[rjd_F30]

I've had the same issues everyone else had and they're all specific to the the temperature (always cold). I've concluded that these cars need at least a full 2 minutes before they operate normally in sub freezing weather, and when I do give it the time to warm up, it drives fine.

[2015F80]

My wife has a bmw x3 2013 with the 2.0 n20 4 cylinder engine. Since last year very rough idle and sometimes stalls when temperature is around 20F and lower. It also sometimes backfires when cold. I changed the air filter and cleaned the mass air flow sensor but alas it still does the same thing.

When the engine is warm or semi warm like siiting in cold weather for 3hours no problem whatsoever.

Sure I get it that the engine might be rough when cold but it did not do that during the first 4 years of ownership.

Any suggestions?

[Sweeney921]

Just thinking outside the box here, but I think that it's important to note whether or not these cars were parked outdoors prior to these cold start issues. Under the right weather conditions your intake piping could be coated with condensation. That condensation would then explain an unusually rough idle.

I reckon that garage-parked cars wouldn't experience this issue, but I could be completely wrong. Like I said, just thinking outside the box (Food for thought).

[2015F80]

It happens a little when in the garage witch is heated to 40F. But mainly outside when tge car has been sitting for 8 hours in 20F and lower temperatures.

[mtrel]

Originally Posted by 2015F80

My wife has a bmw x3 2013 with the 2.0 n20 4 cylinder engine. Since last year very rough idle and sometimes stalls when temperature is around 20F and lower. It also sometimes backfires when cold. I changed the air filter and cleaned the mass air flow sensor but alas it still does the same thing.

When the engine is warm or semi warm like siiting in cold weather for 3hours no problem whatsoever.

Sure I get it that the engine might be rough when cold but it did not do that during the first 4 years of ownership.

Any suggestions?

I'm currently experiencing the same issue with my n20 but as the temperatures get colder the idle gets rough and picks back up on every cold start everyday. I got it scanned and haven't been able to figure out the issue due to it not throwing any codes.

[Chriske92]

I also have this stutter peoblem, but it came after i reached the 90k km's. The car shakes alot but goes away after a couple of seconds. Besides this i'm very happy with th n20 engine, runs smooth.

[NoobCola]

I have an n20 and it's not as bad as op is describing but I do notice when engine is cold it tends to stutter a little bit when I let off the accelerator. I currently have 30k miles on mine so the problem may get worst with aging? If this is normal though I'm glad to hear it because I was getting a bit concerned tbh.

[kobluna]

I have a N20 but in 320i form so less power than in 328i. I haven't noticed any issues that others are describing. Only thing that I have noticed is if I don't start driving immediately but left it just idle in P, I might feel a few vibrations from the engine. But those are very mild and might be caused by ECU trying to put right mixture of fuel to keep it running.

Transmission in the other hand might shift roughly when cold but smooths out when warmed. Those early shifts are not too bad either but you do feel them. My car has now 87k miles and running great.

Edit. I must add that I always use 98E gas on mine to avoid any problems. I know that you use different system in USA, I guess it would be 93 octane there?

[DarkStarBimmer]

why would you drive your car without letting the engine and trans properly warm up?

[upsidedownfunnel]

I have a 2014 335i that does this occasionally. It is garage kept and the weather never goes below 40 degrees here (typically around 50-60 in the evenings). I also usually don't drive it until the afternoon when the weather is usually in the 60s.

This happened a couple times a few weeks ago, stopped, then it happened again yesterday when I started my car. After it fires up, it drops to about 400-500rpm, shoots up to about 1500rpm, then settles back down to do its usual 1100rpm to 700rpm warm-up routine.

Originally Posted by DarkStarBimmer

why would you drive your car without letting the engine and trans properly warm up?

It's actually better for the engine to warm it up by driving it slowly rather than by idling it for extended periods of time. Warming it up by idling in your driveway for 5-10 minutes actually advances engine wear and wastes gasoline. I think general recommendation is to warm it up for no more than 30 seconds.

The only valid reason to warm up your car for extended periods of time is to heat the cabin up when it's really cold outside. Having come from a cold weather state, I am sympathetic. No one likes driving in a very cold car. But it's detrimental to the engine, your wallet, and the environment.

[rjd_F30]

Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel

It's actually better for the engine to warm it up by driving it slowly rather than by idling it for extended periods of time. Warming it up by idling in your driveway for 5-10 minutes actually advances engine wear and wastes gasoline. I think general recommendation is to warm it up for no more than 30 seconds.

The only valid reason to warm up your car for extended periods of time is to heat the cabin up when it's really cold outside. Having come from a cold weather state, I am sympathetic. No one likes driving in a very cold car. But it's detrimental to the engine, your wallet, and the environment.

Agreed, that's what I always do. Let it idle for about 30 seconds and then drive away. I think that's best practice.

[thebigbuff]

I have also noticed that as well when I first got mine. Maybe it is just an early f30 n20 thing? Not sure, but when I asked the BMW dealer tech when I was in for a clutch, he said that it was fine.

[johnlapay]

Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel

I have a 2014 335i that does this occasionally. It is garage kept and the weather never goes below 40 degrees here (typically around 50-60 in the evenings). I also usually don't drive it until the afternoon when the weather is usually in the 60s.

This happened a couple times a few weeks ago, stopped, then it happened again yesterday when I started my car. After it fires up, it drops to about 400-500rpm, shoots up to about 1500rpm, then settles back down to do its usual 1100rpm to 700rpm warm-up routine.



It's actually better for the engine to warm it up by driving it slowly rather than by idling it for extended periods of time. Warming it up by idling in your driveway for 5-10 minutes actually advances engine wear and wastes gasoline. I think general recommendation is to warm it up for no more than 30 seconds.

The only valid reason to warm up your car for extended periods of time is to heat the cabin up when it's really cold outside. Having come from a cold weather state, I am sympathetic. No one likes driving in a very cold car. But it's detrimental to the engine, your wallet, and the environment.

Hello. Have the same issue as you described, have you solved that, what was the problem? Mine does when cold as well. Starts goes to 1.5k then drop for a second and then as normal. Same car F30 335i. Thanks

[Slick_FThirty]

Changing the engine air filter fixed it for me. My N20 would stall in colder weather (around 0 celsius) when backing up from my garage. Would happen quite occasionally and would seem to have a tough time at idle after startup. Haven't had the problem since.