[kevlarblue]

I suspected a leaking injector and I was able to source 3 new index -12s so I installed them into cylinders 2, 5 and 6 (I know, I should do all 6 but $$$). I installed them with no issues and coded them with Protool and started the car. It was only running on 3 cylinders and immediately threw 2E3X Fuel Injector, Cylinder X Activation on cylinders 2, 5 and 6.

When I shut it off and looked under the hood there was a puddle of fuel around each of the new injectors, I am not exactly sure what part of the injector/head the fuel came from because I wasn't able to watch from the driver's seat.

Did I do something wrong? Are the injectors bogus? How could fuel end up on top of the head instead of in the combustion chamber?

Yes, they were seated all the way down just like the other 3 injectors and I had the retaining clip tightened all the way down. I open to any ideas before I go back to all of my original injectors.

Fuel on top of the head:
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...qEGLx4ips2pscX

Old Injector on left, new on the right:
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...pWlCIUIyQzbu78

Back of old injector (left) and new (right)
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...GLuZ7valN1SJ1Q

[konstat]

Originally Posted by kevlarblue

I suspected a leaking injector and I was able to source 3 new index -12s so I installed them into cylinders 2, 5 and 6 (I know, I should do all 6 but $$$). I installed them with no issues and coded them with Protool and started the car. It was only running on 3 cylinders and immediately threw 2E3X Fuel Injector, Cylinder X Activation on cylinders 2, 5 and 6.

When I shut it off and looked under the hood there was a puddle of fuel around each of the new injectors, I am not exactly sure what part of the injector/head the fuel came from because I wasn't able to watch from the driver's seat.

Did I do something wrong? Are the injectors bogus? How could fuel end up on top of the head instead of in the combustion chamber?

Yes, they were seated all the way down just like the other 3 injectors and I had the retaining clip tightened all the way down. I open to any ideas before I go back to all of my original injectors.

Fuel on top of the head:
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipNX2DsQcZOp4j1yeKtC1gnPxcqEGLx4ips2pscX

Old Injector on left, new on the right:
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipMMvfV1vVzSwHe3DAFtkO9efKpWlCIUIyQzbu78

Back of old injector (left) and new (right)
https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipP6EE3PSSb06s74daAw6RtMZsGLuZ7valN1SJ1Q

Did you torque the fuel line that runs across the valve cover to spec? The lines also have to be seated properly in the fuel rail and the injector.

Those lines can only be reused 5 times (forget the exact number) before they need to be replaced.

[dmckmc]

can't open the pics so this is a general thing to check. i've seen several times on the forums where the injector hold down clips were replaced upside down and not providing enough force to hold them. keep at it, you'll likely figure it out. we've all struggled with a simple repair gone wrong. like when i dropped a valve fully into the cylinder when changing valve seals!

[sparkyte]

Can you upload the pictures somewhere else so we can see? On my first injector install i broke the bolt that holds the bracket on the inner most injectors under the strut, because i was lazy to remove the strut and the bolt did not go straight. Oh well xd

[kevlarblue]

The new injectors have a "SIEMENS VDO" logo on the back and do not have the "EO" etching on the front.

[kevlarblue]

Originally Posted by konstat

Did you torque the fuel line that runs across the valve cover to spec? The lines also have to be seated properly in the fuel rail and the injector.

Those lines can only be reused 5 times (forget the exact number) before they need to be replaced.

Thanks. Yes, those were seated properly. The fuel was getting through the lines to at least the top of the injector. I've done a VCG before and successfully installed all of the fuel lines without this result.

[kevlarblue]

Originally Posted by dmckmc

can't open the pics so this is a general thing to check. i've seen several times on the forums where the injector hold down clips were replaced upside down and not providing enough force to hold them. keep at it, you'll likely figure it out. we've all struggled with a simple repair gone wrong. like when i dropped a valve fully into the cylinder when changing valve seals!

Yikes! Did that result in the removal of the head? Yes, the retaining brackets were installed the same way they came off - in a convex manner where the high point is at the center and the pressure goes down onto the injectors. I also made sure the injectors were all the way down in their home just like the 3 injectors I did not remove.

Thanks for encouragement, I'm out of ideas on these ones and might get a used injector to help troubleshoot. If I reinstall my original index -12s and they work then it has to be something wrong with these 3.

[kevlarblue]

Originally Posted by sparkyte

Can you upload the pictures somewhere else so we can see? On my first injector install i broke the bolt that holds the bracket on the inner most injectors under the strut, because i was lazy to remove the strut and the bolt did not go straight. Oh well xd

I was also too lazy to remove the strut - I'm guilty of finding the "quick" way to do things. But I found the right combination of extensions to reach the bolt for cylinders 5 and 6.

[lookalikehuuh]

I don't know if its just me, but that Siemens VDO injector looks like a knockoff injector. Not sure if I missed the answer to this but where did you source these injectors from?

[konstat]

Originally Posted by kevlarblue

Thanks. Yes, those were seated properly. The fuel was getting through the lines to at least the top of the injector. I've done a VCG before and successfully installed all of the fuel lines without this result.

Only other non welded connection on the fuel injector (unless the welds on the injectors are broken and leaking) is the fitting that comes on the injector itself which serves as an adapter between the fuel line and the injector body.

Are you willing to start the car again? I’d clear codes and have a second person start the car while you inspect the injectors. That’s assuming the injectors are cutting fuel when the DME throws the code, giving you a short time to see where the leak is coming from. If they leak continuously then I wouldn’t think you’d need a second person.

[kevlarblue]

Originally Posted by lookalikehuuh

I don't know if its just me, but that Siemens VDO injector looks like a knockoff injector. Not sure if I missed the answer to this but where did you source these injectors from?

That's what I'm afraid of, I don't think these are going to work - I was just thinking maybe I did something wrong during the install. I didn't buy these from any reputable supplier, just found them on the cheap and took a chance. Lesson learned.

[kevlarblue]

Originally Posted by konstat

Only other non welded connection on the fuel injector (unless the welds on the injectors are broken and leaking) is the fitting that comes on the injector itself which serves as an adapter between the fuel line and the injector body.

Are you willing to start the car again? I’d clear codes and have a second person start the car while you inspect the injectors. That’s assuming the injectors are cutting fuel when the DME throws the code, giving you a short time to see where the leak is coming from. If they leak continuously then I wouldn’t think you’d need a second person.

I took that adapter off thinking maybe it was blocked and it isn't. I did start start the twice and cleared the codes in between but it didn't change. I might do it again to see where the fuel is coming from and I'll let you know.

Most likely I'll be putting the original injectors back in until I can find another solution. Thanks for input.

[lookalikehuuh]

Originally Posted by kevlarblue

That's what I'm afraid of, I don't think these are going to work - I was just thinking maybe I did something wrong during the install. I didn't buy these from any reputable supplier, just found them on the cheap and took a chance. Lesson learned.

Yeah they are for sure counterfeit injectors. Take them out and light them on fire, then throw them in the trash.

FYI I could be wrong but I believe the actual manufacturer of the injector is Vitesco so Siemens isn't even the OEM for the injectors from what I understand.

[kevlarblue]

Originally Posted by lookalikehuuh

Yeah they are for sure counterfeit injectors. Take them out and light them on fire, then throw them in the trash.

FYI I could be wrong but I believe the actual manufacturer of the injector is Vitesco so Siemens isn't even the OEM for the injectors from what I understand.

I now have all 6 original injectors back in (installed exactly the same way) and the car runs fine. The injectors I bought are trash

I'm still baffled at how they acted in the car, fuel ran through them but maybe not into the combustion chamber.

It's getting so expensive to keep this car running, but any injector that isn't $400-500 just isn't going to work.

[kevlarblue]

I got a video of the car running and you can see the fuel spraying up and all over the engine. Watch the #2 injector closely.

[lookalikehuuh]

Originally Posted by kevlarblue

I got a video of the car running and you can see the fuel spraying up and all over the engine. Watch the #2 injector closely.

Yeah that thing is spraying the whole engine like a sprinkler... absolute garbage!

The BEST advice anyone here will give you is DO NOT buy aftermarket parts from poor resellers. BMWs in particular are extremely sensitive to parts quality so poor quality parts from eBay, autozone, oreilly, napa etc WILL cause you more heartache than they are worth.

Always source your parts from a proper supplier like FCP Euro, Turners, Pelican Parts, etc. A lot of times these places will actually be cheaper than local discount parts places too.