EML Warning Light - Emmissions Quality

[BMW Baracus]

So, I've just taken on my old boy's Z4 2.0i SE from 2005 with only 60k on the clock. Its always had everything done. Before passing it on to me, he had a yellow engine warning light for the EML and took it to Sytners in Coventry. They diagnosed a pressure sensor issue for the intake manifold issue, cleaned it up and cleared the error. It costs £180 but we thought that was that. They added a note to say monitor the issue if it recurs and it may require a new sensor.

600 miles and two months later, just a few days after I'd got my hands on it (I've been driving like a Priest) the error light came on.

I had a good look around forums and read a lot of posts about this kind of issue being down to over sensitive sensors, changing the fuel and people just getting a digital reader for the car and then clearing off the codes.

As the car's last trip to a Sytner garage was still under warranty, I took it into my local branch near Chigwell and I think its something of a baptism of fire with owning a BMW.

It needs a new intake manifold pressure sensor, vacuum pump and there was an oil leak from the rocker cover. On top of this, to guarantee the work they need to reprogram the EML. I was surprised because less than 800 miles ago in September it had a vehicle health check with Sytners in Coventry. Fortunately, the old boy still had a warranty with them (expiring in about three days time), so its the excess of £250 but the reprogramming is another £280.

Without that warranty it would have been north of a grand. :? :?

What I have taken from it though is:
- Error messages are there to indicate problems
- If I'd bought a reader and cleared the codes, I'd probably have been running into more problems
- Reprogramming a Z4's EML is painful
- Even when a motor has meticulously looked after (the old boy has always had everything done and has owned it for the last ten years, its been serviced by BMW throughout its life, has been kept under a BMW warranty throughout with regular health checks), gremlins can still bite.
- I need to find a good independent BMW specialist in North London (I'm in Crouch End) within about 10-20 miles. Recommendations would be welcome please.

So, that's my first post (other than the introduction page for newbies)...a little taken aback but I guess that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Tom

 

[ph001]

It’s pretty much part of the game with owning a 2.0l unfortunately. The EML light is typically emissions related and is a very common problem on that engine. Usually it’s due to the exhaust manifold cracking and pulling air in past the o2 sensor. Manifold can usually be welded up.

 

[BMW Baracus]

Thanks. Fortunately the manifold is fine, they inspected it but definitely will bear in mind for the future.

 

[ph001]

Ok, but faulty intake manifold pressure sensor and vacuum pump is a rare failure... in fact I’ve never heard of it on here in hundreds of posts on the N46.

You mentioned that reprogramming the EML is painful... don’t quite follow that. There is no reprogramming of the engine management light as such, all you can do is reset it (which is very simple to do). Now if they are talking about actually reprogramming the ECU then that is a different thing entirely and would be quite concerning in its own right!

 

[Tich]

I kept getting an EML on my 2.0 ltr so bought a code reader. Every thing pointed to 02 sensors with the possibility of injectors being slow to shut off on overrun. I now run the car on Shell with Half a bottle of REDEX per tank. Have not had a problem in 7 months. This is at least a cheap remedy to try. Best of luck with your car and welcome to the forum.

Phil

 

[BMW Baracus]

"Ok, but faulty intake manifold pressure sensor and vacuum pump is a rare failure... in fact I’ve never heard of it on here in hundreds of posts on the N46.

You mentioned that reprogramming the EML is painful... don’t quite follow that. There is no reprogramming of the engine management light as such, all you can do is reset it (which is very simple to do). Now if they are talking about actually reprogramming the ECU then that is a different thing entirely and would be quite concerning in its own right!"

I mean painful in that it cost £281. :lol:

And it's the EMS not the EML, they said that they needed to so that other errors don't occur, install the latest updates and that without it, they wouldn't guarantee the repair and it could lead to further faults. All of which said, it's only ever been serviced by BMW so there's been no tinkering so I don't figure how it could have got out of whack.

 

[colb]

If you have a laptop get yourself a BMW Scanner 1.4 setup off ebay and use that to read all the modules on your car and be able to reset things and clear codes. Its far easier to set up and use than the BMW INPA software and cheap to buy.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Scanner-1-4-0-Diagnostic-Interface-Code-Reader-Scan-Tool-E46-3-SERIES-V-1-4/153170492942?hash=item23a9ac3e0e:g:~qkAAOSwR7BbkixN

These engines are prone to air leaks, often due to failing rubber parts in the induction path from Maf to throttle body and all other vaccumn hoses on the engine. A smoke test is the best way to find these leaks if they are there. Any found should be buttoned up by replacing the leaking part. Air leaks will upset the emmissions and have a dramatic effect on fuel trims. If you have software to view live data with the engine running it easy to view the fuel trims and point you in the right direction as to where the cause of this is on the engine.