Can an EGR fault be fixed with "good run on motorway"

DriveSkill

2011 BMW F11 just started to show the engine management light and associated code from OBDII reader is EGR related :



P046C : EGR Sensor "A" Circuit Range/Performance


Took to mechanic who also diagnosed EGR (not sure of exact code he had as I wasnt there) but he suggested a "burn" on the motorway. I know that is good to regen DPF but is it any use for EGR assuming it is getting clogged. I though EGR works more at the low revs. Can take it for a spin at the weekend but I feel like I could be wasting my time...


What do you think ? Are the EGR Cleaners that apparently you spray into the air-intake any good ? Seems to be a lot of mixed reviews!



Unfortunately car has been doing lots of short journeys recently so that could have caused a build up.

rex-x

It wont do anything unfortunately

enumbers

these generally have electronic issues rather than mechanical blockages causing problems.

DriveSkill

enumbers wrote: »

these generally have electronic issues rather than mechanical blockages causing problems.

Do you mean the BMW ones specifically or EGRs in general ? I thought the main issue with EGRs was you get a build up of carbon in them...

George Dalton

enumbers wrote: »

these generally have electronic issues rather than mechanical blockages causing problems.

And alarming numbers of them are catching fire as a result of it so you could argue that a good run on the motorway will solve the problem..... permanently :pac:

DriveSkill

George Dalton wrote: »

And alarming numbers of them are catching fire as a result of it so you could argue that a good run on the motorway will solve the problem..... permanently :pac:

I did see some stuff on that but I think it was for the later engines....mine is a 2011 and from what I can see the recall impacted diesels from 2012->2015.


Of course nothing to say I dont have a similar issue :eek:


I guess only option is bring it to another mechanic or BMW themselves and see what they say.....assuming it did need replacing any ideas on expected cost.

enumbers

older egrs used to block up mechanically. I have yet to see one of this generation of bmw have a mechanical(carbon build up ) etc issue rather than a electronic issue on the control /feedback side

George . Good run could be a fairly permanent solution in this case

George Dalton

DriveSkill wrote: »

I guess only option is bring it to another mechanic or BMW themselves and see what they say.....assuming it did need replacing any ideas on expected cost.

They aren’t too expensive to do. €280 or so all in.

DriveSkill

In all seriousness is there a genuine risk in driving this for the next few days ?


Its actually my wifes car but I did drive it today and didnt notice anything symptoms as such apart from the light on the dash.

enumbers

DriveSkill wrote: »

I did see some stuff on that but I think it was for the later engines....mine is a 2011 and from what I can see the recall impacted diesels from 2012->2015.


Of course nothing to say I dont have a similar issue :eek:


I guess only option is bring it to another mechanic or BMW themselves and see what they say.....assuming it did need replacing any ideas on expected cost.

from memory think it works out around 300 all in but it is a while since we replaced one as a lot of people are opting for mapping them out along with a power increase instead of replacement

enumbers

DriveSkill wrote: »

In all seriousness is there a genuine risk in driving this for the next few days ?


Its actually my wifes car but I did drive it today and didnt notice anything symptoms as such apart from the light on the dash.

wont do any harm usually have power issues when acting up though

DriveSkill

enumbers wrote: »

from memory think it works out around 300 all in but it is a while since we replaced one as a lot of people are opting for mapping them out along with a power increase instead of replacement

I'll bring it to George instead of you - he is half price

Wasnt that originally 500 you guessed !! Maybe I'm going mad.

Thanks anyway for the estimate.

enumbers

DriveSkill wrote: »

I'll bring it to George instead of you - he is half price

Wasnt that originally 500 you guessed !! Maybe I'm going mad.

Thanks anyway for the estimate.

As I said a while since I had to replace one most people prefer a little extra power and removal. Last one I had to change was on one of the 2 series tourer things which was a lot more involved than the 5 or 7 series

DriveSkill

Just to close this one out - I ended up getting a new EGR valve fitted - total cost €397.

Thanks to everyone who chimed in with advise.

alanhiggyno1

DriveSkill wrote: »

Just to close this one out - I ended up getting a new EGR valve fitted - total cost €397.

Thanks to everyone who chimed in with advise.

Should have taken the egr out and got it blanked and remapped for around the same price or a but more