Black smoke, check engine light, engine problems - experience and advice wanted

Man, you guys are really great! Your answers have really cheered me up. At these prices I could of course get my car running again and maybe it will run better than ever. I've decided to take it to the garage and have the EGR valve and fuel injection system checked. I have to admit I was really scared at first, but after hearing your experiences I feel much better now. I'll let you know what happens as soon as I've had it checked at the garage. Thanks again for your help!

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Moin moin, funnily enough I had a similar problem with my BMW 5 Series (2012), so only a few years younger than yours. Had similar symptoms back then, even the annoying Check Engine light was constantly on. Don't want to worry you, but it does sound like problems with the injection system. The good news is that it's not as serious as it sounds. My mechanic was able to fix it pretty easily, checked the fuel filter, spark plugs and injectors and then just replaced a few parts. The juddering and smoke disappeared and so did the exhaust smell. Fuel consumption was then back to normal and everything ran like clockwork again. So don't hang your head, it shouldn't be a problem for your mechanic. Good luck and hopefully your 3 Series will soon be running smoothly again! Greetings

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Hey, thanks for your feedback! It's a bit reassuring to know that you went through the same thing and it wasn't as bad as it sounds. Do you remember what you paid for it back then? Has anything similar come up again since the repair? Best regards!

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Hi there! I also have a few words to add. Well, after my visit to the workshop, the fault with the restricted injection function was completely rectified. Nothing similar has occurred since then. When asked about the costs, I paid around 1000 euros for the repair of the defective engine control unit. That's a lot of money, but it's better than buying a completely new car, isn't it? For my own runabout, a Ford Mustang (my absolute dream car!), I would definitely dig into my pockets. Good luck with your 3 Series, hopefully it will soon be running like clockwork again! See you then!

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Hello folks, a functional restriction of the injection system with a mileage of over 160,000 kilometers is really not unusual. It is quite normal for certain parts to give up the ghost after so many kilometers. I would also guess that the problem lies with the fuel injectors. You should also definitely have the fuel filter and spark plugs checked. From the sound of it, though, you could be lucky and it's nothing serious. In terms of cost, of course, it depends on what exactly needs replacing. I had to buy a new injection pump for my old Golf a few years ago and it cost me a bit more than 1000 euros. However, the part was also completely ruined and the car was already quite old. Good luck that it won't be that expensive for you! Hopefully your 3 Series will be back to full power soon. Best regards!

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