Stalling / Vanos Issues e92

[cratix]

Hi All,

I bought a car from a fellow fanatic a few months ago and have been plagued with intermittent issues.

The car is an "08 e92 325i (N52k).

I would experience the car die when coming to a stop. As soon as I depress the clutch fully, the revs would fall to 0, no jerking.

This happened intermittently that at first I thought I was filling up with contaminated petrol.

Things went fine for a week or so then started again. After a lot of research and trying to figure it out I brought it to John and had the codes read. Vanos Exhaust (code bellow).

I had the solinoids swapped and the 'faulty' one replaced as I had read a dirty/faulty solinoid could cause the same error. The fault came back.

Then swapped out the camshaft sensor and the car went well for a day, with power loss in the higher gears, and then it started cutting.

The car drives fine for a day or so then starts loosing power (but still drivable). When this happens, I know the next time I come to a stop the car will die on me.

After this, I had a look under the bonnet and found that the Intake Manifold Differential Pressure Sensor was not properly screwed in allowing dirt in between the washer. It had dry dirt/sand all around it. Took it out, cleaned it, and got a replacement washer from john. It was better and I thought all my problems were behind me.

It continues to plague me, intermittently. Now more often than before. I have noticed its more when the engine is hot (sitting in traffic), or after a while on the highway and coming to a stop.

Had the codes read again and it's still P0015"B" - Camshaft Position Timing Over-Retarded and now (new), P0597 Thermostat Heater Control Circuit Open.

It looks like I'm in for a new Vanos.

Rant over

I'm just posting this as I haven't found anything online that matches my symptoms and am very curious on how the Vanos got damaged. I mean, the car has 92k KM on the clock now.

Any thoughts are welcome. I know I left it for too long but cash was an issue. And yes, I know I bought a lemon... Again :hammerhead::banghead:

 

[RayMan101]

I feel your pain.

I'm sitting in the same boat, and dropped my car off this morning to have it sorted out. I have no idea what it will cost, but the extended maintenance plan will cover it (I hope)

Anyway - I have a 2010 320i E90 LCI.
what I've done so far is to clean the MAF (it helped a little)
cleaned out the VANOS solenoids, and it so far seems to help.
when I bought the car earlier this year I had the dealer I bought the car replace the cam shaft sensor as the agents, and they "sent it to have the timing chain and both VANOS units replaced" - I called their bluff on that one.

The strange thing I noticed is that with the one key I use, I always get the same issue...when I use my other key - the car works fine and the problem is far less recurring. And I also try to avoid turning the car off (to fill up) during peak hour traffic as the issue will always pop up.

I think the VANOS just got clogged, or a gremlin got into it.
I hope you come right.

 

[ShaunB]

Have you tried fitting someone elses vanos to see what it does?

 

[husaindindar]

Hi All,

I bought a car from a fellow fanatic a few months ago and have been plagued with intermittent issues.

The car is an "08 e92 325i (N52k).

I would experience the car die when coming to a stop. As soon as I depress the clutch fully, the revs would fall to 0, no jerking.

This happened intermittently that at first I thought I was filling up with contaminated petrol.

Things went fine for a week or so then started again. After a lot of research and trying to figure it out I brought it to John and had the codes read. Vanos Exhaust (code bellow).

I had the solinoids swapped and the 'faulty' one replaced as I had read a dirty/faulty solinoid could cause the same error. The fault came back.

Then swapped out the camshaft sensor and the car went well for a day, with power loss in the higher gears, and then it started cutting.

The car drives fine for a day or so then starts loosing power (but still drivable). When this happens, I know the next time I come to a stop the car will die on me.

After this, I had a look under the bonnet and found that the Intake Manifold Differential Pressure Sensor was not properly screwed in allowing dirt in between the washer. It had dry dirt/sand all around it. Took it out, cleaned it, and got a replacement washer from john. It was better and I thought all my problems were behind me.

It continues to plague me, intermittently. Now more often than before. I have noticed its more when the engine is hot (sitting in traffic), or after a while on the highway and coming to a stop.

Had the codes read again and it's still P0015"B" - Camshaft Position Timing Over-Retarded and now (new), P0597 Thermostat Heater Control Circuit Open.

It looks like I'm in for a new Vanos.

Rant over

I'm just posting this as I haven't found anything online that matches my symptoms and am very curious on how the Vanos got damaged. I mean, the car has 92k KM on the clock now.

Any thoughts are welcome. I know I left it for too long but cash was an issue. And yes, I know I bought a lemon... Again :hammerhead::banghead:

Had exact same code as you have. Done the vanos swapping thing to see if the fault swaps to intake. Got no joy.
Dealer done diagnostics and had the cam sensor replaced. They claimed it was sorted but yeah, they know fo*ol. Had a huge fight!
Just took the chance and replaced both solenoids myself. All the faults went away!

My symptoms: P0015 fault and car has severe loss of power with hesitant revs.

BTW, your car is not a lemon! Once the issues are sorted, it will feel like a whole new car.

 

[husaindindar]

Hi All,

I bought a car from a fellow fanatic a few months ago and have been plagued with intermittent issues.

The car is an "08 e92 325i (N52k).

I would experience the car die when coming to a stop. As soon as I depress the clutch fully, the revs would fall to 0, no jerking.

This happened intermittently that at first I thought I was filling up with contaminated petrol.

Things went fine for a week or so then started again. After a lot of research and trying to figure it out I brought it to John and had the codes read. Vanos Exhaust (code bellow).

I had the solinoids swapped and the 'faulty' one replaced as I had read a dirty/faulty solinoid could cause the same error. The fault came back.

Then swapped out the camshaft sensor and the car went well for a day, with power loss in the higher gears, and then it started cutting.

The car drives fine for a day or so then starts loosing power (but still drivable). When this happens, I know the next time I come to a stop the car will die on me.

After this, I had a look under the bonnet and found that the Intake Manifold Differential Pressure Sensor was not properly screwed in allowing dirt in between the washer. It had dry dirt/sand all around it. Took it out, cleaned it, and got a replacement washer from john. It was better and I thought all my problems were behind me.

It continues to plague me, intermittently. Now more often than before. I have noticed its more when the engine is hot (sitting in traffic), or after a while on the highway and coming to a stop.

Had the codes read again and it's still P0015"B" - Camshaft Position Timing Over-Retarded and now (new), P0597 Thermostat Heater Control Circuit Open.

It looks like I'm in for a new Vanos.

Rant over

I'm just posting this as I haven't found anything online that matches my symptoms and am very curious on how the Vanos got damaged. I mean, the car has 92k KM on the clock now.

Any thoughts are welcome. I know I left it for too long but cash was an issue. And yes, I know I bought a lemon... Again :hammerhead::banghead:

Oh and I forgot to mention, there was a service bulletin by BMW for this issue. It said to replace Vanos solenoids first. If that doesn't solve, then the next inline is the camshaft ledge bearing (hell of a job and damn costly).

https://5series.net/forums/e60-discussion-2/vanos-camshaft-bearing-ledge-139004/

This link has a link to the pdf with the bulletin.

 

[Peter@AEW]

Vanos solenoids should be replaced in pairs.

 

[cratix]

Had exact same code as you have. Done the vanos swapping thing to see if the fault swaps to intake. Got no joy.
Dealer done diagnostics and had the cam sensor replaced. They claimed it was sorted but yeah, they know fo*ol. Had a huge fight!
Just took the chance and replaced both solenoids myself. All the faults went away!

My symptoms: P0015 fault and car has severe loss of power with hesitant revs.

BTW, your car is not a lemon! Once the issues are sorted, it will feel like a whole new car.

@husaindindar, you beautiful bastard you! You've given me new hope.
raise:raise:
I am picking up two brand spanking new solenoids from the dealer this afternoon and swapping them out.

The link you've shared have helped me a lot in terms of research as the I did not come across the Cranknshaft Bearing Ledge issue.

@ShaunB Sadly I don't have anyone that I can test out their parts as the problem is intermittent.

@Peter@AEW Thanks, am ordering a new pair.

Thanks for the replies :ty:
Will post feedback

 

[cratix]

It's ALIVE!!!!


:rollsmile::rollsmile::rollsmile::rollsmile::rollsmile:

@husaindindar Thank you so much man, if it wasn't for your post I most likely would have done the VANOS replacement.

As per you and @Peter@AEW , I bought two new solenoids and have been driving for over two weeks without any stalling and without the fault code returning!!

I cannot explain how ecstatic I am!

Everything is finally running smoothly!

 

[husaindindar]

And that's is one of the biggest advantages of being on a local forum!

Glad to hear you're sorted!

 

[momo1]

I feel your pain.

I'm sitting in the same boat, and dropped my car off this morning to have it sorted out. I have no idea what it will cost, but the extended maintenance plan will cover it (I hope)

Anyway - I have a 2010 320i E90 LCI.
what I've done so far is to clean the MAF (it helped a little)
cleaned out the VANOS solenoids, and it so far seems to help.
when I bought the car earlier this year I had the dealer I bought the car replace the cam shaft sensor as the agents, and they "sent it to have the timing chain and both VANOS units replaced" - I called their bluff on that one.

The strange thing I noticed is that with the one key I use, I always get the same issue...when I use my other key - the car works fine and the problem is far less recurring. And I also try to avoid turning the car off (to fill up) during peak hour traffic as the issue will always pop up.

I think the VANOS just got clogged, or a gremlin got into it.
I hope you come right.

I doubt your issue is the same as the OP's, as the N52 and N46 engines are worlds apart, on the 320i I would get the fuel pump and fuel line checked out, also valve-tronic motors are an issue.

 

[RayMan101]

HI Momo1

And sorry to Cratix for hijacking your post now, but ya...
they are worlds apart, and my car is back in to be checked out again.

So from the last time, they replaced the solenoids, did a camshaft adjustment and so on.... worked fine for a week... and same problem came back with a P0012 - "A" camshaft position - timing over retarded (bank 1)

so its back in and were waiting for the insurance guys to give feedback on what's happening.
turns out, by the by - some A-hole mechanic thought it good idea to put a 2005 cam sensor into a 2010 car (yes it fits, but it's not supposed to be there)
so that may have caused something to add to a bigger problem.
And also found out that the guide rail broke, and was replaced, but the A-hold mechanic did a slap dash job at leaving in some of the broken parts, and we found bits of plastic in the sump, so it may be that some smaller bits got through the oil pumps little filter and ended up somewhere (hopefully in the pump) as were looking to replace that....
worse case scenario, replace the cylinder head, inlet and outlet camshaft (as supposedly this needs to be done as a full kit)

lots of money to be spent - but we'll see what the insurance for extended warranty does... or I'll take the car back to the place I bought it from and ask a refund/new engine.:rollsmile: