545i Rough Idle untill Valvetronic engages
 

Hi everyone, I'm looking for a little help with this idle problem i've been having with my 2004 545i SMG.

Problem: Car runs really rough from a cold start untill the valvetronic settles down to 0.4 - 0.3mm lift. This happens approximatly 2-3mins after starting the car so the engine isnt even at operating temperature yet. What i've noticed is that upon start the valves are set to 6mm (Really rough idle when set here), and when it beings to transition to the lower lift setting the idle will "bounce" as the valve lift decreases slowly down to 0.3mm. Once it has reached .4-.3mm the idle is smooth as silk and the car runs perfect. See the live INPA from start untill smooth idle here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzD...ew?usp=sharing

The only engine codes i have are multiple misfire and increased emissions. I'm reading everything with INPA. I've replaced the oxygen sensors and the CCV valves.

I can get more data using INPA if needed just not sure what else to look at.
Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

So what are the present codes ?

Codes:
P0303 Cylinder 3 misfire
P2189 System too lean at idle (Bank 2)
P0304 Cylinder 4 misfire
P0305 Cylinder 5 misfire
P0430 Catalyst system efficiency below threshold (bank 2)
P2107 System too lean at idle (Bank 1)
P0301 Cylinder 1 misfire
P0307 Cylinder 7 misfire
P0300 Random/Multiple Cylinder misfire
P0420 Catalyst system efficiency below threshold (Bank 1)

Hi,


With lean cylinders and random misfires, I would suspect a intake vacuum leak.

Have you had any work done on it such as fixing oil leaks? My garage switched the location of the intake and exhaust vanos solenoids on the drivers's side (bank 2). The engine idled like crap, and then smoothed out, but ran with loss of power. Once this was corrected, the engine was good to go. But I had different codes. My point is to try to see if anything has been changed in error.

I did reseal the valve covers and upper time covers, but im pretty sure i put the solenoids back where they were. Is there anyway i could check? From what i remember they looked exactly the same.

I am leaning towards a vacuum leak though. It was idling poorly before i did the maintenance and has progressively gotten worse over time to the point where i have to do something now. It even sounds like a vacuum leak now but i cant seem to find it. Going to replace the intake manifold gaskets since that was the only place i couldn't get to see if it was leaking from there. If that doesn't do it oh well i wasted $30 on gaskets and ill get it smoke tested.

I'm sorry about my previous post. My cam sensors were switched, and it showed up as a VANOS solenoid error with two error codes starting with a P. First check the drivers side cam sensors. One sensor has a whip, the other does not. The only one you can easily see is the outboard one, and it should have a whip connection. If you see a plug, the cam sensors are in the wrong position, and should be switched.

Had the same issue with my 04 530i... changed this that and the other and codes still popped. Turned out to be my "manifold adjuster unit" there's a lil plastic flap that opens and closes, we'll it had broke off on one side. No more codes. Car sold now. Or sometimes the "ivm module" goes bad too, it controls a lot of electrical stuff that throws codes and limp modes the tranny

Had the same issue with my 04 530i... changed this that and the other and codes still popped. Turned out to be my "manifold adjuster unit" there's a lil plastic flap that opens and closes, we'll it had broke off on one side. No more codes. Car sold now. Or sometimes the "ivm module" goes bad too, it controls a lot of electrical stuff that throws codes and limp modes the tranny. I have a 07 550i non sport model now

I don't think the issue is related to Valvtronic. Valvtronic is the "throttle" and as such, the elevated valve opening at start up is analogous to cold fast idle. So, behavior seems normal. Look for other causes to the rough idle issue.