BMW X5 Engine Light + Poor Performance: Sensor Issue?

Hi there! I had very similar issues with my 2020 BMW X3 last year. The symptoms you're describing match exactly what I experienced, poor acceleration, higher fuel consumption, and that annoying check engine light. Turns out it wasn't the manifold pressure sensor in my case, but rather a significant vacuum leak in the intake system. I took it to my usual mechanic and they found cracks in several vacuum lines, plus a worn-out gasket on the intake manifold. The repair involved replacing the damaged lines and gaskets. It was quite a serious issue since driving with vacuum leaks can lead to long-term engine damage if left unchecked. The whole repair job took about half a day, and the car has been running perfectly since then, back to its normal powerful acceleration and regular fuel consumption. My suggestion would be to get it checked soon, as these symptoms typically don't resolve themselves and can worsen over time.

Thanks for sharing that, super helpful! I'm dealing with almost the exact same problem on my X5 right now. Could you tell me roughly how much you ended up paying for those vacuum line and gasket repairs? Also curious if you've had any other issues pop up since getting it fixed? Trying to figure out if I should budget for any other potential problems while I'm at it.

Hey again! Just wanted to follow up on your questions. After seeing my mechanic, turns out I was actually wrong in my initial diagnosis, it WAS the manifold pressure sensor after all! Funny how these things work out. The repair cost came to 235€ which included fixing a pretty significant vacuum leak they found while they were in there. Since getting it sorted, my X3 has been running like a dream, no other issues whatsoever. The acceleration is back to normal and my fuel consumption has dropped back to what it should be. Honestly, such a relief to have it fixed properly. I was worried it might lead to bigger problems, but nope, smooth sailing since then! Just make sure whoever looks at yours knows their way around BMWs, as these sensors can be a bit tricky to diagnose correctly. Let me know how you get on with yours!

Thanks for all the great feedback! I wanted to update everyone on what happened with my X5. I finally got it checked out at a new mechanic who specializes in European cars. You were spot on about the vacuum leak, they found multiple cracked lines and a failing manifold pressure sensor. The total repair came to about 450 since they had to replace both the sensor and the vacuum lines. The whole job took around 4 hours, and I must say, the difference is night and day! The sluggish acceleration is completely gone, and I'm back to normal fuel economy. The engine light disappeared right after the fix. Really glad I didn't wait any longer to get it sorted. The mechanic also did a full diagnostic scan and everything else looks good, so no other repairs needed for now. For anyone else facing similar issues, don't make my mistake of putting it off, these problems only get worse with time. Just make sure you find someone who really knows BMWs. Thanks again for helping me figure this out!