Hi
My son impulse bought a 2006 Z4 2.5L automatic. Trying to help him out figuring what's wrong.
It started having intermittent power loss, stalling at low speed and engine light coming on. He went to a small local garage who hooked up and produced codes. This was some months ago and he’s now lost the code printout! From memory, it referred to the following:
P0171 – this one we remember
Oil leak – sounded minor
Something to do with banks
Vanos issue
The garage said they weren’t knowledgeable enough on this car but replaced spark plugs and ignition coil. Then they sent him to a BMW specialist.
BMW specialist thought it might be camshaft positioning sensors or the timing chain but dismissed Vanos. They replaced the sensors and said if that didn’t fix it then it must be the timing chain and that would cost £3500 to replace which sounds way off the going rate. And “thinking” it might be timing chain doesn’t reassure me, especially charging that amount.
The engine light comes on intermittently and It has occasionally stalled at crawling speed. He says there’s a ticking sound but not rattling.
I’ve been reading about how unlikely it is to be timing chain but other possibilities - timing chain tensioners being a known fault and wonder if it could be that. Also read about timing chain guides potentially being problematic. Don’t know how easy to fix though.
I know lack of codes isn’t helpful for figuring this out but to my mind he needs to take this to a Z4 specialist who doesn’t “think” the problem can be solved with a fix that costs as much as the car. Any input would be really appreciated, including any great garages that really know their stuff on the Z4s - somewhere around London or over to Bristol.
Thanks
My son impulse bought a 2006 Z4 2.5L automatic. Trying to help him out figuring what's wrong.
It started having intermittent power loss, stalling at low speed and engine light coming on. He went to a small local garage who hooked up and produced codes. This was some months ago and he’s now lost the code printout! From memory, it referred to the following:
P0171 – this one we remember
Oil leak – sounded minor
Something to do with banks
Vanos issue
The garage said they weren’t knowledgeable enough on this car but replaced spark plugs and ignition coil. Then they sent him to a BMW specialist.
BMW specialist thought it might be camshaft positioning sensors or the timing chain but dismissed Vanos. They replaced the sensors and said if that didn’t fix it then it must be the timing chain and that would cost £3500 to replace which sounds way off the going rate. And “thinking” it might be timing chain doesn’t reassure me, especially charging that amount.
The engine light comes on intermittently and It has occasionally stalled at crawling speed. He says there’s a ticking sound but not rattling.
I’ve been reading about how unlikely it is to be timing chain but other possibilities - timing chain tensioners being a known fault and wonder if it could be that. Also read about timing chain guides potentially being problematic. Don’t know how easy to fix though.
I know lack of codes isn’t helpful for figuring this out but to my mind he needs to take this to a Z4 specialist who doesn’t “think” the problem can be solved with a fix that costs as much as the car. Any input would be really appreciated, including any great garages that really know their stuff on the Z4s - somewhere around London or over to Bristol.
Thanks