Loss of power

EBZ911

///Member
Hi Fanatics,

Driving a E90 330d, recently noticed a sudden loss of power for a few seconds then all of sudden a surge of power and car drives as normal. Use to happen after driving to work, parked off 8 hours start up and go and a minute later the issue occurs. Getting more frequent, took it to the mech, he suspects a blocked EGR.

Question is if it is, will this not be the time to close off the egr, do a removal of the cat and dpf. Do a delete of the above and upgrade/update the software?

Should I rather get the egr cleaned 1st,make sure that is the issue before doing the above mentioned plan? My concern is if it's not the EGR and I do the updates and removal of the hardware and it doesn't solve the issue I may be going in circles 🙃 😅

Any suggestions will be highly appreciated.

T.I.A
 

EBZ911

///Member
Hey Fanatics,

Update, car taken to mechanic today, he looked at the EGR, not blocked/clogged.

Ran a diagnostics, found errors, did not report what they were, cleared them, drove it home from work, no issues.

Will drive again tomorrow and report back if the issue returns. Could it have just been an error that needed clearing?? Vs maybe a faulty injector or some other issue??

Lastly should I just hold on with the update of the software and removal of the cat and dpf???

Thanks
 

Kyle

///Member
Hey Fanatics,

Update, car taken to mechanic today, he looked at the EGR, not blocked/clogged.

Ran a diagnostics, found errors, did not report what they were, cleared them, drove it home from work, no issues.

Will drive again tomorrow and report back if the issue returns. Could it have just been an error that needed clearing?? Vs maybe a faulty injector or some other issue??

Lastly should I just hold on with the update of the software and removal of the cat and dpf???

Thanks
The EGR will fail at some point, my advice is to not wait until you're stranded on the side of the road... There's a reason people rush to load software on these cars.

Regarding the fault, something hardware related would have triggered it in the first place. Ask the mechanic for a report of what the code/s were and take it from there, from what you described it definitely sounds EGR related, it doesn't have to be blocked to throw a fault and send the car into limp mode.
 

EBZ911

///Member
The EGR will fail at some point, my advice is to not wait until you're stranded on the side of the road... There's a reason people rush to load software on these cars.

Regarding the fault, something hardware related would have triggered it in the first place. Ask the mechanic for a report of what the code/s were and take it from there, from what you described it definitely sounds EGR related, it doesn't have to be blocked to throw a fault and send the car into limp mode.
Hey bro, been a minute. Thanks for the response. So will it be "safe" to put in the blank plates and delete the EGR as it stands? I don't want to do software and cat removal + delete if there is potentially any other issues not yet detected.
 

Kyle

///Member
Hey bro, been a minute. Thanks for the response. So will it be "safe" to put in the blank plates and delete the EGR as it stands? I don't want to do software and cat removal + delete if there is potentially any other issues not yet detected.
So you will need to code out the EGR before adding in the blanking plates, to be honest the blanking plates aren't really necessary after the EGR is deactivated with software. As a starting point perhaps monitor to see if the issue pops up again and make sure to get a report of the codes from your mechanic before they are cleared...
 

KarshS

///Member
How is the maintenance on your car?
Have you serviced it? changed the fuel filters and air filter?
Have you serviced the gearbox and diagnostic check (If Auto)?

Downpipe and software is a must on these (Deactivate the EGR).

Also.... what mechanic doesnt tell you the codes that was on the car? Clearing and continue with life until it reappears is not always the best solution. Get what codes was present at the time so you will have more or less an idea where to start.
 

EBZ911

///Member
How is the maintenance on your car?
Have you serviced it? changed the fuel filters and air filter?
Have you serviced the gearbox and diagnostic check (If Auto)?

Downpipe and software is a must on these (Deactivate the EGR).

Also.... what mechanic doesnt tell you the codes that was on the car? Clearing and continue with life until it reappears is not always the best solution. Get what codes was present at the time so you will have more or less an idea where to start.
Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

Yes I service as soon as the service light turns on, Filters have been changed, last service on Gearbox was with ZF in Cape Town a while ago and not again.

I will ask the mech abt the codes

Can I do blank plates instead of downpipes, the software is working out at around R7200 and the DP R6350, straight pipes R18500 (What the hell, damn!).....I am based in the garden route, 450km to Cape town, Software with these okes: https://www.facebook.com/Rtechmosselbay/ (they come recommended), and pipes with these guys: https://www.facebook.com/@Sniperracingmosselbay/
 

Solo Man

Well-known member
I recently (in Feb/March) did the cat delete, the swirl flaps removal and the egr removal and blanking plugs plus having the car mapped at Kosie Swanepoel Developments (they simultaneously wrote out the egr and cat delete should any error lights came on - they never did come on in the days after removal and before i had the car mapped). Bought the egr blanking kit and swirl flap removal kits for about R3k from a Forumite who had imported them from Darkside in the UK and did the cat delete myself (sold the innards for about R2.8k). The mapping cost about R4k. So, in effect the preventative maintenance cost me about R4.2k. I always just knock out the cat innards and re-use the empty cats on my cars and have never had any problems or negative performance. In fact, my car (F07 530d GT), made more than standard power before mapping (191,5kw and 531,7NM) Standard should be about 180kw and 540NM. Could be the dyno was optimistic! After mapping makes about 230kw and 630NM. I would be careful to just blank off the egr as it is apparently prone to leaking and that is one of the reasons to completely remove it with the egr delete kit. If you have someone coming back from the UK i suggest asking them to bring in the egr delete kit and the swirl flap removal kit from Darkside. To remove the cat took me the whole day but that was because i battled for literally hours to get the exhaust loose from the flexipipe at the clamp. Also, my cat had the solid cat (never before had a solid cat in about ten cars where i had removed the cat) and i had to take it to the buyers to open the cat and remove it and reweld the cat housing. Was worth the effort though as i got good money for it.
 

EBZ911

///Member
I recently (in Feb/March) did the cat delete, the swirl flaps removal and the egr removal and blanking plugs plus having the car mapped at Kosie Swanepoel Developments (they simultaneously wrote out the egr and cat delete should any error lights came on - they never did come on in the days after removal and before i had the car mapped). Bought the egr blanking kit and swirl flap removal kits for about R3k from a Forumite who had imported them from Darkside in the UK and did the cat delete myself (sold the innards for about R2.8k). The mapping cost about R4k. So, in effect the preventative maintenance cost me about R4.2k. I always just knock out the cat innards and re-use the empty cats on my cars and have never had any problems or negative performance. In fact, my car (F07 530d GT), made more than standard power before mapping (191,5kw and 531,7NM) Standard should be about 180kw and 540NM. Could be the dyno was optimistic! After mapping makes about 230kw and 630NM. I would be careful to just blank off the egr as it is apparently prone to leaking and that is one of the reasons to completely remove it with the egr delete kit. If you have someone coming back from the UK i suggest asking them to bring in the egr delete kit and the swirl flap removal kit from Darkside. To remove the cat took me the whole day but that was because i battled for literally hours to get the exhaust loose from the flexipipe at the clamp. Also, my cat had the solid cat (never before had a solid cat in about ten cars where i had removed the cat) and i had to take it to the buyers to open the cat and remove it and reweld the cat housing. Was worth the effort though as i got good money for it.
Hiya!

Thanks for the very detailed reply!

Much appreciated.

The guys on this side wanna keep the CAT when they remove it, I"m sure they wanna resell it.
 

KarshS

///Member
Hi,

Thanks for the reply.

Yes I service as soon as the service light turns on, Filters have been changed, last service on Gearbox was with ZF in Cape Town a while ago and not again.

I will ask the mech abt the codes

Can I do blank plates instead of downpipes, the software is working out at around R7200 and the DP R6350, straight pipes R18500 (What the hell, damn!).....I am based in the garden route, 450km to Cape town, Software with these okes: https://www.facebook.com/Rtechmosselbay/ (they come recommended), and pipes with these guys: https://www.facebook.com/@Sniperracingmosselbay/
That sounds abit pricy.... Speak to @Xcede Performance they are in Cape Town as well.
 

EBZ911

///Member
Thanks Guys for the advice, didnt realize that I could sell the stock one. @M3boi But still the ask on the DP been R6350 does seem a bit steep when compared to your price, unless you done yours many years ago????
 
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