[sx33]

I've just bought a E92 2011 335i last week with this annoying sound which occour everey time I:
- Unlock the car
- Lock the car
- Close a door, if it's been open for a while, even passenger side door.

The sound comes from somewhere under the hood, all my searches come down to that its the sound of fuel pump priming, even though I haven't found a recording of how it does sound.

In this youtube video one person is having the exact same symptoms as I do. The clip isn't mine, but the symptoms are exactly the same.

But IMO it sounds quite loud, never heard anything like it before.

Should be worried? Or is it normal to have AK47 under the hood?

(Sorry for my bad grammar)

[Karbon]

I'm no mechanic but that doesn't sound normal at all.

The pump turning on when the car has been sitting for a while and you unlock it or open a door is totally normal. It should normally be quiet and not have any clicking at all.

Here's the only vid I could find for a comparison. You can BARELY hear the sound in the vid, but the fuel pump primes itself at 29 seconds into the video. That's what it should sound like. (you'll have to turn your volume up, the sound is low in the video) Not my video!

I'd say it's possible that the pump is going bad.
If you just bought it you should let the dealer know about the issue assuming you didn't buy it private party.

[sx33]

Thanks for the reply mate,
The sound on the vid you posted doesn't occour on my car, so it's probably same thing but my sounds much louder, clicking and so.

What kind of pump is it that primes? Is it the HPFP or the LPFP or is it a stand alone pump dedicated for priming?

I've bought it from a private seller, he told me it's been sounding like that since he bought it 2 years ago and 20.000 kilometers ago.

Would be of interest if anyone else ran into this problem before.

[Karbon]

Originally Posted by sx33

Thanks for the reply mate,
The sound on the vid you posted doesn't occour on my car, so it's probably same thing but my sounds much louder, clicking and so.

What kind of pump is it that primes? Is it the HPFP or the LPFP or is it a stand alone pump dedicated for priming?

I've bought it from a private seller, he told me it's been sounding like that since he bought it 2 years ago and 20.000 kilometers ago.

Would be of interest if anyone else ran into this problem before.

HPFP is most likely the culprit.

The issue here is since you have a 2011 it's the N55 engine.
BMW issued an extended warranty on N54 HPFP's back in 2010 covering them for an additional 2 years or 120k miles.

I don't think they have said anything about the N55 HPFP and you're in Sweden so not sure how any recall would apply there.

I would call the BMW dealer near you and see if it's covered under some kind of extended warranty or recall. It's worth a shot.

Good luck!

[sx33]

Alright, thats not good.. I know you guys are in the states, but how much do a HPFP replace cost?

I have the car insured with 8 years / 120.000 kilometer engine/electronic failure, all I got to do is to pay 20% of cost but I have no clue what it would cost to get it replaced, but I think it has to be broken first, not just different sound.

But I have noticed that the engine takes about 20 seconds to stabilize the idle after i've started it. it doesn't jump much, but it's noticeble.

I have a ELM 327 from my old car, would I be able fetch some codes with it or do I need more professional tools?

[Karbon]

Originally Posted by sx33

Alright, thats not good.. I know you guys are in the states, but how much do a HPFP replace cost?

I have the car insured with 8 years / 120.000 kilometer engine/electronic failure, all I got to do is to pay 20% of cost but I have no clue what it would cost to get it replaced, but I think it has to be broken first, not just different sound.

But I have noticed that the engine takes about 20 seconds to stabilize the idle after i've started it. it doesn't jump much, but it's noticeble.

I have a ELM 327 from my old car, would I be able fetch some codes with it or do I need more professional tools?

It should work - looks like it's an OBDII. Not sure if you will get any codes though.

From searching vendors in the states, it looks like the HPFP costs $250-$300.
Of course, no idea what it would cost in Sweden.

It's not an expensive part, but no clue how labor intensive it would be to replace it.

Again, that's assuming your HPFP is what's making the clicking and is indeed going bad. I can only surmise it is given the video.

[924er]

Originally Posted by sx33

Alright, thats not good.. I know you guys are in the states, but how much do a HPFP replace cost?

I have the car insured with 8 years / 120.000 kilometer engine/electronic failure, all I got to do is to pay 20% of cost but I have no clue what it would cost to get it replaced, but I think it has to be broken first, not just different sound.

But I have noticed that the engine takes about 20 seconds to stabilize the idle after i've started it. it doesn't jump much, but it's noticeble.

I have a ELM 327 from my old car, would I be able fetch some codes with it or do I need more professional tools?

Something is for sure broken, I wouldn't quickly assume it's the HPFP, there is something called an eccentric sensor that goes bad on n55s but anyhow it's not your job to diagnose the problem yourself.

You have a warranty. Take it to a BMW dealer and pay your 20% of the price like you said. Don't waste your time on the forums man just get it fixed with your warranty.

The previous owner must be retarded to think its normal to have your car sound like an uzi when you unlock it

[sx33]

It isn't actually a warranty, it's an insurance.. If I decide to use the insurance I loose my bonus class at the company, so depending on how much it would cost to repair I'll need to decide weither to pay it from my own wallet or using the insurance.

I'm quite handy and usually replace brakes and dampers and such things on my own so I wouldn't be surprised if I repair the car by my self, as long as I know whats broken

But I've spent almost the whole day searching and the only similar I've found is the one in the YT link in the original post, so this is probably not a common problem so I'll better let the BMW shop have a look and tell me whats wrong.

And yes, the previous owner must have been full retard. unfortunatly I didn't notice the sound when I looked at the car, but when I got home.

[924er]

Originally Posted by sx33

It isn't actually a warranty, it's an insurance.. If I decide to use the insurance I loose my bonus class at the company, so depending on how much it would cost to repair I'll need to decide weither to pay it from my own wallet or using the insurance.

I'm quite handy and usually replace brakes and dampers and such things on my own so I wouldn't be surprised if I repair the car by my self, as long as I know whats broken

But I've spent almost the whole day searching and the only similar I've found is the one in the YT link in the original post, so this is probably not a common problem so I'll better let the BMW shop have a look and tell me whats wrong.

And yes, the previous owner must have been full retard. unfortunatly I didn't notice the sound when I looked at the car, but when I got home.

Oh I see. Well then you need to get the problem diagnosed before u spend money on parts. Did u scan for codes? I've heard that sound before and it's something that needs to be addressed as there is a faulty part

[kiel_dafo_kenyg_as]

Check the throttle valve (if there is one)
I'm not familiar with the N55

[sx33]

Yes, I will get the car diagnosed ASAP, thought I would do some investigation on my own as it's weekend and the shops are closed.

The initiation pattern of this is very similar to what I read about fuel prime, which occours when opening/closing doors, unlocking, turning off engine and so. So it's prolly something with the Pump.

[sx33]

Google is my friend!
Actually found a forum thread from the video author and according to him/her the problem was: eccentric shaft sensor

Now I need to find out if its worth doing the job myself or letting someone else do it

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho....php?p=8987098

[weehe126]

Originally Posted by sx33

Google is my friend!
Actually found a forum thread from the video author and according to him/her the problem was: eccentric shaft sensor

Now I need to find out if its worth doing the job myself or letting someone else do it

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho....php?p=8987098

It is the valvetronic servomotor. The shaft sensor is integrated into it. The part is about $450 and you will need a new VCG. Is about a 6-8 hour job and is beneficial to have 2 people.

[sx33]

Tried to find the part number at realOEM.com, but I'm not sure how the part even looks like.

Could someone please help navigate through realoem.com?

My VIN is E629688

[weehe126]

I will have to get a real link later, but the part that does not have a number and slightly grey in the back is the servomotor. http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...61&hg=11&fg=25

[weehe126]

Ok found it. Number 1, and I used your vin so should be the exact part number.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...51&hg=11&fg=15

[sx33]

Thanks mate,
Thats a damn expensive part, queoted 700€ from a German retailer, the swedish ones are atleast 20% more expensive and will probably charge me for 8h of work.

I've read about a couple of eccentric shaft sensor fails, do anyone know if BMW have done any redesign to the part?

[weehe126]

Nothing that I have seen. I believe the failure is due to the bolt holding down the oil sprayer not being a banjo bolt, so no oil can actually get to the sprayer. You can see in the first line it is just an asa bolt. This is my theory so may not be true.

[Dark_Knight_335]

That ain't no fuel primer pump, and if it is, it's on its way out.

[sx33]

Hi All,

Just a little update!
I've had my car at the workshop since 15th of june, and yesterday they replaced the servomotor as it was shorted inside. But they didn't manage to calibrate it, the got codes for slow/sluggish operation.

They have a PUMA case open for the car, and the germans first suggested just servomotorn. But my mechanic will ask for a shaft + bearing replace as they think it might be the problem, and maybe 1 reason the motor failed at first.

Anyone heard of slow/sluggish operation of the valvetronic before?

[Aashenfox]

The HPFP extended warranty is not valid for Europe anyway. Jus sayin'

[weehe126]

Originally Posted by sx33

Hi All,

Just a little update!
I've had my car at the workshop since 15th of june, and yesterday they replaced the servomotor as it was shorted inside. But they didn't manage to calibrate it, the got codes for slow/sluggish operation.

They have a PUMA case open for the car, and the germans first suggested just servomotorn. But my mechanic will ask for a shaft + bearing replace as they think it might be the problem, and maybe 1 reason the motor failed at first.

Anyone heard of slow/sluggish operation of the valvetronic before?

You really should calibrate it first. I didn't and didn't think anything of it. Once I got it calibrated it was noticeably smoother. The calibration moves the shaft some 400 times, so if it is slow you will know for sure then.