BMW X5 Cold Start Issues: Bad Injector or Something Else?

Hi there! I have some experience working on cars and had a very similar issue with my 2015 BMW X3 3.0L last winter. The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I went through, rough idle, multiple start attempts, and terrible fuel consumption until warm. Took it to my trusted workshop, and they diagnosed a faulty fuel injector. They ran some tests and found one injector wasn't spraying properly, especially during cold starts. Had to replace the injector, which set me back about 515 Euro, but the car's been running like new since then. Before you proceed, could you share: Any check engine lights? How many miles/kilometers on the engine? Are you getting any error codes? Does it run normally once warmed up? Might help to pinpoint if it's definitely an injector issue in your case. The X3 and X5 share quite a few components, so I'd be happy to share more specific details once I know more about your situation.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Mine has 10173 KM and had its last service about 2 months ago. No check engine lights at all, and yeah, it runs perfectly fine once warmed up, that's what makes it so frustrating! Really appreciate the detailed response about your X3 repair. Sounds very similar to what I'm experiencing. I'm thinking of getting it checked at the workshop next week, especially after hearing about your injector diagnosis. Did you notice any specific sounds or smells before you got yours fixed? Trying to gather as much info as possible before taking it in.

Hey again! Thanks for the follow-up. Yeah, your symptoms are really ringing bells with my X3 experience. Actually, before I got mine fixed, I did notice a few things that might help you: There was this distinct fuel smell during cold starts, especially strong right after attempting to start the car. Also, I remember hearing a slight hesitation or stumbling sound from the engine in the first few seconds, kind of like it was struggling to find its rhythm. Since you mentioned your mileage is only 10173 KM, that's actually quite low compared to when mine started acting up (mine had around 45000 KM). That's making me wonder if there might be some build-up or deposits in the injector rather than complete failure. When my workshop did the repair, they mentioned that fuel quality can sometimes cause these issues too. You know what? Before going to the workshop, I tried using a fuel system cleaner for a couple of tanks, didn't solve the problem completely but seemed to help a bit. Might be worth trying while you wait for your workshop appointment. Just don't wait too long, these issues tend to get worse over time, and that's exactly what happened with mine. Keep me posted on what your workshop finds. Really curious if it turns out to be the same issue as my X3!

Thanks so much for all this detailed info! That fuel smell you mentioned, I've actually noticed that too but didn't think much of it until now. And yeah, that stumbling sound during start-up matches exactly what I'm hearing. You know what? I'm gonna grab some fuel system cleaner tomorrow and give it a try before my workshop visit. Even if it doesn't fix the problem completely, like in your case, it might help a bit in the meantime. Really smart suggestion! The fact that mine's showing these symptoms at such low mileage compared to yours is a bit concerning, but at least I know I'm not imagining things. I'll definitely get it checked out next week rather than waiting around, don't want it getting worse like yours did. I'll keep you updated on what they find. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, it's given me a much better idea of what I might be dealing with. Thanks again!