N53 330i NOXEM review

[SoupAnxiety]

bmwmike said:

Phew, agree on the B word, after I'd written my post I realised it could have been taken either way!! Right nuff said about that I think.

Switching modes - interesting - really? The only thing I don't like about my n53 f10 is the idle noise some times sounds like a brake disc lip rubbing, metallic a little like a scrape sound. And at idle, after idling for a while.. something clicks and it stops. Is that it?

Idling sounds diesel like - mine always did this, even with a knackered NOx sensor / no fancy burn modes. Think this is a symptom of high pressure injection.

The burn modes you can hear at low revs (<1k), then there's a step change to <4k and beyond is normal burn. Tough to describe but imagine mechanical ticking and venting. It's most noticable if you're in a 30 - 40 MPH zone and are pootling along with the radio off. Not unpleasant or harsh, just... different. Only noticed after NOXEM being installed.

[RanchoGrande]

Just found this thread after another PHer recommended this NOXEM. I reckon my N53 sounds like it could do with one of these.

[KH47Ed]

SoupAnxiety said:

I asked my independent mechanic to install it whilst it was in for a service. He had no problems encoding the NOx sensor and catalyst replacement, reseting adaptations and clearing codes using the universal third party programmer. Only painful bit was getting the undertray off after nine years and 172k miles, "persusaion" was needed.

The site includes all sorts of information about using INPA to encode yourself. It might give better results doing this but all I've done is had it installed as above and driven for 200 miles to allow it to bed in.

hi i'm looking at getting NOXEM 130 for my 320i (n43) i've spoken to the guys over at bimmerprofs and they're really helpful, even had a bit of brext banter haha rather than spending £400 on the BMW original, because i know mine defo has the 30ea code messing up my fuel efficiency, i've had enough of 20mpg, when i first bought the car it was averaging around 40mpg and then one day i got my hands on inpa erased all adaptations and reset codes and its never been the same since.

My question is how hard is the coding bit or is it as simple as deleting the adaptations and fault codes? I trust my mechanic to delete adaptations and reset fault codes but beyond that i'm not really sure if he'd do any coding if its required. My former mechanic before this one was a pure heathen, he use to tell me dont worry about the computer and techy parts just put the physical part in and you're good to go, several hundreds of pounds later i know thats not the case especially with german motors, maybe with 'dumber' cars but defo not this one. I once spent 8hrs getting to a faulty bank 1 o2 sensor on this motor, to put things in perspective in another motor (peugeot) i had this done in 30mins.

[SoupAnxiety]

KH47Ed said:

hi i'm looking at getting NOXEM 130 for my 320i (n43) i've spoken to the guys over at bimmerprofs and they're really helpful, even had a bit of brext banter haha rather than spending £400 on the BMW original, because i know mine defo has the 30ea code messing up my fuel efficiency, i've had enough of 20mpg, when i first bought the car it was averaging around 40mpg and then one day i got my hands on inpa erased all adaptations and reset codes and its never been the same since.

My question is how hard is the coding bit or is it as simple as deleting the adaptations and fault codes? I trust my mechanic to delete adaptations and reset fault codes but beyond that i'm not really sure if he'd do any coding if its required. My former mechanic before this one was a pure heathen, he use to tell me dont worry about the computer and techy parts just put the physical part in and you're good to go, several hundreds of pounds later i know thats not the case especially with german motors, maybe with 'dumber' cars but defo not this one. I once spent 8hrs getting to a faulty bank 1 o2 sensor on this motor, to put things in perspective in another motor (peugeot) i had this done in 30mins.

The only other coding beyond resetting fault codes is that the ECU needs to be told the NOx cat has been replaced. Shouldn't be too difficult if your mechanic can do the rest.

[KH47Ed]

Would erasing adaptations do the same job as telling the ECU NOx sensor has been replaced?

[KH47Ed]

wish me look because fuel economy has gone even worse now - fuelled up about 15L, and only got 80 miles, 50 of which were on the motorway

[bmwmike]

KH47Ed said:

wish me look because fuel economy has gone even worse now - fuelled up about 15L, and only got 80 miles, 50 of which were on the motorway

Have you ruled out the usual culprits such as flat tyres, binding brakes, etc

[SoupAnxiety]

KH47Ed said:

Would erasing adaptations do the same job as telling the ECU NOx sensor has been replaced?

No - it's a separate task, fault code / adaptation reset isn't the same. After the NOx replacement and NOx cat replacement coding I have zero fault codes on the DME, do a fault code scan and see if you have anything relating to NOx (aged cat etc).

[markirl]

Thanks for this thread, really interesting. I have a manual n53 530i and have had a 30e9 warning on the car for a few years now. My economy is OK, generally averages 30mpg, but from reading your thread it would appear that 30e9 means I'm losing lean burn mode? Do you think I should buy NOXEM?

[SoupAnxiety]

markirl said:

Thanks for this thread, really interesting. I have a manual n53 530i and have had a 30e9 warning on the car for a few years now. My economy is OK, generally averages 30mpg, but from reading your thread it would appear that 30e9 means I'm losing lean burn mode? Do you think I should buy NOXEM?

I would if I were you - my only regret is not doing it sooner!

[Gary Deasy]

Hi Guys
I just bought NOXEM 130 and am getting a mechanic to fit it. This is going to be a stupid question possibly but which lambda probe does it replace?
There are 4 i think , 2 sensors in the engine bay and 2 along the exhaust. I know it is one of the sensors in the exhaust that NOXEM replaces but is the one that is furthest from the engine or the one before that? I am assuming the one furthest from the engine , but I just want to be doubly sure

Cheers
Gary

[SoupAnxiety]

Gary Deasy said:

Hi Guys
I just bought NOXEM 130 and am getting a mechanic to fit it. This is going to be a stupid question possibly but which lambda probe does it replace?
There are 4 i think , 2 sensors in the engine bay and 2 along the exhaust. I know it is one of the sensors in the exhaust that NOXEM replaces but is the one that is furthest from the engine or the one before that? I am assuming the one furthest from the engine , but I just want to be doubly sure

Cheers
Gary

You're right - furthest from the engine.

[bmwmike]

Cant go wrong when you see it. Needs coding etc iirc.

[naturalaspiration]

Regarding the ticking noise and oil consumption, you may want to try LM Ceratec, I am also using it in the manual gearbox and the diff (regular, not a limited slip). All the engines I have been using it with have become incredibly smooth now (M52TU, M54 and N52), with improved economy.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13...

[ahuss]

I purchased this emulator, it has gone faulty, and they refuse to replace it under warranty. Their website says the sensor will last up to three hundred thousand miles, whilst mine did not even last up to twenty. so be warned. Then when you go to email them this is the reply you get. avoid the frustration. If you guys need to see the disgusting email log please message me directly.

[bmwmike]

ahuss said:

I purchased this emulator, it has gone faulty, and they refuse to replace it under warranty. Their website says the sensor will last up to three hundred thousand miles, whilst mine did not even last up to twenty. so be warned. Then when you go to email them this is the reply you get. avoid the frustration. If you guys need to see the disgusting email log please message me directly.

disgusting email? as in, abusive?

Did you buy it on a credit card, may be some recourse that way.

The sensor on those emulators is a bog standard o2 sensor i think, in contrast to the real Nox sensors which are more complex, as such, you may be able to try replacing just the head/sensor? Depends whats wrong with it i guess, codes etc.

[pmorg4]

To give an idea of what's possible on a fully working N53.

SoupAnxiety said:

Long term update after a few thousand miles.

Round town / urban only is 32 MPG.
Real world mixed driving is around 35 MPG.
100+ miles of motorway use is an easy 40 MPG.

This was my return trip of 240+ miles, including spending one hour in stop start traffic on the M5 and at least half an hour in the same joy on the M42. 42 MPG! Car had four people in and loads of luggage too. I reckon 45ish MPG would be the best effort.

Interestingly, 68 MPH / 110 KPH @ 2,350 RPM seems to be the sweet spot in mine for economy, 60 MPH / 70 MPH were slightly worse and 75+ MPH goes off a cliff (18" wheels, super unleaded).

I can wholeheartedly recommend NOXEM. Installation and adaptation process works as described, and my car is fault code free.

Another one from elsewhere, reset MPG prior to 155 miles of motorway driving:

[bmwmike]

I had one in a f10 with the zf8. Had seen over 40mpg on that too, not bad considering the heft of the f10.

I really rate the n53, its a good engine. Pity about the injectors but plenty of expensive horrors lurk on lots of other engines too.

[micdev422]

Hi. Does using the nox emulator mean that nox emissions are not being controlled? So the engine may run better but it is still chucking out harmful nox? Also how do I tell if the nox sensor is faulty? Thanks

[Ian Geary]

micdev422 said:

Hi. Does using the nox emulator mean that nox emissions are not being controlled? So the engine may run better but it is still chucking out harmful nox? Also how do I tell if the nox sensor is faulty? Thanks

To the first point, I think yes. Though it deals with sensor problems as well as nox cat failures. However, by spoofing the DME to think everything is fine, it's likely it's masking a problem and not curing it.

To the second, use inpa or similar to check codes. Unless you cross check nox emissions at a suitably equipped garage?


Hth