[RingBredE90]

Hi All,
I am having a issue for several weeks now. When I start my car everything is fine, diving around, fine, however when I come to a stop such as a red light, after a few seconds my engine revs up briefly and then the RPM's fall back down and my engine light comes on.

I had a friend scan the code and it was "2A82 Vanos Inlet". I ran the code again a few days later and this time it was "P0012 Camshaft Position - Timing over-retarted Bank 1".

So I did some research on the forums here and found out I can try cleaning the solenoids. I cleaned them both and it did not fix the issue. Then last week I replaced both the intake and exhaust solenoids with brand new ones. I am still having the issue.

Not sure what to do next, any advice on what the problem could be? What should my next step be?

Thanks in advance!

[hassmaschine]

Vanos screens?

[Efthreeoh]

Sounds like one of the cam position sensors.

[matteblue3er]

A failing eccentric shaft sensor can often throw vanos or cam related faults without throwing a fault for the ESS itself.

[NiNeTyOne]

I agree with Efthreeoh here, but when you go to do these you should make a point of flushing the oil, as this is a good time to get any and all the build up in your heads and oil pan cleaned out.

I do this as a matter of routine every third oil change using LiquiMoly Engine Flush. A quick look inside my VC with the bore scope shows how clean my top end has stayed as a result.

Just dump it in and let the car idle for 15 minutes and it does it's job. Dump all the oil and refill. I've been using Ceratec added to the oil every third change, immediately after the flush as well and I've picked up a few more miles per gallon and my motor is on average a few degrees cooler. We run it in the race motors as well and have seen very positive results in terms of bearing, cam & valve guide wear.

Some times you can get lucky with a gunked up sensor as well, but don't count on it.

If I was about to change CPS & VANOS solenoids I'd make a point of getting fresh clean oil in at the same time. Just makes good sense.

[RingBredE90]

Thanks guys for the advice. How many cam position sensors are there, is it just one?

[hassmaschine]

Two, one for each cam

[sirantsE90]

Originally Posted by RingBredE90

Thanks guys for the advice. How many cam position sensors are there, is it just one?

Similar issue this week. Although my is the crankshaft position sensor. Lots of fun to get to under the starter. The cam position sensor is a 5 min job.

Good luck dude.

[RingBredE90]

Thanks, so "A" camshaft position sensor bank 1, would that imply the intake or exhaust sensor? Maybe better just to change both while im at it...

[sirantsE90]

Originally Posted by RingBredE90

Thanks, so "A" camshaft position sensor bank 1, would that imply the intake or exhaust sensor? Maybe better just to change both while im at it...

Not sure. Both are on the front of the head so will only take a couple min. They flank the solenoids. Just do one first to see if it fixes it.

[hassmaschine]

typically, A = Auslass = Outlet/Exhaust

but I believe both cam sensors are the same, so you could just get one and put it wherever it needs to be.

[RingBredE90]

Thanks gents, I guess I will order and replace both just in case.
I heard that these things do fail around 100 - 150k as well as the vanos solenoids.

[RingBredE90]

Ok so I have replaced the intake and exhaust solenoids and both cam sensors and I am still having the same issue! I dont know what else to do, any suggestions?

Thank You

[Three_thirty_I]

Have you inspected the Check valves that filter the oil going to the Vanos solenoids? They can get pretty clogged up if the oil is a bit dirtier than it should be. They can be cleaned, but if really dirty, cheap enough to just replace. Not saying that this is the issue, but have read of people with similar persistent issues that seemed to be a Vanos solenoid issue only to turn out to be really dirty Check valves. They are located (two of them) on the exhaust side of the cylinder head just forward of the forward exhaust manifold.

[ZeroSum]

following.

[RingBredE90]

Originally Posted by Three_thirty_I

Have you inspected the Check valves that filter the oil going to the Vanos solenoids? They can get pretty clogged up if the oil is a bit dirtier than it should be. They can be cleaned, but if really dirty, cheap enough to just replace. Not saying that this is the issue, but have read of people with similar persistent issues that seemed to be a Vanos solenoid issue only to turn out to be really dirty Check valves. They are located (two of them) on the exhaust side of the cylinder head just forward of the forward exhaust manifold.

No I have not checked them. Would you know if there is a DIY on it or a picture of where they are located?

Thank You

[Three_thirty_I]

Originally Posted by RingBredE90

No I have not checked them. Would you know if there is a DIY on it or a picture of where they are located?

Thank You

Here we go: DIY: VANOS Check Valve Replacement

Hope this helps.

[RingBredE90]

Originally Posted by Three_thirty_I

Here we go: DIY: VANOS Check Valve Replacement

Hope this helps.

Thanks I will look in to it.
I do have some oil stains on my driveway so I will need to see where that is coming from as well. I wonder if its related...

[Phil325i]

Originally Posted by RingBredE90

I wonder if its related...

Doubt it. If your check valves were leaking, you'd have oil everywhere as it's under pressure...

[Three_thirty_I]

Originally Posted by Phil325i

Doubt it. If your check valves were leaking, you'd have oil everywhere as it's under pressure...

And I am pretty sure you would smell burnt oil since they are located so close to the forward exhaust manifold. Look around the key areas of the engine to see if there are oil leaks, rear exhaust side of the valve cover gasket, oil filter housing, engine to gearbox (rear main seal), etc.

[RingBredE90]

Well I took out the check valves and they were totally clean. I cleaned them up a bit anyways and put them back in. I am still having the same issue. Note that I am no longer having the vanos inlet issue. Now I only have "P0012 Camshaft Position - Timing over-retarted Bank 1"

Dont know what else to check.

[Three_thirty_I]

I wonder if it could the Vanos adjuster unit itself?? They can fail, but not sure to what extent, usually it's just the solenoids that give problems. Out of interest, at what point did the one issue/error go away?