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Had engine management light has come

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Markie123 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Markie123 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Had engine management light has come
    Posted: 09 Jun 2020 at 7:19pm
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 engine management light has come on saying engine fault reduced power on 335i bmw 08 plate convertible been told it could be vanos solonoids but not sure. Took the car up the road after letting it cool down and put it in auto and booted it no light on. Put it in s mode and booted it no light or warning. Then tried m mode and still no light or warning. Going to change the vanos solonoids might be coated up, any help will be appreciated

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NickDE View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NickDE Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jun 2020 at 9:54pm
Get it hooked up to a diagnostic code reader and see what comes up. Otherwise you can end up randomly changing parts with limited success. Any decent workshop can do this, or there are DIY options such as CARLY.
Darkness gone, Tronic gone, Solo gone, DBA going, go Darknes2, go Frozen, go Black Pearl, go The Vibrator
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Markie123 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Markie123 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jun 2020 at 7:20am
Girlfriends son has a reasonably expensive code reader and he could not find any faults
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Mike Fishwick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike Fishwick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jun 2020 at 9:48am
Changing expensive bits seldom cures a problem - in this case solenoids either work or not.  As for them
You do not give us any information, such as the maintenance history of the car, or any problems previously encountered.

'Coating up' means nothing.  The magnet side of the cam sensors can become coated with microscopic metallic particles - is this what you mean?  This stops the sensor from changing output, but in this case (certainly on the older engines) does not provoke any indication.  However, periodic removal and cleaning is free and easy, and a good preventative measure.

'Booting' the engine obiously acheives nothing, but have you tried driving on a tiny thottle opening?

You have to look at everything, from the rubber inlet bellows onwards.   There is no substitute for logical diagnostic work - diagnosis by internet form is a waste of time.
A Z3 is not just for Christmas - it's for life!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote NickDE Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jun 2020 at 8:51pm
Originally posted by Markie123 Markie123 wrote:

Girlfriends son has a reasonably expensive code reader and he could not find any faults
If the light has gone, and there are no error codes, just forget it and move on. Sometimes they throw a warning light for no good reason.
Darkness gone, Tronic gone, Solo gone, DBA going, go Darknes2, go Frozen, go Black Pearl, go The Vibrator
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Mike Fishwick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike Fishwick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jun 2020 at 9:40am
I wonder if the root cause was low battery voltage?  This can cause a  lot of 'problems' to be indicated, on my car it being the traction control lights, which go out after a decent run or an overnight charge, so if your car is a garage queen it is possible that low voltage is the problem. 

How old is the battery, and have you ever checked or charged the battery, or measured the voltage after standing overnight, and after a run?  I have heard of several owners whose cars found a new lease of life after fitting a new battery, probably due to the higher voltage keeping the ECU happy, or making the Vanos solenoids operate properly.

I would suggest a typical battery life is no more than four years, as even if it still manages to start the engine, it will be past its best.  In the case of 'Enthusiast' cars which spend most of their lives in a garage, after about two years of typical neglect sulphation kills it.  On the other hand, regular use of a £15 automatic charger will give an average life of about ten years. 

The more expensive 'silver' batteries are another good option, where one plate is coated in silver, this giving a far lower self-discharge rate and resistance to sulphation.

If your battery is not a zero maintenance AGM type  and has filler plugs on the top, do not be afraid to check the cell levels and periodically top them up with de-mineralised water.  More batteries die of stagnation and low electrolyte levels than through regular use.

As Nick says, it could be just 'one of those things,' and best forgotten after resetting the fault memory - but do not forget your battery!


Edited by Mike Fishwick - 12 Jun 2020 at 1:12pm
A Z3 is not just for Christmas - it's for life!
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