BMW 2 Diesel: Surging Engine and Power Loss Issues

Hey there! I've got some experience working on cars. Had a very similar problem with my 2014 BMW 3 Series diesel last year. The symptoms were exactly like what you're describing, power loss, surging, and that annoying check engine light. Turned out to be a faulty vacuum switching valve. Got it fixed at my regular workshop, cost me around 140 for parts and labor. Since then, the car's been running smooth as butter. My mechanic told me this is actually pretty common on BMW diesels. Just to help you better, what's your mileage like? And have you noticed any other symptoms, like rough idling or excessive smoke? Also, have you had the error code read? This would help confirm if we're dealing with the same issue. (I've owned both the 2 Series and 3 Series BMWs, and they're pretty similar in terms of these components.)

Thanks for sharing your experience! My car's at 77093 KM and had its last service about 2 months ago. Haven't noticed any rough idling, but there's definitely more black smoke than usual when accelerating. Haven't got the error code read yet, but your vacuum switching valve suggestion sounds spot-on with what I'm experiencing. Good to know it wasn't a super expensive fix for you. Will get it checked out at the workshop this week. Really hoping it's just that and not something more serious!

Hey again! Yeah, those symptoms you mentioned, especially the black smoke, that's exactly what I experienced with my BMW. Just to follow up on my previous comment about the vacuum switching valve, I should mention that after getting it fixed, I also had them check the boost pressure sensor while they were at it. Better safe than sorry, right? Quick bit of advice from my experience, when you take it to the workshop, make sure they do a proper diagnostic scan. When I had mine fixed, they initially thought it might be the turbo (which would've been way more expensive), but the scan confirmed it was just the valve. The whole repair took about 2 hours, and I've had no issues since. 77k km isn't much at all, my car had around 98k when this happened. These BMWs are pretty solid overall, just need these little fixes now and then. Let us know how it goes at the workshop!

Thanks so much for the detailed follow-up! That's really helpful advice about getting them to check the boost pressure sensor too, definitely worth doing while they're in there. I'll make sure to insist on a proper diagnostic scan to avoid any unnecessary repairs or costs. Really relieved to hear it's probably not the turbo, that would've been a nasty hit to the wallet! I've booked it in for tomorrow morning, and I'll get them to look at both components you mentioned. Will definitely update the thread once I know what's what. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, makes me feel much better about the whole situation knowing it's likely just a common issue with a straightforward fix!