BMW X6: Rough Running and Stalling, Fuel Sensor Issue?

Hey there! I have some experience working on BMWs. Had a similar issue with my 2015 BMW X5 last year. The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I went through, my car was running rough and stalling too. At first, I was also thinking fuel system, but it turned out to be a loose connection in one of the sensor harnesses. The mechanic found a damaged wire connector that was causing intermittent signal issues. Total repair was 95 Euro for diagnostic and fixing the connection. Before jumping to conclusions, could you share: Any specific error codes? Does it happen more when the engine is cold or warm? Have you had any recent work done on the car? Since it's the same platform as my X5, I might be able to help narrow it down. Those symptoms could be several things on these engines.

Thanks for your input. My X6 has only 23037 KM and just had its last service, so I was quite surprised when this started happening. Haven't pulled the error codes yet, but planning to get that done tomorrow. The issue seems more pronounced when the engine is warm, especially after driving for about 15-20 minutes. No recent work done other than routine maintenance. I'll definitely check the sensor connections first before replacing any parts. Good to know it might not be as expensive as I feared. Did your mechanic mention any other common causes for these symptoms? Meanwhile, I'm keeping the RPMs low and trying to avoid any aggressive acceleration until I can get it properly diagnosed.

Hey again! Thanks for the additional info about your X6. Yeah, that's a pretty low mileage for these issues to pop up, which makes me think even more that it could be something simple like what I dealt with on my X5. Since you mentioned it happens more when warm, that's actually a bit different from what I experienced, mine acted up mainly during cold starts. When my mechanic was working on it, he mentioned a few other common causes for these symptoms in our engines: Ignition coil failures (pretty common on these models), Vacuum leaks (especially around the intake manifold), Mass airflow sensor issues Before I found the loose connection on mine, I was honestly freaking out thinking it was going to be something major. Looking back, I wish I'd checked the simple stuff first instead of assuming the worst. Quick tip: when you get the codes read tomorrow, take a photo or write them down. Some of these BMW-specific codes can really point you in the right direction. My mechanic actually showed me how the same symptoms can have totally different root causes. Keep us posted about what you find out. These cars can be tricky sometimes, but usually, it's something fairly straightforward once you get it properly diagnosed.

Thanks so much for all this detailed info! It's really helpful to know about those other potential causes. You've definitely made me feel better about the situation, I was already imagining having to shell out thousands for repairs. I'll definitely take photos of the error codes tomorrow. Just got off the phone with my regular mechanic and booked the car in for Thursday morning. I mentioned everything you said about the ignition coils, vacuum leaks, and MAF sensor, and he agreed these would be good places to start checking. It's interesting that your issue was mostly during cold starts while mine's worse when warm. Maybe that means something different in my case, but at least I know to have them check all the connections and wiring first before replacing expensive parts. I'll keep driving it gently until Thursday and hopefully it turns out to be something simple like in your case. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, it's made me much less anxious about the whole situation!