[timwicks]

I'm invested now Dormermike....it can't beat me!!!!!

[timwicks]

Hi All,

New update!!! Well I think for the first time a car has beaten me!!! After everything that i've done to the car and the amount of time and money I've spent the car this evening decided to show its hand and throw some codes, along with the codes were misfires and shuddering, a flashing MIL light and limp mode.

Codes were these
B2AAA
P0175 System too rich (Bank 2)
P0300 Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
P0302 Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected
P0303 Cylinder 3 Misfire Detected

All in all I think this is Dormermikes' fault for making me say I wasn't going to give up lmao (Sorry Dormermike!!!)

[Chappers 71]

Sorry to hear your still having issues.
You gonna have to decide if your going to cut your losses or keep plugging away.

[timwicks]

Chappers71 it is a petrol lol. Its a 320i N43 engine

[Chappers 71]

Lol, I know that, I had a bit of brain freeze. I will edit accordingly. Bloody petrol cars, you should have bought a diesel
You've had some bad luck though, hopefully it'll be something inexpensive

[timwicks]

Don't think so pal, looks like complete failure with all those codes. Cleared the codes and its not shuddering all over but its running so lumpy........not a quick trip to the docs this is now intensive care with a do not resuscitate order!!!!

Think ill go back to Volvo lol

[Chappers 71]

My e39 540i had an issue where it ran rough, & when you was in the car it felt as though the car was shuddering when stationary. After the main dealer threw a load of bits at it (under extended warranty fortunately ) it turned out to be a partially blocked cat.
Not saying that's what your problem is but maybe a second hand cat might be worth a go or do a bit of research to see if faulty cat issues match yours.

[timwicks]

I've done some internet trawling for those codes and they point to either coil packs, spark plugs, injectors, cat......the list goes on lol

[Chappers 71]

You could try temporarily removing the o2 sensor, if the car runs better then it could well be the cat or get a exhaust gas analyst, or just sell it

[old grey steve]

timwicks from reading what you've posted you've gone through a fair bit sadly on these engine issues are commonplace, one thing with combustion misfires people often overlook is something quie simple intake air leak or an actuator issue within the manifold.

The actuator sits at the lower section of the manifold if you can picture it No17 in the enclosed link http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E9...em/#7546982_17

If this gets carbon'd up it will start to seize and can with time/wear begin rattle if this were the case it will play havoc with mixtrure and fuel trim. Again on the manifold you have thing slike diofferentual pressure sensors as well as pressure valve/electric valve thing slike reading codes can/may get you searching without finding a solution.

Other things to look at include a tank vent valve often overlooked but can trigger re poor fuel quality nad if the cars been run low on fuel again this will trigger all sorts of things. Fuel pumps can be problemtatic too. Thing is whre do you start?

Thing I've leanr't about these engine is as you opening title suggests they can be hell!!! You can as you have discoverd spend time money chasing your tail yet when you stand back and look at where you are you seem tonot be getting anywhere.

Here's one thing I bet you haven't thought about... Before throwing parts on a car as you are seeing a fault in front of you get it anaylised by someone with specific knowledge of the breed but my point is oddly wnough I've seen software updates solve a multitude of issue which on the surface they have no right to do, I've been in some cases amazed by what a software update can offer in certain cases

But fair play to you for keeping with it

[timwicks]

Hi All,

Sorry not been around to reply, crazy busy at work, after the car showed its hand with all the misfires etc I found an airleak from the inlet manifold. Changed the gasket and codes and misfire are now, hopefully, a thing of the past lol.

So to update you all on this yellow brick road to a petrol can and set of matches, I now have one code that shows up intermittantly, say every 100-150 miles, is P0175 too rich on bank 2. Now I'm thinking the best option would be to change both O2 sensors, more because of the mileage than anything and see what happens.

Old Grey Steve, thanks for weighing in, your quite right, I seem to be waiting for the next thing with this engine. I wanted to take it down to the south of france in August, just not sure I can trust it.

[timwicks]

Chappers 71, selling it is to admit defeat.......not allowed lol!!!!

[N43B20A]

Originally Posted by timwicks

Hi All,

Sorry not been around to reply, crazy busy at work, after the car showed its hand with all the misfires etc I found an airleak from the inlet manifold. Changed the gasket and codes and misfire are now, hopefully, a thing of the past lol.

So to update you all on this yellow brick road to a petrol can and set of matches, I now have one code that shows up intermittantly, say every 100-150 miles, is P0175 too rich on bank 2. Now I'm thinking the best option would be to change both O2 sensors, more because of the mileage than anything and see what happens.

Old Grey Steve, thanks for weighing in, your quite right, I seem to be waiting for the next thing with this engine. I wanted to take it down to the south of france in August, just not sure I can trust it.

Hello, timwicks,

Thank you for updates and glad to hear you sorted the misfires. Sadly, I have the same problem and also struggling to find a solution. Please, can you tell me the part number of the gasket you replaced. Thank you!

Good luck going forward!

[timwicks]

Hi All,

Sorry ive not been around, been away with work, anyway more updates and a little bit further down the line........

nclsamy, don't bother changing the inlet manifold gasket, it was a sheep in wolves clothing and eventually made no difference.

I got back in the car on Monday after my trip and started her up, immediately a lot of rough idling and misfires again. Had the car recovered to Sytner BMW in Nottingham who were happy enough to charge me £150 for what appears to be a 15 minute plug in (aka BMW Diagnostic report). Their computer said that all 4 injectors were misfiring, but please remember that all 4 have already been changed.

Anyway, I went and bought a brand new spanking set of injectors, all installed yesterday and the car drove lovely for about 20 miles. Parked it up over night and from cold start we have a misfire again......this is where it gets interesting.

Read the codes using Carly Pro and there it was, Misfire Cylinder 4, swapped over ignition coils with cylinder 3 and misfire disappeared, drove very very well, and using Torque Pro detected no misfires.....mmmmmm happy days.

Started the car from cold tonight and there it is again, rough idling and misfires, codes read again and this time Misfire on Cylinder 1.

So now I'm thinking that this makes no logical sense, a misfire can't just "jump" cylinders for no apparent reason......

I throw this to the floor lol..............

[Dormermike]

I would be back to BMW asking for the 1200 quid or whatever you paid for those injectors for a start.

BMW are hopeless with anything beyond brake pads and pollen filters IMO.

Have you replaced the coilpacks? Compression test?

Get yourself INPa or ISTA save on BMW trial and error fees.

[timwicks]

Hi Dormermike, I'm already in the process of getting my refund lol I've got the Carly App for android which is really quite good. The Torque Pro app read the codes as P0301 Cylinder 1 misfire but the Carly App read 0029cd Cylinder 1 misfire - Injection not switched on!!!

P.S. Still not letting it beat me lol

[timwicks]

This is the actual wording

Engine / Motor
Misfire, cylinder 1: Injection is switched off
Code: 0029CD

[timwicks]

Sorry Doremermike I didnt answer your questions, the coil packes were changed in September last year, spark plugs 4 weeks ago (NGK) and not been able to get a compression test as yet.

Not sure that compression is an issue as the misfire has now jumped from cylinder 4 this morning to cylinder 1 this evening, this only change made was to swap coil 3 to coil 4

Doesnt seem logical to me!!

[Rustymage]

Take it for a visit to the scrappie and rough it up a little - perhaps it'll drive right after...bit of tough love

[Dormermike]

Wiring loom to injectors or coils, or ECU fault perhaps

I would be using ISTA personally as I think you get more insight into what the actual codes are.

[John08]

timwicks,
You problem is solved if you replace all valve stem seals. Those seals are cooked, and the oil is mixing with fuel in the cylinders.Then you have jumping missfire. That mixture can't be ignited and it's pushed in your CAT, oxigen sensor is going crazy. Change those seals and "beat" that car

[Dormermike]

Originally Posted by John08

timwicks,
You problem is solved if you replace all valve stem seals. Those seals are cooked, and the oil is mixing with fuel in the cylinders.Then you have jumping missfire. That mixture can't be ignited and it's pushed in your CAT, oxigen sensor is going crazy. Change those seals and "beat" that car

Interesting theory.. would make sense as these engines run hot.. speaking from experience?