Limp Mode

GPGrobler

///Member
Hallo all,

I want to know if an E46 goes into limp mode, is it only BMW who can sort it out or can I go elsewhere in Mpumalanga should this happen?
 

Vin

Member
An e46 definately goes into limp mode. What is the year/model of your car. Most cars with ecu will have some kind of limp mode in case on or more of the sensors fail. Usually allows u to drive a short distance without destroying your engine/gearbox. Mine was going into limp mode a short while ago and simply disconnecting the battery and reconnecting it allowed me to drive the car normally till the problem which was heat related came up again.
 

Philip Foglar

///Member
Hmm, replied on your other thread regarding the heavy fuel consumption. I think it might be best to have someone read the codes and see what's going on. Most garages should be able to do this for you, not just BMW.

:thumbs:
 

GPGrobler

///Member
I have not really driven the car since I got it, so I'll give it a week or so and check again before I get alarmed. I'm planning a 50km road trip this week with it, so I'll see how it does then. Only the weird running when cold worries me.
 

danieljames

Active member
Philip Foglar said:
Hmm, replied on your other thread regarding the heavy fuel consumption. I think it might be best to have someone read the codes and see what's going on. Most garages should be able to do this for you, not just BMW.

:thumbs:

+1 fuel consumption. Limp mode. Cold running problems.......why did u buy a car from your enemy?

Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk
 

323i e46

///Member
+1 fuel consumption. Limp mode. Cold running problems.......why did u buy a car from your enemy?
:roflol::roflol::roflol:

I was wondering the same exact thoughts. These are beautiful well oiled machines. They are beasts on the road. its a pity yours is acting out on you.

All the best.:thumbs:
 

GPGrobler

///Member
All right,

I've driven the car for a few days, it is not in limp mode, revs happily up to the rev limiter. Car still sluggish though, will keep on checking and have the fault codes pulled when I get to the mechanic.
 

GPGrobler

///Member
Some feedback, fuel consumption looks to be spot on, 10.9l/100km mixed driving, town and long distance. Car however absolutely DIES on slight or steep uphills. I literally floor it before an uphill, but as soon as it starts to climb it goes as low as 80km/h in 5th gear, and then I have to change down to 3rd to pick up speed again.

I will be driving circles around it with my E30 318i :roflol:
 

bimmer330

Member
Sounds like an crank angle censor. My dad's E46 330i also did it and it ended up being the sencor mentioned.
You can import a reading tool for your car if you are planing to keep the car for a long time in order to read error codes in the future.
I imported one from eBay. It had the instalation disc and cable for the OBDII port.
It worked wonders. Payed something like R450 incl. Vat. and shipping.
 

Philip Foglar

///Member
Has the car been worked on before you got it? It's going to sound funny, but take the engine cover off and check that everything is plugged in. Some years back my Wife's 320i had to have the PCV and hoses replaced and the place that did the work had forgotten to replace the electrical connector to the Vanos. Car ran fine and no errors on the dashboard, but it had almost no power and the fuel consumption was fairly high. Only when I started looking around after removing the engine covers I spotted the loose plug. Fitted and took the car for a drive, problem solved!
 

GPGrobler

///Member
The Vanos is starting to be my no 1 suspect now, the car has definitely been worked on, now just to know where to look for the plug.


Thank you Bimmer330 and Philip, I will look at these two things. Guess I need to get a workshop manual and the fault code reader, because judging from my previous BMW's I intend to keep this car for quite some time.
 

Philip Foglar

///Member
The plug that they had forgotten about was on the intake side of the Vanos near the oil vent hose, so easiest way to get to it is to remove the engine covers, but you should probably be able to see it from between the cover and vent hose. Check the other plugs around the Vanos unit.
 
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