BMW X2 Cold Start Nightmare: Multiple Attempts Required

I dealt with very similar symptoms in my 2015 BMW X4 last season. The engine would crank multiple times before starting, especially during cold starts, and ran pretty rough for the first 3-4 minutes. The diagnostic showed a faulty fuel injector, it wasn't atomizing the fuel properly during cold starts, causing uneven combustion. Had to get the injector replaced at the shop. The technician showed me the old one and it was pretty gunked up with carbon deposits. While they were at it, they cleaned the other injectors too. It was a serious job since they had to partially dismantle the intake manifold to access the injectors properly. After the fix, the cold starts became smooth again, and the engine ran much better overall. My fuel economy went back to normal too. Make sure you get a proper diagnosis though, these symptoms can sometimes be misleading. My advice would be to have it checked soon since a bad injector can potentially damage other engine components if left unchecked.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the X4! This sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. Was going to take it to the shop next week. Would you mind sharing how much the repair set you back? Also curious if you've had any similar issues pop up since getting it fixed? Trying to budget for this and want to make sure I'm prepared in case there's more to it.

Hey there! Just wanted to follow up on your questions. I had the work done last week actually, the faulty cold start injector was definitely the culprit, just as I suspected from my previous experience. The total bill came to 515 € for replacing the injection valve. Since getting it fixed, the car's been running like a dream, no more struggling on cold starts, and the engine fires up perfectly first time, every time. It's such a relief not having to crank it multiple times in the morning! The fuel consumption has gone back to normal too. Haven't had any similar issues pop up since the repair. My mechanic did a thorough job and even showed me the old injector, it was pretty clogged up, which explained all the problems. If you're taking yours in next week, I reckon you're looking at a similar repair cost, assuming it's the same issue. Just make sure they do a proper diagnostic first to confirm. Worth every penny though, the car runs so much smoother now! Let me know how you get on at the shop!

Thanks for the detailed follow-up! I actually just got back from my mechanic yesterday. You were spot on, it was indeed the cold start injector. My bill came in at a bit higher since they found some carbon buildup they needed to clean out too. The mechanic was great though, really transparent about everything and even walked me through what they were doing. The difference is like night and day! My X2 starts up perfectly now, even on cold mornings. No more embarrassing moments in the parking lot trying to get it started multiple times. Fuel consumption is back to normal too, which is a huge relief for my wallet. Really glad I asked here first, your experience helped me know what to expect and made me feel more confident about the repair. Thanks again for all your help! Time to enjoy my smoothly running BMW again.