BMW X6 EGR Issues, Multiple Symptoms & Troubleshooting

Hey there! I've got some experience with cars (some experience level). I had almost identical issues with my 2020 BMW X4 last summer. Same symptoms, power loss, smoking, CEL light, and that annoying hissing. The EGR valve was definitely shot. Took it to my regular workshop, and they confirmed it was jammed up pretty bad. The repair, including parts and labor, set me back 355 Euro, but it fixed everything. Since then, my X4's been running like new. No more issues, fuel consumption is back to normal, and the engine's smooth again. Could you share more details about when these symptoms started and if you've noticed them more during cold starts? Also, what's your mileage? This could help determine if it's definitely the EGR or maybe something else. Hope this helps!

Thanks for sharing your experience! My X6 just hit 136715 KM and had its latest service about 3 months ago. The symptoms started showing up gradually over the past couple of weeks, but yeah, it's definitely more noticeable during cold starts. The hissing gets really bad when I push the accelerator, and the smoke's got a bit worse lately. Your repair cost sounds reasonable, and it's good to hear it sorted out similar issues. Was your mechanic able to clean the valve first, or did they have to replace it completely? I'm hoping it's just clogged and not completely failed.

Hey again! Thanks for the follow-up. Yep, based on your mileage and symptoms, it sounds even more like what I dealt with on my X4. In my case, they actually tried cleaning the EGR valve first, but it was too far gone. The mechanic showed me the valve when they took it out, it was completely gunked up with carbon deposits. They said cleaning wouldn't have been enough because some of the internal components were already damaged from the buildup. Quick tip from my experience, since getting the new valve, I've been using a higher grade fuel and getting more frequent services to prevent it from happening again. Been about 8 months now, and everything's still running perfectly. Oh, and those cold start issues completely disappeared after the replacement. Just make sure whoever works on it uses genuine BMW parts. My mechanic mentioned that aftermarket EGR valves can sometimes cause issues down the line. Maybe worth checking if your warranty still covers it? Mine had just expired when this happened, typical timing, right? Let me know how it goes when you get it checked out!

Thanks so much for all the detailed advice! Really appreciate you sharing those extra tips about the fuel grade and service frequency, definitely going to follow that once I get this sorted. Sadly, my warranty expired last year, but I'll definitely insist on genuine BMW parts. I've actually just booked it in for next week at my regular workshop. Your experience has made me feel a lot better about getting this fixed, especially since our symptoms match up so closely. I'll make sure to ask them to show me the valve when they take it out, would be interesting to see how bad the carbon buildup is. Thanks again for all your help! I'll probably stick to the higher grade fuel too, seems like a smart way to avoid future problems. Really glad I asked here before taking it in!