BMW diagnostics

[NeO]

Hi Guys

I'd like to know what exactly a diagnostic check will pick up.

I have a 318Ti automatic with 120k on the clock.

My car idles rough(misfire), jerks sometimes when accelerating and is really heavy on fuel(did 130km on R200 of fuel). It was checked at Donford BMW(Stellenbosch/CapeTown)and they could not diagnose the problem.

Would a faulty fuel pump or fuel pressure be picked up by diagnostic check?

 

[Twinz]

Fuel pump yes but not necessarily fuel pressure or leaks you need a different tests for those but an intensive obd diagnosic will pinpoint the direction to trace problems.

 

[Die_Miek]

http://www.obd-codes.com/trouble_codes/

 

[NeO]

Where in CapeTown can i have an obd check done?

 

[Crash_Nemesis]

If you were here in Jozi, I know Leonard, a BMW fanatic sponsor, from Dent Doctor, an amazing person, would be able to read the codes for you.

Down in Cape Town tho, I am clueless. Have you tried taking off the top cover from the cylinder head and while the car is running, pull out the plugs that connect to your coils. One at a time and swap the coils around to check if it is indeed a dead coil that is causing your issues. A dead coil will result in a faulty spark plug which obviously means a dead cylinder.

Check this thread on ignition coils and the plugs that connect to them, if its not a coil, it could be the plug.

http://www.e46fanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=890075

and this webpage, even tho its for an e46 M3, its a similar idea. ALso watch the video on the page.

http://www.bmpdesign.com/technical//bmw_ignition_coil.php

 

[NeO]

If you were here in Jozi, I know Leonard, a BMW fanatic sponsor, from Dent Doctor, an amazing person, would be able to read the codes for you.

Down in Cape Town tho, I am clueless. Have you tried taking off the top cover from the cylinder head and while the car is running, pull out the plugs that connect to your coils. One at a time and swap the coils around to check if it is indeed a dead coil that is causing your issues. A dead coil will result in a faulty spark plug which obviously means a dead cylinder.

Check this thread on ignition coils and the plugs that connect to them, if its not a coil, it could be the plug.

http://www.e46fanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=890075

and this webpage, even tho its for an e46 M3, its a similar idea. ALso watch the video on the page.

http://www.bmpdesign.com/technical//bmw_ignition_coil.php

Crash dont you think that a dead spark plug or coil would have been picked up by the diagnostic check? I know that you are pointing out the obvious, but i would not expect BMW technicians to look past that

 

[Crash_Nemesis]

I see your point. But if the BMW tech is not picking up any codes, but there is a idle problem, then your tech maybe doesn't know what he is doing?

There has to be a code. These BMW DME's will flag anything that doesn't line up with the cars built in set of rules. If he can't pick up any codes, then there is something seriously wrong here.

---

Here is another thread with some codes for you to take a look at.

99 E46 323i Auto 121K miles

Hi, My car started to showing rough idle and multiple misfires (knocking) since yesterday.
It seems like there is no prob with acceleration so far. I added a fuel system cleaner (valvoline) and got scanned on the way work this morning and it seems slightly better

I did some research so I'm gonna get ICV, MAF, and throttle body cleaned today.
Hope this solve the problem but do you guys have any other thoughts?

Here is the error codes:

P0300 Cylinder misfire detected - Random cylinders
P0301 Cylinder misfire detected - Cylinder number 1
P0302 Cylinder misfire detected - Cylinder number 2
P0303 Cylinder misfire detected - Cylinder number 3
P0305 Cylinder misfire detected - Cylinder number 5
P0306 Cylinder misfire detected - Cylinder number 6
P1510 Idle Speed Control Valve Stuck
P1580 Throttle Valve Mechanically Stuck
P1188 Fuel control (Bank 1 Sensor 1)
P1189 Fuel control (Bank 2 Sensor 1)
P1397 Camshaft Position Sensor "B" Circuit (Bank 1)

*Thermostat was replaced 9 month ago
*Air filter was replaced a month ago

Thanks in advance

Click on the blue text to go see the rest of the thread.

 

[NeO]

yeah. techies just kinda give up once they did diagnostics on the car. I would think the more "serious" it is, the more likely it should be picked up

 

[NeO]

check the mail from BMW:

"Hi

Please understand that there are too many things that could be wrong with your car and for this reason we don’t what to work on your car.
You are correct this is what I said and we refuse to work on your car in the condition that it is.

Regards
Shane Constance
"

Here is the diagnostic report:

 

[AcidBurn]

check the mail from BMW:

"Hi

Please understand that there are too many things that could be wrong with your car and for this reason we don’t what to work on your car.
You are correct this is what I said and we refuse to work on your car in the condition that it is.

Regards
Shane Constance
"

Here is the diagnostic report:

oh my lord, how unprofessional,:thumbdo::argh: take this crap up with management of that branch.

how can there be too many things wrong with a car. Tell them to fix the damn stuff and stop talking crap

i cant believe the dude still cheeky on top if it wtf man:thumbdo:

 

[NeO]

He is a manager! :argh:


------------------------

Regards
Shane Constance
Manager : Aftersales (Parts & Service)
Donford (Pty) Ltd
P.O.Box 84, Stellenbosch, 7599
Cnr R44 & Webers Valley Road, Stellenbosch, 7600
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +27-21-888-4200
Fax: +27-86-6501-070
Cell: +27-82-895-4135

 

[Die_Miek]

Big lol bmw

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[AcidBurn]

He is a manager! :argh:


------------------------

Regards
Shane Constance
Manager : Aftersales (Parts & Service)
Donford (Pty) Ltd
P.O.Box 84, Stellenbosch, 7599
Cnr R44 & Webers Valley Road, Stellenbosch, 7600
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +27-21-888-4200
Fax: +27-86-6501-070
Cell: +27-82-895-4135

take it to his boss and move your business else where, try SMG

 

[zaleonardz]

Ok,

here is your issue, you have 318Ti, meaning that you have a N42B20, the worst designed motor that BMW has ever done in terms of electronics.

Most likely, you have a VVT issue, which is a major PITA to diagnose, a guy could spend days on the car, and not find the issue, which is why BMW does not want to touch the car.

With that in mind, you need to find somebody that has experience with the N42 and take it from there.

Search the forum for the N42 and you will find some useful things.

You cannot really use diagnostics to solve this issue as a lot of the VVT messages are not recorded, it could give you a clue though, so do not overlook diagnostics.

The answer to your question about the fuel, its best to check the rail pressure, as it has a measurement valve on the fuel rail which you can check with or without load, but you need the right tools.

 

[NeO]

Car is scheduled to go back to the dealer tomorrow. I will then only get it back 1st week of January as he will try to get the issues sorted. Should it not be fixed then i will need to get a CPA ready (which i hope one of you guys can help me with).

Some "Auto elec" place will have a look at the timing and shizz.

I really hope they sort it out cuz i love these wheels, even with the misfire

 

[Twinz]

All the best Neo.

My suggestion is to return the car as a lemon...go straight to CPA. Dont even have work done on it.

 

[NeO]

Coil on cylinder4 was changed, the miss is still there. They going to test the wiring on the injectors there might be a voltage drop.

 

[NeO]

Wiring was tested, no problem picked up. They now suspect timing chain...will be changed under warranty luckily. Car will apparently be fored up this morning and then will have to be re-programmed.

So yeah. Drove the car for just over a week and been in for repairs ever since. I didnt have to spend anything at all, but its really frustrating.

 

[Mphoza-ti]

Same problem as mine ever been in a machanic since last november and till today machanic seems not interested to check on the car any more and the worst case the car is not starding. u better sell your car with that low millage now and get a 6 cylinder

 

[ClassicB]

You bought the car from a independent dealership. I would take it back and demand your money back!

If they dont, go the CPA route