BMW X1 Stalling Issue: Bad Fuel or Something Else?

Hi there! I've got some experience with BMWs and encountered a similar issue with my 2020 BMW X3. I'm not a pro mechanic, but I've learned quite a bit from my own car troubles. About six months ago, I had the same symptoms, stalling at idle and check engine light. Took it to my trusted workshop, and it turned out to be a faulty wiring connection to the idle control valve. The repair, including diagnostics and fixing the cable connection, cost me 95 Euro. Since then, no more stalling issues! Can you share your error code? Also, which engine variant do you have in your X1? This would help me give you more specific advice, as these symptoms can have different causes depending on the engine type.

Thanks for sharing your experience! The error code I'm getting is P0505. My X1's got 193515 KM on the clock since the last service 3 weeks ago. I'm honestly starting to think it might be more than just bad fuel, your wiring connection issue sounds pretty similar to what I'm experiencing. Was your idle really rough before it stalled too? Mine's definitely getting worse and I'm worried about getting stranded somewhere if I don't address it soon. The gas consumption has also gone up quite a bit lately, which seems related.

Hey again! Yeah, the P0505 code definitely rings a bell, that's exactly what I got with my X3 too. And yes, my idle was super rough before stalling, just like you're describing. It would get really shaky, especially after cold starts, and the RPMs would bounce all over the place. The increased fuel consumption you're mentioning? Had that too. It's actually what made me finally take it to the shop because I was burning through way more fuel than usual. In my case, the damaged wiring was causing the idle control valve to get incorrect signals, making the engine run rich at times. After getting it fixed, both the rough idle and the fuel consumption went back to normal. Looking at your symptoms and that error code, I'd bet good money you're dealing with the same issue. Especially since it's getting worse, that's exactly how mine progressed. Quick tip though, when I had this issue, I carried a portable jump starter just in case. Better safe than sorry, you know? The repair itself wasn't too complicated once they identified the problem, and it saved me from potentially bigger issues down the line. Let me know what your mechanic says when you get it checked out. I'm really curious if it turns out to be the same problem!

Thanks so much for all the detailed info! That's super helpful, especially knowing you had the exact same error code and symptoms with your X3. I feel a lot better knowing it might just be a wiring issue rather than something major with the engine itself. I've already booked an appointment with my mechanic for tomorrow morning, definitely don't want to risk getting stranded somewhere. Smart thinking about the portable jump starter, by the way. I'll grab one today just to be safe. The fact that your fuel consumption went back to normal after the fix is really encouraging too. I was getting worried about how much extra I've been spending on gas lately. Really hoping it's the same straightforward fix you had. I'll definitely update you once I get it checked out. Thanks again for walking me through your experience, it's given me a much clearer picture of what I might be dealing with!