yelcab2

Hello there,

I have an N52 engine with 195,000 miles so over the weekend I removed the cam cover gasket to reseal it. In the process, I had to remove the Valtronic motor to get the cam cover off. While I was at it, i also removed the cam solenoid at the front of the engine and changed their o-rings (2 each, and 2 solenoids). I put it all back and it ran wonderfully for 1 day. Then it started rough idling, and then not running at all. I thought i did something wrong with the Valtronic motor so I took it off and re-installed it (using the procedures on Bentley manual). It won't run at all.

What I have tried:

1. Re-installed the valtronic motor multiple times
2. Cut the power, turn the ignition on (not starting) and then wait 30 seconds, then off, then repeat 30 seconds.
3. Relearn the Valtronic motor limit using a Launch X431 Pros Mini scanner.
4. Clear codes, restarted, and it failed to start and immediately picked up code 2A99.

Car will not start now.

Can someone offer some suggestion? Did I install the Valtronic correctly ? (Why did it run for 1 day and then quit?) It had to be something related to what I did but ... what?

Thanks

donpb

Could possibly be an intermittent connection. Also, are you sure you did not inadvertently swap connectors?

yelcab2

Very sure because it ran fine for one whole day. And I removed one solenoid at a time, changed the seal, put it back, then move to the second one. Last night it also had a second code 2A87, Vanos exhaust cam. So I am leaning towards the theory of the exhaust cam Vanos solenoid crapping out after I touched it, or the center cage of the oil filter. So today I will

1. remove the oil filter and inspect the center cage with its seal'
2. replace the exhaust cam Vanos solenoid
3. If that does not do it, open up the cam cover and inspect the top of the engine.

I only have a small amount of time to devote to this problem so I am hoping it's one of those, Otherwise, i have to get it to a shop and clear the space in my garage driveway where it is blocking other cars.

yelcab2

Update. Good news. I inspected the eccentric sensor and blew it clean. Bought a BMW Vanos Solenoid (when did it cost $300 each?) installed it and it started and ran steady. The "service engine soon" even went away by itself.

I drove it around and felt that it was struggling to idle above 500 in Drive and AC on, so I did a Valtronic motor position relearn, and it runs a lot better now. I am going to drive it around a day or two and see if it adapts itself better. This happens one day after the valve cover gasket was changed dictating the Valtronic motor removal and that threw me off. It turned out to be the exhaust Vanos solenoid.

I think that is a wrap up.

seanjordan20

Hopefully it stays fixed and appreciate the close out. Let us know how it is after a few days

donpb

Good job.

It is not uncommon to inadvertently break old components in the same vicinity.