SES light wont go away - dealer blames aftermarket high flow intake

[edco]

This is on my 2006 X5 3.0. Had replaced the stock airbox about a year ago with an AFE high flow. No problems and about a month ago got an SES light. Turned out it was a torn intake boot (behind the MAF). Replaced the boot, cleared the code. a few days later..SES light on again.

Took it back to the dealer yesterday. Finds code in DME, clears code and tech writes " failure due to non-OEM airbox". I find this hard to believe since it worked find for over a year, but sure enough one day later - the damn light is back on.

Dealer (who is usually nice to me and didn't charge me the $50 deductible he could have under the CPO extended warranty ), says put the old box back, and bring it back.

I am wondering if anyone else has had a similiar problem. To me, it's always "odd" when something works for a long time, then suddenly it's the cause of a problem, when in reality, all that is happening is increased air flow. I seem to recall a comment in the write up from OPEN ROAD about the fault being tied to the secondary air pump, but the tech ran diagnostics and it was working as designed.

Any ideas..or (I have been to ebay) anyone know where I might find a airbox to put in..?

BTW, it looks like the E53 airbox is different from the E46 airbox (otherwise I would borrow it from my 2004 325Ci)..

Your thoughts and opinions are greatly appreciated..

Thanks !!!

ed

[sunny5280]

Originally Posted by edco

This is on my 2006 X5 3.0. Had replaced the stock airbox about a year ago with an AFE high flow. No problems and about a month ago got an SES light. Turned out it was a torn intake boot (behind the MAF). Replaced the boot, cleared the code. a few days later..SES light on again.

Took it back to the dealer yesterday. Finds code in DME, clears code and tech writes " failure due to non-OEM airbox". I find this hard to believe since it worked find for over a year, but sure enough one day later - the damn light is back on.

Dealer (who is usually nice to me and didn't charge me the $50 deductible he could have under the CPO extended warranty ), says put the old box back, and bring it back.

I am wondering if anyone else has had a similiar problem. To me, it's always "odd" when something works for a long time, then suddenly it's the cause of a problem, when in reality, all that is happening is increased air flow. I seem to recall a comment in the write up from OPEN ROAD about the fault being tied to the secondary air pump, but the tech ran diagnostics and it was working as designed.

Any ideas..or (I have been to ebay) anyone know where I might find a airbox to put in..?

BTW, it looks like the E53 airbox is different from the E46 airbox (otherwise I would borrow it from my 2004 325Ci)..

Your thoughts and opinions are greatly appreciated..

Do you know what the code is?

[edco]

Originally Posted by sunny5280

Do you know what the code is?

It says codes cleared were "94 secondary air flow/secondary air and code 95 secondary air hose blocked. Inspected pump, working as designed - no blockages found. Cust has aftermarket high air flow intake (AFE). Bulletin states this can be the cause when no other parts are failing"

[sunny5280]

Originally Posted by edco

It says codes cleared were "94 secondary air flow/secondary air and code 95 secondary air hose blocked. Inspected pump, working as designed - no blockages found. Cust has aftermarket high air flow intake (AFE). Bulletin states this can be the cause when no other parts are failing"

I'm not familiar with this code format. Do you know what tool was used to read the codes? Was it an OBD-II scanner?

[m5james]

If you're feeling up to trying to resolve this yourself, run to your local autoparts store and use their free scanner, grab some carb and choke cleaner and then come back here and report the code. It's a poor mans way of finding an intake leak, but spray the cleaner around various parts of the intake manifold, boots, etc...if the idle changes, you've found your leak. If it's not obvious to the open eye, they need to hook up the smoke machine and find the leak.

If the above doesn't work, just throw the stock airbox back in and see what they say then if the code keeps coming back. When they replaced the elbow, did they replace both sections? I had a customer get real cheap on me and he replaced the elbow himself, but then he still had an SES light within a few hours. I had him come back, I sprayed carb cleaner around the intake, and low and behold he hadn't even gotten the boot connected to the intake since the hoseclamp slide off..."the engine was so hot". 1/2hr later (charged him for it) and he was on his way.

[Weasel]

But if the current code is for secondary air that has nothing to do with fuel mixture... That is the secondary air pump that injects fresh air into the exhaust on cold starts to get the cats ready faster.

The air intake has nothing to do with that being blocked and it likely either needs a hose or valve. I'd check to see if the vacuum hose to the secondary air valve on the front exhaust manifold to make sure it is intact.

And Sunny, this is the details given by the dealer diagnostic systems, not just a p-code.

[sunny5280]

Originally Posted by Weasel

And Sunny, this is the details given by the dealer diagnostic systems, not just a p-code.

That's why I've asked what the diagnostic system is. The code appears to be specific to that system and is not generic. Thus it is not helpful to me.

[edco]

Sorry if it was unclear

The codes came from BMW not Autozone...

I think they would have found a loose boot.. it's only three clamps and I know for certain they are installed correctly..Not much to mess up (Remove clamps..put on new boot, re install clamps..)

Does anyone think it really is the high flow air intake..? Sorry but if they were throwing codes, LOTS of people would be complaining..

ed

[sunny5280]

Originally Posted by edco

Sorry if it was unclear

The codes came from BMW not Autozone...

I think they would have found a loose boot.. it's only three clamps and I know for certain they are installed correctly..Not much to mess up (Remove clamps..put on new boot, re install clamps..)

Does anyone think it really is the high flow air intake..? Sorry but if they were throwing codes, LOTS of people would be complaining..

It would be helpful if you could obtain the OBD-II codes for those of us who do not have access to the BMW diagnostic equipment. Autozone will read them at no cost. If you can get them read and post those codes it would be helpful...at least to me.

[Naz24]

Ed,

If I were you I'd put the oem back on, get the dealer to fix your problem under cpo, then put your other one back in. Its pretty clear your aftermarket piece is not the cause.