BMW Z4 E89 sDrive23i (2010) – Engine cutting out after oil & filter change

[23siaod]

Hi all,

I’m posting this partly to get some thoughts while I wait for a mechanic, but also to share my experience in case it helps someone else.

I’ve got a 2010 BMW Z4 E89 sDrive23i, which was running perfectly before today — no warning lights, no rough running, nothing.

Today I did an oil change and oil filter change using:

• TotalEnergies Quartz INEO MC3 5W-30
• MANN oil filter
• Initially put in about 6 litres of oil

After finishing, I started the car and drove for about 30 seconds, then the engine cut out completely. I restarted it, but it began to choke/splutter and then stalled again.

Now the behaviour is:

• The car will start if I press the clutch
• But as soon as I release the clutch in neutral, the engine cuts out
• It won’t hold idle properly

Because I thought it might be something to do with the filter installation, I’ve since:

• Removed the new filter
• Put the original oil filter and original O-ring back in

Unfortunately, the problem is still exactly the same.

Key details:

• Car was perfectly fine before the oil change
• Issue started immediately after
• No obvious warning lights before it cuts out
• Starts, but won’t idle and stalls quickly
• Same behaviour even after reverting to original filter and O-ring

A mechanic is on the way now, so I’ll update once I know more.

In the meantime, has anyone experienced something similar on an N52 engine / Z4 E89? Possible causes I’m considering:

• Oil level slightly low (only 6L added initially)
• Oil filter housing / seating issue
• Oil pressure or VANOS-related issue after the change
• Something disconnected or disturbed during the job (MAF, vacuum hose, etc.)

Any ideas would be appreciated. I’ll report back once it’s diagnosed.

 

[flybobbie]

Disconnect the maf sensor i think it runs in a sort of basic mode.
See if it runs smoother.
Few things i had with car was cam cover was bowed and oil in spark plug hole 4.
Also had faulty ambient temp. sensor fail behind left wheel arch liner.

 

[23siaod]

Disconnect the maf sensor i think it runs in a sort of basic mode.
See if it runs smoother.
Few things i had with car was cam cover was bowed and oil in spark plug hole 4.
Also had faulty ambient temp. sensor fail behind left wheel arch liner.

Thanks for this. Just ended up bringing it to a garage as fault codes didn’t make much sense. :
2A82 – Intake VANOS fault
* 2F71 – DME (engine ECU) plausibility/communication-related fault, often logged when the engine cannot control VANOS correctly or stalls.
* 2F9E – Usually associated with engine management after the engine stalls or has an abnormal shutdown. It’s often a secondary fault rather than the root cause.

 

[enuff_zed]

Sounds likely to be a vanos solenoid issue then?
One thing to double check; did you make sure there was an o-ring seal on the bottom of the oil filter cage and also that the cage was securely fitted?
I spent weeks chasing a similar issue and eventually it turned out that the cage was slightly loose, not allowing the o-ring at the bottom to achieve a proper seal. This in turn affected the oil pressure to the vanos solenoid.

 

[23siaod]

Sounds likely to be a vanos solenoid issue then?
One thing to double check; did you make sure there was an o-ring seal on the bottom of the oil filter cage and also that the cage was securely fitted?
I spent weeks chasing a similar issue and eventually it turned out that the cage was slightly loose, not allowing the o-ring at the bottom to achieve a proper seal. This in turn affected the oil pressure to the vanos solenoid.

Double checked there was no o ring, and replaced it with the old o ring and filter to see if that would fix but wasn’t that. Wish me luck though, hopefully the garage doesn’t try to scam me.

 

[Matt.rowley.1990]

Did you keep the cage that goes in the centre of the filter? What you’re describing sounds like that part is missing and the VANOS system isn’t getting oil flow.

 

[23siaod]

Did you keep the cage that goes in the centre of the filter? What you’re describing sounds like that part is missing and the VANOS system isn’t getting oil flow.

Yes, the plastic bit that the filter attaches to was still there. Checking after doing the oil chance that housing that has the oil filter had new oil going into it, so not sure if it’s that.