Common Causes of Misfire in BMW Engines
by Dutch Silverstein July 26, 2017For BMW enthusiasts, this German car is untouchable in terms of performance and drivability. BMWs are known for their incredible luxury and simultaneous engine quality. Not all luxury cars are designed with the driver in mind, but rather the experience. BMWs defy the expectations of a luxury vehicle because they take particular care in designing a machine that satisfies both the driver’s needs as well as the high-end driving experience that the average driver anticipates. As BMWs age and become worn, and this is quite possible given the amount of fun one has behind the wheel, then it is the driver’s responsibility to care for their vehicle properly. Although scheduled maintenance plans can save time and energy thinking about what service you will need to perform next, not all car issues or malfunctions can be predicted or prevented. Unfortunately, like any machine ever built, and despite their impeccable designs, BMWs are not immune to the same problems that all vehicles face. One such issue that BMW owners may come across is engine misfiring.
It’s important to know the potential causes
When your BMW engine misfires, it can be a scary experience. Your automatic thought may be: “I’m going to have to dish out a ton of cash to keep this car alive,” and you may be right. However, it is important to know the potential causes of engine misfiring so that you can attempt to keep such an issue at bay, allowing you to enjoy your car in its best condition possible, for as long as possible. For some BMWs, engine misfiring may be inevitable; although, it helps to have more information on what could bring your engine to misfire.
Faulty wiring
One potential cause of engine misfiring in BMWs is faulty wiring. Over time, all the parts of your car become worn and in need of replacement or repair; this include the spark plug wiring. Your car combines fuel and air in order to properly fire the engine. When spark plug wiring is not functioning properly a chain of events occurs, which is often the case, where the vehicle is not able to adequately combine the fuel and air, causing the engine to misfire. In order to maintain the life of your spark plugs and the associated wiring, you should have your car routinely checked out by a trusted auto mechanic.
Damaged crank position sensor
Another possible cause of engine misfiring in BMWs is a damaged crank position sensor. Your car is made up of many different sensors that are responsible for various functions. The crank position sensor manages the engine’s timing, which keeps all the pieces of your car running properly and in the same time frame. When the crank sensor becomes damaged or is not functioning properly, this can severely impact your car’s ability to accelerate, or even start. You may never have heard of a crank sensor, or don’t really understand what it does for your car; finding a professional automotive service center near you which is well-versed in German engineering can help you to understand what’s going on with your vehicle and how you can extend its life for decades with preventive care.
Damaged or fissured head gasket
As mentioned before, your vehicle combines fuel and air to cause the engine to properly fire. There are a number of parts that affect how efficiently this process occurs, one of them including the crank position sensor. Another part that could potentially be causing your BMWs engine to misfire is the head gasket. If your head gasket is damaged or fissured, you should immediately take your car to a mechanic to have it fixed. If this problem goes overlooked, it can create extensive damage to other parts of the vehicle, which will increase your automotive bill substantially.
Conclusion
Your BMW deserves your time and attention, and while taking your car to the mechanic is not at the top of everyone’s list of “favorite things to do,” it is part of owning a car. The due diligence that comes with owning any vehicle, let alone a BMW, is not your burden alone to shoulder—there are professionals in the field who can help you through all of your automotive needs, and you should be sure to exhaust those resources. Owning a BMW should be fun; get to a mechanic, get back on the road, and enjoy.