Hi, I am new here to the forum and in need of advice.  One my fuel injectors has failed and apparently there is a worldwide shortage of the part.  BMW told me that they have  cars waiting for the part since May (!).  Problem is that I am on a road trip to Greece and need to  return to the UK.  The part is also not available here in Greece at the moment, but a local BMW mechanic, found a used one and the car works fine.  I am a little hesitant to drive across Europe.  Any thoughts on this?  Should I go ahead?

Morning Alexandra

Welcome to the Forum

Fuel injectors are rated by the volume of fuel they allow into the engine. So as long as your "replacement" injector is rated for your engine there is no reason that it shouldn't give goo service for a very long time. If you think about it from a different point of view if you had fitted a brand new injector you would be driving home with 1 new and 3 used ones !! and not worrying.

If as you say the car is running fine then you will probably be still driving it this time next year, Go For It

Dave

20 minutes ago, Greydog said:

Morning Alexandra

Welcome to the Forum

Fuel injectors are rated by the volume of fuel they allow into the engine. So as long as your "replacement" injector is rated for your engine there is no reason that it shouldn't give goo service for a very long time. If you think about it from a different point of view if you had fitted a brand new injector you would be driving home with 1 new and 3 used ones !! and not worrying.

If as you say the car is running fine then you will probably be still driving it this time next year, Go For It

Dave

Thank you Dave. I am primarily worried because I read on several articles that once one  of the injectors go, they others are not far behind.  My car  has 67K miles so it kin of falls in the mileage where injectors tend to fail.  Perhaps I am overthinking it, but knowing how hard it is to find the part at this moment makes me hesitant.  I have visions of being stranded in Italy or France trying to get a  part that is on backorder worldwide.  Hopefully it will  all be OK.

Hi

Who on earth told you that 67k was about their life !! 

Just had a quick look at Euro Car Parts website here in the UK they are listing injectors for your engine from several suppliers Bosch Lucas etc so there doesn't seem to be a shortage here?

As for mileage that they last, the injectors in my X5 (original) have covered 160k my Brother Inlaw runs 5 series touring and covers massive mileages on his 5th now all have covered 200+k he has only suffered 2 injector failures.

You really are over thinking this 

Dave

1 minute ago, Greydog said:

Hi

Who on earth told you that 67k was about their life !! 

Just had a quick look at Euro Car Parts website here in the UK they are listing injectors for your engine from several suppliers Bosch Lucas etc so there doesn't seem to be a shortage here?

As for mileage that they last, the injectors in my X5 (original) have covered 160k my Brother Inlaw runs 5 series touring and covers massive mileages on his 5th now all have covered 200+k he has only suffered 2 injector failures.

You really are over thinking this 

Dave

That's a relief.  I was only going by what BMW (UK)  told me and they said that they have cars sitting in their repair  shop since May because the part  is  not  available.  Thanks Dave.

As your car is out of Warranty (unless you have an Extended Deal) talk to a BMW Specialist (there is a register of BMW Specialists just Google) they will (a) Be half the BMW cost (roughly) (b) will have all the tools and knowledge you need. 

There are also a plethora of Independent garages who are very capable of keeping your BMW on the road plus Fuel Saystem specialists out there. Also a heck of a lot of Trucks and Busses have refurbished injectors. 

BMW will have supply contracts with a small number of manufacturers a hiccup with one causes issues. The wider market doesn't have the same restrictions

Dave

16 minutes ago, Greydog said:

As your car is out of Warranty (unless you have an Extended Deal) talk to a BMW Specialist (there is a register of BMW Specialists just Google) they will (a) Be half the BMW cost (roughly) (b) will have all the tools and knowledge you need. 

There are also a plethora of Independent garages who are very capable of keeping your BMW on the road plus Fuel Saystem specialists out there. Also a heck of a lot of Trucks and Busses have refurbished injectors. 

BMW will have supply contracts with a small number of manufacturers a hiccup with one causes issues. The wider market doesn't have the same restrictions

Dave

Thanks again for all your insights Dave.