BMW 7 Series Smoking and Power Loss: EGR Valve Alert

Hey there! Had nearly identical issues with my 2012 BMW 5 series last year. The symptoms you're describing match exactly what I experienced, power loss, rough idle, excessive fuel consumption, and that distinct hissing during acceleration. Turned out to be a clogged and stuck EGR valve. Took it to my mechanic after the check engine light came on. They found carbon buildup had jammed the valve partially open. It wasn't just a simple cleaning job, the valve was too far gone and needed replacement. While they were at it, they had to clean out the EGR passages too. It was definitely a serious issue that needed immediate attention. Leaving it unfixed can lead to bigger problems with the engine management system and potentially damage other components. In my case, the repair solved all the symptoms, and the car's been running smooth since then. Make sure you get a proper diagnosis though, these symptoms can sometimes point to other issues too. Best of luck with the repair.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful. The symptoms do sound spot on with what I'm dealing with. Good to know replacing the EGR valve and cleaning the passages fixed it for you. Would you mind sharing roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also, curious if you've had any other issues pop up since getting it fixed? Thanks again, really appreciate the help!

Hey again! Happy to follow up! After getting everything sorted with the EGR valve at my mechanic, it cost me 355 € all in. That covered the new valve, cleaning out all the passages, and labor. Honestly, while it wasn't cheap, it was worth every penny, the car's been running like a dream since. To answer your other question, nope, haven't had a single issue since getting it fixed about a year ago. The engine's smooth as silk now, fuel consumption's back to normal, and that annoying hissing and jerking during acceleration is completely gone. Such a relief not seeing that check engine light anymore! If you're dealing with the same problem, I'd say just get it done sooner rather than later. These BMWs can be a bit finicky with their EGR systems, but once it's properly fixed, you should be good to go. Trust me, you'll notice the difference right away. Let me know how it goes if you get it fixed!

Just wanted to follow up, I bit the bullet and took my car to a mechanic yesterday. What a relief! You were absolutely right about everything. The mechanic confirmed it was indeed the EGR valve causing all those problems. The repair cost was actually pretty close to what you paid, around 375 for everything. They replaced the valve and cleaned out all the gunk from the passages. what a difference! The car's running smooth again, no more smoke, and that awful hissing sound is gone. The engine's got its power back too, and I'm already noticing better fuel economy. Funny thing is, the mechanic showed me the old valve, it was completely clogged up with carbon. No wonder the car was acting up! Really glad I didn't wait any longer to get it fixed. The shop I went to was great too, they explained everything clearly and got the job done in just a few hours. Thanks again for your help, it really gave me the confidence to get this sorted out properly!