BMW 5 Diesel: Fixing Power Loss & Air Temp Sensor Issues

Hey there! I have some experience working on cars and had a similar issue with my 2011 BMW 3 Series diesel last year. When my check engine light came on, I was also experiencing power loss like you. Took it to my regular workshop and they diagnosed a faulty intake air temperature sensor. The repair itself wasn't too complex, they replaced the sensor and cleared the error codes. Cost me around 155 for parts and labor. Car's been running great since then. What's your current mileage? Also, are you noticing any other symptoms besides the power loss? This could help confirm if we're dealing with the same issue. Plus, sometimes these sensors can fail due to other underlying problems, so it's worth checking.

Thanks for the feedback! Really helpful. My car's at 179134 KM and had its last service about 2 months ago. Yeah, I'm getting similar symptoms, mainly just the power loss, especially when accelerating. No weird noises or anything else unusual. That price seems reasonable actually, I was worried it might be something more serious. Good to hear it was a straightforward fix in your case. Think I'll get it booked in this week before it gets any worse.

Hey again! Just wanted to follow up since I saw your reply. You know what, our situations sound almost identical. When my 3 Series had this issue, it was around 165000 KM, so pretty similar to yours. And yeah, that power loss during acceleration was exactly what I experienced too. Actually, looking at your mileage and symptoms, I'm even more convinced it's the same issue I had. Since you mentioned getting it serviced recently, that's also good news, means it's probably just the sensor and not something more complicated. Quick tip from my experience, when my shop replaced the sensor, they recommended cleaning the surrounding area and checking the connections too. Turned out there was a bit of grime build-up that might've contributed to the sensor failing. Might be worth asking them to do the same when you take it in. It's been over a year since my repair now, and I haven't had any issues since. Looking back, I'm glad I didn't wait too long to get it fixed. The reduced power was really annoying, especially when trying to merge onto faster roads! Let us know how it goes after you get it sorted!

Thanks so much for all the extra details and follow-up! Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. That's actually super reassuring to hear your car's been running well for over a year after the fix. I'll definitely ask the shop about cleaning around the sensor area, sounds like a smart preventive measure. Just booked it in for tomorrow morning actually. You're right about not waiting, that power loss is getting pretty frustrating, especially when I need to overtake. I was stressing about this being a major repair, but feeling much more confident now knowing your similar experience turned out to be straightforward. Will definitely post an update once it's fixed. Really appreciate all the help and advice, exactly what I was hoping for when I asked about this!