[justanotherdude]

Car: 2010 328I E90
Problem: Drove to work no problems. Turned the car off, it sat about five minutes, turned the car back on and I got this high pitch noise coming from the engine compartment. Then the service engine light came on, and then the idle got real bad to where the whole car shakes and it sounds like it wants to cut out.

Video:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v...24466136537706

Any ideas?

[yupetc]

Definitely the pitch of a good vacuum leak.

Source of leak is beyond the MAF sensor. It's rough because air volume estimations are wrong and your car is running too lean given the fuel points with the extra air from the leak.

Best place to look:
Start from MAF sensor, check hose to throttle body, make sure clamp is tight. Follow into the intake itself, there are a few vacuum hoses around behind the intake for oil collectors and connections to valve cover breathing holes, check those. Also look around valve cover (will need to remove the plastic engine cover).

Report back your findings.

[justanotherdude]

I don't have time to do it myself, took it into the shop.

Waiting on word while I take care of other shiz.

[yupetc]

Did the shop ever tell you what the problem was? This is interesting to know. Suprised there isn't any follow-up.

[justanotherdude]

Originally Posted by yupetc

Did the shop ever tell you what the problem was? This is interesting to know. Suprised there isn't any follow-up.

It was the VANOS system. It had a loose bolt and was causing it to unseal and misfire really bad. A bad ignition coil followed, but once both were fixed everything was good to go.

[yupetc]

Sounds good, thanks. I'll add that to my quiver of knowledge for troubleshooting car problems.

[Three_thirty_I]

Originally Posted by angryshortbloke

It was the VANOS system. It had a loose bolt and was causing it to unseal and misfire really bad. A bad ignition coil followed, but once both were fixed everything was good to go.

A loose bolt where though? One of the bolts holding one of the Vanos solenoids in position, or something else? Have seen vids of very similar issue and identical noise which was due to a problem with the oil filter - often gets twisted from improper installation or otherwise gets deformed and restricts oil flow to the Vanos.

[justanotherdude]

Originally Posted by Three_thirty_I

A loose bolt where though? One of the bolts holding one of the Vanos solenoids in position, or something else? Have seen vids of very similar issue and identical noise which was due to a problem with the oil filter - often gets twisted from improper installation or otherwise gets deformed and restricts oil flow to the Vanos.

They told me it was one of the bolts that held the Vanos in place. Really all I know. :/

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by angryshortbloke

They told me it was one of the bolts that held the Vanos in place. Really all I know. :/

I was under the impression that that was a N54/N55 issue only...

[justanotherdude]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

I was under the impression that that was a N54/N55 issue only...

Apparently there was a mass recall on the N52 Vanos unit that BMW supposedly never went public with or something.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by angryshortbloke

Apparently there was a mass recall on the N52 Vanos unit that BMW supposedly never went public with or something.

How can you have a mass recall that isn't public? A recall be nature is a public thing.

[justanotherdude]

Originally Posted by TheSt|G

How can you have a mass recall that isn't public? A recall be nature is a public thing.

That's what I said.

[TheSt|G]

Originally Posted by angryshortbloke

That's what I said.

Yeah this is odd. I'm having my friend who works for BMW look into it.

[Three_thirty_I]

Very keen to hear what he says about this! First I have heard of this.

[justanotherdude]

I completely forgot about this thread.

Essentially what it came down to was a bolt from my VANOS system broke and caused the whole thing to kind of come loose. So it was creating a squeal from air being let into a place that it wasn't supposed to be going in through.

As far as the recall, I never heard anything back from the dealership, but it was free to fix so I'm assuming they found the recall.

[Petermoeller]

Hi, I am also hearing a loud pitch noise from the engine. It is a 325i Lci with a n53 engine. I am told that it's the injectors but the noise goes away sometimes and started at about 90.000km.

Could you post the video again so I can hear the noise? Maybe a link to a YouTube

Thanks

[Petermoeller]

Hello,

I have a 325i with the N53 engine (LCI from 2010) and two things happen:

1. There is a loud ticking noise from the engine (like a pinging noise) and it comes and goes away randomly. See this video

2. The fuel consumption is suddenly much higher than usual. Normally with mixed city/highway about 8liter/100km but now 10 liter/100km. See this video how the fuel economy gauge acts weird - with very gentle acceleration the consumption gauge goes all the way to 20liter....

Any ideas guys? It would be great to have your comments.

I have had new injectors installed (all 6), new coils (all 6) and 6 new spark plugs only 6 months ago. I have just replaced the NOx sensor, but this did not improve anything.

Now all my spark plugs are totally black....like the picture attached.

There are no related fault codes.

[justanotherdude]

I no longer own this vehicle fellas. They replaced my VANOS system and my issue went away. I don't know what the others issues could be.

[neophyted]

Originally Posted by Petermoeller

Hello,

I have a 325i with the N53 engine (LCI from 2010) and two things happen:

1. There is a loud ticking noise from the engine (like a pinging noise) and it comes and goes away randomly. See this video

2. The fuel consumption is suddenly much higher than usual. Normally with mixed city/highway about 8liter/100km but now 10 liter/100km. See this video how the fuel economy gauge acts weird - with very gentle acceleration the consumption gauge goes all the way to 20liter....

Any ideas guys? It would be great to have your comments.

I have had new injectors installed (all 6), new coils (all 6) and 6 new spark plugs only 6 months ago. I have just replaced the NOx sensor, but this did not improve anything.

Now all my spark plugs are totally black....like the picture attached.

There are no related fault codes.

I have replaced parts exactly like you along with valve cover gasket, solenoid and have pretty much the same issue with my spark plugs and random high pitching noise apart from that I do not encounter the fuel consumption issue (yet). Replacing spark plugs cures it however there must be something else killing those spark plugs. I have been to many BMW specialists however no one could get to the bottom of it. Have you by any chance came across anything to solve it?

[Phil325i]

Your plugs should not be that colour. The N53 runs very lean and should not be giving you plugs that colour. I'd say you have a fueling issue. Try to find an indy who has access to the latest BMW diagnostic software that can scan your engine while it's running...

I'm assuming your air filter isn't filthy? Might be worth cleaning your MAF sensor.

And your engine sounds normal to my ears. N53s are very noisy (almost diesel-like) due to the piezo injectors.

[bmw201113]

The same exact thing happened to my car my vanos bolts completely sheared off and a spark plug somehow got pulled into a piston ended up needing a motor replaced

[nerrazur]

Originally Posted by Petermoeller

Hi, I am also hearing a loud pitch noise from the engine. It is a 325i Lci with a n53 engine. I am told that it's the injectors but the noise goes away sometimes and started at about 90.000km.

Could you post the video again so I can hear the noise? Maybe a link to a YouTube

Thanks

Hello,

Did you find out what was the reason for this noise?