BMW E46 318TI EML LIGHT

[BLADE786]

Hi, BMW 318TI M 0'4.

When i turn on the ingnition, the EML LIGHT stays on, when i start the car, The EML LIGHT Goes of after about a second or so. After drving the car for a short while, when starting the car again, the EML LIGHT stays on and the car wont drive over 40km/h. Also, when i turn the ignition on, the iol light goes yellow for about a sec and then turns red.

Can anyone please help in trying to determine what problem i am facing.

Thanks,

 

[Iceman007]

318i motors with the valvetronic motor loves the EML light after about +/-140 000km. Its usually by the stepper motor that adjust the timing and BMW loves replacing this motor at a hefty price. But it does not usually solve the problem for its the worm gear where the stepper motor runs on that wears or forms a ridge and BMW sends it away to be machined again. It happend on my fathers 318i facelift and BMW rips you off charging R7000. But once again get the diagnostics don and see what it tells you first. You can always go to BMW and ask for a qoute to fix the problem and have them explain to you whats wrong. A qoute is mos free and thats what I done before I had my diagnostic equipment. Dont ask for diagnostics for they will charge you R600.

 

[BLADE786]

Hi Iceman007,

Thanks for the feedback, i will have a dealer check it out.

Does this issue hamper the performance of the car coz latley the car has been feeling abit sluggish?

and the yellow oil light? any insight on that?

(Also, when i turn the ignition on, the oil light goes yellow for about a sec and then turns red)

 

[e46 guy]

if the sensors are working properly then your oil is very low, this could have also led to to yourr EML issue what is the oil level in your car? if the oil is fine get your car on diagnostics

 

[BLADE786]

Thanks e46 guy, the oil level is 100%, the car will be going in to tuntech this week to get sorted out!!

Thanks for all the help guys, great forum, extremely helpfull and much appreciated.

 

[Iceman007]

Yes if the valvetronic stepper motor is not working properly then it is slugish. you tend to loose that midrange power

 

[XMAX]

Hi. Good advice going to tunetech. They repaired my eml light issues.

In my case it was the valvetronic motor that needed replacement. Cost R3700 including labour.

Tunetech are good at theiir job. You should get your car oil serviced. Also do a
De sludge. This will prolong the vvt motor life.

While you're at It get the vvt sensor checked. They seldom break but u never know.

But make sure u get the codes read.

 

[Iceman007]

you see valvetronic motor is a comman problem

 

[andrewbuch]

My moms 2004 E46 318i Just came back today from BMW with a bill of R7k.. Replaced valvetronic motor as well (EML light was coming on when ignition turned & making a high pitch sound from engine) they also replaced expansion tank & some other things.. Thank goodness for motorplan

 

[BLADE786]

Hi All........

So the car went in to TUNE TECH today finally......it turned out to be the valvetronic motor that needed replacing.

Thanks again to everyone that replied to my post and addidng your insight, it is much appreciated and i will definatly make use of this forum always.
:clap:

 

[Trippn3]

Glad u got that sorted,,kinda learning lots here,was contemplating getting me a nice e46 318 sportpack,,for everyday use,the e30 that i have now,,wel it jus isnt gona make an evryday drive,,lol,,,any ways gathering lotsa knowlegde relating to other BMW models,from jus reading thru otha owners dillemas,,thanx guys

 

[XMAX]

Hi All........

So the car went in to TUNE TECH today finally......it turned out to be the valvetronic motor that needed replacing.

Thanks again to everyone that replied to my post and addidng your insight, it is much appreciated and i will definatly make use of this forum always.
:clap:

Hey man. Glad you're getting the car sorted out at Tunetech. They really are amongst the best, whilst still at affordable prices. My car is currently with them also. There for a service.

I have some advice, if you don't have a motor plan on your car, I suggest you buy one. SA Warranties has been good to me. I hear that Warranty Solutions is also good. Depends on how
You want to buy it. With sa warranties you can pay monthly, but warrany solutions you pay once off.

Please forgive poor spelling. My fat fingers just don't work well with this blackberry.

 

[Chucky]

Glad to read this Article, my car is displaying the same symptoms having VVT motor swapped out today, will post on the results but here are my current symptoms...

when car is cold whining noise is heard from engine like the sound of a mini's steering pump, then it goes away,
while driving car feels sluggish and gulps fuel, power delivery is sporadic sometimes it feels like im driving a BMW other times it feels like im driving a 1.3,
also EML comes on after been driving for a while esp after some spirited driving when I drive normal it seldom comes on,
Also after some hard driving and when I try to accelerate normally afterwards it will usually come on.

Car has been to the mech twice now but today the VVT motor is getting swapped out hopefully this helps. as my EML issue is happening everyday now.

 

[XMAX]

@Chucky - you should ask for the printout of the codes that the car generates. this should tell you whats actually wrong.


a faulty vvt motor or sensor can cause those problems, but it could just as well be something else.


its not only the vvt motor that goes faulty from time to time. the sensor can also cause a similar fault.


when you change out the vvt motor, my advice is to get the oil changed and the engine desludged as well. Ive been told by tunetech that sludge can be a major contributing factor to the vvt motor faults.

 

[Chucky]

Thanks XMAX for the input.

ok so far here's what i've seen, the mech had the car on diagnostics and the PC picked up a low voltage error on the VVT Motor, I was also present when they took my tappet cover off exposing the head and in my opinion engine seems to be in good health in terms of sludge, the colour of the metal components in the head was a see through golden brown almost rusty colour not sure if thats a good way to check but I had peace about it, no visible gunk or sludge.

Also when we unplugged the VVT motor we noticed that the connector had a oily substance on it thus maybe causing a short,

Mech also said due to the low voltage error it could also be a relay issue, but my gut tells me it is the VVT, he said he will check and thest those as well. any way he then chased me out as I was bugging him with all sorts of questions and told me to come back at 4PM today.

will update once i have the car back.

 

[Chucky]

OK Got the car back on Friday and Mech told me to look out for any funny issues over the weekend,

1st thing i noticed for the better was the idling on the car it was much more smoother and not rattling.

2nd thing i noticed the car pulled better through the gears esp at higher RPM was reaching 120Km/h no sweat.

3rd thing i noticed was that it did not feel like the car was going to cut off when accelerating under 2000 RPM

4th thing I noticed is better performance and fuel consumption :thumbs:

last but not least No EML Light came on, even after some hard spirited driving :joy:

next up a oil service including new air filter.

VVT motor was the issue

 

[Sankekur]

Glad you got it sorted out :=):

 

[itumeleng]

Hi, guys

i am having the same issue with my 318TI, the EML light is on and the car does not have power at all, i hear you guys talking about (tune tech)
are they that good as you guys ref to them, because i have just been fregile send my car any other places besite bmw. and now that i have to drive the car to them will it not do anymore damage than there is already?

Please some one help

 

[XMAX]

Hi...

You should definitely take your car to Tunetech. They're much better than a BMW Workshop that usually prefers to replace everything and hope for the best..

They will find the fault and rectify.


Read above posts regarding your cars faults..

 

[Leekay]

Guys I see we all having same problems
I'm driving the 2002 Model facelift which is N42

My car would suddenly dies while driving and it will again drives I give it atleast 5 or 10 mins.
The car has an Eml light and it has never gave me any power loss.

I've done full service on the car changing the following :
1. VVT Motor
2. Crankshaft senser
3. Oil
4. Plug
5.Oil Filter
6.Air filter
7. Carbon filter
8. Petrol filter

The car still have the Eml light even after my mechanic have cancelled all errors.
When he plugged again it now points to Low Voltage on the VVT Motor....

Any help will be appreciate