New 540i engine rough and misses on cold start

530iDriver · 09-22-2018, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by don1234

If it is "normal", then why do the dealers attempt to fix it?
I think there are many vehicles that have this symptom but not all. There would be too many complaints if all 540's did this. I also think BMW doesn't know how to fix it.

Hard to say. A lot of BMW owners don't participate in Internet forums.

There is nothing normal about a $60K + automobile that stutters when the engine is first started. Maybe that was acceptable quality on a Soviet made car or an East German Trabant, but not on a 2018 car from a premium German brand.

kaphouston · 09-22-2018, 06:44 PM

So if it's not normal, and BMW doesn't know what to do with it, then what? Stuck with it. I'm certainly not a mechanic.

ztx84 · 09-23-2018, 03:50 AM

If it is still doing it and BMW can't fix it then can you reject the vehicle? If you can demonstrate that yours has a fault that others don't then I would think there are grounds that the dealer/BMW has not supplied the product to the agreed specification (as it were...). If that happened to me I'd write to the head of the dealership stating my case and that if the vehicle can't be fixed, then they either need to supply a product that works, or refund me my money.

mk1-fan · 09-23-2018, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaphouston

mk1-fan - this is EXACTLY what my car does. So the question is... is this NORMAL??? Obviously, I can feel the thing shaking but I can also see it shaking, like the steering wheel.

No, absolutely not.

I will monitor it, as it does sometimes start up hassle free. If it get worse, I will take it to the dealer, and see what they say.

Bdc4202 · 03-14-2021, 10:48 PM

Picked up my 2021 540i last week, have driven a total of 67 miles on it. Started the car yesterday while my wife was outside, and she said the car sounds like a motor boat - and that it is embarrassing. I called the sales guy, who of course said that it is normal. Yea - they design a 73k car to sound like a low end junk box - I don’t think so. It does, however, quiet down after a few minutes, once the engine warms up. But we don’t want to start the car in front of people, and have them think it is a piece of junk. I will send a video of the noise to him tomorrow, and see what he says. I plan to go back to dealer and hear how other 540i cars sound at start up. If this really is typical, I will be very disappointed, and may sell the car - go back to Lexus. Unfortunate, as the car is absolutely beautiful.

DBO · 03-14-2021, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bdc4202

Picked up my 2021 540i last week, have driven a total of 67 miles on it. Started the car yesterday while my wife was outside, and she said the car sounds like a motor boat - and that it is embarrassing

If you load Bootmod3 you can set Cold Start (Cat heating) to 'OFF' which eliminates the loud startup. I enabled that setting after installing a catted downpipe. The car starts really quietly with that setting (i.e. idle revs, no drone). There may be other coding options if you don't want to go with BM3

LuvMyE92 · 03-15-2021, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bdc4202

... she said the car sounds like a motor boat - and that it is embarrassing. I called the sales guy, who of course said that it is normal.

First, don't believe a word that your sales guy says. If you have an issue, talk to service.

Second, does the car shake like the OP describes, or is it just loud and nasty sounding at startup? Because, yes, unfortunately, the latter is a BMW thing to get the cats warmed up quickly, and depending on the exhaust (M-sport, etc.) it can be a quite ugly sound. My M2 was horrendous, the 540i is not too bad.

jsf721 · 03-21-2021, 11:39 AM

I’ve got a 2019 540lx taken it skiing, driven to NY to Vermont in the summer heat. Zero issues on over heating or stuttering on start up.

Car is rock solid. I’ve got 25k on the clock and DD drive it.

440xiGCMSport2 · 03-22-2021, 10:10 PM

I have both a 2018 540 and 2017 440 and neither have rough idle. It is not normal.

440xiGCMSport2 · 03-22-2021, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bdc4202

Picked up my 2021 540i last week, have driven a total of 67 miles on it. Started the car yesterday while my wife was outside, and she said the car sounds like a motor boat - and that it is embarrassing. I called the sales guy, who of course said that it is normal. Yea - they design a 73k car to sound like a low end junk box - I don’t think so. It does, however, quiet down after a few minutes, once the engine warms up. But we don’t want to start the car in front of people, and have them think it is a piece of junk. I will send a video of the noise to him tomorrow, and see what he says. I plan to go back to dealer and hear how other 540i cars sound at start up. If this really is typical, I will be very disappointed, and may sell the car - go back to Lexus. Unfortunate, as the car is absolutely beautiful.

lol if you judge a car by a few minutes of louder noise than you are Lexus target market customer.
It actually helps the car warm up faster and also lessens the wear on the engine because it warms up the engine oil faster also.

LogicalApex · 03-23-2021, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bdc4202

Picked up my 2021 540i last week, have driven a total of 67 miles on it. Started the car yesterday while my wife was outside, and she said the car sounds like a motor boat - and that it is embarrassing. I called the sales guy, who of course said that it is normal. Yea - they design a 73k car to sound like a low end junk box - I don’t think so. It does, however, quiet down after a few minutes, once the engine warms up. But we don’t want to start the car in front of people, and have them think it is a piece of junk. I will send a video of the noise to him tomorrow, and see what he says. I plan to go back to dealer and hear how other 540i cars sound at start up. If this really is typical, I will be very disappointed, and may sell the car - go back to Lexus. Unfortunate, as the car is absolutely beautiful.

Do you get mistaken for onslow?

Jas387 · 03-28-2021, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bdc4202

Picked up my 2021 540i last week, have driven a total of 67 miles on it. Started the car yesterday while my wife was outside, and she said the car sounds like a motor boat - and that it is embarrassing. I called the sales guy, who of course said that it is normal. Yea - they design a 73k car to sound like a low end junk box - I don’t think so. It does, however, quiet down after a few minutes, once the engine warms up. But we don’t want to start the car in front of people, and have them think it is a piece of junk. I will send a video of the noise to him tomorrow, and see what he says. I plan to go back to dealer and hear how other 540i cars sound at start up. If this really is typical, I will be very disappointed, and may sell the car - go back to Lexus. Unfortunate, as the car is absolutely beautiful.

I have a similar problem with my 2021 540i. It doesn't shake, but it sounds a bit rough and rattly compared to what I was expecting. Dealer told me it was normal, but I'm still not convinced and am thinking of taking it back. I love the car apart from the noise.

I uploaded a video in this thread I posted. Does it sound like this?
https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1769792

EDIT: appears that my videos are no longer available, but basically, my car sounds a bit rattly when observed from the outside (particularly around the wheel arch on the UK drivers side). My problem is always present so is not related to the louder cold start.

CnSky · 03-28-2021, 07:39 PM

Are you sure it an actual misfire?

My 2017 build 530e does this shaking when cold and if I ask the engine to come on. The car seems to shake very slightly for a minute until revs drop. Can be felt in the car centre/rear more

I have a theory it's based on the gear box mount which is very very soft but part of my theory is it happens when the car is not parked level.

By any chance do those experiencing park on a downward incline or incline from right to left or vice versa.

I only ever notice it in this situation and my drive is approx 15 degree downward, I park nose in with 5 degree cross incline.

Convinced it's the gearbox mount as it's super soft in these cars and the entire gearbox and half the exhaust float on that single soft mount and when inclined the rear stop pad of that mount isn't contacting the gearbox cross member.

CnSky · 03-28-2021, 07:42 PM

Super soft G30 gearbox mount.

Supacat · 06-04-2021, 03:51 PM

2017 540i with the same issue here. Anyone have an update? Mine is unfortunately out of warranty.

SteveinArizona · 06-04-2021, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by High Flier

Get 93 octane if you can. Fuel does make a difference with the B58 engine. If you're stuck with 91 octane, try a different brand of gas.

can't get 93 in California.

Supacat · 06-04-2021, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

can't get 93 in California.

Or Nevada

anyway from this thread it seemed that some have proved it wasn't a gas issue as some have it and are running 93.

09-22-2018, 06:44 PM	#24
kaphouston New Member 9 Rep 20 Posts Drives: 2018 540i Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Houston iTrader: (0)	So if it's not normal, and BMW doesn't know what to do with it, then what? Stuck with it. I'm certainly not a mechanic.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-23-2018, 03:50 AM	#25
ztx84 First Lieutenant 185 Rep 301 Posts Drives: 2022 M4 Competition Xdrive Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Devon, UK iTrader: (0)	If it is still doing it and BMW can't fix it then can you reject the vehicle? If you can demonstrate that yours has a fault that others don't then I would think there are grounds that the dealer/BMW has not supplied the product to the agreed specification (as it were...). If that happened to me I'd write to the head of the dealership stating my case and that if the vehicle can't be fixed, then they either need to supply a product that works, or refund me my money.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-14-2021, 10:48 PM	#27
Bdc4202 Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 2021540i xdrive Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Southern NH iTrader: (0)	Mine does the same thing Picked up my 2021 540i last week, have driven a total of 67 miles on it. Started the car yesterday while my wife was outside, and she said the car sounds like a motor boat - and that it is embarrassing. I called the sales guy, who of course said that it is normal. Yea - they design a 73k car to sound like a low end junk box - I don’t think so. It does, however, quiet down after a few minutes, once the engine warms up. But we don’t want to start the car in front of people, and have them think it is a piece of junk. I will send a video of the noise to him tomorrow, and see what he says. I plan to go back to dealer and hear how other 540i cars sound at start up. If this really is typical, I will be very disappointed, and may sell the car - go back to Lexus. Unfortunate, as the car is absolutely beautiful.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-21-2021, 11:39 AM	#30
jsf721 Captain 1111 Rep 869 Posts Drives: 2019 540i X M Sport Join Date: May 2019 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (0)	I’ve got a 2019 540lx taken it skiing, driven to NY to Vermont in the summer heat. Zero issues on over heating or stuttering on start up. Car is rock solid. I’ve got 25k on the clock and DD drive it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-22-2021, 10:10 PM	#31
440xiGCMSport2 Second Lieutenant 283 Rep 292 Posts Drives: EB440xiGC Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	I have both a 2018 540 and 2017 440 and neither have rough idle. It is not normal.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-28-2021, 07:39 PM	#35
CnSky Major 330 Rep 1,028 Posts Drives: BMW 530E 2017 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Ireland iTrader: (0)	Are you sure it an actual misfire? My 2017 build 530e does this shaking when cold and if I ask the engine to come on. The car seems to shake very slightly for a minute until revs drop. Can be felt in the car centre/rear more I have a theory it's based on the gear box mount which is very very soft but part of my theory is it happens when the car is not parked level. By any chance do those experiencing park on a downward incline or incline from right to left or vice versa. I only ever notice it in this situation and my drive is approx 15 degree downward, I park nose in with 5 degree cross incline. Convinced it's the gearbox mount as it's super soft in these cars and the entire gearbox and half the exhaust float on that single soft mount and when inclined the rear stop pad of that mount isn't contacting the gearbox cross member.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-28-2021, 07:42 PM	#36
CnSky Major 330 Rep 1,028 Posts Drives: BMW 530E 2017 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Ireland iTrader: (0)	Super soft G30 gearbox mount.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-04-2021, 03:51 PM	#37
Supacat Private First Class 73 Rep 198 Posts Drives: 2017 540i M-Sport Join Date: May 2016 Location: Las Vegas, NV iTrader: (0)	2017 540i with the same issue here. Anyone have an update? Mine is unfortunately out of warranty.
	Appreciate 0 Quote