BMW X4 Throttle Problems: Jerking and Poor Performance

Hey there! I have some experience working on cars and had a similar issue with my 2016 BMW X3 last summer. Those symptoms sound really familiar, my car was acting up the same way. After a few frustrating days, I took it to my regular workshop and turns out it was a defective accelerator pedal module. The repair cost me around 205 Euro, but it fixed all those issues, the jerking, poor throttle response, and starting problems. Mind sharing if you've checked the engine light or got any error codes? That would help narrow things down. Also, when exactly did these symptoms start? In my case, it began gradually over a couple of weeks. With BMWs, these things can be tricky to diagnose without proper diagnostic tools. While the symptoms match my experience, it's best to get it properly checked at a workshop that knows these vehicles well. Let me know the details, and I might be able to share more specific info that could help!

Thanks for sharing your experience! Mine happened quite suddenly, actually. Started about a week ago, and I'm at 20144 KM since my last service. Ran a diagnostic scan yesterday and got error code P2176, which points to the throttle control system. Your situation does sound similar, though mine seems to be acting up more severely during cold starts. The thing that worries me is that the jerking gets worse especially when I'm trying to accelerate at higher speeds. Haven't noticed any improvement even after using premium fuel. Will probably take it to a specialist soon, but wanted to gather some insights from the community first. Did your mechanic mention any other potential causes when they were working on yours?

Hey again! Ah, that error code P2176 is actually different from what I dealt with, though the symptoms are similar. When my mechanic worked on my X3, they initially thought it might be the throttle valve too, but they did mention several other potential causes before finding it was the accelerator pedal module. In my case, the jerking was pretty consistent regardless of speed, unlike yours that's worse at higher speeds. That's interesting, when my accelerator pedal module was acting up, it was actually more noticeable during city driving. Just thinking out loud here, but given your error code and the cold start issues, I'm starting to think your initial suspicion about the throttle valve might be spot on. My mechanic mentioned that throttle bodies can get gunked up over time, especially in BMWs, and that can cause these exact symptoms you're describing. Since you're experiencing it more during cold starts and high-speed acceleration, it really does point more toward the throttle valve than what I had. I'd definitely get it checked soon though, driving with these symptoms isn't great for the engine. When I waited too long with my issue, it just got worse. Keep us posted on what you find out! Always good to know what these symptoms actually turn out to be, helps all of us BMW owners learn what to look out for.

Thanks so much for the detailed response! You've actually made me feel a bit better about taking it to the shop now. I was worried it might be something more serious (and expensive), but what you're saying about the throttle valve makes a lot of sense, especially given my error code and symptoms. You're absolutely right about not waiting too long, I'm going to call my mechanic first thing tomorrow. The cold start issues are getting annoying, and I definitely don't want to risk any further damage to the engine. It's interesting how your accelerator pedal module issue showed up differently, just goes to show how tricky these problems can be to diagnose without proper testing. I'll definitely update the thread once I get it sorted. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and insights. It's super helpful to hear from someone who's dealt with similar issues, even if the final diagnosis might be different. Thanks again!

Can it be a consequential error if my throttle cap is defective and it also throws me the boost pressure sensor as an error and after a new boost pressure sensor it shows me the boost pressure sensor as an error again?

(Translated from German)

It's possible that a defective throttle body could cause issues with the boost pressure sensor readings. If the throttle body isn't functioning correctly, it can affect the air intake and pressure, leading to erroneous sensor readings. I recommend checking the throttle body for any signs of dirt or malfunction. Cleaning or replacing the throttle body might resolve the issue. If the problem persists, it could be worth inspecting the wiring and connections to the boost pressure sensor for any faults. Let me know how it goes or if you have further questions!