Vanos solenoids

T

Tina'sZ4

Member
Good morning fellow Z4 people.
Ive owned my Z4 for 10 years. The car is 18 now and has now done over 200,000 miles - I love it, had a couple of issues which have been sorted (ie: the waterlogged roof motor has been replaced).
Earlier in the year, the car developed an oil leak from the rocker cover gasket, (which had only been replaced the year before, so that was rather irritating) and had also developed a misfire on startup. So, I embarked on sorting it myself. Took out the injectors and sparkplugs, cleaned them all in a cheap jewellery ultrasonic cleaner, put it all back together (I watched videos on how to do it) new rocker cover gasket.
Started the car up and was massively chuffed with myself that the misfire totally stopped and the car was running great. Until I took it on a journey up the M25 on a.mega hot day. On the way back home, I rather stupidly accelerated to get past a driver who was driving a little inconsistantly. Normally my Z4 would have coped no problem, however, it made a "phut" sound and lost all power, and I got it over to the hard shoulder. I didnt want to call a breakdown recovery and managed to get the car home at a snails pace hazard lights on and arm signalling people to pass. At least it was on my drive and safe. thought id best investigate under the bonnet the next day. Everything looked okay, no oil leaks. Started her up, and she started fine.......apart from the misfire had returned. If i let the car idle until the revs pick up, to just over 1000, the misfire stops. Ive since come to the conclusion that I now need to either clean or replace the vanos solenoids. As the symptoms I ve read sound just like what my car is doing. SO, has anybody here, changed their vanos soilenoids, at the front of the engine block and if so was it an easy ish job to do, or would you recommend I take it to the garage to get done. It needs its annual oil change too, but I think it would be sensible to sort these solenoids before getting that done. 🤔 if anyone else has had to change theirs could you give me some tips please 🙏 thanks very much everyone.
 
Have you had the codes checked?
If you only cleaned the spark plugs rather than replace them, they could still be your issue, as could the coils.
A code reader will tell you which cylinder the misfire is on.
 
When were the plugs and coils last changed? They are only good for around 50k before having problems. If it's the N52 engine, the vanos solenoids slip right out the front. I cleaned mine with contact cleaner while cycling with a 12v source. Then re-oiled and re-installed.
 
The spark plugs had BMW NGK stamped on them, and I know, that Ive not had the spark plugs changed since ive owned it. (Im the second owner) it has a full service history which is documented in its service book. A couple of them were quite oily when I got them out. I also rubbed the electrodes with fine sandpaper to ensure they were clean. It had a diagnostic test at last MOT in February, which reads:
"Carried out diagnostic test. Codes Stored all pointing towards multiple misfires low fuel, misfire bank 1 and bank 2 mixture lean, noticed when started frim cold noise from engine went once warmed up"

(It passed its MoT)
 
Tina'sZ4 said:
The spark plugs had BMW NGK stamped on them, and I know, that Ive not had the spark plugs changed since ive owned it. (Im the second owner) it has a full service history which is documented in its service book. A couple of them were quite oily when I got them out. I also rubbed the electrodes with fine sandpaper to ensure they were clean. It had a diagnostic test at last MOT in February, which reads:
"Carried out diagnostic test. Codes Stored all pointing towards multiple misfires low fuel, misfire bank 1 and bank 2 mixture lean, noticed when started frim cold noise from engine went once warmed up"

(It passed its MoT)
Click to expand...
Well sounds like I'd be starting with new plugs then if it were me.
If you rubbed them but didn't re-gap them then that won't help as the gap may now be too wide.
Assume you're around London somewhere? Why not see if another member nearby could do some code checks for you that you can actually see for yourself. The garage report seems quite vague. Rather than just 'multiple misfires' you should be able to see exactly which cylinders.
Given that the plugs may be original then there's a chance the coils may be as well.
Fit new plugs and if the misfire persists then note which cylinder, swap the coils around and see if the misfire moves to a different cylinder, which would suggest a duff coil.
 
Thank you mate, Im down in Kent, West Malling, area, if there's any other Z people down here. I'll do them a cup of tea lol
I must get it sorted. Alternatively, I COULD just take it to BMW who will know exactly what theyre doing OR the guy that does the MoT is a bmw enthusiast (well, he has an old series 3 convertible) maybe Im being a bit precious about it, and should just trust the garage?) Thank you so much for your most valued input to my query
 
Tina'sZ4 said:
Thank you mate, Im down in Kent, West Malling, area, if there's any other Z people down here. I'll do them a cup of tea lol
I must get it sorted. Alternatively, I COULD just take it to BMW who will know exactly what theyre doing OR the guy that does the MoT is a bmw enthusiast (well, he has an old series 3 convertible) maybe Im being a bit precious about it, and should just trust the garage?) Thank you so much for your most valued input to my query
Click to expand...
Bit far from me here in Norfolk. Maybe start a separate thread 'Looking for code reading help - Kent' or something like that.
As an example of the money you can save, last week I met a lady in my town who had her transport mode reset by a mobile mechanic. This is something I can do in about 2 minutes with Scanner 1.4 and would not expect any remuneration for it as it's so simple. She forked out £145!!!!
Once you have more precise info then I'm sure the forum can assist you even better.
 
Thanks, will see if I can get the codes.
And what you say is just the sort of thing I try to avoid, i mean the other lady forking out that amount of money.
I used to work at a local mitsibushi garage and was astonished back then at the amount they charged to check the codes, which they did by default before even opening the bonnet literally lol. My boss there got cross with me when I took my Z4 to Bmw/Merc specialising garage to get the roof motor replaced. (Roof stuck down) and said I should have let Mitsibushi do it for me. Think the bmw courtesy car on his forecourt was the main issue actually 😄
 
Tina'sZ4 said:
Thanks, will see if I can get the codes.
And what you say is just the sort of thing I try to avoid, i mean the other lady forking out that amount of money.
I used to work at a local mitsibushi garage and was astonished back then at the amount they charged to check the codes, which they did by default before even opening the bonnet literally lol. My boss there got cross with me when I took my Z4 to Bmw/Merc specialising garage to get the roof motor replaced. (Roof stuck down) and said I should have let Mitsibushi do it for me. Think the bmw courtesy car on his forecourt was the main issue actually 😄
Click to expand...
Sorry, have to ask: did they put the roof motor back in the same place?
 
Well, here's the thing .... I had discussed with that garage that there was a place in Dorking that fixed these roofs and would put the new unit in a more suitable place and asked if they could do the same. When I collected the car, they said that I would never get the same problem again. So I assumed they did given Id been talking about it with them.
So Im not too sure but I cover the car when its on my drive with a waterproof cover "just in case" i cant fault the job they did, and for a fraction of the price of the place at Dorking, and BMW maindealer and other local garages simply werent interested (other than Mitsibushi where I worked at the time)
 
Tina'sZ4 said:
Well, here's the thing .... I had discussed with that garage that there was a place in Dorking that fixed these roofs and would put the new unit in a more suitable place and asked if they could do the same. When I collected the car, they said that I would never get the same problem again. So I assumed they did given Id been talking about it with them.
So Im not too sure but I cover the car when its on my drive with a waterproof cover "just in case" i cant fault the job they did, and for a fraction of the price of the place at Dorking, and BMW maindealer and other local garages simply werent interested (other than Mitsibushi where I worked at the time)
Click to expand...
Can you see the motor hidden in the left front corner of the boot?
If not then it will be back in the same place and still susceptible to water ingress.
The cover will help, as will making sure the drains are always clear.
The trouble is that the drain hole is only about 5mm diameter, so when you wash the car the extra flow of water from the roof builds up around the motor casing faster than it can drain away. Once it gets high enough to get into the casing then it cannot get out again. So eventually it will kill the motor again.
Some clever souls brag about putting drain holes in the bottom of the casing. In reality this just lets the water get in at the bottom instead of waiting until it gets to the top. Yes it will drain out, but the insualtion stays soaked.
During the summer, when the roof is moved a lot, the motor manages to keep itself freed up, but when it is left inactive for the winter months it has the opportunity to sieze.
Given that a new motor is in excess of £120 (more if you need the pump too) then I think you should think about getting it moved into the boot before it dies again.
Sorry for scaremongering, especially given you already have other issues to fix, but bear it in mind.
Several members can move it for you at a very reasonable cost.
 
Oh brilliant, thanks for that info and yes I will have a look.
At the time, I wrote to BMW too to ask them why these pumps were situated in a place where they would get soaked and asked if it was considered a design fault, and if so would they fix it for free? Lol. Well, BMW wrote back with a negative response lol. At least I gave it a shot! Lol.
I'll let you know about my findings in the boot but at the moment, its teeming with rain here and the car is covered up, so will wait until the rain stops - cheers 👍
 
Tina'sZ4 said:
Oh brilliant, thanks for that info and yes I will have a look.
At the time, I wrote to BMW too to ask them why these pumps were situated in a place where they would get soaked and asked if it was considered a design fault, and if so would they fix it for free? Lol. Well, BMW wrote back with a negative response lol. At least I gave it a shot! Lol.
I'll let you know about my findings in the boot but at the moment, its teeming with rain here and the car is covered up, so will wait until the rain stops - cheers 👍
Click to expand...
Wise decision. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom