Car died at stoplight today

[mfanatic325]

Yeah, I've had occasional (albeit rare) sputters when coming to a stop and idling for a bit. Car has never died after the short sputtering and having rpm fluctuation though. And I have Active Autowerk ECU tune. Same random and rare occasions as when ECU was stock. No idea what it is exactly

However, as of late, I haven't had ANY sputtering from my recollection. Not sure if it has to do with weather/temps?

[bluecobra]

My Z4MC has the RPI scoop and Dinan software and it has died a few times when coming to a stop, usually after a brief dose of WOT. Last time it turned on the SES light but it went off later that day so I never worried about it. I guess the code is still there and I could pull it with my scanner.........I'll try that tonight.

My car always starts right back up, so I don't worry about it.

[beta]

Interesting. How about, has anyone had this problem on a 2008? I know there are more firmwares than just the ECU, maybe it's one of the additional ones?

And yeah mfan, I've only experienced it when it gets really cold; and only twice since owning the car.

[Finnegan]

You know, this reminds me: mine stalled out right after I got it last year when my Indie shop was bringing the car back into the garage after they did a road check on the alignment. It turned out there was a SIB on something to do with the throttle controller (can't recall exactly). Bottom line the fix was to apply a software update. It was applied and it hasn't acted up since.

So Beta, I think you are right about a software bug.

I'll see if I can find the paperwork tonight.

[wss4]

My car is a 2008 and it has done this for a while now. Both in hot and cold, generally when coming to a stop after running the car harder. Did it on stock ECU tune as well as after Epic tune. Has only actually stalled a couple of times, and the issue seems to be less common after the epic tune, but still present.

[ZStig]

this car is a pain in the ass

/thread

hahahah

[beta]

Finnegan, any update on your paperwork? That's my last hope for a fix, seeing as it happened on a 2008 with Epic tune per wss4 above.

[Mirko]

Happens at stop light when its hot out, rare though. Cold start sometimes sputters. Car is an 08. This was on stock software.

[BIMMERGUY91]

This happened to me once too. I also have rpi intake and charcoal filter delete

[StickMon]

My 1.5 cents: Stalled on me twice in 1.5 years. Both times WOT on freeway then off at ramp and stopped at light. Same light, pointing uphill.
Both times about 1/8 tank of gas, hot weather. Was thinking maybe a fuel pressure dip.
Stock intake and tuning.

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by beta

Finnegan, any update on your paperwork? That's my last hope for a fix, seeing as it happened on a 2008 with Epic tune per wss4 above.

Sorry, no, I've looked through both car's folders and cannot locate that piece of paperwork. Of course I can find everything else.

[SmartBastard]

happened to me like 3 times last year, especially when downshifting to 2nd and coming to a stop with clutch fully in. After that I learned to throw the gear out.

The car is also 2008.

[Finnegan]

Lots of discussion about this over here as well (where you'll see some familiar names).

Oh, and some interesting discussion on air intake modification/improvement and OEM exhaust modification as well....

[beta]

So it turns out my tuning theory was wrong. The main reason is that a tune is just altering values in your DME, not actually replacing the software. So any bugs in the software would still be there after getting tuned.

I'm going to get my software completely updated to the latest version and see if that fixes this issue (will be hard to tell as it happens very rarely). I still have a sneaking suspicion it's a software bug seeing as it's so common. I could be a bug they never fixed though, so there might not be a fix and we just have to accept it as a quirk.

[beta]

Update: Got my DME Firmware updated tonight (stock BMW software to latest version, not a tune). I have high hopes for this fixing the issue.

The first thing I noticed is that the car pulls more linearly now. The second thing I noticed is that before, when decelerating with partial throttle, I'd get some surging at about 6k rpm. Now the surging is completely gone.

I'll keep an eye on it and see if this also fixed the dropping rpm at stoplight right after driving the car hard that a few of us have run into.

[StickMon]

Did you have a dealer upgrade the DME Firmware?
Any info on before/after version information?
I imagine I can get a version number on mine using DIS.

[beta]

I had a friend from work do it for me, and he did mention DIS.

Unfortunately I didn't record the version number as it was a long string of numbers about 6 or 7 characters long.

I can tell you that it took a full hour to update (so you really want to be on a battery tender), and there were no other upgrades available for the other modules: DSC, lights, general, telephone, etc. etc. Turns out we have like 12-16 modules, but only my DME had a firmware upgrade available.

[StickMon]

Been reading other threads on this all night.
Can be flashed with DIS, but WinKFP is preferred.
I think the latest version is 7839868, but I need to do more research.

[beta]

Turns out my buddy took screenshots:

I was at version 7838877

Got upgraded to 7840451

[StickMon]

Thanks. I'm on 7838895.
According to RealOEM:
06/2006 7838679 ENDED
04/2007 7838896 ENDED
7840473 ENDED (no date listed; highest number I've seen)
7839868 (current for 02/2006 E85 Z4 M3.2 Roadster S54 USA)

I don't know what to make of that, or where to find a better reference.
If the last 2 versions were swapped, it would make sense.
I need to find a source for the firmware, too. Rumor is it's on the DIS CD, but I got my copy of DIS on the down-low. Don't think it came with a firmware library.

[Finnegan]

Good work guys! When I have a minute I'll see if I can "read" the software version I'm running. Sounds like some definite improvements right off the bat.

[beta]

Looking into this some more, this site says:

840451
840453

are current for the roadster and

840463
840465

current for the coupe.