GertiSchm

2004 BMW 1 Series: Smoke, engine light and starting difficulties - possible causes and workshop tips wanted

Hi everyone, I need your help. I drive a 2004 BMW 1 Series with a gasoline engine and have already driven 127,362 km. My car is really worrying at the moment: black smoke when accelerating, the engine light is on, the engine sometimes just cuts out, cold starts are taking longer and longer, the engine is running rough and there's also the increased fuel consumption. And to make matters worse, sometimes the engine won't even start. Could it be the cold start injector? Have any of you ever had similar problems and can give me a tip on how best to tackle this the next time I visit the garage, as I haven't had such good experiences so far. Many thanks in advance!

(Translated from German)

4 comment(s)

Hey, that's a really tough one. I drive a 2007 BMW 3 Series and recently had to go to the garage because it had some strange symptoms: the engine was running rough and the fuel consumption was also soaring. My mechanic carried out a diagnosis and found that there was a problem with the fuel system. Not a small problem, I can assure you! He checked this injector and a few other things too. Such problems could indicate a common problem with your intake manifold, maybe even the turbo. Black smoke and engine problems don't sound good. Give your garage a clear description of all the symptoms as you have done here and be persistent. Go with your instincts and make sure you don't get fobbed off on some quick fix. Cheer up, buddy!

(Translated from German)

Gosh, that sounds like quite an adventure what you went through with your 3! Thanks for the tips, that's really helpful. Siche I remember asking how much you even paid for the fix? And if any other problems have cropped up since then? Stay strong buddy, we'll get it sorted!

(Translated from German)

Hey, don't stress, I've been through something like this myself. In my case, the problem was the cold-start injection valve. Since my visit to the mechanic, the car has been running like clockwork again. He found that the injection valve was defective and fixed it. But it also cost me a whopping €515 for the fun. Fortunately, no further problems have arisen since then and everything has been running smoothly so far. Keep your nose up, buddy, you'll be fine!

(Translated from German)

Thank you, that gives me confidence! 515 is quite a lot, but if it helps, it's worth the money. I think the main thing that bothers me is the uncertainty of whether they can really find and fix the problem. But good to hear that your 3 is already running again. I hope my 1 is back in shape soon too. Thanks again for the advice and words of encouragement, mate. You really helped get my head above water again!

(Translated from German)

Join the discussion now: