BMW 3 Series EGR Symptoms, Smoke, Power Loss & Jerking

Hey there! I had nearly identical issues with my 2009 BMW 5 Series last summer. The symptoms matched yours exactly, drop in power, rough idle, black smoke, and that distinct hissing noise, especially during acceleration. Took it to the garage and turned out the EGR valve was completely clogged with carbon deposits and got stuck in the open position. This was causing exhaust gases to flow back into the intake even when they shouldn't, hence all those symptoms you're describing. The fix involved removing the EGR valve, thorough cleaning of the whole EGR system, and eventually replacing the valve itself since it was too far gone. While the repair wasn't cheap, it was definitely necessary, running with a faulty EGR can lead to bigger engine problems down the line. The car's been running perfectly since then, no more smoke, normal fuel consumption, and smooth acceleration. If your symptoms are this similar, I'd say it's worth getting the EGR checked out sooner rather than later. Hope this helps with your decision!

Thanks for sharing your experience! I went through almost exactly what you described with my BMW. Quick question, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole EGR repair? And has everything stayed running smoothly since then, or have you noticed any other issues pop up? Just want to get an idea of what I might be looking at cost-wise and if it's likely to be a long-term fix.

Hey again! Yeah, happy to help! I actually just had this fixed last month, total bill came to 355 € for the complete EGR valve repair. They found it was completely jammed up, just like we thought. Since getting it sorted, my car's been running like a dream, no more power issues, the black smoke's gone, and fuel consumption is back to normal. Best part is that annoying hissing sound has completely disappeared! I can really tell the difference in how the engine runs now, it's so much smoother during acceleration, and the idle is rock steady. Haven't had a single problem since the repair, so it definitely seems like a proper long-term fix. The mechanic did a thorough job cleaning out the whole system while they were at it, which probably helped too. Trust me, it's worth every penny to get it done properly. My car feels like new again, and I'm not constantly worrying about what might go wrong anymore. If you're still on the fence about getting it fixed, I'd say go for it, your symptoms sound exactly like what I dealt with.

Thanks so much, that's really helpful information! I actually just got back from the mechanic today, and you were spot on. Took your advice and had them check the EGR system. They found the valve completely gunked up, just like yours was. The repair cost me a bit more, around 400 for the full job since they had to replace some connecting parts too, but honestly, it was worth every penny. The difference is like night and day! Just drove it home and the engine's running super smooth again, no more jerking or hissing sounds. The smoke's completely gone too. Mechanic said keeping the EGR system clean is crucial for these engines, so I'll definitely be more proactive about maintenance from now on. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, it gave me the confidence to get it checked out before it turned into something worse. Thanks again for steering me in the right direction!