A good run on the motorway with some DPF additive is pretty much the best thing you can do by tomorrow.
The car clearly isn't conducting a regen so take a look at the hidden menu for the coolant temp. You should be seeing just over 90 once the car is up to temp.

Pound to a penny the main stat has failed so if you can get that changed during the week, the ride home should reap rewards.

 

Thanks for the info.

Yes will try that tomorrow and see what temp it gets to. Is it an easy job to replace thermostat yourself if it is this?

 

Make sure you have no glow system issues,as this will also stop the car doing a regen.

 

Hi,

I did notice glow plug lights came on once last week but not been on since?

 

What im thinking you saw was a yellow coil symbol which came on for a second which is normal during very cold weather.
But doesn't guarantee that the glow system is ok.
Get yourself the c110 or c310 scanner and you can monitor everything.

 

Yes it was the coil, not seen it since though and it was a very cold morning but had colder since and it hasn't been on?

Seen 6xglow plugs for £39.99 which seems a good price if these do need changing?

Thanks

 

Best to change the glow controller too because if you do have glow errors,its hard to tell if its the controller or the plugs.
Even one bad plug will flag a fault and stop the regen process.

 

Let's try to clear this up. Glow plug errors have sweet F/A to do with regens. Glow plugs are a cold starting aid and apart from that they are a waste of space.

Certain DDE errors WILL block a regent but there are are only a couple of errors that are RELEVANT to this process. These are "DPF too heavily contaminated" or "back pressure too high". There are also I believe some cases where DDE software below certain revisions could get a bit flaky managing regen cycles. There are restrictions around coolant temperature (>75C) which can interrupt the automated regen cycle so definitely check temps via the on-board menu.

The regen process itself doesn't know or care about the existence of glow plugs and they play absolutely no part it. If anyone wants to test the theory they can disconnect the glowplugs, drive the car and see if it regens. Provided there are no relevant conditions prevailing the regen cycle will proceed in its own sweet time.

 

Let's try to clear this up.

Yes,glow errors prevent regens.
http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/f125/dpf-blockage-cleaning-service-forced-regen-advice-t326025/

 

Going to do the temp check on the run to south wales today from Manchester , fingers crossed car will get me there.

I'm guessing though, once DPF fault logged, it needs to be cleared before a regen is ever done? Can I clear this with the c110 diagnostic tool?

Thanks

 

The conditions need to be met for DPF regen are,

Coolant temp 75c+
At least 10 litres of diesel in tank
No DPF clogged codes present in DDE.
Long stretch of road where you can continually do 40mph+

Have a passenger sit next to you with C110 scanner and have them read and clear the codes as you go. Many folk say Forte DPF cleaner works, so worth a try too.

 

Hi,

Done 200 mile trip on mway and still light comes on - temp was running around 62 degrees so guess it is the thermostat? Although did get to 84 degs when stuck in traffic?

Or should I go for DPF remove,delete, egr delete and remap for £380? But, looks like there is a prob with thermostat?...

 

Yep. New main stat should fix the problem. You may need to do an initial forced regen just to clear it out a bit.

 

If the error code is 480A it will probably solve itself once the stat is changed (and a bit of an Italian tune up).

If the error code is 481A you will most likely need a little more help. This is normally achieved by continually clearing the code when it is up to temp and you are on a good drive. This obviously needs a passenger to keep clearing the codes whilst you drive.
Your aim to to fool the ECU into thinking there is no error (as you have just cleared it) so it initiates a Regen cycle before it realises.
The 481A error inhibits further Regen cycles.

If I had my time again, I would have deleted, along with EGR. They are nothing but hassle.

 

Hi,

Could I not just get the DPF and EGR deleted? Would I still need new stat?

Need to get a c110 scanner as don't have one.

Thanks

 

Hi,

Would I still need new stat?

Thanks

Yes, if you want a nice, warm cabin :thumbsup C110 is ecu dependent, and may not be able to access the 'sort after' datastream menu. I know this is not available on the 08 E90 320d.

 

Well you could but then the car would not be road-legal and given the increased scrutiny of all things diesel these days that's probably not the wisest course of action.

 

So, just do thermostat change then? I've seen these going for around £20.00 on ebay.

 

Don't get an Ebay one, or one from ECP/GSF etc. There are plenty of bad reports of these failing almost immediately. You don't want to be doing that job twice.

Main Dealer only. Mine was about £45 for the main stat but that was some time ago.

75 degrees is the golden figure, but you need to be comfortably over that to be confident it is working correctly.
The stat doesn't open until 88 degrees so use that as a guide to where your coolant should be.

 

So, on a run, car should get to at least 75 degs? Like I said, mine gets too 60-64 on a run, stuck in traffic for a while it did hit 84 degs briefly.

Is it a diy job to fit it? Imagine empty coolant, replace thermostat and then replace coolant?

My eurocar parts is doing thermostat for £45 (link below, don't know if this is a good one or not?)

| Car PartsRetailer

 

Already stated, genuine part from dealer only. Contact Ed (Cotswold - Hereford) on this forum with your vehicle details, the parts are discounted.

Cotswold BMW Hereford

 

Main Stat is a DIY job but it is a bit of a faff.

Here's a decent youtube video. You don't need to remove the EGR but it wouldn't hurt to clean it whilst you are there (and can get access)
Emptying coolant first is a good thing, although I couldn't be bothered and simply let it pour out lol. It will need topping up after.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2HWXOdv2fk

 

Thanks all the replies - been quoted £95.00 for replacement thermostat, this sound ok?

 

No way.......bought one last week from the BMW $tealer for £55 and change incl VAT

 

Well, finally picked up bmw thermostat for the 530d - £55 also, got a garage who is going to fit it it Saturday, charging me £30.00 to do it, so I guess that's a good deal?

 

£30 is a good price. Entirely achievable on the drive if you are prepared to go for it but £30 is a good second place.

 

You sure they don't think they are changing the EGR stat?

 

Just what I was about to say. £30 sounds very cheap for a main thermostat. :confused If so that's a very good price.

Took me about 2 and half hours but that's on a drive.

Also DO NOT let the garage stick any old coolant in your system. It needs to be either genuine BMW coolant or Comma xstream G48 which is approved.

 

Hi,

Yes, definitely thermostat. I also thought it is cheap, as a garage I did speak to said it would take around 90 minutes to do and guess that is around £80?