[filiplat]

I got this error on diagnostics (Uneven running, stratified charge mode, fault code 003104). I have E90 318i N43 engine. Everything works fine in car except sudden shake in neutral on traffic light once in ten situations. Can you please explain me this fault so i can search for problem?

[mantis]

Originally Posted by filiplat

I got this error on diagnostics (Uneven running, stratified charge mode, fault code 003104). I have E90 318i N43 engine. Everything works fine in car except sudden shake in neutral on traffic light once in ten situations. Can you please explain me this fault so i can search for problem?

ignition coil might be going out, i was just experiencing this issue. i got lucky having the N51 though and got all coils and plugs replaced under warranty

[ptpending]

N43 is is very specific beast, it is like N53 - which in fact is in the middle between N52 and N54 - ie N43 and N53 have high pressure fuel pump and high pressure injectors but do not have turbo
stratified mode is close to old toyota lean-burn and requires working injectors and NOX sensor

[dr_mike]

What is the mileage on your car ? What grade of petrol are you using ?
Mine has the same engine, N43B20A and 262.000 km that required 2 sets of injectors so far, each set failed around 130-140.000 km.
Ignition coils were a problem, but newer models are reliable.

One BIG HUGE issues with this engine is the NOX sensor which caused me a lot of expensive problems. Finally got rid of it and the car ran perfect since then (like over 100.000 km) with a slight increase of the fuel consumption at 130-140 kmh on the highway.

The NOX sensor starts reading bogus values and the engine goes out and in of stratified fuel charge mode. For my engine these were the first simptoms and no one knew what was going on. Chenged coils, spark plugs, injectors failed in the mean time, changed them too and nothing changed. BMW had me change the high pressure fuel pump and it was just the same.

Please give more details upon the car/problem. I kinda became expert on it after 3000 euros spent because of the NOX sensor which apparently worked fine.

[filiplat]

Thank you all guys.

dr_mike I changed only two coils, so maybe other two are problem. Which set of coils did you put? Beru or Deplhi with metal shield? I am using petrol 95 class or 98 octanes. What did you do with nox sensor? What was symptoms of injecotrs? Why canging the HPFP?

I only get sudden shakes at neutral, but everything else is good.

[dr_mike]

Coils are BMW service ones, about 150.000 km on them, changed them all, one time.

You should go have the exhaust gases analysed, mine went from normal to 6-800 ppm HC at idle. Maximum allowed for direct injection petrol engines is 200 ppm. Each idle variation meant it went from normal value gases to very rich mixture and so on. Had it for about 30 mins or so on the analyzer. Got the NOX disconnected, then all went normal, with check engine of course.

When injectors start to go out, at least mine, consumption starts to increase a little, the engine pulls very well and the idle is a bit rough, especially when cold or very hot engine. On the first set injector no_3 got stuck while overtaking, and got home on 3 cylinders. The second set, 2 months ago, went exactly as I described and the consumption went up a lot.

Never changed 1 injector or 1 coil. Especially coils as they are not expensive.

The NOX sensor was disconected and the ECU remapped to go with preset values for NOX. Works really well since then. Left the NOX catalyst and sensor in place.

I use only 98-100 octane in 99% of the time. Just works a lot better.

[filiplat]

dr_mike

I have Carly pro i think i could read those values. Those are values for diagnosing what?

Whatever weather it is, or engine temp cold/warm car works normally when is started, only sudden shakes at idle at traffic stop while it is on working temperature.

Why changing high pressure fuel pump?

You left NOX attached to car and turned it off in ECU only?

[filiplat]

And i have 130 000 km.

[dr_mike]

Cannot be turned off in the ECU, it was programmed to run with a set of values for NOX as if it reads it, at least this is how I was explained it works. Even if you can see the values of NOX sensor, do you know that they are real ? An exhaust gas analysis is real for how the engine is running.

[dsjr2006]

Maybe search here: http://www.e90post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=35

[filiplat]

Okay, i will check those values with diag. If i got over 200 ppm, what is the problem? Or it is general dignosis for things not going well.

You scared me a bit becuse i have 130k km but you save me money if somebody say that i need to change high pressure fuel pump and nox sensor.

I understand what you are saying about nox, it was loaded default good values in car so car can read only those good and proper values and run right. Can this affect some other parts, is it safe for general engine condition/health.?

THANKS A LOT

[dr_mike]

My car has 263.000 km onthe clock, gathering each month between 3 to 5000 km. Just had the timing chain replaced a month ago and ordered a new drive shaft, rear subframe bushings and discs all around. Would I be spending for selling it if it were not working fine ?

At the last technical inspection it got 6 ppm HC at idle and 10 at 2500 rpm. I think it runs pretty damn good !

Btw, how do you post pics on this forum ?

[filiplat]

Originally Posted by dr_mike

My car has 263.000 km onthe clock, gathering each month between 3 to 5000 km. Just had the timing chain replaced a month ago and ordered a new drive shaft, rear subframe bushings and discs all around. Would I be spending for selling it if it were not working fine ?

At the last technical inspection it got 6 ppm HC at idle and 10 at 2500 rpm. I think it runs pretty damn good !

Btw, how do you post pics on this forum ?

Via tapatalk or post it on

View post on imgur.com

and paste link here.

Is this first timechain replecement or second?

[ptpending]

there is site bimmerprofs.com where main problems of the n43 and n53 described

[dr_mike]

First change @ 257.000 km. N43B20A has a "genius" of an ECU

Mind the oil changes every 15k km and not driven in the city with S&S active. Used mainly for commuting.

[filiplat]

Originally Posted by dr_mike

First change @ 257.000 km. N43B20A has a "genius" of an ECU

Mind the oil changes every 15k km and not driven in the city with S&S active. Used mainly for commuting.

dr_mike Good then, i change everry 10k km and i put only shell helix ultra pro ect c3 5w30 oil.

ptpending thanks for links i found lots of useful information

[filiplat]

dr_mike

I got weird smell in cabine sometimes. It started few months ago, it happens only when I stop, BUT NOT EVERY TIME, lets say once in 10 stops and never while driving, maybe one or two time in few months I felt it while driving. Car doesn’t lose any performance and runs perfectly. I cant recognize that smell but it is coming from the front of the car because ventilation pulls it in cabine. Smell in cabin lasts, lets say, 5 seconds and then dissaeper, it doesn’t smell whole time while I am stopped on traffic light, just those 5 seconds. Car is dry and I don’t see any leaks. Did anyone have similar problem or heard something?

[dr_mike]

I have no idea. Smells funny how ? Gas or fumes ?
Mine had an oil leak at the plastic cover on the cylinder head, replaced all the rubber gasckets and it's fine now. That was at around 100k km. Other wise I only get a smell of hot plastic when i stop after driving it hard, sometimes. Checked, nothing in contact with the engine block or exhaust. Beats me.

[filiplat]

Originally Posted by dr_mike

I have no idea. Smells funny how ? Gas or fumes ?
Mine had an oil leak at the plastic cover on the cylinder head, replaced all the rubber gasckets and it's fine now. That was at around 100k km. Other wise I only get a smell of hot plastic when i stop after driving it hard, sometimes. Checked, nothing in contact with the engine block or exhaust. Beats me.

@dr_mike It is not gas and not fumes not coolat. Maybe some oil leak which drops to hot pipes. I need to check all seals

[filiplat]

Originally Posted by dr_mike

I have no idea. Smells funny how ? Gas or fumes ?
Mine had an oil leak at the plastic cover on the cylinder head, replaced all the rubber gasckets and it's fine now. That was at around 100k km. Other wise I only get a smell of hot plastic when i stop after driving it hard, sometimes. Checked, nothing in contact with the engine block or exhaust. Beats me.

Hello, me again Yesterday i got another problem. Again till 2000 rpm when i press more throttle car is little bit jerky and doesnt pull well, symptoms are like coil symptoms but that not that rough, just a little bit of sputtering and lack of acceleration but when i connect it to diagnostics i dont get any code or check engine light. If i accelerete gently to 2000 rpm i dont get that problem, and after 2000 rpm everything is fine. Maybe another coil again?

[Frederikjensen]

Hello @dr_mike
I have a n53 engine with nox problems and I can see you also had this problem but how did you fix it?

Best regards Frederik

[Vivalabmw]

This thread is old but very infomative.
I got the fault code at 140k km with engine N43.

Did you find any solution?
I changed my NOx-sensor on June/July