BMW 8 DPF Warning Signals: Smoke, Smell & Power Loss

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2019 BMW 5 Series diesel last summer. The symptoms were pretty much identical to what you're describing, DPF warnings, drop in power, and that heavy exhaust smell. After getting it checked, turns out my exhaust back pressure sensor was defective, which was causing incorrect readings and messing with the DPF regeneration cycle. The garage did a full diagnostic and found that the sensor was completely shot. They had to replace the sensor and perform a forced DPF regeneration to clear things up. It was a serious issue that needed immediate attention because running the car in that condition could have damaged the DPF permanently. The repair wasn't something I could postpone, as the car was barely driveable with the power reduction. The fix sorted out all the problems, no more warning lights, proper power delivery, and the smoke disappeared completely. Been running smoothly for the past several months with no issues. Best to get it checked by a BMW specialist who knows these diesel systems well.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Really helpful to hear from someone who went through something similar. The sensor issue makes a lot of sense given my symptoms. Been wondering if I should just bite the bullet and head to a specialist too. Mind if I ask how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also, has everything stayed okay since then, or have you noticed any other quirks popping up? Just trying to get an idea of what I might be in for.

Hey again! Glad I could help! Just wanted to follow up, I actually took your advice and went to a specialist right after our last chat. You'll be relieved to know it was exactly what I suspected, the exhaust back pressure sensor was indeed the culprit. They fixed it up for 245 €, which honestly wasn't as painful as I was expecting! Since getting it sorted, the "Diesel particulate filter exhaust pressure too low" warning has completely disappeared. The car's running like a dream now, no more power issues, weird smells, or smoke. It's been about six months and I haven't had a single DPF-related problem pop up. The engine feels much more responsive too. I'd say if your symptoms match what I described, definitely get it checked out sooner rather than later. Running with a faulty sensor can lead to bigger problems down the road. Trust me, the peace of mind is worth every penny. Let me know if you need any other info, happy to help!

Thanks so much for the follow-up! Just got back from the mechanic myself today, and wow, what a relief. The specialist I found was super honest and efficient. Fixed everything up in a day, turned out my sensor was shot too, just like yours was. Ended up paying a bit more, around 300 €, but they did a thorough job. They even showed me the old sensor and explained what went wrong. The car's running amazingly now, no more warning lights or that annoying smoke. The power's back to normal, and that nasty exhaust smell is gone. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, it gave me the confidence to tackle this head-on instead of putting it off. Definitely learned my lesson about going to specialists for these kinds of issues. Sometimes paying a bit more upfront saves a lot of headaches (and money) down the road. Thanks again for all your help! Case closed on this DPF drama!