Car went into limp mode

ersin · 09-03-2010, 09:47 AM

So a couple days ago the SES light came on coming home from work. I planned on setting up a service appointment the next day but after traveling less than three miles from home, the thing went "limp". (For those that don't know "limp mode" or "failsafe" or whatever BMW likes to call it is where the redline moves down to 5000 rpm.) Besides that and the instrument panel all being lit up, the engine was running rough so I just turned around and parked it at home. Had it towed to the dealer yesterday.

So, anyway, after looking at the car the service department says it's "something to do with the idle control". I kind of figured that a couple days ago -- the infamous "idle control" problem. At least this happened under warranty. Anyway, they're waiting on BMW to tell them how to handle this -- what to replace and so on under warranty. Due to this and the holidays, I won't be getting the M3 back until next week. Bummer.

For those that have had the problem: is it really a couple, or more, days to fix this? Thanks.

Cheers.

Georgeair · 09-03-2010, 10:10 AM

I believe the actual bulletin and details are posted here somewhere. Perhaps in Mechanical?

How many miles do you have on the car?

ersin · 09-03-2010, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Georgeair

I believe the actual bulletin and details are posted here somewhere. Perhaps in Mechanical?

How many miles do you have on the car?

I'll search again. I have 47,800+ miles on the car.

Cheers.

I Wanna go Fast! · 09-03-2010, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ersin

I'll search again. I have 47,800+ miles on the car.

Cheers.

Do you plan on getting the extended warranty"?

BCA · 09-03-2010, 10:57 AM

I had an idle control valve failure at around 3,000 miles. All the warning lights went away after a restart, though, and the car ran totally fine for a few days until I could get it to the dealer. The dealer had the car out in just a few hours (dropped off in morning...picked up around 1:30 in the afternoon). My SA said the tech had replaced a handful of them on M3s already, so he had the job down. If that's you're problem, don't worry because it's no biggie.

ersin · 09-03-2010, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I Wanna go Fast!

Do you plan on getting the extended warranty"?

I don't think I can get it now. Do you know any different? It's a 2008, I'll ask a dealer this.

Cheers.

skywalker562 · 09-03-2010, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BCA

I had an idle control valve failure at around 3,000 miles. All the warning lights went away after a restart, though, and the car ran totally fine for a few days until I could get it to the dealer. The dealer had the car out in just a few hours (dropped off in morning...picked up around 1:30 in the afternoon). My SA said the tech had replaced a handful of them on M3s already, so he had the job down. If that's you're problem, don't worry because it's no biggie.

can't believe they said "no biggie" from BMW tech.

mine got repalced under 6k miles. mine is also 08.

JCtx · 09-03-2010, 12:22 PM

Man, it seems like it's only a matter of time before that stupid valve craps out

. Mine is an 06/08 build, but am sure I'm part of the 'bad valve' group as some early '09s were affected as well. Hope it fails before warranty runs out, but at about 4K miles a year, it might not. Oh well. I might try getting it replaced the last year and see what happens, as sometimes there're no codes after an episode. And by then I'm almost positive even small dealers would have heard of the problem. Have a good one folks.

positiveions · 09-03-2010, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ersin

I don't think I can get it now. Do you know any different? It's a 2008, I'll ask a dealer this.

Cheers.

Ersin, I got extended warranty on my 'ol ZHP. I paid like 1100. She wanted 1800-she being the finance manager- It extended it up to 60k. And yes you can bargain on extended warranty.
G/L

SUB-ZERO · 09-03-2010, 12:29 PM

My idle valve crapped out at 8500 mi; had it fixed in a day as it coincided with my scheduled maint.

-SZ

DP8 · 09-03-2010, 12:30 PM

2008 E90 at around 10,000 miles same thing happened to me I had the idle control valve replaced. It took about 2 days mostly because they had to order to part. I am at around 13K now and haven't had anymore problems.

09-03-2010, 09:47 AM	#1
ersin Brigadier General 126 Rep 4,144 Posts Drives: 17 YMB F80 M3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland iTrader: (1)	Car went into limp mode So a couple days ago the SES light came on coming home from work. I planned on setting up a service appointment the next day but after traveling less than three miles from home, the thing went "limp". (For those that don't know "limp mode" or "failsafe" or whatever BMW likes to call it is where the redline moves down to 5000 rpm.) Besides that and the instrument panel all being lit up, the engine was running rough so I just turned around and parked it at home. Had it towed to the dealer yesterday. So, anyway, after looking at the car the service department says it's "something to do with the idle control". I kind of figured that a couple days ago -- the infamous "idle control" problem. At least this happened under warranty. Anyway, they're waiting on BMW to tell them how to handle this -- what to replace and so on under warranty. Due to this and the holidays, I won't be getting the M3 back until next week. Bummer. For those that have had the problem: is it really a couple, or more, days to fix this? Thanks. Cheers. __________________ 2017 F80 YMB.
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09-03-2010, 10:10 AM	#2
Georgeair Captain 80 Rep 803 Posts Drives: '08 Melbourne E92 M3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madison, MS iTrader: (2)	I believe the actual bulletin and details are posted here somewhere. Perhaps in Mechanical? How many miles do you have on the car? __________________ Objects in mirror are slower than they appear.
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09-03-2010, 10:57 AM	#5
BCA Captain 22 Rep 793 Posts Drives: 2015 M3 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (1)	I had an idle control valve failure at around 3,000 miles. All the warning lights went away after a restart, though, and the car ran totally fine for a few days until I could get it to the dealer. The dealer had the car out in just a few hours (dropped off in morning...picked up around 1:30 in the afternoon). My SA said the tech had replaced a handful of them on M3s already, so he had the job down. If that's you're problem, don't worry because it's no biggie. __________________ 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera S 2019 Porsche Cayenne Past BMWs: 2015 M3, 2014 550i, 2013 M3 ZCP, 2012 535i, 2011 E90 335i, 2009 E90 M3, 2008 X5, 2006 330i, 2004 330i
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09-03-2010, 12:22 PM	#8
JCtx Major General 258 Rep 5,012 Posts Drives: No BMW yet Join Date: May 2008 Location: El Paso TX iTrader: (0)	Man, it seems like it's only a matter of time before that stupid valve craps out . Mine is an 06/08 build, but am sure I'm part of the 'bad valve' group as some early '09s were affected as well. Hope it fails before warranty runs out, but at about 4K miles a year, it might not. Oh well. I might try getting it replaced the last year and see what happens, as sometimes there're no codes after an episode. And by then I'm almost positive even small dealers would have heard of the problem. Have a good one folks.
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09-03-2010, 12:29 PM	#10
SUB-ZERO Lieutenant Colonel 294 Rep 1,709 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 + Spur, DB11, F12, X5 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: VA iTrader: (0)	My idle valve crapped out at 8500 mi; had it fixed in a day as it coincided with my scheduled maint. -SZ
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09-03-2010, 12:30 PM	#11
DP8 Private First Class 6 Rep 175 Posts Drives: 08 E90 M3 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	2008 E90 at around 10,000 miles same thing happened to me I had the idle control valve replaced. It took about 2 days mostly because they had to order to part. I am at around 13K now and haven't had anymore problems.
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