NEED HELP? P0015 (Vanos? Cam Position Sensor?)

JeffakaLucas · 10-14-2015, 06:04 PM

Car: 2007 335I (2 door, non nav, non i-drive)
Miles: 134,000
Mods: Vishnu proceed and vishnu intakes

Recent Work Done:
New starter, plugs, belt, new air filters, new front main seal, new water pump, new pulley, new tensioner, new battery, coolant flush.

Problem: P0015: Camshaft Position, Act B - bank 1, timing over retard

A little back story. I changed my spark plugs with OEM spark plugs to rid myself of a misfire under WOT. Upon completion, I started getting intermittent P0015 codes and limp mode.

One day, driving to work, my car stalled and then wouldn't start. I had it towed home and found that somehow in the middle of vanos problems my starter took a dump. So I replaced my starter and the car now starts fine.

So, at this point, I've replaced both the exhaust vanos solenoid and the exhaust cam position sensor. I've tried swapping each to see if the codes changes to P0014 with no dice.

My biggest problem is, my car sounds TERRIBLE right now. It sounds like it's knocking or having valve tap or something. When I turn the car off this awful knock/sequel thing happens so I don't want to keep repeating that.

I've search all over the boards and pretty much anyone that throws P0014/P0015 replace the solenoid and the CPS and they are back in action. I haven't read of anyone having noises associated with these codes. My code reader only reads P0015.

Anyone have any suggestions on what could be wrong? Or what I should try next?

UncleWede · 10-19-2015, 10:43 AM

Will watch to see what you find. I just put a piece of black electrical tape over my warning light to fix mine, but I never had any noises or deterioration of performance. Swapped and replaced sensors, ran some heavy duty oil cleaners, nothing did anything more than about 500 miles.

JeffakaLucas · 10-19-2015, 01:35 PM

I'm so frustrated. I'm not sure what to do beyond taking things apart and spending more money.

I've read so many threads so non of them lead to my problems. I hate tearing into things without a hint of what I'm looking for.

Car was running smoothly and then suddenly it all went bad. Only code it's throwing (OBDII, code FWIW) is P0015.

UncleWede · 10-19-2015, 04:53 PM

The other option, which I wasn't ready to do yet, involved Dr. Vanos. Basically you get a new one and the code goes away. . .

10-14-2015, 06:04 PM	#1
JeffakaLucas New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 3351 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Philly iTrader: (0)	NEED HELP? P0015 (Vanos? Cam Position Sensor?) Car: 2007 335I (2 door, non nav, non i-drive) Miles: 134,000 Mods: Vishnu proceed and vishnu intakes Recent Work Done: New starter, plugs, belt, new air filters, new front main seal, new water pump, new pulley, new tensioner, new battery, coolant flush. Problem: P0015: Camshaft Position, Act B - bank 1, timing over retard A little back story. I changed my spark plugs with OEM spark plugs to rid myself of a misfire under WOT. Upon completion, I started getting intermittent P0015 codes and limp mode. One day, driving to work, my car stalled and then wouldn't start. I had it towed home and found that somehow in the middle of vanos problems my starter took a dump. So I replaced my starter and the car now starts fine. So, at this point, I've replaced both the exhaust vanos solenoid and the exhaust cam position sensor. I've tried swapping each to see if the codes changes to P0014 with no dice. My biggest problem is, my car sounds TERRIBLE right now. It sounds like it's knocking or having valve tap or something. When I turn the car off this awful knock/sequel thing happens so I don't want to keep repeating that. I've search all over the boards and pretty much anyone that throws P0014/P0015 replace the solenoid and the CPS and they are back in action. I haven't read of anyone having noises associated with these codes. My code reader only reads P0015. Anyone have any suggestions on what could be wrong? Or what I should try next?
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10-19-2015, 10:43 AM	#2
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 18681 Rep 9,445 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	Will watch to see what you find. I just put a piece of black electrical tape over my warning light to fix mine, but I never had any noises or deterioration of performance. Swapped and replaced sensors, ran some heavy duty oil cleaners, nothing did anything more than about 500 miles.
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10-19-2015, 01:35 PM	#3
JeffakaLucas New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 3351 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Philly iTrader: (0)	I'm so frustrated. I'm not sure what to do beyond taking things apart and spending more money. I've read so many threads so non of them lead to my problems. I hate tearing into things without a hint of what I'm looking for. Car was running smoothly and then suddenly it all went bad. Only code it's throwing (OBDII, code FWIW) is P0015.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-19-2015, 04:53 PM	#4
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 18681 Rep 9,445 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	The other option, which I wasn't ready to do yet, involved Dr. Vanos. Basically you get a new one and the code goes away. . .
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