Check Engine Light On
 

The check engine light has been on for last few days. My wife drives the car and when she informed me I went through the regular routine, tightened the gas cap etc. but that didn't help. I took it to the $tealer today and now they inform me that there seems to be some timing issue for which they may have to take the engine apart. I am dreading the estimate on that work. It's an 08 (details in signature) and I don't have extended warranty, wish now that I had bought it :(

Appreciate any suggestions..

Hit a local knowledgeable BMW oriented Indie who has a quality, high level scanner, esp with the 'BMW sub menus', and get a 2nd opin.

Your post, and the dearth of dlr info is not much to go on, for the scan mavens here.

Fwiw, I had P 0172 last summer, which can mean a list of possible items. My Indie checked it with his Launch X431 and BMW programs, showed sub code 12, exhaust gas sensor. Installed a new one in 5 mins, and back to normal.

The point of my anecdote is you need to zero in on the SES light 'reason', then determine a repair possibility vs what the dlr said or didn't say...like having a toothache and the doc wants to cut off a leg and do brain surgery, all on your nickel.
GL, mD

This month, my Check Engine light, turned out be FC 2A91, FA8D. Which apparently translated into my service department having to replace the vanos solenoid valves. [I was happy that it was covered by extended warranty].

(I had other bigger issues too but won't go into those here but suffice to say, it took the service department 5 days to resolve those :( )

Thanks for the replies, the codes they are getting are 2A98 Crank Lift Cam and and 2A13 DMTL Leak, Seized Pump. Thinking of taking to an Indie. The $tealer will charge "1800 just to take the engine apart", as they say.

Stop. They are screwing you. The only uncertainty is the extent of the screwing.

First, clear the codes and see if they come back. If the cel comes on, read the codes and post it.

The crank lift cam doesn't just up and break inside the engine, and simply set a code!!!! It is most likely a sensor reading being interpreted as this fault. A dealer will have a 'test plan' to run to diagnose this further. 1800 is just rape.

The dmtl fault is an evap emissions system fault. Could be old, could be a hard failure of the dmtl pump.


Find an Indy

Clear the codes

See what returns

Go from there.

DO NOT let the dealer work on this- they have you pegged as a victim to be bled.

A

[OT warning]

On the e39 m5 the VANOS issues were legendary...at first, dealers just knew "replace VANOS" and the entire vanos assembly was replaced at a cost of $4000 per side... most under warranty. Then BMWAG figured it out and began selling just the vanos SOLENOIDs...at $400 per side. Nice. But then the solenoids went to $1200 per side, and we began fixing them!

The point is that BMW replaces parts, they dont fix parts... and out of necessity, we learned that solenoids failed for three reasons: internal fouling with debris, the traces on the circuits cracking and the sealing o-rings leaking.

So now, the fix is simple: clean them out withj carb cleaner, actuate them with a battery, re-solder damaged traces, pop in new o-rings and reinstall.... a car that the BMW dealer says "Needs two VANOS at $7800" can be fixed perfectly for $100.

Keep this in mind as other cars fail outside of warranty!

Thanks ard, exactly my thinking. Especially as I saw no engine issues since this light has come on, no hesitation, no going limp, etc. typical things people have noticed with Vanos related "real" issues.

A cursory web reading of the 2A98 code suggests a solenoid and/or cam ledges, fwiw.

I wouldn't go back to that dlr for anything...
GL, mD

I got the X5 back, the SA says he has contacted BMW to see if they can help out. There are only 42000 miles on the car and it went out of warranty Aug 2012. Let's see if that pans out, though not too hopeful, they are supposed to get back in 2 days. Thinking, will wait to go to the Indy.

Op
What state?