SR-300 - Code 72 - Camshaft Position Sensor,Cyl#5-8

[vfwjed]

2000 BMW X5 4.4i
85000 miles

I have a repeating code 72: Camshaft Position Sensor,Cyl#5-8

I have reset this code with my SR-300 a few times over the past 2 weeks. The 72 code returns (after a while) tripping the Service Engine Soon (SES).

I ordered the new Camshaft Position Sensor (CPS) from BMW, expecting it in a few days.

Is there anything remarkable about this 72 code and the anticipated fix (remove and replace CPS)?



I have an oscilloscope so I was thinking about (to satisfy my own curiosity) comparing and contrasting the left and right CPS pulsed signals to see what gives. Anyone ever try this?

Autozone had me a bit confused about their Duralast (wells manufacturing) CPS because they had a left and right hand side CPS. BMW did not specify a right or left.

Autozone
Right Hand Side SU5161
Left hand Side SU5160

Any comments on Wells Manufacturing?

~Duralast products are engineered and manufactured by Wells Manufacturing, a leading global supplier of advanced vehicle electronics solutions for original equipment and replacement applications. Every component either matches or improves on the OE design to ensure fast, easy installation, superior performance and reliability.


Hoping this will be an uneventful repair ….

[Nik]

I had some kind of Error. Don't know the code, but turned out to be Cam Pos sensor + Timings. 00 4.4

[duckydoggy]

I did a little research as mine had a problem code P0369 and needs to replace the exhaust sensor, there are two camshaft position sensors in 2002 X5 3.0i, one is exhaust the other is intake, for more information please refer these two urls
Need Advice - bimmerfest - BMW Forums
http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...placement.html
http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...-x5-3-0-a.html

[vfwjed]

Thanks for the reply. I have the V8 engine 4.4i. The V6 and V8 are different and appear to have different CPS’s and SES codes.

[vfwjed]

Waveforms old CPS versus new. (Both OEM) I put the older Techtronic’s Oscope on the old sensor (pin2) to have a look and see. I did not have an external trigger so I expected to see the various pulses with different durations repeat every 360 degree revolution. I looked carefully at the peak-peak voltage and the shape/crispness of the waveform.
My initial reaction when looking at the old CPS was that, well it looked ok.
Ok, so I installed the new CPS and had a look. My first observation was that the peak-peak voltage was the same between old and new. There was however a noticeable difference with the cleanness/crispness of the waveform. With the new CPS, the scope was able to detect and then lock in on a clean trigger point. The waveform was more crisp and square. With the old CPS the signal was dancing left/right across the screen. Old, edges were rounding, new edges were sharp. With the new CPS, the signal was locked on the screen, no dancing.
Conclusion, the old CPS was marginal/bad. If the scope was having trouble `locking in`, it is safe to assume the DME was have difficulty too. I would be nice to have a database of know good waveforms to compare/contrasts.
CPS installed, reset code, let’s see what happens.

[Sundayjumper]

I plugged INPA into my 4.4i last night for the first time and there were some cam sensor errors in there.... no idea how long they'd been there though. I reset them and will check again in a few days' time.

Very interesting to hear the 'scope results on yours, sounds like a sensor could be slightly off for a long time but without ever triggering an error ?

[vfwjed]

To your comment: Not seeing an SES, but code reader sees fault/error codes.
My SES trip may have been related to the number of drive cycles or the miles driven with fault. Maybe both. We would need to know the Motronic algorithm. I would guess the persistence of the registered fault would be a prime candidate for the SES trigger. If the CPS is marginal, the Motonic may have been going through cycles of setting and clearing the fault.
Having a code reader with a reset capability is indispensable if you own an X5. Periodically check codes even if the SES is not on. If you get an SES, ***evaluate codes, log codes, reset codes, run engine, check codes again, drive, evaluate again, and observe. Keep note number of drive cycles and keep checking and logging. Cautiously and carefully, meaning don’t ignore anything major like engine old level warning!
If you do replace the CPS sensor(s), I would recommend OEM replacements, as it appears to me the ECU is sensitive and the CPS must be in spec. Other posts have warned about non-OEM sensors.

[Whitecat]

Hey guys,

Bringing this thread a 2nd life,

I have some idle issue (unstable) we just did valve cover gasket. The car was running great until last week with SES light - code relating to cam sensor.

I've looked at them (yeah we got 4 sensor on v8) there is leaks on 2 and i'm questionning if i should only change the O ring as opposed to change all sensors ? I just have 70 miles on it....(not sure the price of them, i can't find it OEM from my INDY provider)

Is there a way to see if Cam sensor one is dead ?
After clearing the code, SES came back following full gaz acceleration ?