BMW Losing Power When Accelerating? 5 Likely Reasons Explained

We have all been there… There is nothing more frustrating than driving a vehicle that hesitates to pick up speed when you press the accelerator. There can be all kinds of reasons for a vehicle to behave this way; some of them are discussed below. Apart from the causes, the post also highlights effective solutions. So, if you are struggling with such a problem, then this article will prove to be very useful for you.

Identifying The Reasons behind BMW’s Propulsion Loss

Case #1- Your BMW is low on gas

Did you ignore your BMW's "low gas" warning just because you were in a hurry? Well, guess that… if there is simply not enough gas available in the fuel tank, no matter how hard you try your vehicle won’t pick up speed. It's not that there's something wrong with the engine or transmission, it's just that you don't have enough fuel left to keep your car running. Reach out to a nearby gas station to fill your vehicle's fuel tank.

Case #2- Fuel not reaching engine

If your vehicle is struggling to pick up speed even when there is enough fuel available inside the fuel tank, you might have a flaw somewhere in the fuel delivery system. There are many different things that can go wrong with your vehicle's fuel delivery system. Like;

A. Clogged fuel filter. The filter essentially makes sure that the fuel entering the engine doesn't have any foreign elements. Like any other filter, it has a saturation limit after which it needs to be replaced. If you're not changing your BMW's fuel filter on schedule, it can become clogged and block fuel flow to the engine.

B. Defective fuel pump. It is the fuel pump around which your BMW's fuel delivery system is centered. For the fuel to travel from the fuel tank into the combustion chamber of the engine, the fuel pump must be in good shape. If there is something amiss with the fuel pump, there won’t be enough fuel reaching the engine.

C. There is a leak. Another reason why the fuel supply to the engine may get disrupted is a fuel leak.

Case #3- Air not reaching engine

As a general rule, there must be enough oxygen available inside the combustion chamber to burn the fuel. To ensure that the engine is getting all the oxygen it needs, modern cars are equipped with a dedicated air intake system. If the air intake system is not working the way it is supposed to, the engine will have a hard time running. Below is a list of things that can go wrong with a vehicle’s air intake system.

A. Blocked air filter. Just as a fuel filter is there to prevent fuel from reaching the engine, an air filter is there to filter debris from the air entering the engine. If it gets clogged due to debris accumulation, the air supply to the engine will be adversely affected.

B. Faulty throttle. A faulty throttle can also hinder smooth airflow into the combustion chamber of the engine.

Case #4- Bad sensor

One possibility why your BMW might be losing propulsion when you press the accelerator is that one of the sensors helping the engine control module or ECM in regulating various aspects of the engine operation has failed. Some of the key sensors that help the ECM in regulating engine operation in a vehicle are the oxygen sensor, mass air flow sensor, knock sensor, etc… A defect in any of these sensors can result in serious engine troubles including unusual power loss.

Case #5- Defective exhaust

As your BMW engine operates it breathes in air-fuel mixture and breathes out byproducts of the combustion. The exhaust system ensures that the engine is not having any trouble expelling the exhaust emissions. If there is something off with the exhaust system, the back pressure may rise dramatically. Increased back pressure may make it difficult for the engine to breathe out; which may contribute to sluggish performance among other issues.

Summary

If your BMW is not gaining acceleration as per your input on the accelerator pedal, it is a sign of trouble. We have discussed all the possibilities as to why a vehicle can lose propulsion while accelerating. We hope this will add value to your knowledge.