BMW X5 Temp Sensor Causing Power Loss & High Fuel Use

I had a similar issue with my '09 BMW X3 last month. The symptoms matched yours exactly, check engine light, sluggish performance, and burning more fuel than usual. At the garage, they found a crack in the exhaust manifold near the temperature sensor. The leak was causing incorrect readings, making the engine run rich. It turned out to be more serious than just a faulty sensor, the whole exhaust manifold needed replacement along with the sensor itself. The job took about a day and a half. Now the car runs like new again, proper power delivery and normal fuel consumption. Based on my experience, I'd recommend getting it checked soon since exhaust leaks can cause more damage if left unattended. Look for a mechanic who specializes in German cars. These exhaust system issues on BMW engines are pretty common, and an experienced tech will know exactly what to look for.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the X3! That's really helpful. The symptoms do sound identical to what I'm experiencing. This whole situation has been super frustrating, especially with my recent mechanic troubles. Quick question, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the repairs? Also, has everything been running smoothly since then, or have you noticed any other issues pop up? Really appreciate your help with this. Think I'll start looking for a BMW specialist tomorrow.

Hey there! Following up on your question about the costs, my situation turned out to be simpler than expected. The exhaust temperature sensor was indeed faulty, but luckily my exhaust manifold was fine, just had a small leak that needed fixing. Total bill came to 265 € for everything, which was a relief compared to what I initially feared! Since the repair three weeks ago, my X3's been running absolutely fantastic. Power's back to normal, fuel consumption's where it should be, and that annoying check engine light is finally gone. Haven't had a single problem since. You know, initially I was worried it might be something major like my whole manifold, but sometimes these BMW sensors just act up. Definitely check out a specialist though, they'll know exactly what to look for and might save you from unnecessary repairs. Getting my X3 fixed was way less painful than I thought it'd be! Let me know how it goes with yours. Always happy to share experiences with fellow BMW owners!

Thanks so much for the update! That's a huge relief to hear it wasn't as expensive as I feared. Just got back from a new mechanic I found who specializes in German cars. You won't believe it, turned out my issue was pretty much identical to yours! Just needed a new sensor and a minor fix for a small leak. The whole thing cost me about 300 bucks, which feels like a steal compared to what I was imagining. It's been a couple of days now, and the car's running like a dream. The sluggishness is completely gone, and I'm already noticing I'm using less fuel. Funny how we stress ourselves out thinking it's going to be some massive repair, right? Really glad I didn't go back to my old mechanic, this new guy was super straightforward and didn't try to upsell me on unnecessary work. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it really helped me know what to expect and not panic too much!