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KathiKruze

BMW 4 Series Multiple Issues, EGR Valve Suspected

Loss of engine power

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Shaking while idling

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Jerking on acceleration

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Poor fuel economy

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Black smoke from exhaust on acceleration

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Check engine light on

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Loud hissing on acceleration

Hi everyone! My 2020 BMW 4 (gas engine) has been acting up lately. Having issues with power loss, check engine light, smoking, rough running, excessive fuel usage, jerking during acceleration, and a distinct hissing sound when pressing the gas. I suspect it might be the EGR valve. Has anyone dealt with similar symptoms and got them fixed? Would like to hear about your workshop experiences and repair solutions before taking it in. Thanks in advance for any insights.

4 comment(s)


TobiRider

Hi there! I've got some experience working on cars, not a pro mechanic but I've dealt with my fair share of issues. Had almost identical symptoms on my 2018 BMW 3 Series (also gas). The EGR valve was completely clogged up, causing all those problems you described. Took it to my trusted workshop and they confirmed my suspicion. They cleaned the valve, replaced some worn parts, and recalibrated the system. Total bill came to 355 Euro, but it was worth it, car runs like new now. Been driving BMWs for years (had a 5 Series before), and this seems pretty common with these engines. Quick question, how many miles/kilometers do you have on yours? Also, when was your last service? This could help determine if it's definitely the EGR or something else. Could probably save you some headache if you share more details about your maintenance history.

KathiKruze (Author)

Thanks for sharing your experience! Mine's at 168563 KM and just had its service last month. The EGR issue definitely sounds similar to what I'm experiencing. Did you notice any warning lights before taking it to the workshop? Also curious if cleaning the valve alone fixed it or if you needed a complete replacement? Good to know these symptoms are somewhat common with BMWs, makes me feel a bit better about the situation.

TobiRider

Hey again! Yep, had warning lights come on, mainly the check engine light, which was flashing on and off. Really similar to what you're describing. In my case, they first tried cleaning the EGR valve thoroughly, but it turned out the valve was too far gone. Had to get a complete replacement in the end. What's interesting is that after my first post to you, I actually ran into some similar issues again about 6 months later. But this time it was just carbon buildup, a good cleaning sorted it right out. Way cheaper than the first fix! Since then, I've been really careful about using high-quality fuel and not doing too many short trips where the engine doesn't get properly warm. 168k km isn't too bad actually, mine started acting up around 150k km. Since you just had service last month, did they mention anything about the EGR system? Sometimes these issues can creep up pretty quick, even right after a service. In my experience with BMW engines, keeping the EGR system clean is super important for preventing these symptoms. If you're still hesitating about getting it checked, don't, these symptoms usually just get worse. Trust me, I learned that the hard way when I waited too long the first time!

KathiKruze (Author)

Thanks so much for all the detailed info! No, the service guys didn't mention anything about the EGR system last month, but I guess these issues did develop pretty quickly after that. You've honestly made me feel a lot better about the whole situation. I think I'll stop putting it off and book it in for a check next week. Really don't want to risk making it worse by waiting too long, especially after hearing about your experience. The tip about high-quality fuel and avoiding short trips is really helpful too, definitely going to keep that in mind going forward. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience, it's been super helpful!

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