Rough Idle

[collinja]

I just finished replacing the left upper timing gasket cover and the valve cover gasket on a 2006 X5 4.4. Unfortunately, after putting everything back together is has a rough idle and the SES light is on. I've checked over all the electrical connections and vacuum lines and everything seems to be in order. Does anyone have any thoughts on what may be going on? Does it need to be run for a little while for the computer to properly learn everything given the battery was disconnected for 4 days and so many connections were undone? Perhaps, one of the sensors has gone bad? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[upallnight]

Read the code. You only get a SES light only when the Computer detect a trouble from one of the sensor. Could be anything from a misfire to a vacuum leak. Only way to fix it is to READ the code.

[Qsilver7]

Ditto...take advantage of the OBD II mandate in that all car MFGs have to provide the basic standard protocols for engine electronic emissions. When your MIL (malfunction indicator light) illuminates (your BMW's SES warning light)...it means that a sensor has registered a fault. That sensor can easily be found by hooking up an OBD II reader/scanner to retrieve its DTC (diagnotic trouble code).

Sadly, your state is one of the few that don't allow autoparts stores to read OBD II codes...so if you don 't have a scanner/reader...you might want to check into getting a simple reader (unless you want to spend big bucks for one that does more things). You can pick up a reader like a Autel Maxiscan for between $18-$30 (try amazon.com or ebay).

You can see the breakdown of a DTC code in the chart below...note how it can pinpoint you to the specific emissions area that is registering the fault code...which then only leaves deducing what is causing the fault...it could be something upstream of the sensor...and not just the sensor itself.

Plus, once you have the "P" code...you can usually find all types of info about that code by typing "BMW OBD II xxxxx" (where x=the actual P code nbrs) into a google search box.

[collinja]

Thanks! Have ordered a scanner

[Bmwtvboy]

Is this the same for OBD 1 system on my 2001 X5 3.0? This is great if it is. Will the reader also pickup electrical issues in the security system? Would it code prefix B,C or U?
Thanks for the identification.

[Gurjit]

i changed my valve cover gaskets and i mixed up the cam sensors on the drivers side, and it would idle like an oldschool big block cammed out engine

2004 x5 4.8is

it would stutter when u hit the gas then after a certain time it would revert to a pretuned engine mode and it would run normaly
but everytime u start it it would idle retarded and sputter

obd showed cam sensor bank 2 over advanced had this code 2 times for both the sensors

once i swapped the 2 sensors the engine ran perfect when i started it instantly

remember the 2 sensors on the drivers side are mixible the low profile corded sensor is for your intake camshaft, check this out first

[collinja]

Figured out the valve cover didn't get quite seated all the way in the back cause the servo motor to not function problem. Got it all back together and everything is good now. Thanks for all the help folks!

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by Bmwtvboy

Is this the same for OBD 1 system on my 2001 X5 3.0? This is great if it is. Will the reader also pickup electrical issues in the security system? Would it code prefix B,C or U?
Thanks for the identification.

Your X came with an OBD II system not OBD I. The OBD II plug under the dash will only read the DME and I think the EGS (Don't quote me on this). To read all of the other modules you need the 20 pins connector and a scanner that is BMW specific.