BMW X5 Stalling at Idle: Rough Running Engine Mystery

I had similar issues with my 2011 BMW X3 3.0i last month. The symptoms you're describing are exactly what I experienced, rough idle, stalling, and jerking during acceleration. Initially thought it was the fuel pressure sensor too, but turned out to be a faulty ignition coil and worn spark plugs. The cable connection to one of the coils was damaged, causing misfires. Took it to a BMW specialist, and they diagnosed it through a proper scan. The repair involved replacing two ignition coils and all spark plugs, plus fixing the damaged wiring harness connector. Not a major repair in terms of engine damage, but definitely needed immediate attention to prevent further issues. The car's been running smooth since then. My suggestion would be to get it properly diagnosed with a BMW-specific scanner. These symptoms could be caused by various issues, but electrical connections and ignition system problems are common in these models around this mileage.

Hey, really interesting that you had the same problems with your X3. Was starting to worry it might be something more serious! Would you mind sharing how much the whole repair set you back? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the fix, or have you noticed any other quirks pop up? Always good to know what to expect down the road with these cars.

Hey there! Just wanted to update you, actually, in my case, it ended up being exactly what I initially suspected: a faulty fuel pressure sensor. I got it fixed last week, and honestly, it was a much simpler (and cheaper!) fix than the ignition coil issue I mentioned before. The mechanic found a damaged cable connection to the sensor and sorted it out for just 95 €. The car's running like a dream now, no more stalling, no jerking during acceleration, everything's smooth as silk. Haven't noticed any other issues since the repair, which is a huge relief. Sometimes the simplest explanation is the right one, I guess! These BMWs can be tricky to diagnose, but once you get to the root of the problem, they're fantastic cars. I know you were worried about finding a reliable mechanic, the specialist I found really knew their stuff and didn't try to upsell me on unnecessary repairs. Let me know if you end up getting yours checked out. Always good to compare notes with fellow BMW owners!

Thanks for the follow-up! You won't believe what happened, I actually just got back from the mechanic yesterday. After reading your experience, I decided to try a different specialist, and I'm so glad I did! The guy really knew his stuff and found that my issue was related to both the fuel pressure sensor and a worn-out ignition coil. The repair cost a bit more than yours, around 250 total for parts and labor, but honestly, it was worth every penny. The car's running fantastic now, way better than I expected. No more stalling at lights or jerking when I hit the gas. The mechanic even showed me what was wrong and explained everything clearly, which was a refreshing change from my last experience. Funny how these things work out, your posts really helped me make the decision to get it checked properly instead of putting it off. Thanks again for sharing your experience. Time to enjoy my smoothly running BMW again!