BMW Diesel DPF Woes: Smoke, Power Loss & Warning Lights

I had a similar issue with my 2016 BMW 2 Series diesel last winter. My DPF was completely clogged and needed professional attention. Started with the same symptoms, warning lights, significant power loss during acceleration, and black smoke from the exhaust. Took it to a garage and turns out the DPF was indeed defective and needed replacement. It wasn't just a cleaning job, the filter had internal damage. The mechanic showed me the old filter, and it was in pretty bad shape. The repair was quite serious as they had to remove several components to access and replace the DPF. They also found that my driving pattern (lots of short trips) had contributed to the problem. After the repair, I've made sure to take the car on longer drives regularly to help with DPF regeneration. It was a major repair job that took two days to complete, but the car runs perfectly now, no more warning lights or power issues. Just make sure you find a garage that specializes in diesel engines, particularly BMWs.

Thanks for sharing your experience! This sounds exactly like what I'm going through with my DPF issues. Quick question, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also, have you had any similar problems pop up since getting it fixed?

Hey there! Happy to help. Since you asked, after getting it fixed, I paid 1550 € for the complete DPF replacement and repair job. And honestly, it was worth every penny because I haven't had a single DPF-related problem since then. The car's running like a dream now, no more warning lights, no power loss, and the smoke issue is completely gone. Let me tell you, what a relief it was when everything got sorted! After the repair, I've been taking those longer drives like the mechanic suggested, and the car's been performing beautifully. The DPF system is working exactly as it should now. If you're still shopping around for a mechanic, definitely look for someone who knows their stuff with BMW diesels. The expertise really makes a difference, learned that the hard way with my previous car repairs! Feel free to ask if you've got any other questions. Always happy to share what I learned from this whole experience!

Just got back from the mechanic today and wanted to update you! You were spot on about finding a specialist. I found a certified BMW technician who really knew his stuff. What a difference compared to my last mechanic! The whole repair ended up costing me 1700 €, a bit more than yours but they also found some related issues that needed fixing. They showed me the damaged filter, it was completely blocked up. Had to wait three days for the part to arrive, but the actual repair only took a day. The best part? No more warning lights, the engine's got its power back, and that annoying smoke is gone. They gave me the same advice about longer drives, and I'm definitely going to follow it this time. Should've done that from the start, honestly! Thanks again for all your help. Really glad I asked here before jumping into repairs. Saved me from another potential disaster with an inexperienced mechanic!

Hello, I have a 2014 BMW F31 2L Diesel 163 HP with 215,000 km. The yellow engine check light came on yesterday. Then I scanned it with Carly and got the message "limited remaining range of the particulate filter available." How long can I still drive? What is the best thing I can do now? Can I regenerate with Carly and the problem will be gone? The vehicle is purely an Autobahn vehicle and is also driven on average between 140 and 160 km/h, a journey of about 23 km to work every day. Can you help me? Best regards, Markus

(Translated from German)

It's good that you're monitoring the situation with Carly. Given the high mileage and the warning message, it's likely that your DPF is nearing the end of its service life. While driving on the Autobahn can help with passive regeneration, the warning indicates that the filter may be too clogged for this to be effective. You can attempt a forced regeneration using Carly, but if the filter is too blocked, this might not resolve the issue. I recommend having a professional inspection to assess whether the DPF needs cleaning or replacement. Continuing to drive with a severely clogged DPF can lead to engine damage, so it's best to address this promptly. Let me know how it goes or if you have any further questions!