When your BMW’s fuel injector is not running in tip-top shape, there are a few things you’re going to notice. Stalling is a common symptom, along with poor acceleration, and you definitely won’t be getting the mileage that you’ve grown accustomed to.
The good news is that there are signs that you can look for that can let you know if you are dealing with a clog or a leak and that can give you a good idea of what comes next.
Let’s talk about how to identify and deal with BMW fuel injector issues!
Clogging vs Leaks – What should you look for?
Most problems that you are going to run into with your fuel injector will break down into two types of issues – clogging and leaks. To help you isolate the problem, we’ll take a look at some symptoms from both so that you’ll know exactly what to look for.
Signs Of Clogging In The BMW Fuel Injector System
It’s definitely better when your BMW Fuel Injector system is clogged, rather than leaking, but the symptoms sure won’t feel that way. The most common ones that you’ll see are as follows:
- Rough idling
- Sub-par performance
- Misfiring
- Reduced mileage
The reason these symptoms are popping up is that you are getting buildup in the injector fuel for your fuel injector system. As the fuel cannot be properly atomized, these symptoms are just the beginning of what you can expect. If left unattended, then leaks and combustion issues are sure to follow.
Clogging may occur for a number of reasons, but the most common ones include excessive idling, frequent use of lower octane fuel than is recommended, or an irregular maintenance on your vehicle allowing for the buildup to accrue.
Signs Of Leakage In The BMW Fuel Injector System
When your BMW Fuel Injector system is leaking, it’s something that you’ll notice fairly quickly. Typically, there will be a gasoline odor that will quickly tip you off, but it will likely be accompanied by other alarming symptoms such as:
- Difficulty starting your BMW
- Your engine will be flooding often
- Gasoline odor (in some cases)
- Excess hydrocarbons (the vehicle will definitely fail an emissions test)
Leaks may be caused by a number of different issues, such as the injectors becoming compromised, damage from contaminated fluids, or even simple wear and tear over time without regular preventative maintenance.
If you are experiencing what you suspect to be a fuel injector system leak, it is best to get your BMW towed into the shop immediately rather than to drive it there. While the drive might be fine, you have to be very careful with leaks as your BMW is a high-performance machine and it’s best not to risk making the problem worse!
How often should BMW fuel injectors be serviced?
In general, your BMW manual will advise that you have your fuel injectors serviced every 30,000 to 60,000 miles, but it will really depend on the model and your driving habits. If you are harder on your vehicle or if your model needs a little extra care, then the ‘one-size-fits-all’ model of the manual might not be a good fit.
At Import Specialty Service of Nashville, we can help, as we’ve been providing quality full-service repair and preventative maintenance for close to 3 decades.
Import Specialty Service: Family Owned and Operated since 1994
If you live in Nashville, TN, or the surrounding 
areas and drive a BMW or another European or Asian import vehicle, then we can help you with fuel injector issues and much, much more.
Specializing in full-service preventative maintenance and repairs for European and Asian imported vehicles, we know that routine maintenance for these amazing machines is more than a matter of topping off the fluids from time to time.
Not only can we provide the specialized care that your specific make and model requires, but as a family owned and operated business you’ll never feel like a number when you bring your vehicle in to us!
Don’t take our word for it, though – Give us a call or bring your vehicle in to us today and you can see for yourself what we’re all about.