BMW 5 Series Power Loss & Rough Running Issues

Hey there! I've got some experience with cars (some experience level), and I actually dealt with something very similar on my 2013 BMW 3 Series last year. Had those exact same symptoms, rough running, jerking, and that annoying check engine light. Turned out one of my fuel injectors was faulty, causing uneven fuel spray into the cylinder. Got it diagnosed and fixed at my regular workshop, cost me about 515 Euro for the new injector plus labor. The difference was like night and day after the repair! But before jumping to conclusions, what's your mileage, and have you noticed any unusual fuel consumption lately? Also, have you had any diagnostic codes read? That would help pinpoint if we're dealing with the same issue here. By the way, these symptoms can sometimes be related to other fuel system issues too, so getting those codes would really help narrow it down. Let me know these details, and I might be able to share more specific insights from my experience.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My BMW currently has 13072 KM on it, and I just had the service done last month. Those symptoms you described with your injector issue sound spot on to what I'm experiencing. I haven't had a chance to get the diagnostic codes read yet, but I'm definitely noticing increased fuel consumption lately, getting way fewer kilometers per tank than usual. Based on what you're saying about the injector, I should probably get it checked out soon. Did you notice any warning signs before your injector completely failed? Just trying to figure out if I can safely drive it to the workshop or if I should get it towed.

Hey again! Yeah, those symptoms you're describing with the fuel consumption sound exactly like what I went through with my 3 Series. Looking at your mileage, it's actually quite similar to when my injector started acting up. About the warning signs, before my injector completely failed, I noticed the car would run fine for a while, then suddenly get rough, especially during cold starts. The jerking during acceleration got progressively worse over about two weeks. I managed to drive it to the workshop, but honestly, I probably shouldn't have risked it that long. Since you're experiencing similar symptoms, I'd recommend not pushing your luck too much. I learned the hard way that driving with a bad injector can potentially damage your catalytic converter, which would've been way more expensive to fix. I actually drove mine for about a week with those symptoms before getting it fixed, and my mechanic later told me I was lucky not to cause more damage. Based on my experience, if you're less than 15-20 minutes from your workshop, you could probably drive it there, but keep the RPMs low. But if it's running really rough or the jerking is severe, definitely get it towed. Better safe than sorry, I wish someone had told me that before I risked driving mine around for a week!

Thanks for the detailed advice! After reading about your experience, I've decided not to take any chances. The jerking has gotten pretty bad during acceleration, so I'll arrange for a tow to my workshop tomorrow morning. Don't want to risk damaging the catalytic converter, that would definitely hurt my wallet more than a tow truck fee! I really appreciate you sharing the timeline of how your symptoms progressed. It helps knowing what you went through with your 3 Series. I'll make sure to mention the injector possibility to my mechanic and get those diagnostic codes read first thing. Will probably end up being around the same repair cost you mentioned, but at least now I know what I might be dealing with. You've definitely helped me avoid making the same mistake of driving it around too long with these symptoms. I'll update once I get the diagnosis, might help someone else with similar issues down the line!