[Thackers]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with the F30 diesel particulate flters..

I'm only doing about 6000 miles per year and the majority of journeys around 5 miles each.....I realise technology has advanced and certain manufactures such as Ford and Peugeot use an additive to help regenerate the DPF which would be changed every 100k.

Does BMW use the same process?...if not is there any additional maintenance I should consider based on the mileage and journey durations....

[Nick the Greek]

With respect.
You've probably bought the wrong car.
Why diesel with such a tiny mileage.

[Thackers]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

With respect.
You've probably bought the wrong car.
Why diesel with such a tiny mileage.

TBH I bought 9months old and 95% of the F30 market were diesel.
Price difference minimal and at the time I got the AW/coral and Nav which were the 3 options I really wanted.

It's my first diesel and I'm no petrol head so had never heard of DPF before..

Just came across it while reading the net..

[Dave_3]

I covered about the same mileage per year in my E92 335D from 2006 until earlier this year with no problems whatsoever with the DPF. Almost exclusively just little 3 mile one way trips.

Just use a bit of sense, if you feel a regen starting just take it around the block until it has finished. And stretch its legs now and again during a month.

You can tell when a regen has started as the car will run slightly rougher, hang onto the revs slightly more (different shift points with the automatic gearbox) and you should be able to sense it is running very similarly to an old carburettor fed car on the choke (running rich), just loses a bit of its sparkle. It is noticeable. If your window is open you may sense the heat and you might occasionally get a whif of burnt caramel from the exhaust.

A regen can occur in town traffic once the engine is warm enough. I've noticed it doing this on my 430D, along with the cooling fan remaining on when I parked up.

Just be aware and you should never have any problems.

I also only use premium diesel, but if you are the type of driver that can't detect a regen, you probably won't notice any difference with the better diesel either.

D.

[Alkidrew]

Originally Posted by Thackers

TBH I bought 9months old and 95% of the F30 market were diesel.
Price difference minimal and at the time I got the AW/coral and Nav which were the 3 options I really wanted.

It's my first diesel and I'm no petrol head so had never heard of DPF before..

Just came across it while reading the net..

I think you did the right thing. Residuals of diesels will be stronger.

[ozwol]

From my own experience The regen process, if it's the same as our f11 on f30s is much improved over the e90s, the auto box doesn't seem to hang onto gears as much and the roughness in changes and engine note is improved.

In our e91 I'd take it onto the motorway if I felt it regenerating but on the f30 I'm guessing it may be harder to identify. They do not have an additive as other makes and rely on certain parameters to regenerate.

On a diet of miles similar to yours the dpf clogged at 90k on our e91 335d but it had the odd long journey thrown in. We had it removed and cleaned for £300 and it ran like new.

[crowdedhouse]

Originally Posted by Dave_3

. It is noticeable. If your window is open you may sense the heat and you might occasionally get a whiff of burnt caramel from the exhaust.

D.

So that's what that is - I thought it was my imagination.

[....,,,,..,,..]

How do you force a regen with an automatic?

With our Mondeo it's a case of high revs at 50 mph for 25 miles, basically down the M54 and back.

However with a 330, I imagine you need it in sport or manual?

Eco would not keep the engine speed high enough.

Btw, Mondeo 34k miles since 2007, 3000 miles last year, no problems.
Previous E91 320d , 13k in 2 years, no problem.

While they are low mileage there is usually a 20 mile + run most weekends and every other month 200 or so.

Some days use MTB for work

[teaston]

I haven't noticed my car do a regen yet and i've done over 7k! Roughly how often do they do one?

[Thackers]

Thanks for all the feedback.

Im not sure you can force a Regen..!
If the filter becomes blocked the ECU just increases the fuel mix to force a temp increase which allows the Regen to be successful.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by Thackers

Thanks for all the feedback.

Im not sure you can force a Regen..!
If the filter becomes blocked the ECU just increases the petrol mix to force a temp increase which allows the Regen to be successful.

Petrol?

Just what are you running yours on

[Thackers]

Originally Posted by Brigand

Petrol?

Just what are you running yours on

Lol.....edit c/o satis

[robwils]

I really can't understand why manufacturers can't fit some sort of warning that a regen is occurring so you can act accordingly. A simple light or message on dashboard would do. Penny pinching ??? Really annoys me.

[dazzapb]

Originally Posted by robwils

I really can't understand why manufacturers can't fit some sort of warning that a regen is occurring so you can act accordingly. A simple light or message on dashboard would do. Penny pinching ??? Really annoys me.

True but 99% of people might panic as most do not know what a Dpf is (I didn't myself until recently) and bmw get many a call. On the other hand a verbose I-drive message might work

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by robwils

I really can't understand why manufacturers can't fit some sort of warning that a regen is occurring so you can act accordingly. A simple light or message on dashboard would do. Penny pinching ??? Really annoys me.

But what would you do that is different if you knew th engine was doing a dpf and you are driving down M6, M1 etc?

There is only really one precaution you really need to take with a dpf regen.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by teaston

I haven't noticed my car do a regen yet and i've done over 7k! Roughly how often do they do one?

The older models (E90/1/2) regens' were somewhere between 300 - 600 miles. Not sure if anything has changed for active regenerations, even on the latest diesels.

If you notice a drop in mpg for a few miles, for no real reason, that is another indicator.

Regenerations are one reason I've not got a diesel this time around, the E91 was often regenerating at inappropriate times and I'd be over shooting destinations (or home) to get them complete. Extra miles for nothing. Plus it drops about 5 mpg for around 6 - 8 miles, all erodes why you have a diesel.

HighlandPete

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Brigand

But what would you do that is different if you knew the engine was doing a dpf and you are driving down M6, M1 etc?

Nothing different is really necessary, just keep going until it is finished.

But if in doubt... "give the engine its head" as one BMW Area Manager put it.

If you are driving motorway speeds, it will likely be a passive regeneration anyway, and you won't know it is happening.

HighlandPete

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Nothing different is really necessary, just keep going until it is finished.

But if in doubt... "give the engine its head" as one BMW Area Manager put it.

If you are driving motorway speeds, it will likely be a passive regeneration anyway, and you won't know it is happening.

HighlandPete

Yep exactly, it just happens, has with our Mondeo for years.

The big one to watch out for is parking car on grass just after or during a dpf regen, couple of car fires but down to that and long grass.

I do tend to force one with the Mondeo now and then.

[Thackers]

Originally Posted by Brigand

Yep exactly, it just happens, has with our Mondeo for years.

The big one to watch out for is parking car on grass just after or during a dpf regen, couple of car fires but down to that and long grass.

I do tend to force one with the Mondeo now and then.

How do you force the regen without a scan tool/software?

[Thackers]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Nothing different is really necessary, just keep going until it is finished.

But if in doubt... "give the engine its head" as one BMW Area Manager put it.

If you are driving motorway speeds, it will likely be a passive regeneration anyway, and you won't know it is happening.

HighlandPete

With a manual gearbox Apart from :

1.the MPG Drop which at the time you may not notice

2. The apparent burning caramel smell

Are there any other symptoms?...I presume active the regen can't be completed with the car at Idle due the temperatures needed?

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by Thackers

How do you force the regen without a scan tool/software?

Sorry wrong you of the word force.

I make it do one by making the environment correct , with all the requirements met.

High engine speed.
50 mph
25 mile run

It will then carry out a regen.

[JoshB25]

I think you did the right thing buying a second hand diesel F30. With the low miles you do it will be more desirable when you come to sell it. My dealer said the DPF was an issue a couple of years ago on older models but not so much the case nowadays. I asked this same question when purchasing my old 2012 116d as at the time my commute was only 6 miles there and back a day but would increase within the next year. I think all will be fine.