BMW 7 Diesel Injection Issue: Stalling and High Fuel Use

I had nearly identical issues with my '09 BMW 5 Series diesel last season. Started with rough idling and then got worse. My mechanic confirmed dirty/faulty injectors were the culprit after running diagnostics. The repair involved removing and cleaning all injectors, replacing the seals, and recalibrating the injection timing. It wasn't a quick fix, took about two days total, but completely resolved the problems. The idle smoothed out, starting became normal again, and fuel economy improved significantly. While it's not a catastrophic issue if caught early, ignoring it can lead to more serious engine damage. The injectors are critical for proper fuel atomization and combustion. Bad injectors can cause carbon buildup and eventually damage the engine's internals. Best to get it checked soon, these symptoms won't resolve themselves and typically get worse over time. Find a mechanic who specializes in diesel engines, particularly German vehicles.

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! It's really helpful to hear from someone who went through the same thing. I'm planning to get mine fixed soon. If you don't mind me asking, what kind of money did you end up spending on the whole repair? Also, has everything been running smoothly since then, or have you noticed any other issues pop up? Just trying to get a better idea of what I'm in for.

Hey again! Happy to share an update. I got it fixed last month, and I'm glad to report my 5 Series is running like a champ now. The total bill came to 515 € for fixing the faulty injection nozzle, ended up being a bit cheaper than I expected, honestly. Since the repair, it's been smooth sailing, no more rough idle, starts up perfectly every time, and my fuel consumption is back to normal. The mechanic really knew their stuff and got it sorted properly. I can actually feel the difference in power when I accelerate now, and the engine runs so much quieter. The best part? Just passed emissions with flying colors, which was a huge relief. No other issues have popped up since the fix. Looking back, I probably should've dealt with it sooner, but at least it's all sorted now. If you're worried about yours, I'd say get it done soon, it's worth every penny to have the car running properly again. Hope this helps give you a better picture of what you might be looking at!

Thanks for the detailed follow-up! Just got back from my mechanic actually, and you were spot on. Had all the injectors cleaned and two replaced completely. Ended up costing me about 650 bucks, a bit more than yours but still worth every penny. The difference is incredible! My car's running so much better now, no more embarrassing stalls at stops, and that annoying rough idle is completely gone. Feels like I've got a whole new engine under the hood. Even my fuel consumption has dropped back to normal. Funny thing is, I was so worried about going to a new mechanic, but this guy really knew his stuff. He showed me the gunked-up injectors and explained everything. Should've done this months ago instead of putting it off. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, it gave me the push I needed to get it sorted. Best decision I've made for my car in a while!