Got new car... but need advice on issue already!?

flames247 · Post by **flames247** » Mon 11 Apr, 2011 10:57

Had the car since Saturday.

On the test drive before I bought it the engine was cold hence this was missed. When the car is started from cold its fine.

The car has had a simota induction kit fitted up until I purchased it, so I was thinking the MAF might have been damaged during removal / install of old one possibly? I dont believe the car had been properly driven since this removal of the simota hence the previous owner may not have noticed this issue?

Immediately after driving the car away and it was up to normal temp (15 mins of driving) I noticed a lumpy idle (please note, the needle is not bouncing all over the place its more or less still) when sat in traffic / parked with engine running not in gear. I thought nothing of it but it's been bugging me since. I have searched this forum for similar issues but cant get to the bottom of it.

I am having an idle / possible timing / vanos issue where every other second the car rumbles / feels like a TINY misfire you can feel it in the seat and if you look at the engine it twitches / judders slightly (sorry hard to explain with you being here) every other second.

Had a BMW specialist do a diagnonstics test and it came back completely clear. He put an instrument sound testing thing onto the vanos casing (that had ear plugs so he could listen to it) and thinks it's making an odd noise internally?. The vanos without this tool, is very quite to listen to and sounds 'normal'.

He has suggested taking it to a main dealer for further testing as he cant be completely sure.

I could spend days checking / replacing plugs, MAF, TPS etc and get no where.

Also read it could be vanos seals who knows!!?

Has anyone got an ideas or thoughts?

The car is 'mint' and I love it to bits, I just want it to be perfect and get rid of this issue as it's not right... before anything major happens etc

Regards,

Adam

flames247 · Post by **flames247** » Mon 11 Apr, 2011 11:59

and the guy doing the diagnostics has reset my bloody service lights by mistake.... it was on 1 green light now it's full.

I know the car would have been due an oil service next once the last green light goes out, will have to assume another 1000 miles till I book it in for that.

Hopefully when the garage does this they can re set and it will be OK to follow the usual service procedure as normal??

Regards,

Adam

hornel Z3M · Post by **hornel Z3M** » Mon 11 Apr, 2011 16:15

Hi Mate. I can understand your worry but i suspect the engine has not rectified itself from the Simota removal and does take time for the sensors to compensate the lack of the extra air it was having. That car you bought was a cracker and would not worry at all. As far as listening to the vanos that is a joke as the vanos on all M`s are in some way never perfect. I think its the ECU that had to rectify itself which it does automatically but not straight away.

flames247 · Post by **flames247** » Mon 11 Apr, 2011 16:58

I know the car's a cracker mate I keep saying a real reflection on how well the car was cared for by the previous owner(s).

Just a little niggle that I hope will resolve itself. I have done over 200 miles in it so must have adjusted from removal of simota.

Time will tell....

-Adz

Jonttt · Post by **Jonttt** » Mon 11 Apr, 2011 18:26

You can just remove the MAF and let it run on a default setting (I did a full cruise like this). You can then rule out it being the MAF. You may get an engine warning light but this will go out when driven for a bit with the MAF back on.

You could also be spot on with it needing a drive. My first Z3m had been used as a second car by a woman (no offence intended but they tend not to drive them as hard). After a few good fast road runs to "clear out" the cobwebs the car definately ran better.

I would take it on a few good runs and diconnect the MAF for one of them and see what you think. BMW wwill charge you a fortune just to hand them the keys with no guarantees of diagnosis so rule out what you can first

theduck · Post by **theduck** » Mon 11 Apr, 2011 18:43

flames247 wrote: He has suggested taking it to a main dealer for further testing as he cant be completely sure.

Any specialist that says that is not worth using imho.

offyourmarks · Post by **offyourmarks** » Tue 12 Apr, 2011 12:03

I would have expected the fueling and air ratios to have stabilised after 200 miles thats for sure.

I would also be very surprised if it was anything vanos related.

I would check the basics - ie correct fitting of intake pipes making sure there are no gaps or leaks etc. I would then find a specialist other than the one you tried to pinpoint the problem.

I wouldnt personally just keep trying things when messing with fueling. Get it looked at asap and limit any further driving - it could be a number of things from the ICV, air intake temp sensor or AFM etc.

Boysie · Post by **Boysie** » Tue 12 Apr, 2011 15:48

Hi

I thought si had left all the bits on the car?

Ray

PERRIN Z3M · Post by **PERRIN Z3M** » Tue 12 Apr, 2011 16:23

The strut brace and exhausts were left on but Adam was unable to buy the simota so was removed just before the sale, this may be a factor.

Steve

flames247 · Post by **flames247** » Tue 12 Apr, 2011 20:37

Noticed the airbox was not seated correctly on the air intake at the front of the car so loosened off and re seated correctly unfortunately this had not cured it.

Popping over to specialist tmoz just to get them to listen to the car and give me their opinion.

Apart from this very minor thing, car is aawwweeessooommeeee!!!! love it!

Keep making excuses to go out driving!

Will keep you posted

offyourmarks · Post by **offyourmarks** » Thu 14 Apr, 2011 06:06

Any luck Flames247?

Was thinking - if it was and AFM issue i reckon any issues would be apparent throughout the rev range when driving.

My money is on a small air leak. Also, there is a rubber bung on a T section of pipework found directly under the Air intake chamber. This often splits, gets knocked off or perishes and then causes idle problems. If the Air box has been changed...........

http://www.z3mcoupe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9557

No doubt this info is in vein know though

flames247 · Post by **flames247** » Fri 15 Apr, 2011 16:29

Little update...

offyourmarks, thanks for that link, I discovered my 'cap' on that T section was completely perished and split so replaced today with a brand new one from BMW praying that it was going to cure all my issues.

....but no. Car is running like a DOG. Getting worse. Starting to wish I had tried a few other cars right now it's really getting me down / stressing me out. This is my only car making this issue even worse as I need to use my car, but at the same time worrying it's going to go pop any moment!

The car at approx 3000rpm at 70 MPH is starting to splutter / misfire now which is a completely new issue I have noticed today.

Just got back from a very reputable BMW specialist, who ran a diagnostics test and vanos test and nothing came up what so ever. He did an air leak test and again, nothing.

He was doing me a favor so could only spare 20 minutes to do these basic tests but will need it for more time to diagnose this in more detail.

I have tried MAF, TPS and running out of ideas.

The only thing I have not tried is some 99 Octane fuel from Tesco. It's currently running on 97 super unleaded and wondering if it's a bad batch of fuel or something? Reason I say this, I had a modified motorbike that ran like a dog on less that 99 octane fuel.... going to flush out fuel later and try high octane to rule that out.

Thanks to everyone so far with your help and suggestions.

Regards,

Adam

flames247 · Post by **flames247** » Fri 15 Apr, 2011 16:57

Plus I even ordered a simota induction kit (just arrived going to fit it tonight) £260 to put the car back to 'how it was' prior to me buying it to rule that out!!

I wish the BMW GOD would give me a break!

Regards,

Adam

offyourmarks · Post by **offyourmarks** » Fri 15 Apr, 2011 17:05

Adam it could be many things mate. You need to stop using the car and make some alternative arrangements whilst you get it booked in. If there is a fuelling problem and its running lean then you are into piston melting territory. I doubt it is this but continuing to drive it is not good.

Its time to bite the bullet and stop messing about with different things

A good specialist will get it sorted for you but they will need more than 20 mins

Keep us updated

flames247 · Post by **flames247** » Sat 16 Apr, 2011 15:25

OK,

SO got back from yet another BMW specialist who I had no idea existed only 8 miles from my house discovered yesterday while browsing online. He was the first in the UK to research, make and manufacture S50 vanos gasket and seal kit. He knows these car's better than anyone and I highly recommend him very professional.

http://www.iridiumengineering.co.uk/

After various testing, the vanos actually appears to be fine! The exhaust cam was 1.3 negative degrees out but that is very minor 1 degree either way is acceptable and very good.

He did a smoke air leak test and there was a very minor leak found @ intake cylinder number 6 trumpet seal. Again, not enough to worry about as so small.

The multiplicative fuel trims on cylinder 1-3 were noted at 11.5% and even higher on 4-6 at 15% which could be due to the air cap that I found was cracked and the minor air leak on the trumpet seal could have been causing this as the on board computer would have been factoring this into the fueling. Now I have fixed the cap this should settle down hopefully.

Car has had a dose of injector cleaner.

So overall the car is actually pretty good, the popping from exhaust and slightly rough idle may now settle down since I have replaced the T piece cap.

All adaptations have been reset so the car now has a fresh platform to 'learn' with the current set-up.

Regards,

Adam

dooby · Post by **dooby** » Mon 16 May, 2011 11:36

Did you ever get to the bottom of this ?

flames247 · Post by **flames247** » Tue 17 May, 2011 12:57

Hi Dooby,

No, this is still on going. I replaced the lamba sensors @ £160 for the pair praying this was going to fix it but unfortunately it has not.

I have now ordered 6 replacement coil packs as this could also be an ignition issue such as one or two worn out coil packs.

Currently is Prague, but when I return I will fit them and keep you posted.

Regards,

Adam

flames247 · Post by **flames247** » Mon 23 May, 2011 18:25

Back from Prague....... what an amazing city.....hmm.. yes... highly recommended

Update:

Fitted coil packs..... still have this MINOR issue. I will get to the bottom of this even if it kills me!

Coolant sensor next as this can also tell the ecu about fueling mixture so could well be faulty fingers crossed...

Will keep you posted.

-Adz

RemarkLima · Post by **RemarkLima** » Mon 23 May, 2011 20:02

Did you say the diagnostic scan came up clean?

As the best thing I got for the 330d, and now just as useful for the MR is the INPA diagnostics, to read fault codes and the like. It works a treat and takes out a lot of the guess work!

Something like (for the updated version):

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-DIS-V57-SSS-V ... 4aaad836ef

Make a silly offer and see how you go!

zroadster.net

Got new car... but need advice on issue already!?

Got new car... but need advice on issue already!?

M

Re: Got new car... but need advice on issue already!?