Engine Warning Light came on!!! ????

[Vintage]

The engine symbol came on right after start up this morning and it ran so rough I thought it was going to die. We were in NYC all week on business and the e89 was not driven during that time - I guess it is now mad that we are back?

The computer then says something like "Engine has reduced power but can still be driven. Please take it to your nearest BMW service center."

Any idea what is going on here? I think this may be impending HPFP failure as it acts like it is being starved of fuel and sometimes it runs fine. Help please before she goes in tomorrow.

[Rubber Ducky]

High-pressure fuel pump! Classic symptoms. Wife's 535i went through same drill. Take to dealer.

[Vintage]

darn - I really was hoping to escape this problem. ridiculous but hopefully it will be an easy fix

[teagueAMX]

Originally Posted by VintageBMW

I guess it is now mad that we are back?

It's mad not because you're back, but because you left it home in the first place. I had a dog like that once.

[persian54]

i had a couple HPFP on my 335i

and this Z4 has the 881 pump, which I'm 99% sure will go out sooner or later

[Vintage]

Originally Posted by persian54

i had a couple HPFP on my 335i

and this Z4 has the 881 pump, which I'm 99% sure will go out sooner or later

well, my wife's Z4 has 8,000 miles on the clock - maybe the next HPFP will be better?

[teagueAMX]

Is this your first or second?

[persian54]

Originally Posted by VintageBMW

well, my wife's Z4 has 8,000 miles on the clock - maybe the next HPFP will be better?

well, my 335i went out at 2700 then again at 15000

z4 has 9700 and no cranks


i either want it to go out twice in the next 8k miles, or to not go out at all :P

[Vintage]

1st one to fail

[mcbeee]

Car went into safe mode on the way home from the US a couple of weeks ago but cleared after a few miles. Same symptoms as described above but dealer diagnosis was a "single misfire on one cylinder". Car has 27000km's on it and first hiccup. Classic symptoms but not always an HPFP, but I'm listening and waiting......

[cdeslandes]

I had the engine light come up a few weeks ago, but the engine kept performing just fine. I checked the gas (petrol) cap but it was shut tight. Light cleared itself after a few cycles.

Haven't gone to the dealership yet - didn't see the point. Will get them to check the code when I go for my autumn oil change in November and will post results here.

VintageBMW, please keep us posted and good luck with the car.

[BlueZ4AZ]

Does anyone know.......Would an extra few seconds of cranking during engine start up also be an indicator that the HPFP is on the way out?

[mcbeee]

Originally Posted by BlueZ4AZ

Does anyone know.......Would an extra few seconds of cranking during engine start up also be an indicator that the HPFP is on the way out?

Not sure ..but my 98 ford pickup had two fuel pumps and all you had to do was turn on the key and wait a couple of seconds before turning it to start. then everything was fine. They had issues with the in-tank pump as well but it just pressurised the system for a quick start on initial crank. This may be a similar design (I'm probably wrong) I didn't bother fixing it because no computers shut me down on fault conditions..

In other words..Yes, it could be...

[Vintage]

the e89 is at the dealer now and I will let you all know what happens. cranks were getting longer and the engine problem did not "clear" itself but that was what I was hoping for . . . it was running terrible for two days now and I was worried about being stranded with a dead motor or dying while trying to merge on the highway

[Silver-Bolt]

Vintage,
I assume your dealer is OK with your mods?

[Vintage]

Originally Posted by Silver-Bolt

Vintage,
I assume your dealer is OK with your mods?

I will know the answer to that question very soon.

That being said, I have the "benefit" of having a law license and will use it if I have to - not to sound like a lawyer, but, in short, the dealer cannot void a warranty or not honor it unless the mods caused the problem. Maybe the mods did cause the problem; if so, I will gladly pay for the repair and discuss reimbursement with the company that produced the offending modification installed on the car, but I am almost certain this is the HPFP.

The mods are "modest": exhaust, FMIC, charge pipe, mild tune, and real tires (i.e. not RFTs). However, collectively they have absolutely transformed the car.

I will keep you all posted.

[Rubber Ducky]

Originally Posted by BlueZ4AZ

Does anyone know.......Would an extra few seconds of cranking during engine start up also be an indicator that the HPFP is on the way out?

Probably not. Happens when car sits a couple days. HPFP is a hard failure and will not cure itself.

[Alext]

Actually I believe that a FEW seconds (thats a long time!) extra on cranking could indicate the HPFP is on it's way out. My N54 135i has stood for weeks without starting and when I have come to start it, it started immediately. I have been reading for many years about HPFP failures on the N54 engine and this is one symptom that CAN be indicative of pending failure.

The best way to tell is get the codes read on the car. I have a OBD BT tool that allows me to do this. There is a specific code you need to look for that will tell you if it is the HPFP. Then you can go to your dealer with this knowledge and they should eventually replace the pump. I think these days they try a software update first.

[teagueAMX]

The engine should not "crank" for more than a few seconds even if has sat unused for a while. Electronic fuel injection systems are fully pressurized, not like the old carburetor systems that needed a little extra gas if unused for a while: this is particularly true of direct injection systems. Hence the designation - HPFP.

[Silver-Bolt]

Originally Posted by VintageBMW

I will know the answer to that question very soon.

That being said, I have the "benefit" of having a law license and will use it if I have to - not to sound like a lawyer, but, in short, the dealer cannot void a warranty or not honor it unless the mods caused the problem. Maybe the mods did cause the problem; if so, I will gladly pay for the repair and discuss reimbursement with the company that produced the offending modification installed on the car, but I am almost certain this is the HPFP.

The mods are "modest": exhaust, FMIC, charge pipe, mild tune, and real tires (i.e. not RFTs). However, collectively they have absolutely transformed the car.

I will keep you all posted.

The Moss/Magnuson act is meant to protect the consumer but is rarely sucessful. Fingers crossed they don't give you flak. Some dealerships are cool with mods and will go to bat others will attempt to void you for having a drop in K&N type filter. Hopefully you won't have to go down the legal road just to have a defective part replaced.

[Vintage]

DEALER JUST CALLED: it appears they are refusing to even diagnose the problem because it has a FMIC installed. Actually it is not the dealer yet, it seems to be an instruction from BMWNA. This may get very interesting soon.

Maybe it is pay back for them crashing my wife's car in port and not telling us, and then me forcing them to swap us for an undamaged Z4? Well, I will hope for the best. As I told my dealer, "just diagnose the problem and then we will discuss who pays for the repair." They, said "no." Good times.

[Z4BMC]

Originally Posted by VintageBMW

DEALER JUST CALLED: it appears they are refusing to even diagnose the problem because it has a FMIC installed. Actually it is not the dealer yet, it seems to be an instruction from BMWNA. This may get very interesting soon.

Maybe it is pay back for them crashing my wife's car in port and not telling us, and then me forcing them to swap us for an undamaged Z4? Well, I will hope for the best. As I told my dealer, "just diagnose the problem and then we will discuss who pays for the repair." They, said "no." Good times.

i got a FMIC installed as well... the engine light sometimes on if i pull it around 6000rpm, I have mods JB3, airintake, FMIC, exhaust. I guess these mods make the HPFP suffering in a heavy situation...
maybe i need a new HPFP as well