E9X Vanos Solenoid Cleaning

bigdaddycane · 07-29-2013, 09:15 AM

Guys,

I'm posting this so no one goes through what I went through last Wednesday afternoon. The Vanos solenoids in the 325, 328, 330 and 335's can get clogged and cause a car to go into limp mode or not be driveable at all.

My 335 threw a check engine light in Tysons Corner and went into severe limp mode that would not clear. I pulled the codes with my JB4 and BT tool which showed a 2A82 Vanos Intake error and the 3100 Low Boost code which accompanies any major check engine light to try to protect the motor if the car is driven any further. I researched the Vanos Intake code and found quite a bit of detail. I was shocked to know that a simple solenoid that controls oil to the specific camshaft can control the cam settings on this car. I had to call AAA and get my car towed to my house so I could try the cleaning of the solenoids. Taking a car to the dealer for this process will cost a minimum $350.

The following DIY post is the one I used to perform the removal and cleaning of both vanos solenoids. I swapped them as instructed in the re-install and everything worked well again.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=486201

This is an excellent DIY and it should be noted that you DON'T need to buy new solenoids ($110 each at Tischer) for the first round of trouble shooting. Clean them first and see if that fixes the problem. The process takes about 30 minutes and can be performed by even novices wrench turners. if you can change the oil on one of these cars YOU CAN DO THIS SOLENOID CLEANING. If the cleaning of the solenoids does not fix the problem you may need a new solenoid or you may have the dreaded 'cam ledge' problem, which is a very big deal to fix.

I wish I had known about this prior to last week, I would have done the cleaning just to make sure this never happened to me. Heed this tale and clean them before you have your car towed home or to the dealer.

Pat@sonictuning · 07-29-2013, 09:35 AM

Good write up. Sorry that happened to your car Sean.

bigdaddycane · 07-29-2013, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pat@sonictuning

Good write up. Sorry that happened to your car Sean.

Thanks Pat....it scared the S out of me at first....the car would barely run. Once I figured out what the issue was I called AAA. Towing fees were about the only cost to fix this....definitely lucky.

Better get your Pops to clean his out, his car is an 07 correct?

Laid Black 335i · 07-29-2013, 10:17 AM

Thanks Hurricane, definitely a good resource.

flip4335 · 07-29-2013, 11:07 AM

Thanks, Sean

I appreciate the heads up!

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdaddycane

Better get your Pops to clean his out, his car is an 07 correct?

xzibit a · 07-29-2013, 11:30 AM

might do that soon i just hit 85k

bigdaddycane · 07-29-2013, 11:41 AM

No problem Flipper, I gotta look out for my Ashburn peeps....

anyone local who wants pointers on this, hit me up and I will show you how to do it fast now that I have done it.

bigdog34uz · 07-29-2013, 11:47 AM

I actually had that problem several years ago coming back from the Philly Cheesesteak run. I never thought about cleaning them so i just bought new Vanos' and replaced them myself. I'm no tech but it was pretty easy.

Glad everything worked out for you doe!!

gtaccord · 07-29-2013, 11:54 AM

This is a known issue but usually doesn't pop up until high mileage or hard driving (at the track). Glad cleaning worked for you.

bigdaddycane · 07-29-2013, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtaccord

This is a known issue but usually doesn't pop up until high mileage or hard driving (at the track). Glad cleaning worked for you.

The research I did last week showed cars with varying degrees of mileage....not always high mileage. My car has 64K on the clock which is not that high.

I still don't know if I'm out of the woods....I need to datalog and see if anything weird shows up.

Stucks · 07-29-2013, 12:04 PM

Thanks for the heads up! def going to this next sean!

bigdog34uz · 07-31-2013, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stucks

Thanks for the heads up! def going to this next sean!

Shut up!

f30er · 08-01-2013, 09:47 AM

I've had this problem for ~5 years now. Happens mostly when it's warm outside (>80-05 degrees). Just happened again last week too. I generally just clean them and swap them around which fixes the problem for the year. Never completely replaced them.

bigdaddycane · 08-01-2013, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e92er

I've had this problem for ~5 years now. Happens mostly when it's warm outside (>80-05 degrees). Just happened again last week too. I generally just clean them and swap them around which fixes the problem for the year. Never completely replaced them.

what problems is the car experiencing?

why not replace them after 4+ years of it?

f30er · 08-01-2013, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdaddycane

what problems is the car experiencing?

why not replace them after 4+ years of it?

Goes into limp mode, starts shuddering when you give it a heavy throttle...

I haven't replaced them because after swapping the intake w/ the exhaust solenoid, it goes away for a year or so...likely just something caused it to be sticky or something....

Stucks · 08-01-2013, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdog34uz

Shut up!

give me my stock airbox then.

Ubersmooth · 08-04-2013, 12:29 AM

Oh man, my cars at around 62k. I should definitely do this soon just as a precaution. This will be the first thing I do to the car, this is way more important than modding. Thanks for sharing this!

bigdog34uz · 08-04-2013, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stucks

give me my stock airbox then.

hahaha gold airbox!!!

07-29-2013, 09:15 AM	#1
bigdaddycane I even mod my cereal 245 Rep 3,441 Posts Drives: 11 ZCP DCT M3 14 328d 21 GT4 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Northern Va iTrader: (53) Garage List 2021 Porsche GT4 [0.00] 2014 BMW 328d Xdriv ... [0.00] 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	E9X Vanos Solenoid Cleaning - IMPORTANT PLEASE READ Guys, I'm posting this so no one goes through what I went through last Wednesday afternoon. The Vanos solenoids in the 325, 328, 330 and 335's can get clogged and cause a car to go into limp mode or not be driveable at all. My 335 threw a check engine light in Tysons Corner and went into severe limp mode that would not clear. I pulled the codes with my JB4 and BT tool which showed a 2A82 Vanos Intake error and the 3100 Low Boost code which accompanies any major check engine light to try to protect the motor if the car is driven any further. I researched the Vanos Intake code and found quite a bit of detail. I was shocked to know that a simple solenoid that controls oil to the specific camshaft can control the cam settings on this car. I had to call AAA and get my car towed to my house so I could try the cleaning of the solenoids. Taking a car to the dealer for this process will cost a minimum $350. The following DIY post is the one I used to perform the removal and cleaning of both vanos solenoids. I swapped them as instructed in the re-install and everything worked well again. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=486201 This is an excellent DIY and it should be noted that you DON'T need to buy new solenoids ($110 each at Tischer) for the first round of trouble shooting. Clean them first and see if that fixes the problem. The process takes about 30 minutes and can be performed by even novices wrench turners. if you can change the oil on one of these cars YOU CAN DO THIS SOLENOID CLEANING. If the cleaning of the solenoids does not fix the problem you may need a new solenoid or you may have the dreaded 'cam ledge' problem, which is a very big deal to fix. I wish I had known about this prior to last week, I would have done the cleaning just to make sure this never happened to me. Heed this tale and clean them before you have your car towed home or to the dealer. __________________ 2011 Mineral White M3 ZCP - Opticoat, Ventureshield, some CF, B&B exhaust, AFE Intake Vorsteiner VFF 101s Ohlins 2014 Mineral White 328d Xdrive Wagon - Opticoat, Ventureshield, B8s, H&R, Apex SM-10s Hawk Pads 2021 718 Cayman GT4 - Fire extinguiser Last edited by bigdaddycane; 07-29-2013 at 10:25 AM.. Reason: Revised - All N54, N52, N51 etc.
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07-29-2013, 09:35 AM	#2
Pat@sonictuning Major General 370 Rep 7,902 Posts Drives: Porsche 996 Turbo Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: NOVA iTrader: (145)	Good write up. Sorry that happened to your car Sean.
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07-29-2013, 10:17 AM	#4
Laid Black 335i BMW 71 Rep 974 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 335i (6MT) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: MD iTrader: (7)	Thanks Hurricane, definitely a good resource. __________________
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07-29-2013, 11:30 AM	#6
xzibit a Captain 33 Rep 676 Posts Drives: 07 335i Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: NOVA iTrader: (1)	might do that soon i just hit 85k
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07-29-2013, 11:41 AM	#7
bigdaddycane I even mod my cereal 245 Rep 3,441 Posts Drives: 11 ZCP DCT M3 14 328d 21 GT4 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Northern Va iTrader: (53) Garage List 2021 Porsche GT4 [0.00] 2014 BMW 328d Xdriv ... [0.00] 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	No problem Flipper, I gotta look out for my Ashburn peeps.... anyone local who wants pointers on this, hit me up and I will show you how to do it fast now that I have done it. __________________ 2011 Mineral White M3 ZCP - Opticoat, Ventureshield, some CF, B&B exhaust, AFE Intake Vorsteiner VFF 101s Ohlins 2014 Mineral White 328d Xdrive Wagon - Opticoat, Ventureshield, B8s, H&R, Apex SM-10s Hawk Pads 2021 718 Cayman GT4 - Fire extinguiser
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07-29-2013, 11:47 AM	#8
bigdog34uz Major 89 Rep 1,279 Posts Drives: 2007 e90 335i Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: VA iTrader: (3) Garage List 2012 bmw n55 335i [0.00]	I actually had that problem several years ago coming back from the Philly Cheesesteak run. I never thought about cleaning them so i just bought new Vanos' and replaced them myself. I'm no tech but it was pretty easy. Glad everything worked out for you doe!! __________________ 13.01 @ 107.6mph Mods: OETuning........ 13.00 @ 108.89 JB4 Times
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07-29-2013, 11:54 AM	#9
gtaccord Major 56 Rep 1,464 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW 335xi Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Maryland iTrader: (7) Garage List 2009 BMW 335i xdrive [0.00]	This is a known issue but usually doesn't pop up until high mileage or hard driving (at the track). Glad cleaning worked for you.
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07-29-2013, 12:04 PM	#11
Stucks Lieutenant Colonel 172 Rep 1,909 Posts Drives: 2017 F30 340i Xdrive Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Montgomery County, MD iTrader: (12)	Thanks for the heads up! def going to this next sean! __________________ Current: 2017 F30 340i xdrive Previous: 2008 e92 335i coupe: RB turbos, mach 116 race fuel, methanol, alot of boost. Previous: 2003 Honda Accord V6 coupe: AEM V2, zex 75 wet shot (sold)
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08-01-2013, 09:47 AM	#13
f30er Captain 126 Rep 993 Posts Drives: F85 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: OTP iTrader: (6) Garage List 2014 Jaguar F-Type R [0.00] 2016 GMC Yukon XL [0.00] 2018 BMW X5M [0.00]	I've had this problem for ~5 years now. Happens mostly when it's warm outside (>80-05 degrees). Just happened again last week too. I generally just clean them and swap them around which fixes the problem for the year. Never completely replaced them.
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08-04-2013, 12:29 AM	#17
Ubersmooth Captain 316 Rep 977 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: NoVa iTrader: (1)	Oh man, my cars at around 62k. I should definitely do this soon just as a precaution. This will be the first thing I do to the car, this is way more important than modding. Thanks for sharing this!
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