Valvetronic motor sanity check?

Nick.B · 04-28-2022, 08:32 PM

2011 335i has been parked for the winter. Battery got low. At some point when i did a monthly-ish startup it started making a loud rattle from what I now know is the VVT motor. Ignored it, hoped it'd go away. Fixed some oil leaks, and when going for test drive, it ran poorly.

Getting codes 2DD6 and 2DD8.

INPA actuation of the VVT motor doesn't work. Reported position never moves from 179.something degrees.

Pulled the VC tonight. Eccentric shaft does not move when commanded by INPA, but does move during the powerup or unlock routine. It goes WOT and hammers the hard stop.

Motor spins easily with a 4mm hex, and the eccentric shaft feels nice and smooth with a wrench on it.

I checked on a 2011 335xi and the INPA actuation of the VVT motor appears to work, and I get varying feedback from it when applying throttle, so the laptop and INPA seem to be working correctly.

Both cars were built within a few weeks of eachother in July 2010, so if INPA looks like it's working on the xi but not the i, AND the eccentric shaft seems nice and loose, I think it's JUST the VVT motor I need to replace? I'm planning to pull the harness and probe all the pins for continuity before I actually order a new motor, but, does this sound like the likely cause?

Jsmz · 04-30-2022, 06:12 AM

Funny, same thing happened with my 90k mile 2011 after storage this winter. Opened the door one day to start it and ratatattattat valvetronic motor.

From what I am reading, this tends to happen after sitting for extended periods of time.

Nick.B · 04-30-2022, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jsmz

Funny, same thing happened with my 90k mile 2011 after storage this winter. Opened the door one day to start it and ratatattattat valvetronic motor.

From what I am reading, this tends to happen after sitting for extended periods of time.

What was the source of the problem for yours?

Jsmz · 05-01-2022, 06:46 AM

I'm not sure, I haven't had time to finish the job yet. As soon as I get a couple hours of free time, I have everything ready to pull the valve cover off and swap it. But I'm assuming the valvetronic motor is just junk.

It's very annoying that this happens, especially since we have to pull the valve cover.

Nick.B · 05-09-2022, 07:53 PM

Last week I applied power to the servomotor sensors, and measured the outpit pins as I turned the motor. Small fractions of a volt. No change during rotation.

Ordered a new motor.

Put it in today, and in place of the loud rattle, the eccentric shaft does a quick little back and forth movement.

Nick.B · 05-13-2022, 08:35 PM

Followup, in case it may be useful to anyone in the future:

While the e-shaft did move back and forth, it was still unable to move through it's full range during the power on limit test. I had used grease from an old (unopened, but probably 18 years old) cartridge of generic synthetic grease on the gear and motor. ISTA wanted me to start the car to complete the 'test' so I put it back together just enough to do so. No easy win. It finds the lower stop and won't turn the shaft to the top stop, it rattles quietly somewhere in the middle.

Sigh.

Spent some time this morning cross referencing BMW Longtime PD-1 (83 19 2 160 340), a castrol grease (Tribol GR 100-1), and found several manufacturers cross reference tables suggesting it is an NLGI #1 Lithium grease with Molybdenum diSulfide "moly" EP additive. Bought a tube of Lithium based #2 grease with MoS2 from Canadian Tire (local auto parts/hardware store) and opened the engine back up.

Greased the gear, and spun it back and forth slowly with a drill and 4mm spindle. Regrease, spin some more. After 10-20 cycles I could see a slight change in the wear pattern on the gear teeth. Continued to grease the gear and run it back and forth. It seemed to get smoother/easier and the wear pattern stabilized. I probably ran it back and forth 40-60 times.

Plugged in the motor, inserted key, pressed start, and it ran full cycle. ISTA was able to learn the stops. Replaced VC, connected everything up and it ran 200 cycles of the run-in, then 20 cycles of finding the stops without issue.

Jsmz · 05-30-2022, 05:53 PM

Mine just ended up being the valvetronic motor. Swapped it all out, did an end stop relearn in protool and it was good to go.

04-28-2022, 08:32 PM	#1
Nick.B Second Lieutenant 57 Rep 273 Posts Drives: 335i, 330i, 335xi, 6MT sport Join Date: May 2014 Location: Calgary, Canada iTrader: (3) Garage List 2011 335i [0.00] 2006 E90 330i [0.00]	Valvetronic motor sanity check? 2011 335i has been parked for the winter. Battery got low. At some point when i did a monthly-ish startup it started making a loud rattle from what I now know is the VVT motor. Ignored it, hoped it'd go away. Fixed some oil leaks, and when going for test drive, it ran poorly. Getting codes 2DD6 and 2DD8. INPA actuation of the VVT motor doesn't work. Reported position never moves from 179.something degrees. Pulled the VC tonight. Eccentric shaft does not move when commanded by INPA, but does move during the powerup or unlock routine. It goes WOT and hammers the hard stop. Motor spins easily with a 4mm hex, and the eccentric shaft feels nice and smooth with a wrench on it. I checked on a 2011 335xi and the INPA actuation of the VVT motor appears to work, and I get varying feedback from it when applying throttle, so the laptop and INPA seem to be working correctly. Both cars were built within a few weeks of eachother in July 2010, so if INPA looks like it's working on the xi but not the i, AND the eccentric shaft seems nice and loose, I think it's JUST the VVT motor I need to replace? I'm planning to pull the harness and probe all the pins for continuity before I actually order a new motor, but, does this sound like the likely cause?
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05-01-2022, 06:46 AM	#4
Jsmz Enlisted Member 2 Rep 29 Posts Drives: 2011 335 e92 Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: Nebraska iTrader: (0)	I'm not sure, I haven't had time to finish the job yet. As soon as I get a couple hours of free time, I have everything ready to pull the valve cover off and swap it. But I'm assuming the valvetronic motor is just junk. It's very annoying that this happens, especially since we have to pull the valve cover.
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05-09-2022, 07:53 PM	#5
Nick.B Second Lieutenant 57 Rep 273 Posts Drives: 335i, 330i, 335xi, 6MT sport Join Date: May 2014 Location: Calgary, Canada iTrader: (3) Garage List 2011 335i [0.00] 2006 E90 330i [0.00]	Last week I applied power to the servomotor sensors, and measured the outpit pins as I turned the motor. Small fractions of a volt. No change during rotation. Ordered a new motor. Put it in today, and in place of the loud rattle, the eccentric shaft does a quick little back and forth movement.
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05-13-2022, 08:35 PM	#6
Nick.B Second Lieutenant 57 Rep 273 Posts Drives: 335i, 330i, 335xi, 6MT sport Join Date: May 2014 Location: Calgary, Canada iTrader: (3) Garage List 2011 335i [0.00] 2006 E90 330i [0.00]	Followup, in case it may be useful to anyone in the future: While the e-shaft did move back and forth, it was still unable to move through it's full range during the power on limit test. I had used grease from an old (unopened, but probably 18 years old) cartridge of generic synthetic grease on the gear and motor. ISTA wanted me to start the car to complete the 'test' so I put it back together just enough to do so. No easy win. It finds the lower stop and won't turn the shaft to the top stop, it rattles quietly somewhere in the middle. Sigh. Spent some time this morning cross referencing BMW Longtime PD-1 (83 19 2 160 340), a castrol grease (Tribol GR 100-1), and found several manufacturers cross reference tables suggesting it is an NLGI #1 Lithium grease with Molybdenum diSulfide "moly" EP additive. Bought a tube of Lithium based #2 grease with MoS2 from Canadian Tire (local auto parts/hardware store) and opened the engine back up. Greased the gear, and spun it back and forth slowly with a drill and 4mm spindle. Regrease, spin some more. After 10-20 cycles I could see a slight change in the wear pattern on the gear teeth. Continued to grease the gear and run it back and forth. It seemed to get smoother/easier and the wear pattern stabilized. I probably ran it back and forth 40-60 times. Plugged in the motor, inserted key, pressed start, and it ran full cycle. ISTA was able to learn the stops. Replaced VC, connected everything up and it ran 200 cycles of the run-in, then 20 cycles of finding the stops without issue.
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05-30-2022, 05:53 PM	#7
Jsmz Enlisted Member 2 Rep 29 Posts Drives: 2011 335 e92 Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: Nebraska iTrader: (0)	Mine just ended up being the valvetronic motor. Swapped it all out, did an end stop relearn in protool and it was good to go.
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04-30-2022, 06:12 AM	#2
Jsmz Enlisted Member 2 Rep 29 Posts Drives: 2011 335 e92 Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: Nebraska iTrader: (0)	Funny, same thing happened with my 90k mile 2011 after storage this winter. Opened the door one day to start it and ratatattattat valvetronic motor. From what I am reading, this tends to happen after sitting for extended periods of time.
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