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BMW 1 Series DPF problems

I have a BMW 1 series 118d (2009) and the DPF warning light has come on. It pops up after every four or so miles per journey. I haven't noticed any difference in my cars performance though. I have around 90 odd thousand on the clock and I generally do more short distance journeys than long ones.

I have taken it to a garage, who plugged it into the computer and informed me that I need a complete new DPF, there was a mention of something to do with 'back pressure?' if this is adds relevance?

I've heard that you can get them cleaned or use additives before replacing them? I am wondering whether I can clean the DPF rather than change it, obviously being the cheaper and easier option.

I wonder also, for future reference, (and I have noted on some of your forums) that its mentioned to take your car for a short journey at 2000+ rpm to help clear the filter every now and then. Does this apply to my model? Is it something I should be doing to keep my filter clear?

Asked on 30 September 2014 by KayleighW

Answered by Honest John
At this sort of mileage the DPF will be getting full of ash so it's probably time to have it cleaned out by the Ceramex process. This costs around £300, which is a lot cheaper than a replacement DPF.

A DPF has two cycles: Passive is where the heat of the engine burns off the soot it has collected. Active occurs every 250 miles or so and is where the ECU injects extra fuel to the engine to burn off any soot in the DPF. But both processes leave ash that eventually blocks the DPF at between 80k miles and 120k miles.
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Great to drive and superbly built. Wide choice of models, improved from 2007 with Efficient Dynamics. 118d is super economical.
 

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