[datasmog]

A couple of warning lights came up on the dash last week, see the linked image.


<https://www.dropbox.com/s/t8vdx30znb2drm7/dash.png?dl=0>

The mileage shown is genuine with regular servicing. It's a summer car, spends most of its time in the garage and hasn't done many miles in the last couple of years. New in Sep.2009 I'm the second private owner.
The car runs fine with no apparent issues apart from the dashboard warning lights.
I took the car into a local repair shop I use for MOT's and servicing today for a diagnostic check.They are not BMW specialists.
They tell me the catalytic converters (2) are shot.
I'm looking at a complete exhaust system renewal plus a couple of sensors.
Around £3500 plus fitting. Really?
How good are the diagnostics likely to be in a regular repair and servicing workshop, and am I likely to get a different result in a BMW specialists?
Computer errors or dodgy sensors?
Apparently the exhaust system can only be bought from a main dealer and they are on back order and may not be available for some considerable time. 3 months was quoted. This seems a bit outrageous.
What does the team think?

[Markos ZimZimma]

Jeez that's steep. And that's low mileage for cats to be shot IMO. I'd want to take it to a respected BMW specialist (Munich Legends can't be that far from you?) and if it's cats there must be other solutions. As for a complete new exhaust system, I just don't get that at all! If the cats are gone I'd see what the specialist suggests and I'd also want to go to a good exhaust fabricator and speak to them as they might suggest aftermarket race cats etc which might be much cheaper and still work fine. That's how I'd tackle this.

[datasmog]

Thanks for the response. I collected the car from them this morning and no warning lights came up on the drive home.
I'm not convinced they really know what's what so I've booked it in with an independent BMW specialist in Eastbourne that gets a good rep. Munich Legends is a bit too far away.
The car doesn't get a lot of use but when I do take it out it's usually for a long drive somewhere. It's not the shopping car for short distances so the cats do get hot.
The garage MOT'd it a month ago with no faults It's done about 120 miles since on a long run.The warning lights came on at the end of that drive as I put it back in the garage.

[Markos ZimZimma]

Originally Posted by datasmog

Thanks for the response. I collected the car from them this morning and no warning lights came up on the drive home.
I'm not convinced they really know what's what so I've booked it in with an independent BMW specialist in Eastbourne that gets a good rep. Munich Legends is a bit too far away.
The car doesn't get a lot of use but when I do take it out it's usually for a long drive somewhere. It's not the shopping car for short distances so the cats do get hot.
The garage MOT'd it a month ago with no faults It's done about 120 miles since on a long run.The warning lights came on at the end of that drive as I put it back in the garage.

Don't know that one in Eastbourne but hopefully they've got the right diagnostic tools to work out what's going on. I really doubt you'll be spending £3.5k on whatever it is to sort it though! I'd keep schtum on what the original garage said so the Eastbourne one aren't influenced at all.

Keep us posted on how you get on.

[datasmog]

South Coast Garage Services in case anyone is interested.
I moved the car this evening and the larger of the two warnings lit up.
To my mind that points to the sensors being stupid, but what do I know.
There is a lot to be said for old fashioned analog motoring.
I will report back next week, the car is booked in for Monday.

[0l0dom0l0]

Descriptions of the actual fault codes would help with a diagnosis if you can get them off the new garage.

Won't need new cats - so don't bother getting any. Worst case you'll need a new nox sensor (£350). They don't throw the engine into half mode though, so something else is wrong. Possibly misfire.

[datasmog]

Thanks for above less expensive thoughts.
These are the faults the do it all garage came up with.

DIAG1 FAULT CODE READING/DIAGNOSTIC

30fa denox cat sulphurised
30c1 engine oil pressure control static
2aaa1 camshaft sensor oulet signal (oulet?)
b/fluid 0% health
vehicle check 20%

Copied from the invoice which was presumably copied from the diagnostic output by someone who may or may not be a proficient typist.
The oil pressure and brake fluid health are rather worrying to the layman in me. Or are they?
And what the hell is an oulet signal.

The car runs as it always has, no misfires or strange noises,no smoke, starts on the button. Just these random lights keep bugging me.

We'll see what the hopefully more reliable lot come up with next week.

[0l0dom0l0]

I'm not sure which code will throw the half engine light.

Can clarify about the cat situation though. The sulphurised code is the code they are referring to about the cats...... just needs a forced regen using proper software whilst driving on the motorway. Not new cats.

I would be tempted to remove the sump and make sure the timing chain guides haven't started to disintegrate, which is a common problem and could explain why there is a cam outlet (exhaust) fault code and an oil pressure code. The pieces from the broken guides often get caught on the oil pickup and cause oil pressure problems.

[datasmog]

Oh great, now I’ve got something else to worry about.
Disintegrating timing chain guides is a common fault?
At less than 40000 miles.
I thought these cars were supposed to be well engineered.
But thanks for the information, we’ll see how good the next garage is

[datasmog]

All sorted by South Coast Garage Services in 24 hours.
Camshaft position sensor replaced plus a denox regeneration.
An interim service was done while it was in there, barely 3000 miles since the last major service 3 years ago.
£560. Better than the previous estimate.