330ci misbehaving. Advice required
330ci misbehaving. Advice required
Author
Discussion

PaulB81

Original Poster:

883 posts

191 months

Sunday 1st May 2011
quotequote all
Went for a drive in my 330ci today and a warning light came on the dash. It was the yellow engine shaped one with no text (as opposed to the one that says EML). At the same time it went 'juddery' and I lost any sort of acceleration. I pulled in to decide what to do about it. Switched it back on 2 minutes later and the light was gone and the car felt perfect again. I drove it straight home without issue.

Any ideas what this might be? I'm hoping not some sort of imminent engine failure!! I'm leaning towards it being a sensor of some description as if the engine was knackered, turning it off and back on would not have fixed it.

Any help would be much appreciated.


Blue Oval84

5,397 posts

192 months

Sunday 1st May 2011
quotequote all
I'm gonna take a random stab at coil pack(s)

My dad's Z4 with an M54 engine broke down with the same type of problem when he got it, although it didn't go again until new coil packs were fitted!

saleen836

12,524 posts

240 months

Sunday 1st May 2011
quotequote all
Paul, I see your in Wiltshire same as myself (Warminster) I have a code reader that might tell you what the problem is?! my code reader works on petrol cars 2001 onwards. I'm home all day tomorrow if the offer is any use?!

PaulB81

Original Poster:

883 posts

191 months

Sunday 1st May 2011
quotequote all
saleen836 said:
Paul, I see your in Wiltshire same as myself (Warminster) I have a code reader that might tell you what the problem is?! my code reader works on petrol cars 2001 onwards. I'm home all day tomorrow if the offer is any use?!
That would be awesome. I'm near Pewsey / Marloborough so I'm quite far out. My worry would be driving 45 mins with a potential engine issue. I will have a think about it and see if anyone else has an idea about what it might be. It did go pretty juddery / sluggish when the problem occurred which could be a problem in fast traffic on a busy road.

I do really appreciate the offer.

saleen836

12,524 posts

240 months

Sunday 1st May 2011
quotequote all
No problem, just let me know

Gunk

3,302 posts

190 months

Sunday 1st May 2011
quotequote all
Could be a faulty inlet cam sensor, this is a common E46 problem, not an expensive fix, the part costs about £80 from a main dealer.

PaulB81

Original Poster:

883 posts

191 months

Monday 2nd May 2011
quotequote all
I was hoping to find an easy answer to this but it doesnt look like there is on.

Can anyone recomend a good specialist in the area? I think a main dealer is going to be pricey. I have heard good things about Dick Lovett in Hungerford though.

Jobbo

13,890 posts

295 months

Monday 2nd May 2011
quotequote all
Any sort of misfire could cause this - the judderiness and limited performance are a result of a misfire triggering the limp mode. Hopefully it'll be a coil, cam sensor or MAF but you could spend ages tracking it down.

Same thing happened on my old Alpina B3S - the code said it was a misfire on cyl 6 but three attempts at sorting it out came to nought, so I rejected it. That was with a main dealer, under warranty; my advice would be go to a specialist instead!

saleen836

12,524 posts

240 months

Monday 2nd May 2011
quotequote all
If you can wait till end of the week I can run the code reader over to you?! If it gives a code it could save a fair few ££'s by not having to pay a dealer to plug theirs in.

PaulB81

Original Poster:

883 posts

191 months

Monday 2nd May 2011
quotequote all
Thats very generous. Are you ever in the Pewsey/Marlborough area? Im just not confident driving it too far when its misbehaving like this.

Gunk

3,302 posts

190 months

Monday 2nd May 2011
quotequote all
There is a very good specialist in Oxford, he is ex North Oxford Garage (main dealer)

Mark Purcell Ltd
28 Peterley Rd
Oxford OX4 2TZ
01865 711 525

saleen836

12,524 posts

240 months

Monday 2nd May 2011
quotequote all
PaulB81 said:
Thats very generous. Are you ever in the Pewsey/Marlborough area? Im just not confident driving it too far when its misbehaving like this.
I'm currently working on the south coast but Friday evening or preferably Saturday day, I can give my Mustang a run out and help out a fellow PH'er




PaulB81

Original Poster:

883 posts

191 months

Monday 2nd May 2011
quotequote all
That would be great. I will PM you my address / phone number. I am free on Saturday.

*Al*

3,830 posts

253 months

Thursday 5th May 2011
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Gunk said:
Could be a faulty inlet cam sensor, this is a common E46 problem, not an expensive fix, the part costs about £80 from a main dealer.
Almost certainly this, very very common.

PaulB81

Original Poster:

883 posts

191 months

Friday 6th May 2011
quotequote all
The local garage have run their diagnostic over it.

Cylinder 1 is misfiring intermittently.

They dont know the cause. I asked him to test the coil packs with an ohmeter but he said they dont do that sort of thing. He said they were just going to get a price for a new coil pack and try it.

If it is an intermittent misfire on one cyclinder (same one every time) is it more than likely a coil pack / plug / lead?

Jobbo

13,890 posts

295 months

Friday 6th May 2011
quotequote all
PaulB81 said:
If it is an intermittent misfire on one cyclinder (same one every time) is it more than likely a coil pack / plug / lead?
I mentioned my Alpina earlier - same thing (but on cyl 6), and they couldn't fix it after 3 weeks of trying out various things. I'd replace the coil pack anyway for the £20 or so it costs, but it may not be the answer.

*Al*

3,830 posts

253 months

Friday 6th May 2011
quotequote all
PaulB81 said:
The local garage have run their diagnostic over it.

Cylinder 1 is misfiring intermittently.

They dont know the cause. I asked him to test the coil packs with an ohmeter but he said they dont do that sort of thing. He said they were just going to get a price for a new coil pack and try it.

If it is an intermittent misfire on one cyclinder (same one every time) is it more than likely a coil pack / plug / lead?
Ok but why have they not swapped the coil pack on no 1 to no 2 and see if the misfire goes with it? Hardly rocket science is it?

PaulB81

Original Poster:

883 posts

191 months

Friday 6th May 2011
quotequote all
A fair point

Im going to pick it up tomorrow and book it in at a specialist. I dont wnat to just randomly replace parts and hope it fixes it.

Ive also ordered a code reader so after whoever fixes it gives it back, i can keep an eye on it

*Al*

3,830 posts

253 months

Sunday 8th May 2011
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Any updates Paul?

PaulB81

Original Poster:

883 posts

191 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
Im short on time so I just told them to go ahead and put a new coil pack in. He said if it doesnt fix it he will just send the part back and try the injector instead.

A bit frustrating but I dont have time to look at it myself and the BMW specialist I called doesnt seem to like answering their phone so I will stick with the local garage for now.

They say the coil pack should come in today or tomorrow at the latest. They are going to clear the fault on the car, put the new coil pack in, then do some testing to see if the misfire comes back. It was fairly regular they said when they tested it before so hopefully I will get a decent answer. I also bought a fault code reader so if they give it me back saying its fine, I can check it myself to make sure there isnt still and issue.