BMW 1 series E81 N47 engine. Faulty Glow Plugs or Glow Plug Module?

[@oveberg3892]

I have a 535d (M57 engine) that was difficult to start when it was around zero degrees celsius or colder. After i changed glow plugs and glow plug module, my car started easily in minus 10 degrees celsius. When diesel cars have problems starting when it is cold, it is very common that the glow plugs and/or glow plug module are defective. The smartest thing is to change both the glow plugs and the glow plug module at the same time when you first have off the intake manifold.

[@garageofdad]

Changed the glow plugs on a previous 118D and cleaned the inlet manifold. It was a heck of a job but well worth it. Thanks for the comment and great advice.

[@noeldoran8884]

Well done that was an easy fix compared to the rest, you can get to the point really well.

[@JonJon-dk3nh]

how did you get the big clip off without breaking it ?

[@3rdbanwavey121]

Hi mate I have a BMW 1 seriws 118D and I'm having some big issued with loss of fuel at the minuet I'm losing over 100 miles of diesel everytime I fill up my car my glow plugs seems fine because I had them all changed a couple months before I bought the car along with air filters oil filters and oil but recently my car has started burning lots of fuel my exhuast pipe has a little rattle at idsle I'm nit sure if I have a problem with that or it's a fuel pump I have just topped up the car with premium diesel and put a 5 in 1 additive and took it for a blast down the mortoway but it hasn't made any difference I can't smell fuel or see any signs of leaks and no loss of power ?? 🤷🏻🤷🏻

[@garageofdad]

One or two pointers:- Do you drive it hard - What mileage is the car - Does it smoke out the exhaust - Has it been tuned. May be an idea to get an emissions check. An actual MOT is the cheapest way to do this and ask for the test sheet. Other than that, get on the online forums and see if anyone else has encountered this.

[@3rdbanwavey121]

@garageofdad no I drive around town a lot I drive in Eco pro all so it has like 100K on the clock the exhuast only smoke a little when it's cold start and then after 5 minuets of driving no smoke comes from the exhuast just hot air

[@3rdbanwavey121]

@garageofdad tbh I think my best bet is to get the scanner plugged in but I have a feeling it's soemthing to do with my exhuast because it's not right but it needs looking at

[@garageofdad]

@@3rdbanwavey121 Good idea 👍

[@amaansamniwala8157]

Got an drivetrain error on a bmw 1 series 2018 1.5 diesel. Error codes come up as glow plugs when scanned. Had all glow plugs replaced and drivetrain error came back. Scan shows glow plug control circuit. Would that man the relay module needs replacing?

[@EbeninAMK-c1b]

cheers from germany , i have the same problem , thanks for the tip

[@madoushi1634]

Hello, thanks for the video .. I have an e46 320d showing error of 2 glow plugs, I replaced all glow plugs with new ones, and still have same code errors, can it be the glow plug module? Can it cause only 2 glow plugs error?

[@garageofdad]

Yes it can as the connections in the module can fail one by one.

[@everythingamazing9571]

@Garage Of Dad Hi mate, I got error on my E60 4A74 4A79, white/blue smoke comes at first start (but not much as in this video), UK weather temperature going down now a days so at 1st start the rpm for 5-10sec go up and down. Do you recommend changing only glow plug module will help the issue? THANKS

[@garageofdad]

Hi. Change the module first as it's an easier job. If this doesn't make a difference then you'll have to replace the glow plugs.

[@everythingamazing9571]

@@garageofdad thanks

[@christiand193]

​@@everythingamazing9571i heard if you change module withou changing plugs, the new module will go bad due to bad plugs. Better to change plugs and module together

[@everythingamazing9571]

@@christiand193 Thanks for the reply. I changed module and was able to clear the codes, little smoke at first start and I believe that is because of weather. No error for the glow plug so far

[@Getoffmylawn9]

What size socket is it to remove the module?

[@garageofdad]

If my memory serves me right, I think it was 10mm

[@Getoffmylawn9]

Cheers buddy ​@@garageofdad

[@eoin730]

The price of the module has doubled in price since you made the video fckin inflation at its finest🤣 did your car start up fine in the summer months with the module still failed?

[@garageofdad]

That just shows you the price of everything nowadays! Yes, the car run for quite a while before I changed it. There's just a big puff of white smoke every time you start it.

[@ThePr019]

Did you check errors after replace? After replacement for original beru module im getting 4a74 4a79 error i assume i may have issue with harness

[@BMW_nation]

Hi mate, did you find ur problem as I’m facing the same issue. Thanks

[@tarasdidukh6135]

Is that 120d or 118d?

[@garageofdad]

It's a 120D

[@madoushi1634]

Hello, thanks for the video .. I have an e46 320d showing error of 2 glow plugs, I replaced all glow plugs with new ones, and still have same code errors, can it be the glow plug module? Can it cause only 2 glow plugs error?

[@mohe81]

Yes, thats possible. As shown in the video there arw 4 individual connections inside the module. Chances are that two of them came loose. That happens fairly often and when you have a soldering iron and can handle it, you might be able to fix it yourself.