pjinca

I posted recently about my experience with a rough idle and several error codes here:
https://5series.net/forums/e60-discu...alling-128763/

I have a 2005 530 (M54 engine), and it appears that the issue resulted in a total of 4 pages of error codes including: misfire in nearly all cylinders, O2 sensor errors, Secondary Air Pump errors, MAF errors, Catalytic Converter errors, and Engine Malfunction errors. Needless to say I was freaking out, how do you begin to diagnose so many codes (and how much is this going to cost me?).

It turns out the problem is just a vacuum line low on the driver's side of the engine. I took the car to a friend of my father-in-laws who used his diagnostic computer and saw all these errors, again, 4 pages worth. Then he listened to the engine running really rough at idle, with RPMs jumping 5-600 (from 700 to 200 and back, sometimes stalling). Then he reached down the side of the engine and held the vacuum line together and the motor INSTANTLY started purring like a happy kitten. Turns out this vacuum line causes all these errors and the rough idle. So before you spend copious amounts of money trying to replace coils, O2 sensors, air pumps, etc, check this vacuum line. Hopefully this thread saves someone some major cash. Good luck.

pjinca

I will update this thread with a pic of the offending part if I can, I should get my car back tonight. The total for the repair? $75, including his labor. I am VERY relieved.

info@trinityautosport

thanks for sharing John, good heads up.

pcy

Did he replace the vaccum hose or hose clamp or vaccum pump? Since you say $75, so, it must be just a clamp.

pjinca

Even if it's the hose on that side of the engine they are all ~$16 (according to realoem.com). It is definitely not the pump for that price.

e6t.lab.rat

Wow. He saved you a boatload of benjamins! Nothing beats a seasoned mechanic with old school experience. Good for you.

pjinca

Thanks bro, yeah, he told me he had seen the exact same problem before recently. A friend asked him to do a pre-sale inspection on a 2003 330 (same M54 engine) that he was looking to buy from a dealer for $6000, when he found all those codes the dealer sold his friend the car for $3500, he fixed it for $75 - not bad at all, save $2500 for a less than $75 fix?

Wolrab

Some good info here. It's about the M54 and M52 engines. Same M54 as the E60 530i.

Cold weather misfires and CEL, common issues $50 fix! - E46Fanatics

pjinca

Also some really good info there, thanks for sharing

leese8080

Thanks for sharing John. Glad to hear that it was a minor fix. I'm sure you must have had a mini heart attack when you reviewed all the codes. I sure would have. Lol.

Your father-in-law's friend must be quite knowledgeable about cars to detect the problem that easily. I may have to reach out to you in the future and ask you for his info if I have any issues. Thus far, my car has been running great and hoping that it stays that way.

Enjoy your newly modded E60 again!

- Jason