BMW X7 Power Loss and Smoke: EGR Valve Problems?

Hey there! I've got some experience with cars (low experience), and I actually faced almost the exact same issues with my 2021 BMW X5 last year. Those symptoms sound very familiar, I had that annoying jerking, smoke, and power loss too. After dealing with the frustration for about a week, I took it to my regular workshop. Turned out it was indeed the EGR valve, completely clogged up and malfunctioning. The whole repair, including parts and labor, set me back 355 Euro, but it fixed all those problems completely. Before I share more specific details about my repair process, could you share: How many miles/kilometers are on your X7? When did these symptoms first start? Have you noticed if it's worse when the engine is cold or warm? FYI, I've also owned an X3, but never had EGR issues with that one. Let me know those details, and I'll share more about what to expect during the repair process.

Thanks for replying! My X7 has 43181 KM and had its last service just 2 months ago. The symptoms started appearing gradually over the past couple of weeks, but got way worse in the last few days. I've noticed it's definitely more pronounced when the engine is cold, especially that hissing noise you mentioned. The jerking is really bothering me now, and I'm worried about causing more damage if I keep driving it like this. Interesting that you had similar issues with your X5. The repair cost doesn't sound too bad if it sorts everything out. Did you need to order the EGR valve or did your shop have it in stock? Really appreciate your help with this!

Hey again! Thanks for those details about your X7. Yeah, those symptoms match exactly what I experienced with my X5. Looking back, I also noticed it was way worse during cold starts, that hissing sound used to drive me crazy first thing in the morning! For the EGR valve, my workshop had to order it specifically for the car, took about 2 days to arrive. That's pretty standard for BMW parts. The actual repair only took them about 3 hours once they had the part. Trust me, you'll notice the difference immediately after it's fixed. The engine runs so much smoother now, and my fuel consumption went back to normal. One thing I should mention, while they had it open, my mechanic found some carbon buildup in the intake manifold too. They cleaned that out while they were at it, which only added a bit more to the total cost but was definitely worth it. Might be worth asking your mechanic to check that as well. The symptoms you're describing are almost identical to what I dealt with, and at similar mileage too. Better to get it sorted sooner rather than later, I learned that the hard way after trying to drive with it for a week. The jerking especially can put stress on other components. Let me know how it goes when you get it checked out. Always happy to share more details about my experience if you need them!

Thanks so much for all this detailed info! That's really helpful to know about the ordering time for the part, I'll definitely plan accordingly. I'm actually relieved to hear that your symptoms were so similar and that fixing the EGR valve sorted everything out. I'll make sure to ask about checking the intake manifold too when I take it in, sounds like a smart move to handle that while they're already working on it. You've really put my mind at ease about the repair process and costs. I was worried it might be something much more serious (and expensive!). I've already called my mechanic and booked it in for next week. Won't be driving it much until then, don't want to risk making things worse like you mentioned. Will let you know how it turns out once it's fixed. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience!