Engine light is on :(

T

toplad

Member
I've got a problem with my car, the emmission light is on and it's in limp mode

It's probably the lambda sensor and I intended to get it sorted out, but my BMW warranty has 250 quid excess and I bet I can get the car sorted at a good indie for less.

Just wondering if anyone has a rough price for fitting from a non-BMW main stealer

I'm guessing 120-150 sheets?
 
Main dealer will charge you £350ish, that's what they said it cost each time mine was done under warranty.

Off ebay for £60: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bosch-Rear-Lambda-Sensor-BMW-Z-Coupe-Z4-M-3-2-03-06-/180337830460?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item29fcf8ea3c

How hard can that be to fit, or nip to the indy get them to fit and reset everything.

More proof extended warranty is a joke!
 
I had bank 1 done under warranty yesterday (it came on the day I bought it as an AUC) and as I was leaving bank 2 failed. The sensors are factory order but luckily the parts guy new the E60 V8`s use the same part and they took one of a brand new 540i that was on display in the showroom. 8)

If your going the indy route I`d be tempted to do both. :thumbsup:

That part above on Ebay is a post cat one (rear), I believe the pre cat ones (front) are more expensive ?
 
Crikey, seems a very common fault.
Do you get any symptoms before the lambda(s) go out? I noticed mine ran a little rough when I last used it from a cold start (Friday evening), the car was vibrating a little as if it wasn't quite running on all cylinders. Probably nothing as they're not supposed to be the smoothest engine from cold although mine usually runs pretty well......
 
I noticed that these days my car returns less MPG on a run, now 28/29 used to be 31/32. I've nver has a sensor fail in 22,000 miles (tempts fate) but reading the blurb on the E bay advert it might be due to the sensor getting older/fouled up? I would guess an indie would analyse the fault and do the job for half of what a dealer will charge.
 
sammyz said:
I noticed that these days my car returns less MPG on a run, now 28/29 used to be 31/32.
Click to expand...

:o But I'm guessing you didn't get anything like that on the way to Hawes yesterday :evil: :poke:

Sorry about the hijack btw. :oops:
 
LAMBDA MYSTERY???

Hi guys,

I have a Z4M with 26K miles.

The symptoms I'm getting are much like thoses described for the lambda probe:

- yellow check engine light comes on and stays on for 2 weeks, then goes off for a week, then comes back on

- hesitations on partial throttle

- holding back on full throttle for a couple of seconds

- 4 times on the motorway (once every 2 tanks of fuel), the car suddenly developped major stuttering (+ check engine light) as if running on barely 3 cylinders. This forced me onto the hard shoulder. I cut the engine and restarted 5 secs later. All was fine again after each of the 4 incidents.

---------------

Problem is, the car is showing no sensor-specfic error codes (just a general misfire code or a lean mixture code, i.e. a code for the symptom rather than the cause...)

BMW has already changed all 6 coils and plugs under waranty - to no avail.

They reckon it could be the fuel pump playing up, due to swallowing some gunk.

My questions to you guys:

1) Do you think this is the lambda probe problem?
2) If NOT, then what on Earth else?
3) If SO, then why no lambda probe error codes?
4) Without lambda probe error codes, how does one know which of the 4 probes to change?
5) In view of the apparent frequency of the lambda probe problems on this forum, should I just consider the lambda probes to be consumables and have all 4 changed - almost as a preventative measure?
6) Or should I just have the 2 pre-cat probes changed and see if it's any better?

This is getting FRUSTRATING - not so much the cost as I'm still under waranty but the hassle and the fact that I LOVE my M When if runs properly! ;-)

Thanks guys!

Alex
 
Alex - leave it with the dealers until it's 100% sorted and let them sorry about it. That's the beauty of warranty!!!
 
You can also tell the readings of the lambda / o2 sensors with the bmw diags, so even if they arent showing a fault code you should be able to see if they're working.

welcome to the forum, I know it's frustrating but please don't post the same thing 4 times ? :tumbleweed:
 
Andy said:
You can also tell the readings of the lambda / o2 sensors with the bmw diags, so even if they arent showing a fault code you should be able to see if they're working.

welcome to the forum, I know it's frustrating but please don't post the same thing 4 times ? :tumbleweed:
Click to expand...
was it only 4 :?

welcome anyway and hope it gets fixed soon :D
 
I doubt your problem is the lambda issue, they have little to no effect on the performance. Some have even noticed an improvement with the light on. From what you describe I'd have guessed coils, but if they've been replaced, who knows. good luck with it. :thumbsup:
 
Ok multiple posts deleted.

Agree with the others, let BMW sort it out. I have the yellow light on now and no apparent symptoms at all, nothing like you have said.
 
(Sorry about the multiple posts ; I looked for relevent threads and posted on them, not thinking that they would all appear in first position... Duh.)

The BIG annoyance is that the problem is highly intermitent. Symptoms only happen every on seemingly random occaisions. This big one, that forces you onto the hard shoulder, only happens once every 2 tanks.

On the whole, the car runs well, so measuring the lambda probes isn't a practical option.

BMW has run tests and driven the car for an hour, finding nothing.

They're starting to maintain that "because there are no error codes, and because they can't easily recreate the symptoms, therefore the car is fine".

As long as the check engine light is on, I can tell them there is an objective problem, but it doesn't always come on!!!

I wanted to get ideas to give them, to avoid having to go back there frequently, each time leaving my car for days... :-(
 
If it comes on it will record a record though :roll: So if they are saying nothing is coming up on the GT1 i cant see how thats right. Limp mode and light as said could be a number of things, but most intermittent are cam sensors or most common o2 sensors as you have said.

I know its a paid but were you there when they run the diagnostic? Did you see the fault list, as normally there is something, even like a bulb failure or something. Had mine done the other day, and it had when i just disconnected my rear lights!
 
chris said:
If it comes on it will record a record though :roll: So if they are saying nothing is coming up on the GT1 i cant see how thats right. Limp mode and light as said could be a number of things, but most intermittent are cam sensors or most common o2 sensors as you have said.

I know its a paid but were you there when they run the diagnostic? Did you see the fault list, as normally there is something, even like a bulb failure or something. Had mine done the other day, and it had when i just disconnected my rear lights!
Click to expand...

I picked up the diag fault list today:
- Engine misfires on all 6 cylinders (not necessarily all at once, but all 6 were concerned at some time)
- Mixture too lean

BMW has ordered a new fuel pump and will fit it next week, with a new fuel filter.

In the meantime, they've fitted a new AFM (air flow meter) for me to try this weekend (I've got a 500 mile drive lined up). They also tightened and greased the electrical connector to the injector ramp.

I'll keep you posted!

PS:
BMW confirms that it is NOT:
- the lambda probes as this would have no impact on performance or driveability.
- the cam sensor or TDC crank sensor as these would throw up specific fault codes.
 
with the symptoms you describe and having taken it in a few times already, not sure id want to do a 500m trip in it.. id ask for a replacement car & leave it with them to fix..
 
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