[borinous]

Hi changed my glow plug module today as I was receiving error codes for all 4 glow plugs and I was getting rough idle and smoke on cold start when ambient temps where around 5deg or below. As the position of these modules seems to vary between the different engines I thought I'd post up a picture of where it is on a pre-lci e90 320d ( M47TU2D20 )



I was able to change mine from above I think it would have been easier from below as the mounting studs point downwards. But I'm llucky I've not got Popeye forearms so I could squeeze my hand down. Hardest bit was getting the plugs off.

[Sensible_]

Good work. I take it you are now error free?

[borinous]

Originally Posted by Sensible_

Good work. I take it you are now error free?

well...after i fitted the module i cleared the codes. started the car and nothing came back.
However the next day when i started it still ran lumpy but for what felt like a shorter period of time. so now im wondering if the module failure was just covering up that 1 or more of the glow plugs themselves are goosed. Not had a chance to get the laptop plugged back in to read the codes. Hoping it doesn't say its the module again it was PITA

[dy63]

i would of killed 2 birds in 1 stone if i were you... i.e changing all 6 plugs and controller at once. personally i think its 50/50 situation. some say if you get more than so and so plugs come up. go straight to controller. i had 5 plugs come up on my e90 a few months ago and went for all 6 glowplugs first and it got rid of lumpy idle and shaking on idle. car was fine after that but then i decided to take manifold off to change gasket seals and clean it down thoroughly and thought fk it ill just change the controller while manifolds off

[borinous]

mines a 4 pot and i was getting error for all 4 plugs. So thought best to change module first incase it was only that.

As it seemingly hasn't solved it i may need to change the plugs as well....unless the new module is at fault.

As the lumpy idle doesn't seem to last as along as it did prior to changing the module this suggest not all the plugs are dead but the module was dead as well.

[dy63]

would just buy all 4 and change all 4 rather than trying to identify which ones dead.

cost around £11each for oem beru plugs

[borinous]

yeah if even if its only showing error for 1 ill replace them all wouldnt be worth removing half the car to get to them to only replace 1.

[borinous]

Read the codes and nothing relating to glow plugs or glow plug module! but it is still ever so slight lumpy start at cold temp.

however....i do have an error code of 41ED cyclic authentication and when reading the live engine data my current air mass is off the scale. so from some brief goggling suggests the MAF and/or MAP are goosed.

[borinous]

Was having issues with readings from INPA so updated to 5.0.6 so i re-read the codes and im getting all 4 glow plugs failing. and the lumpy idle from cold start.

Next step is to change the glow plugs....however is it normal for all 4 to fail? im worried that the new module i fitted is faulty

[borinous]

Originally Posted by cupraraj

would just buy all 4 and change all 4 rather than trying to identify which ones dead.

cost around £11each for oem beru plugs

Did you change the glow plugs yourself?

[dy63]

Originally Posted by borinous

Did you change the glow plugs yourself?

yeah

[kiel_dafo_kenyg_as]

Originally Posted by borinous

Did you change the glow plugs yourself?

Do not try to change them yourself unless you know what you're doing.
You need a torque wrench to remove the plugs. Do not try to remove them without limitted torque. When you snap a plug you will go through hell

[borinous]

Cheers I'm fairly competent around a car with workshop experience (albeit on TVR's not BMW's) but have scared myself while doing some research with the potential snapping. Is it correct max torque for removal shouldn't exceed 35nm?

[wildman939]

HI,
did you resolve this?

I have same issues on my x3.

[OGM2LCI]

Was going to mention the MAF as mine is buggered at the moment and is causing a lumpy idle, best way I found to test it is before you start it cold unplug your MAF, if it's smooth then you know where your issue is

Mine would idle horribly when cold and would misfire badly when pulling away for the first km or so, after that it would still be unsmooth but not as bad, one day I unplugged the MAF before a start having sat all night and the car idled perfectly with no misfire at all, worth a shot for 30 seconds to unplug it

Not being able to justify £260 for a new one I bought a second hand jobby off of eBay and it's solved my lumpy idle issue completely, it's still giving the symptoms similar to severe turbo lag but I can cope with that for a while until I can bring myself to splash out

Edit: should've looked at the first post date

[borinous]

Originally Posted by wildman939

HI,
did you resolve this?

I have same issues on my x3.

Nope weather warmed up and lumpy start went away. it only does it when outside temp is below 8-10 deg C.

As its got cold again recently its started the lumpy idle from cold start but only last 3-5seconds before leveling out.

Ive still got the glow plugs so i think ill have to put some time aside to do it.

[borinous]

Originally Posted by James-B93

Was going to mention the MAF as mine is buggered at the moment and is causing a lumpy idle, best way I found to test it is before you start it cold unplug your MAF, if it's smooth then you know where your issue is

Mine would idle horribly when cold and would misfire badly when pulling away for the first km or so, after that it would still be unsmooth but not as bad, one day I unplugged the MAF before a start having sat all night and the car idled perfectly with no misfire at all, worth a shot for 30 seconds to unplug it

Not being able to justify £260 for a new one I bought a second hand jobby off of eBay and it's solved my lumpy idle issue completely, it's still giving the symptoms similar to severe turbo lag but I can cope with that for a while until I can bring myself to splash out

Edit: should've looked at the first post date

i think i have a possible MAF issue as well as i get a flat spot aroun 1700 RPM but if you have changed yours and you still have that then maybe its not the MAF.

As you say for a 30second test i may try un-plugging it for a cold start to see what it does but im fairly confident its the glow plugs

[mkkole]

Dude, can you please tell me what was your final fix?

I have the same issue.

Changed 4 glow plugs and relay, and worked fine for 2 days, the first-day temperature was under 5 digress, I got again 4 glow plug error.


CLeared error using INPA D but when I start the engine I get it again.

I was wondering could it because of the BERU relay?

I found a few videos how to fix it, I will try with old ones, looks it is just connector for + inside of the relay.

Anyway, if you have time, please tell me how did you fix your car.

Thanks a lot.

[Mullerlicious]

Originally Posted by mkkole

Dude, can you please tell me what was your final fix?

I have the same issue.

Changed 4 glow plugs and relay, and worked fine for 2 days, the first-day temperature was under 5 digress, I got again 4 glow plug error.


CLeared error using INPA D but when I start the engine I get it again.

I was wondering could it because of the BERU relay?

I found a few videos how to fix it, I will try with old ones, looks it is just connector for + inside of the relay.

Anyway, if you have time, please tell me how did you fix your car.

Thanks a lot.

I've also had this issue, did you manage to solve it MKKOLE?

I also changed the plugs and new relay, worked for 2 days and back to having problems with them again.

If anyone knows why this would be, I'd be grateful if you could let me know. I've also checked the glow plug fuse in the glove box and that's fine.

320d m47 btw (2007)

[chrissyw]

It's the one job I really struggled with the module replacement.

With only basic tools and large hands, it was a complete and utter *******.

[Aeroelastic1]

Originally Posted by Mullerlicious

I've also had this issue, did you manage to solve it MKKOLE?

I also changed the plugs and new relay, worked for 2 days and back to having problems with them again.

If anyone knows why this would be, I'd be grateful if you could let me know. I've also checked the glow plug fuse in the glove box and that's fine.

320d m47 btw (2007)

Hi anyone get to the bottom of this? Mine has then same issue, thanks.