that regard. But still, that is not a heat related problem.

Unfortunately, without pulling the stored codes there is really no way to corroborate what they are telling you. It's entirely possible that replacing those parts will fix your problem, but saying that high outside temperatures caused it rings as total BS unless you've been driving around with your car pegged on "E" for several thousand miles.

[Danddd]

This happened to me twice on a trip to New Orleans from Chicago and back in November 2019. In my case both times it was raining. Both times they replaced 2 plugs and 2 coils. So all four were replaced. Wasn't even sure this was the issue.

[adamf30e90]

Originally Posted by auburnf30x

Heat issues, maybe, but I've never heard of high ambient temperatures causing fuel pump failure. Only thing close is consistently running the car with the tank seriously low on fuel, as the pump relies on adequate fuel levels to cool itself. Otherwise, with enough (more than 1/4) of gas in the tank I can think of no reason ambient temperature would affect the fuel pump at all.

Fuel pump reliability can be affected by low quality gas, and I've heard California is pretty low on the scale in that regard. But still, that is not a heat related problem.

Unfortunately, without pulling the stored codes there is really no way to corroborate what they are telling you. It's entirely possible that replacing those parts will fix your problem, but saying that high outside temperatures caused it rings as total BS unless you've been driving around with your car pegged on "E" for several thousand miles.

The car has almost never gone to E, worst case 40-60 miles range. When the incident occurred, had about 70 some miles left. All gasoline is from costco 91. I will try to get more info.

[adamf30e90]

Originally Posted by Danddd

This happened to me twice on a trip to New Orleans from Chicago and back in November 2019. In my case both times it was raining. Both times they replaced 2 plugs and 2 coils. So all four were replaced. Wasn't even sure this was the issue.

Geez. How much did it cost you each time? They can't be this incompetent but i have seen worse.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by adamf30e90

The car has almost never gone to E, worst case 40-60 miles range. When the incident occurred, had about 70 some miles left. All gasoline is from costco 91. I will try to get more info.

It may help to keep above 3/8th tank to keep the low-pressure fuel pump LPFP(@fuel tank) healthy, as these cars use the fuel to cool LPFP.

[cfm56d7b]

Originally Posted by adamf30e90

The car has almost never gone to E, worst case 40-60 miles range. When the incident occurred, had about 70 some miles left. All gasoline is from costco 91. I will try to get more info.

It would be helpful to get from the dealer ..

- Stored fault codes / results of any diagnostics
- Itemized estimate: parts and labor listed separately

[adamf30e90]

Originally Posted by cfm56d7b

It would be helpful to get from the dealer ..

- Stored fault codes / results of any diagnostics
- Itemized estimate: parts and labor listed separately

0X481B Control current EKPS low
0X11A0 02 High pressure fuel, plausibility pressure low
0X11A0 31 Low pressure fuel system, electric fuel pump: pressure low

I posted the cost earlier but if you can est the parts, rest is just labor and tax

[adamf30e90]

Originally Posted by drdino

Why replace both the fuel pump and the EKPS? I assume they mean the LPFP as that's what's controlled by the EKPS?

Just LP.

0X481B Control current EKPS too low

0X11A0 02 High pressure fuel, plausibility pressure too low

0X11A0 31 Low pressure fuel system, electric fuel pump: pressure too low

[triax37]

Originally Posted by adamf30e90

The car has almost never gone to E, worst case 40-60 miles range. When the incident occurred, had about 70 some miles left. All gasoline is from costco 91. I will try to get more info.

70 miles is pretty low, especially when going uphill. You probably had 2-3 gallons of gas, and with the incline, the fuel level sensor or even the pump could have had an issue. Or it might have thought it had an issue.

You're in a tough position since the car is not in your local area. If it were me, and the car was in my local area, I would drive it and see what codes, etc, came back. But being remote, I would (frustratingly) pay to have it fixed.

Some of these may be under warranty in CA - this post suggests it's a 7-year warranty, so your 2016 may be covered (if your car is a CA model):
https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1437095