[The_redmen]

Hey everyone,

Today I replaced my Vanos solenoids on my N52 engine as I was having issues with the old ones having lacklustre performance in acceleration and idle.
With the new ones, the car shakes very badly when I put it in park after driving, the engine stutters when braking to a stop, and after parking while the vehicle is on, I accelerated the gas and white smoke came pluming out of the exhaust! Can anyone help me? I have no idea why these OEM vanos solenoids are doing this to me car. I'm thinking about putting the old ones back in for now...

[Brandoch]

Pull codes?

[The_redmen]

Originally Posted by Brandoch

Pull codes?

These were the codes that came up:

P2098
P2272
P2198
P0010
P0012
P2098

[e90yyc]

Originally Posted by The_redmen

These were the codes that came up:

P2098
P2272
P2198
P0010
P0012
P2098

You’ll want a scanner or software that can read BMW hex codes. These will be more useful than generic P-codes in helping to diagnose your problem.

[gbalthrop]

Originally Posted by The_redmen

...I replaced my Vanos solenoids on my N52 engine as I was having issues with the old ones having lacklustre performance in acceleration and idle. [What fault codes, tests, or specific performance issues suggested either or both of the VANOS Solenoids were NOT operating properly? Please define "lacklustre performance in acceleration" and whatever idle issues you observed?]
With the new ones, the car shakes very badly when I put it in park after driving, the engine stutters when braking to a stop, and after parking while the vehicle is on, I accelerated the gas and white smoke came pluming out of the exhaust!...

Originally Posted by The_redmen

These were the codes that came up:
P2098
P2272
P2198
P0010
P0012
P2098

QUESTIONS:
1) Are those codes you have NOW after replacing the Solenoids?
2) You list P2098 twice; was there another code (6th code) and if so what was the correct code number?
3) What Fault Codes OR performanc issues did you have BEFORE you replaced the VANOS Solenoids?
4) What work was done on the car, in the Engine Compartment, & by whom in the days before experiencing any idle or acceleration issue?
4a) Was there any Serpentine Belt change, OFHG change or Oil Change done in the weeks before issues began?
5) What work was done in the engine compartment when changing the VANOS Solenoids, and by whom, in addition to replacing the Solenoids?
6) Do you have a Scan Tool or Diagnostic Software available, and if so, please indicate make/brand/type & model?
7) Do you have the manual for any such Tool, and can you read Fuel Trims or Cam Timing Parameters as Live Data, or in Real Time?
7a) Are you able to read Freeze Frame Data (snapshot of engine conditions & mileage) at moment Fault Code was saved?
8) Do you have a Multimeter (a $7 Harbor Freight multimeter is all you need) and know how to do Voltage tests and Ohm or Continuity tests?
9) Are you willing to admit that you don't actually KNOW EVERYTHING ALREADY, and are you willing to learn something new?

Don't feel like anyone expects you to be an expert automotive diagnostician (IF there actually IS some such person ;-)
BTW, you describe your vehicle as 2006 328xi. AFAIK, all 328xi models sold in US were 2007 & later, although the first ~ 50% of the 2007 model run (9/1/2006 to 3/1/2007) differed in some respects from the last half, such as in the Fuse Boxes, etc. Curious to know: (1) what is the build Mo/Yr on the driver door jamb; (2) what is the model badge on the Right of the boot lid; & (3) what year does your registration show?

Here are the Fault Code Definitions for the 5 Fault Codes you listed:
P2098 | 2C32 | Post Catalyst Fuel Trim System Too Lean (Bank 2)

P2272 | 2C6C | 02 Sensor Signal Stuck Lean (Bank 2 Sensor 2)

P2198 | 2C2C | 02 Sensor Signal Stuck Rich (Bank 2 Sensor 1)

P0010 | 2ABO | 'A' Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit Open (Bank 1)

P0012 | 2A82 | 'A' Camshaft Position Timing Over-Retarded (Bank 1)

I would want to know if there are any OTHER Fault Codes NOW PRESENT, and which ones of the above are NOW PRESENT. If there is any doubt, CLEAR all those codes (after recording existing codes correctly) and then run the engine for 10 minutes and Read Codes again, reporting them here, along with any Warning Lights or SES/MIL that appeared after startup.

Those 5 codes you now report indicate TWO (2) different issues, either of which may be related to wiring or connector faults rather than components:

1) Bank 2 (cylinders 4,5,6) is too LEAN, apparently due to the fact that the signal from the Pre-cat O2 sensor on bank 2 is stuck RICH (the signal received by DME is that Bank 2 is too Rich, causing LEAN fueling trim).
I would check to make sure the O2 Sensor Connectors are properly connected, and if anyone has disconnected those recently, make sure that the connectors are NOT swapped, damaged, loose, etc. The conditions described above can be confirmed by reading Fuel Trim Live Data. If you start with a cold engine, any performance or idle issues associated with the O2 sensor faults should NOT be experienced until the system goes into CL (Closed Loop) operation with O2 sensor trim via the DME.

2) P0010 suggests that the Connector for the Intake Cam VANOS Solenoid is disconnected, loose, or has a wiring fault (Open Circuit), which causes the Intake Cam VANOS Solenoid NOT to be activated, and results in the default cam timing position, which is "Over-retarded." If your Scan Tool can read Cam Timing or VANOS Solenoid Activation Parameters in Real Time, you can observe that and see if the fault is intermittent, constant, etc.

Please check those things out & let us know what you find,
George

[dublin14]

Clean the old ones and put them back in ti verify

[e90yyc]

Agree with dublin14 above. This sounds extreme for Vanos solenoids, but I suppose it’s possible? It’s the white smoke part that isn’t making sense to me. By no means am I an expert though!