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Blown Coil pack leads to DME / ECU failure

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  • Blown Coil pack leads to DME / ECU failure

    ****Go to page 2/3 for actual problem***

    I think….

    This problem has been discussed extensively, however I think the variable valve system on my M Coupe is just about dead. No oil leak, no low level oil and if I can help it never over 3k revs when cold. However On Saturday I noticed the MC had a very lumpy rough idle to the point that acoustically it sounds like the exhaust is blowing. The car also shakes noticeably under light acceleration and very jerky at low revs when changing from first to second.

    When under the bonnet and applying throttle this rough jerky tappet sound is undoubtedly coming from the vanos area. The car seems to be down noticeably on power and it is drinking Optimax like there's no tomorrow.

    Car booked into the dealer for Thursday…..3rd party warranty runs out in three weeks…

    Feck!
    Last edited by h4pry; 16-08-2008, 07:55 AM.
    Out: 99 S50 Titan Silver V876 KKO
    In: 98 S50 Estoril.......

  • #2
    Just had another listen to it and it sounds like one of the gears inside is mega noisy.
    Out: 99 S50 Titan Silver V876 KKO
    In: 98 S50 Estoril.......

    Comment


    • #3
      Hope you get it sorted, doesn't sound good and symptoms point to the Vanos. At least you have 3rd party warranty, I take you have looked in the small print to make sure you're covered OK? Could be the solenoids maybe? I sure someone who has experienced this will come on this thread to give more info as to whether they think it's gears etc or just the soleniods.
      Pete C

      2000 Z3M Coupe - Cosmos Black Metallic/Black interior. 805 of 821 RHD built

      Previous BMWs

      2003 E46 M3 6 speed manual - Carbon Black/Black interior.
      2000 Z3M Coupe - Cosmos Black Metallic/Black interior. 692 of 821 RHD built
      1986 M635
      1985 E28 M5
      1983 E28 528i Alpina

      Comment


      • #4
        From the symptoms I wouldn't rule out a misfire.

        Were the gears noisy before? as from what I've gathered they generally get noisy through their lifetime rather than noisy all of a suden.

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by c_w View Post
          From the symptoms I wouldn't rule out a misfire.

          Were the gears noisy before? as from what I've gathered they generally get noisy through their lifetime rather than noisy all of a suden.

          It just developed over the weekend. It does also feel like a misfire but from inside the car sounds like a blowing exhaust, however as mentioned when manually reving it from under the bonnet the sound is deffinately coming from the vanos.

          I've also had the car in the air this morning and the exhaust system visually looks OK.

          Were you thinking along the lines that it could be one of the coil packs?
          Last edited by h4pry; 27-05-2008, 01:01 PM.
          Out: 99 S50 Titan Silver V876 KKO
          In: 98 S50 Estoril.......

          Comment


          • #6
            That sucks - hope it turns out to be something cheap
            Ex 2001 S54
            New cars:
            Lotus Carlton
            350Z

            Comment


            • #7
              Sorry to hear about it. I just had exactly this experience, and it was the vanos, unfortunately.

              Took a few days for the new vanos to arrive, so I was told not to take the car above 3000 rpm, but otherwise okay to drive. No oil leaks, but the lumpy idle was a bitch.

              See my experience here:
              http://www.z3mcoupe.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6266

              Good luck.
              2010 Z4 M Coupe Interlagos Blue, Sepang Bronze Light
              Ex 2000 Z3 M Coupe Estoril Blue, Estoril / Black

              Comment


              • #8
                Well, after 2 1/2 days with the dealer he came back this afternoon and said that the coil pack on number 6 was burnt out! They offered to replace the coil pack (they had one in stock) at a cost of £200+vat but warned that this might not cure the problem.

                So I thought £200 doesn't sound too bad and gave them the go ahead.

                Two hours later dealer called me back to report that the CP has been changed but the fault is still there / manifesting. They are now suspecting / reporting that the DME is fecked and request my permission for 1hr labour to investigate it.

                In a passing comment at the end of the call the service advisor quoted me that in the event of DME change the cost would be £500 + 2hrs labour.

                I'll update next week when I hear more...Moreover I'll update the title of this thread when I know exactly what the problem is.
                Out: 99 S50 Titan Silver V876 KKO
                In: 98 S50 Estoril.......

                Comment


                • #9
                  Man really sorry to hear about the trouble your facing (its a worry in the back of my mind too)

                  My concern would be with that dealer replacing the coil pack. if it was just misfiring on number 6 could they not of taken the coil pack out with the plug attached and ran the angine to see if the plug fired? That would of shown up if the coil pack was faulty.

                  I know its a bit late now, but im always concerned with dealers who do the "well try this" approach..i've had it before and wouldn't let them near my car again.

                  Would you consider taking the car out and bringing it to a specialist?
                  KW V3, H&R arbs, H&R 12mm Spacers, Weichers Strut Brace, Ireland Engineering Bushes, Uprated rear top mounts,swapped front top mounts, EBC Yellows, Simota CAI, Supersprint Exhaust, Shadow chrome Roadstars

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Hi Mate,

                    If you do decide to take the car to a cheeper specialist I can 100% reccommend MJF engineering in Dorking. From your sig your in Kent so Surrey not to far away. Not much he doesnt know about M engines so may even be worth a call, they are pretty friendly and genuine enthusiasts.

                    Contact details are:

                    MJF engineering
                    Mark: 01306 713232
                    Unit 1a Oak Down
                    Horsham Road,
                    Beare Green
                    Surrey RH5 4PF

                    Cheers
                    Matt

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by SilentBob View Post
                      Hi Mate,

                      If you do decide to take the car to a cheeper specialist I can 100% reccommend MJF engineering in Dorking. From your sig your in Kent so Surrey not to far away. Not much he doesnt know about M engines so may even be worth a call, they are pretty friendly and genuine enthusiasts.

                      Contact details are:

                      MJF engineering
                      Mark: 01306 713232
                      Unit 1a Oak Down
                      Horsham Road,
                      Beare Green
                      Surrey RH5 4PF

                      Cheers
                      Matt

                      Thanks for that.

                      Yes, indeed if this thing gets out of hand and the warranty won't cover it I'll certainly be calling them or even ML / Thorney...

                      I still have a funny feeling that #5 big end is the problem.
                      Out: 99 S50 Titan Silver V876 KKO
                      In: 98 S50 Estoril.......

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Here's the latest update:

                        Dealer has confirmed today that the pin out on the DME to the suspect CP is non active and thus appears to have been damaged (either chip or track).

                        So the car needs a new DME. But, here's the unsurprising bombshell:

                        Warranty company will pay for the new CP but not the DME as the damage is consiquential (failed CP has lead to damaging the DME). It seems my fortunate previous dealings with motorcare warranties has come to an end.

                        Moving on I am very reluctant to actually pay the dealer nearly £800 for this work / dme parts. So, I fortunately have a friend that is willing to help me attempt repairing my DME by actually replacing the driver chip or replacing the DME with another used unit out of an M3 evo. If we are to source another used unit we'll need to realign it with the ews using carsoft...

                        One half of me says pay the dealer and just be done with it...The other half is quite intrigued to see if this repair / used replacement can actually be done...

                        I'll sleep on it.
                        Out: 99 S50 Titan Silver V876 KKO
                        In: 98 S50 Estoril.......

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Not sure but you may have problems if you are keeping it in the BMW service network in terms of servicing as the computer will think its an M3 and all of the programs / updates etc will be M3 based as its all automatic now.

                          If you are not might be worth it.

                          Can't you just pick up a 2nd hand one from a crashed car ?

                          I think I'd just sort it properly either with a new one or a 2nd hand one.

                          Also one thing to note is the older DME things have a limited number of update s they can have before they have to be replaced. I think it is 15 so if getting a 2nd hand one then be aware of this.
                          Ex 2001 S54
                          New cars:
                          Lotus Carlton
                          350Z

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by MGR View Post
                            Not sure but you may have problems if you are keeping it in the BMW service network in terms of servicing as the computer will think its an M3 and all of the programs / updates etc will be M3 based as its all automatic now.

                            If you are not might be worth it.

                            Can't you just pick up a 2nd hand one from a crashed car ?

                            I think I'd just sort it properly either with a new one or a 2nd hand one.

                            Also one thing to note is the older DME things have a limited number of update s they can have before they have to be replaced. I think it is 15 so if getting a 2nd hand one then be aware of this.
                            I will be trying to pick one up from a crashed car however evo's are much more popular than S50's...Same part number anyway.

                            In the event of fitting a replacement unit, in theory I should be able to download all of the settings / software from my DME/ECU and upload them to a "clean" new/used unit.

                            Advised that - Keys are hard coded to the EWS module, not the ECU. Each EWS module contains an ISN (individual serial number). When you replace an ECU, you need to program this ISN into the new ECU (the alignment process), or the ECU/EWS will not talk.
                            Out: 99 S50 Titan Silver V876 KKO
                            In: 98 S50 Estoril.......

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              It is pretty straight forward replacing with a 2nd hand ECU and aligning the EWS with Autologic or the like. You should be able to get someone to do this for you for about £70.

                              I'm not sure how true the 15 updates thing is - I have written (remaps) to my old ECU and some customers ECU's far more than 15 times without any issues.

                              M3 EVO maps and MC maps are identical so you are fine using an ECU from an Evo. If you get stuck finding one let me know - I'm sure I will know someone that has one knocking around.

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