BMW 3 Series Power Loss: Could It Be Running Lean?

Hey there! I have some experience working on cars, and I actually dealt with a very similar issue on my 2019 BMW 5 Series last year. My car showed pretty much the same symptoms, rough running, jerking while accelerating, and that annoying check engine light. After taking it to my trusted mechanic, they diagnosed a faulty fuel injector. The repair, including parts and labor, set me back about 515 Euro. They had to replace one bad injector and test the others to make sure everything was working properly. It sounds like you might be dealing with the same problem, but I'd need to know: Does the engine misfire more when it's cold or warm? Have you noticed any unusual fuel consumption? Are you getting any specific error codes? If you share these details, I might be able to give you more specific advice based on my experience.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I've got 80656 KM on my car and just had it serviced last month. I'm definitely noticing the misfiring more when the engine is cold, especially during morning starts. Fuel consumption has gone up by about 15% in the last few weeks. Haven't pulled the error codes yet, but planning to do that tomorrow. Your fuel injector situation sounds pretty similar to what I'm experiencing. Did you notice any specific smells or smoke from the exhaust before getting it fixed? I'd rather catch this early before it potentially causes more damage.

Hey again! Thanks for those details about your 3 Series. Your symptoms are getting more and more similar to what I experienced with my 5 Series. Yeah, I definitely noticed the same cold-start issues, that morning misfire was really obvious. The increased fuel consumption you're seeing is also exactly what happened with mine. Before I got the injector fixed, I did notice a slightly stronger fuel smell from the exhaust, especially during those rough cold starts. No unusual smoke though. I'm even more convinced now that you're dealing with a faulty injector like I did. The cold-start issues and increased fuel consumption are classic signs. Getting those error codes will help confirm it, but I'd bet money it's the same problem. Just don't wait too long to get it checked out. I delayed for about two weeks after first noticing the symptoms, and my mechanic said I was lucky it hadn't caused any damage to the catalytic converter. These BMWs can be sensitive to running lean for too long. Let me know what those error codes show when you get them. If it's the same codes I had, I can tell you exactly what my mechanic did to fix it.

Thanks so much for the detailed follow-up! You're really helping me feel more confident about what I might be dealing with. I'm definitely going to get those error codes checked first thing tomorrow morning. The fuel smell you mentioned, I've actually noticed that too during cold starts, which makes me even more convinced it could be the injector. I appreciate the heads-up about potential catalytic converter damage. After hearing that, I've already called my mechanic and scheduled an appointment for the day after tomorrow. Better safe than sorry, especially with these performance engines. The repair cost you mentioned seems reasonable too, helps me know what to expect. I'll definitely update you once I get the codes and hear what my mechanic says. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, it's made me feel a lot less anxious about the whole situation!