BMW 320d cutting out

Picked up a 320d SE 2007 (07) yesterday, anyway today it's started causing me problems, obviously I've phoned up the garage, they've given me a car whilst they get it in the garage on Monday. I'm just wanting to get an idea (hopefully) of what it could be.

Started this morning, it was cold 1.5C and the car started fine, but after this for about 3 seconds it sounded like it was struggling, this was whilst I was idle on the drive.

Then, I filled up with diesel (and I've checked it was DEFO diesel), and whilst waiting with the engine on after I'd filled up it just cut out, then I set off and the car just cut out whilst driving, the electrics (ie indicators) still worked, but all power was lost. I pulled up to the side, then started it up again, and drove to a car park, no warning lights throughout all this.

Started the car again, accelerated fast in first and into second gear and it cut out again, displaying the triangle with an explanation mark and a round arrow warning light (something to do with DSC or DTC?)

Left it 5 minutes, then drove the 20 miles to the garage, and it seemed fine again?

Also worth pointing out my wife said it smelt of a kind of burning, maybe oil burning smell when she got in the car on the way to the garage.
Now it might have done this yesterday once whilst driving or I might have selected the wrong gear, I thought nothing of it yesterday just dismissing a wrong gear, but on whats happened today I'm not sure!

Worth noting I believe a new turbo was fitted at 86k, the car is now on 90k.

Asked on 13 January 2013 by Mister_B

Answered by Honest John
The 'burning' smell might have been the diesel particulate filter trying to regenerate, but on this occasion it failed. Could be at the end of its life.
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