Idle Problem

[oliverplante]

Mine has been OK for a few weeks. I am wondering if it's fuel related. I always get premium / whatever is best at the gas stations I go to.

I used to go to Chevron or Shell, depending on which was closer when I needed gas. But recently just been using Shell and it seems to be better. It idles very smooth now.

It was intermittent though, so I am going to wait and see if it comes back

[oliverplante]

My shudder/shake at idle is back. It varies from very mild to very noticeable.
I have the car booked in for next week and I have asked them to look for any misfire codes

[It's Good]

I am the OP on this thread.BMW "opened a case" on my '25 760i in February for my rough idle complaint.My '23 was doing the same thing when I traded for the '25.BMW spent about 7k in warranty repairs chasing the problem.They cleaned the fuel induction system for carbon build up.After that work was completed, they got a fault code on the valvetronic system.They ended up replacing the valvetronic motor for bank 1.It was idling fine when returned to me.I have other posts about taking the opportunity to return the car 7 months early immediately after service on a no cost buy back.They have already sold it.Somebody got a heck of a car,assuming the problem doesn't return.I loved that car but with the idle problem and looming LCI interior design issues,I decided to make a move.It kind of made me feel a little sick!I had the first allocation for an LCI order but couldn't pull the trigger without seeing the car first.I'm now in a '26 S580 on a Mercedes special 13 month lease and really enjoying it.It's a different drive.I'll have multiple options moving forward after first seeing the 7 and S Class LCI versions.BMW can build a solid 6 cylinder but have struggled at times with the the 8's.They are fully aware of these idle problems even though no TSB's have been issued.Stick to your guns and get your issue resolved.A 130k car shouldn't shake when idling.

[oliverplante]

Thank you for the info, I will definitely stick to it. If they can't/won't resolve it I will switch to Mercedes next time as well, just out of principle. Would be a shame because I am also looking forward to the LCI.

I will post an update on this thread when I have one.

[BMW5and7]

Originally Posted by It's Good

I am the OP on this thread.BMW "opened a case" on my '25 760i in February for my rough idle complaint.My '23 was doing the same thing when I traded for the '25.BMW spent about 7k in warranty repairs chasing the problem.They cleaned the fuel induction system for carbon build up.After that work was completed, they got a fault code on the valvetronic system.They ended up replacing the valvetronic motor for bank 1.It was idling fine when returned to me.I have other posts about taking the opportunity to return the car 7 months early immediately after service on a no cost buy back.They have already sold it.Somebody got a heck of a car,assuming the problem doesn't return.I loved that car but with the idle problem and looming LCI interior design issues,I decided to make a move.It kind of made me feel a little sick!I had the first allocation for an LCI order but couldn't pull the trigger without seeing the car first.I'm now in a '26 S580 on a Mercedes special 13 month lease and really enjoying it.It's a different drive.I'll have multiple options moving forward after first seeing the 7 and S Class LCI versions.BMW can build a solid 6 cylinder but have struggled at times with the the 8's.They are fully aware of these idle problems even though no TSB's have been issued.Stick to your guns and get your issue resolved.A 130k car shouldn't shake when idling.

My guess is that the valvtronic didn’t fix it long-term, and that it needed cylinder heads later. Every fix for an idle issue with the S68 engine that am aware ended up with new cylinder heads, including my X7 M60i, couple other cases on this forum, and others in the X7.

[It's Good]

My SA initially told me they may replace the cylinder heads but that BMW was becoming concerned about the number of cases and the associated cost.I guess the response might have been "Quit cutting corners on your engines.You are,after all,Bavarian Motor Works."LOL!

[oliverplante]

I took the car in today and left them with detailed notes on what happens, and hopefully how to replicate the issue.
I will reply back when I have an update

[oliverplante]

So far they said while they cannot replicate the issue today, they recognize this is the 3rd time I have brought it in so they are opening a ticket with BMW.
They also mentioned to me that they are aware of other reported issues with lumpy idle on the S68. So good that they are taking it seriously

[BMW5and7]

Originally Posted by oliverplante

So far they said while they cannot replicate the issue today, they recognize this is the 3rd time I have brought it in so they are opening a ticket with BMW.
They also mentioned to me that they are aware of other reported issues with lumpy idle on the S68. So good that they are taking it seriously

I don’t mean to say that your dealer is cheating, but these issues are a true GOLD MINE for these dealers. Even when they know and have seen the issue 100 times, complicated issues like these can get them a ton of technician time warranty coverage, and they like to play the game of submitting the issue to corporate and go through the diagnostic issues step by step even if they have seen the issue with another car. Unfortunately, corporate folks working on dealers inquiries aren’t always the best and can’t really do so much if the tech working physically on the car isn’t knowledgeable.

[oliverplante]

Oh yeah I bet they can make a bunch. I think I have a pretty good relationship with them though. The shop foreman has taken ownership of it.
I explained that I won't be bringing it back again if they can't fix it and I will just go with another brand

[oliverplante]

They just called me back. They have been able to replicate the issue and also noticed hesitation when moving from idle.
They are going to keep the car for a few days and work with BMW to decide what to replace. They say the car is not giving any codes, but they accept there is definitely an issue

[BMW5and7]

Originally Posted by oliverplante

They just called me back. They have been able to replicate the issue and also noticed hesitation when moving from idle.
They are going to keep the car for a few days and work with BMW to decide what to replace. They say the car is not giving any codes, but they accept there is definitely an issue

Am really shocked. My dealer (when I had my X7) said that they at least deal with couple X7s and/or 7-series issues every week. It’s VERY common on the web too. My concern is that in all the cases that I am aware of the solution was repolacing the cylinder heads, but before they do so they always start with very lengthy process of trying cheaper parts. I saw a case on the X6 forum with the same engine that a re-calibration of the Auto-Stop/Start system, but in that case the idle issue would only occur after/when auto-stop/start disengages for the 1st time in a given ride.

[oliverplante]

Yeah I always turn off auto start/stop as soon as I get into the car and I made sure to tell them that so they hopefully rule out anything to do with that.
I just hope that they choose to replace something substantial like the cylinder heads vs something like changing injectors just to see if it helps.

Sounds like they were recording live data from the engine when they replicated the issue and have sent that data to BMW. Hoping this helps with diagnosis and the fix

[BMW5and7]

Originally Posted by oliverplante

Yeah I always turn off auto start/stop as soon as I get into the car and I made sure to tell them that so they hopefully rule out anything to do with that.
I just hope that they choose to replace something substantial like the cylinder heads vs something like changing injectors just to see if it helps.

Sounds like they were recording live data from the engine when they replicated the issue and have sent that data to BMW. Hoping this helps with diagnosis and the fix

Yeah it’s likely the cylinder heads in most cases. Same for my X7 M60i. The issue is that replacing cylinder heads would require the entire engine to be removed. To me that’s terrifying but it should take care of the issue for sure.

[It's Good]

Originally Posted by oliverplante

Yeah I always turn off auto start/stop as soon as I get into the car and I made sure to tell them that so they hopefully rule out anything to do with that.
I just hope that they choose to replace something substantial like the cylinder heads vs something like changing injectors just to see if it helps.

Sounds like they were recording live data from the engine when they replicated the issue and have sent that data to BMW. Hoping this helps with diagnosis and the fix

They approached mine the same way i.e. looking for easier, cheaper solutions.They replaced the injectors on my '23 and that did not solve the problem.They cleaned the injectors this time and then ran into the valvetronic fault.7k+ in warranty repairs,but when I got it back it was idling fine.But,I decided to cut and run when they agreed to a 7 month early no cost buyback.
The other factor in play were the questions surrounding the LCI interior.Not a fan of the pics so far nor am I gonna order a 140k car sight unseen.Got a 13 month lease on a '26 S Class and will have options a year from now after seeing and driving MB and BMW LCI's.

[oliverplante]

Update so far is that they definitely think it's misfiring. BMW gave them some software with some specific monitoring preferences, and they have been driving it with that plugged in to send BMW the data.

They have had it a week now.

I am starting the discussion with the dealership GM to see about swapping the car at this stage. I would like to look at a high spec 740 or an i7 60. I want to get out of the S68.

[BMW5and7]

Originally Posted by oliverplante

Update so far is that they definitely think it's misfiring. BMW gave them some software with some specific monitoring preferences, and they have been driving it with that plugged in to send BMW the data.

They have had it a week now.

I am starting the discussion with the dealership GM to see about swapping the car at this stage. I would like to look at a high spec 740 or an i7 60. I want to get out of the S68.

This is just ridiculous. There has been so many X7, X6 and 7-series cases like this, that they should at least refer to and save time. They like to outrule almost all cheaper options before they approve cylinder heads replacement, even though almost all the cases that I am aware of ended up with a cylinder head replacement. I am honestly done with ICE engines for daily drivers but willing to enjoy a bonus weekend car that is a Porsche or Bently at some point, but not as a daily. Just too many electrical issues and engine issues across all brands with the V8. EVs even though they are designed around pure electrical systems, they seem to have way less issues including electrical glitches. The drivetrain is so simple and much better. I know that EV isn’t for everyone though, but the new emission regulations squeezed the ICE engines to crazy limits and complexity requirements which is killing the reliability aspect of these drivetrains.