BMW XM Idle Instability Causing Engine Stalls

I had a similar issue with my BMW X6 M50i 2020 just a few months back. The symptoms were identical, unstable idle and check engine light. Took it to the garage, turned out the intake manifold was heavily contaminated with carbon deposits. This was causing irregular air supply to the combustion chambers. The mechanic did a thorough intake cleaning and replaced several gaskets. It was quite a serious job as carbon buildup can really hurt engine performance and efficiency if left unchecked. The repair took about a day and half. After the service, the idle issues completely disappeared and the engine's running smooth again. Given your mileage, I'd definitely get the intake system checked. These performance engines are sensitive to carbon buildup, and regular maintenance is crucial. My advice would be to have a proper diagnosis done at a certified shop, intake issues aren't something you want to ignore.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Really helpful to hear about a similar case. The intake manifold cleaning sounds like it could be exactly what I need too. Just wondering, do you remember roughly how much the whole repair set you back? And has everything been running smoothly since then, or have you noticed any other issues pop up?

Hey there! Happy to follow up about my X6 M50i situation. Yeah, just had this sorted at the mechanic last week actually, had the idle air control valve fixed and they did a deep clean of the intake system which was pretty gunked up. Set me back about 425 € in total, but honestly, it was worth every penny. The car's running like a dream now, that annoying irregular idle is completely gone and the engine feels way smoother than before. Haven't had a single problem since the fix. You know that feeling when something's just running right? That's where I'm at now. Quick tip though, the mechanic mentioned it's worth keeping an eye on the intake system maintenance going forward. These performance BMWs can be a bit particular about that stuff, but proper care really makes a difference in how they run. Let me know if you want any other details about what they did, happy to share more about the repair process if it helps!

Thanks for all that info! You won't believe it, but I actually went ahead and got it fixed yesterday. Took your advice about the intake system check, and guess what? You were spot on! Turned out my intake was pretty clogged up too. The mechanic really knew his stuff, showed me all the carbon buildup they cleaned out. Total bill came to about 400, which wasn't as bad as I'd feared. The best part? My BMW's purring like a kitten now. No more weird idle issues, and that annoying check engine light is finally off. Such a relief! The mechanic also gave me some tips about regular maintenance to prevent this from happening again. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, helped me make the right call. Think I've finally found a trustworthy mechanic too, which is a huge bonus. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction!