BMW X6 Diesel DPF Warning Signs & Smoke, Help Needed

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2017 BMW X5 diesel last year. The symptoms you're describing match exactly what I experienced, warning lights, sluggish performance, and excessive smoke. Turned out my exhaust back pressure sensor was completely shot. Had it checked at the garage and the diagnostic confirmed a faulty DPF pressure sensor. It was causing incorrect readings, making the engine run rich and smoke. The fix required replacing the sensor and clearing the ECU codes. While it's not a catastrophic problem, it's definitely something you want to address soon. If left unchecked, it can lead to DPF damage and reduced engine performance. In my case, the repair took about half a day at the garage. Make sure they check the wiring harness too, sometimes it's not just the sensor itself but the connections that can go bad. Based on your mileage, this kind of issue isn't unusual for these engines. Hope this helps!

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! Sounds spot on with what I'm dealing with. Really helpful to know it was the exhaust back pressure sensor in your case. Do you remember roughly how much the whole repair set you back? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the fix, or have you noticed any other issues pop up? Just want to get an idea of what I might be in for. Thanks again!

Hey again! Yeah, I can definitely help with the cost info! I actually just had this fixed, the total bill came to 245 € for replacing the exhaust back pressure sensor. Money well spent, if you ask me. The best part? My X5's been running like a dream since the repair. That annoying DPF pressure warning is completely gone, and the engine's performing exactly like it should. No more smoke, no more warning lights, and the power's back to normal. Such a relief! It's been about eight months now, and I haven't had a single issue pop up. Mind you, I've been pretty good about regular maintenance since then. My advice would be to get it sorted sooner rather than later, these sensors can cause bigger problems if you leave them too long. If you're worried about costs, the price I paid seems pretty standard for this kind of repair on our BMWs. Just make sure they give you a proper diagnostic first to confirm it's definitely the sensor. Let me know how you get on with the repair!

Thanks for all that detailed info! I actually just got back from the mechanic yesterday. You were right about getting it fixed quickly, I took your advice and didn't wait around. The repair cost was slightly higher than yours at 295 €, but they found some wiring issues too that needed sorting. They had it done in about 4 hours, and honestly, what a difference! The engine's running super smooth now, no more warning lights, and that annoying smoke is completely gone. Funny thing, while I was waiting, another guy came in with almost the exact same problem on his diesel. The mechanic said these sensors are pretty common failure points on our models. At least I know what to look out for now! Really appreciate you sharing your experience. It helped me feel more confident about getting it sorted, and now I know I didn't get ripped off. Think I've finally found a decent mechanic too, they were really upfront about everything and explained all the work they did. Thanks again for your help!