'01 X5 SES Code P0174 - please help

[Fultoncm]

My timing sucks. I was on my way to get my emissions test when the service engine light came on. When I get there, they see this and fail me. They hooked up the scanner and it gave the code P0174 only.

P0174:System too lean bank 2

I've looked all over this board and the internet. The main suggestion is to clean the Mass Air Flow sensor. I looked at it and the metal tab that reads the air looks fine. It looks clean. The car is running fine though, so I'm not sure what to do here.

I'm about to move from Seattle to Tampa and this car is going to be the transport for my wife. I need to get this fixed ASAP. I was hoping to register the car before I leave, but I can't with this stupid light on. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[The Cleaner]

Cleaning the sensor will likely break it. Thats a general fault code that could be almost anything. I'd wait till it throws another code and they you can put the 2 together and have a better idea where to look

[Fultoncm]

Thanks for the info. I'm going to hit the parts store for some cleaner and also buy their $70 code scanner. I'll clean that biotch and reset the code. I hope this does it.

If anyone else has ideas, please continue to share them. Thanks.

[The Cleaner]

That film is very sensetive, I wound not recommend trying to clean it.

[vinuneuro]

Other members have successfully cleaned their MAFs on X5s and other BMWs without any problems.

[The Cleaner]

I’ll stick to my recommendation, but if you have seen success then let the spraying begin.

At least the X5 dont use that Junky Bosch MAF

By the way is that a 3.0 or 4.4 or ??

[Fultoncm]

It is a 3.0. So I ended up getting some MAF Cleaner (I can't believe they actually make a cleaner specifically for it. probably carb cleaner with a fancy label and 2 more bucks). I cleaned it out. I also picked up a code scanner and cleared the code. Want to hear the best part? When I came out of the parts store, the light was out. Either way, the code was still in the computer, so I cleared it. I drove back over to the Emission Testing station and I still didn't pass because they said the computer had just been cleared and doesn't have enough data from it's sensors to get an accurate reading. This sucks serious arse.

[Supermanguy81]

Where is the Mass Air Flow sensor? I got the same code this morning, not sure what to do?