New member, New to me E70. Not running

[E-series ftw]

I found a used one on eBay for a very reasonable price. It’s coming next week. I’m polling the knowledge base here. Currently, the VCT modules are showing up red in ISTA. If I connect the used module, am I going to see that change, or will they be yellow, if the module operates/communicates?
If my optimism is kind to me, I’m hoping I can simply teach the VVT servos limits with ISTA and not have to send the module with CAS and DME and keys away for an (unnecessary?) expensive programming session.

[gpeterson]

Originally Posted by E-series ftw

Currently, the VCT modules are showing up red in ISTA. If I connect the used module, am I going to see that change, or will they be yellow, if the module operates/communicates?

Sounds suspect that both are red. Have you confirmed they are getting power? That was the issue with my E70, or at least one of many issues.

Originally Posted by E-series ftw

If I connect the used module, am I going to see that change, or will they be yellow, if the module operates/communicates?

Green = no error codes present, yellow = one or more error codes present, red = no communication.

Originally Posted by E-series ftw

If my optimism is kind to me, I’m hoping I can simply teach the VVT servos limits with ISTA and not have to send the module with CAS and DME and keys away for an (unnecessary?) expensive programming session.

I'm guessing yes. The INPA jobs for Valvetronic (which is variable valve lift, not timing - that is VANOS) don't do anything and say something like "not implemented yet". I'm not even sure if they have the VIN.

You may need to do a DME <-> CAS sync though. If so, there will be a code specific to it. Mine had this issue, I believe it is triggered after 50 crank attempts without a successful start.

[E-series ftw]

Originally Posted by gpeterson

Sounds suspect that both are red. Have you confirmed they are getting power? That was the issue with my E70, or at least one of many issues.

My VVT module was full of water. I mean full!! (read the previous posts)
Both 40amp fuses appear to be intact

Originally Posted by gpeterson

I'm guessing yes. The INPA jobs for Valvetronic (which is variable valve lift, not timing - that is VANOS) don't do anything and say something like "not implemented yet". I'm not even sure if they have the VIN.

I'm hoping you are correct in this case

Originally Posted by gpeterson

You may need to do a DME <-> CAS sync though. If so, there will be a code specific to it. Mine had this issue, I believe it is triggered after 50 crank attempts without a successful start.

Can you elaborate on how to do this sync? Can it be done with ISTA?

[E-series ftw]

This is what ISTA is currently showing




This is the list of fault codes.
notice the CAS is happily green



For the DME fault, I sense the tail line going to the VCT modules is the reason for this fault here. One of the VVT module pins broke off in the connector when I unplugged it and there is at least one fried component on the PC board. I'm hoping a new (used) module will clear this up.

[gpeterson]

Originally Posted by E-series ftw

My VVT module was full of water. I mean full!! (read the previous posts)
Both 40amp fuses appear to be intact

Both of them? Did you order 2 replacements? I'd still check for power there, not just fuse continuity.

Originally Posted by E-series ftw

Can you elaborate on how to do this sync? Can it be done with ISTA?

I can't remember the specifics but am 90% sure I did it though ISTA. Your list of codes tells me you won't have to worry about it.

[E-series ftw]

Originally Posted by gpeterson

Both of them? Did you order 2 replacements? I'd still check for power there, not just fuse continuity.

There is only one VVT module that controls 2 servos on the 4.8 V8
I'm guessing this is the reason for showing 2 red VCT modules?

Originally Posted by gpeterson

I can't remember the specifics but am 90% sure I did it though ISTA. Your list of codes tells me you won't have to worry about it.

Yeah, that's what I'm hoping will happen....that I'll have to do nothing

Hopefully the used module doesn't come up blue

[gpeterson]

Originally Posted by E-series ftw

There is only one VVT module that controls 2 servos on the 4.8 V8
I'm guessing this is the reason for showing 2 red VCT modules?

Maybe I spaced out on that since I haven't had the e-box open for months. Sounds plausible - one physical module that appears as two modules in ISTA.

Confirmed in WDS - https://bmwteka.com/wds/en/e70/4f7b7ebe

[E-series ftw]

I ordered a used VVT module on ebay. Cost me CAD $80 including shipping. Before I started cutting wires and replacing pigtails, I had another look at the connectors, which I had sprayed with Fluidfilm a couple weeks ago. Remarkably, the corrosion was heavily diminished and I could see a brassy-copper colour in almost all of the pin sockets, so I decided to remove the broken pin and see what would happen just plugging the module in.

(Oh, and for anyone curious on how to remove a broken pin easily, snap off a new blade on an Olfa knife and use the sharp point on the blade to pry it out.)

I reconnected the battery after plugging in the DME and VVT modules and hit the start button and it started and ran! Albeit, very sluggishly, and I had no throttle response whatsoever. In fact touching the throttle resulted in a stall.

So, I connected ISTA and saw to my amazement the the VTC modules were now green! So much for these companies that claim the module won't work unless it's paired with DME and CAS. Well, that's a $500 bullet dodged.

I ran the prodedure to test the limits of the VVT servos and I could definitely hear a servo spinning up from under the hood. But the test was aborted because ISTA showed that servo 2 was not responding. Looking into the electrical schematic, I saw the two relays and two 40A ATC fuses and remembered they were in the DME box, so I popped the fuses out again. I think I mentioned before that one of them looked like it had started to melt, but appeared to still be closed.
An ohmmeter check proved the opposite. Now, I don't recall in all my years as a mechanic, seeing and ATC fuse rated higher than 30A, so I was not surprised that there were none on the shelf at Canadian Tire. So I bought a different style of 40A fuse that has the same 1/4" blade socket as the ATC fuse. I made up two 3" long wire assemblies and installed the makeshift fuse.

I don't even think the engine cranked a full revolution and it started and idled smoothly, with very snappy throttle response. I let it warm up for about 15 minutes and until I felt pressure in the coolant hoses, before taking it for a short, slow drive around the neighbourhood. Everything felt great. No suspension or steering noises were heard and engine felt responsive and strong.

Now I have to tackle the trio of brake, ABS and 4x4 lights on the dash, likely related to the transfer case servo motor. ISTA won't let me run the servo calibration because there is a code present, despite clearing all fault codes and retrying the calibration procedure. Luckily, I have a spare servo from my X3, that has a good plastic gear inside.