BMW X2 Rough Idle and Stalling, IAC Valve Issue?

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2019 BMW X1 2.0L last year (I have some experience working on cars, but nothing too advanced). The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I went through, rough idle, stalling, and that dreaded check engine light. Took it to my trusted workshop and turns out the intake was severely contaminated, causing all those problems. The whole cleaning and service set me back about 425 Euro, but it was worth it, car's been running smooth as butter since then. Before suggesting anything specific though, could you share: How many miles/kilometers on your X2? Does it happen more when the engine is cold or warm? Any unusual sounds or smells? If it's the same issue, you'll want to get it checked soon to prevent any further problems. Let me know these details and I might be able to share more specific insights from my experience with the X1.

Thanks for reaching out! My X2 has 68142 KM on the clock and had its last service about 2 months ago. The issue typically shows up more when the engine is warm, especially after driving for about 15-20 minutes. Haven't noticed any weird smells, but there's definitely a slight vibration at idle. Your experience with the intake contamination is really interesting, I hadn't considered that. Was your repair done at a BMW dealer or independent shop? I'm worried about the costs if I take it to the dealership, but also want to make sure it's fixed properly since the car isn't that old.

Hey again! Yeah, those symptoms do sound really similar to what I experienced. I actually took mine to an independent BMW specialist, didn't want to deal with dealer prices, you know? The guy I used specializes in BMWs and really knows his stuff. With your mileage being around 68K, it's right in that sweet spot where carbon buildup can start causing these issues, especially in these direct injection engines. Mine had about 55K when it started acting up. The independent shop charged me way less than what the dealer quoted, they wanted almost double! Just a heads up, when they cleaned mine, they had to take apart quite a bit of the intake system to do it properly. They also changed the spark plugs while they were at it since they were a bit worn. The whole job took about 4-5 hours, but what a difference it made! The idle smoothed right out and no more stalling. If you want my honest advice, find a good independent BMW specialist. They'll probably save you some serious cash, and most of them really know these engines inside and out. Just make sure they use proper BMW-specific cleaning products, that's what made the difference in my case. Let me know what you end up doing. Really curious if it turns out to be the same issue!

Thanks so much for the detailed advice! You've definitely given me some confidence about going to an independent specialist. I've actually done some research and found a highly-rated BMW specialist shop that's got great reviews. Going to book it in next week. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, it's super helpful knowing someone else dealt with the same thing and got it sorted. The fact that your car's been running perfectly since the service is really encouraging. I'll make sure to ask them about checking the spark plugs too while they're at it. Will definitely let you know how it goes once it's fixed! Thanks again for taking the time to help me out with this. It's such a relief to have a better idea of what might be wrong and how to handle it.