BMW 8 Series Engine Problems: MAF Sensor Issue?

Hey there! I've had some experience with cars, and I actually faced almost identical issues with my 2018 BMW 7 Series last year. Your symptoms sound exactly like what I went through, rough running, poor acceleration, the whole package. Turned out it was indeed the mass air flow sensor. Took it to my regular workshop after trying to clean it myself (which didn't help). They diagnosed it, replaced the sensor, and it's been running perfectly since then. The whole thing cost me 365 Euro, but it was worth every penny because all those annoying symptoms disappeared. Before I share more specific details about my repair experience, could you tell me if you've had any other warning lights besides the check engine light? Also, what's your current mileage? This info would help me give you more relevant advice based on what I learned from my situation. If it helps, I've seen similar issues with several BMW models, and the MAF sensor is often the culprit when these exact symptoms show up together.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My current mileage is 47358 KM, and I just had my service last month. The only warning light I'm seeing is the check engine light, no other indicators on the dash. It's a bit worrying because everything was fine until last week. I might try cleaning the MAF sensor first since it's a relatively simple job, but I'll definitely keep a repair shop visit as my backup plan if that doesn't work. Were there any other symptoms that developed in your case before you got it fixed? Just want to know what to look out for if things get worse.

Hey again! Thanks for the additional info about your BMW. Yeah, with that mileage and recent service, I can totally relate to your frustration. When I had these issues with my 7 Series, I was around 52,000 KM, so pretty similar to yours. Actually, there were a few more symptoms that developed in my case before I got it fixed. The most noticeable was that the problem got worse in wet or humid conditions, the engine would hesitate even more. Also, the idle got increasingly unstable over time, especially after the engine was warm. Started with occasional stumbles but got to the point where it would dip really low and sometimes stall at traffic lights, super embarrassing in a BMW! I did try cleaning my MAF sensor first, just like you're planning to. Used proper MAF cleaner and everything, but it only helped for about two days before the problems came back. That's when I knew I needed a proper replacement. Looking back, I probably should've gone straight for the replacement and saved myself the hassle. Just a heads up, if you do try cleaning it, make sure you don't touch the sensor wire inside. I learned that the hard way! The sensor's really delicate. If cleaning doesn't work, at least you'll know for sure that replacement is the way to go, just like it was in my case. Let me know how the cleaning goes, I'm curious to see if you have better luck than I did!

Thanks for all that detailed info! It's super helpful to hear your cleaning attempt didn't work long-term, might save me from wasting time going that route. Those additional symptoms you mentioned about humidity and warm engine issues are actually starting to show up in my car too, which really makes me think we're dealing with the same problem. I'm going to skip the cleaning attempt and just book it in with my mechanic next week. Rather spend the money and get it sorted properly than risk making things worse. I'll update the thread once it's fixed in case anyone else runs into similar issues with their BMW. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, it's definitely helped me make a decision about how to handle this!