Engine Malfunction: Reduced Power...BIG PROBLEMS!!!

askiles · 09-10-2009, 04:27 PM

Hey guys, I see that one other person on the board recently had the same malfunction light come on. The problem is, mine was accompanied by a stumbling engine, and it just would not drive worth crap. The engine was REALLY running on reduced power. It was towed 40 miles to my local BMW dealership (my office is far away) and to this day, they still have not nailed the problem. The first part that they replaced was the VANOS solenoid, which did not fix the problem. They said there is about 15 difference error codes coming up, so they were hoping this would fix all of them. NOPE. It just so happened that the regional head of tech was by today to look at this, and he said that it looks like they may need to replace the entire VANOS assembly!!! They are going to have it for awhile, and at this point, no one knows exactly what is wrong, or what needs to be done to make the car usable again! This really blows my mind. It is like this car is so far advanced, BMW does not know how to fix it. I just thought I would share.

-Andy

tom @ eas · 09-10-2009, 04:33 PM

Are you running an aftermarket tune?

Also list any other mods, if any.

askiles · 09-10-2009, 04:53 PM

I am, but I don't think it has anything to do with it. I have been running an ESS tune now for many months with no problems at all. The only mods I have are the tune and an AFE filter...well wheels but those don't count. I have just been driving my car like a daily driver recently, nothing crazy. I do drive 40 miles each way to work, and it happened after I drove out there, of course. It could not happen in town!

-Andy

tom @ eas · 09-10-2009, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by askiles

I am, but I don't think it has anything to do with it. I have been running an ESS tune now for many months with no problems at all. The only mods I have are the tune and an AFE filter...well wheels but those don't count. I have just been driving my car like a daily driver recently, nothing crazy. I do drive 40 miles each way to work, and it happened after I drove out there, of course. It could not happen in town!

-Andy

I would suggest reading this thread: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...ne+malfunction

A similar issue happened with the PowerChip SW, I believe the issue was already rectified. Filter is unlikely to cause any codes.

askiles · 09-10-2009, 06:00 PM

I am not sure if they checked the ICV at all. I could suggest that for them. My problem is different from the Powerchip problem. I was never revving the engine that high. Like I said, it is a daily driver, and was used just like a normal car, nothing crazy. Plus, I have had the ESS tune for a long time now, and those problems happened right after they received their tune.

-Andy

tom @ eas · 09-10-2009, 06:03 PM

Listing the specific codes/descriptions received would put a lot of speculation to rest.

Lemans_Blue_M · 09-10-2009, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

Listing the specific codes/descriptions received would put a lot of speculation to rest.

+1

Please list all the engine fault codes present on the ECU when this occurred.

Eugene-TAIWAN · 09-10-2009, 08:46 PM

I have recently gotten something like this.

I DSC lights came on . I went back to the dealer to see what was going on. And they told me it was my DSC ECU that had a malfuction. I notice there was a drop in power out on my car. I thought it was my exhaust people NOT have the right set up which made my car felt slow. But now Slower. Do anyone if this is also a problem. But i must say prior to my dash board lighting up like X-mas lights I did spend 1 full day at the race track with the MDM on so I don't know if this has cause the problems as well.

please input.

askiles · 09-10-2009, 09:33 PM

They did not give me the codes, and I did not have a drop in power until the malfunction came up. Nothing before hand pointed to a problem about to occur.

-Andy

///V\3Dude · 09-10-2009, 09:49 PM

I had this problem with my car to, it happened twice, one was The ICV- and the second time was a fuel selenoid. I Hope they find the problem for you.

Eugene-TAIWAN · 09-10-2009, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by askiles

They did not give me the codes, and I did not have a drop in power until the malfunction came up. Nothing before hand pointed to a problem about to occur.

-Andy

Oh boy, its a tuff one then. I will then see after my DSC is fix. Maybe I will get more power back.

Eugene-TAIWAN · 09-10-2009, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///V\3Dude

I had this problem with my car to, it happened twice, one was The ICV- and the second time was a fuel selenoid. I Hope they find the problem for you.

What is are the fault codes?

Ca$hOnly · 09-11-2009, 01:47 AM

Did the dealer ask you if you have a tune?

mixja · 09-11-2009, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eugene-TAIWAN

I have recently gotten something like this.

I DSC lights came on . I went back to the dealer to see what was going on. And they told me it was my DSC ECU that had a malfuction. I notice there was a drop in power out on my car. I thought it was my exhaust people NOT have the right set up which made my car felt slow. But now Slower. Do anyone if this is also a problem. But i must say prior to my dash board lighting up like X-mas lights I did spend 1 full day at the race track with the MDM on so I don't know if this has cause the problems as well.

please input.

Try resetting your ECU - disconnect ground from battery in boot of the car, leave it for 30 minutes, then hold down the brake for 60 seconds. Reconnect the battery...

I was experienced reduced power after a day at the track, resetting ECU cured it...

Eugene-TAIWAN · 09-11-2009, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mixja

Try resetting your ECU - disconnect ground from battery in boot of the car, leave it for 30 minutes, then hold down the brake for 60 seconds. Reconnect the battery...

I was experienced reduced power after a day at the track, resetting ECU cured it...

OK I will try that. do hold the brake and connect the battery at the same time?

mixja · 09-11-2009, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eugene-TAIWAN

OK I will try that. do hold the brake and connect the battery at the same time?

No, you hold down the brake to make sure you discharge everything completely. Then afterwards you can reconnect the battery...

Eugene-TAIWAN · 09-11-2009, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mixja

No, you hold down the brake to make sure you discharge everything completely. Then afterwards you can reconnect the battery...

Thanks! I will give it a shot.

///V\3Dude · 09-12-2009, 12:42 AM

Dealer, Never Gave me the codes, they fixed it, and Gave the keys back.

Eugene-TAIWAN · 09-12-2009, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///V\3Dude

I had this problem with my car to, it happened twice, one was The ICV- and the second time was a fuel selenoid. I Hope they find the problem for you.

How did you find out about this problem???

FStop7 · 09-12-2009, 04:29 PM

So one car that's had this problem has Powerchip tuning

Another car has ESS

And another car has GIAC

This is a little concerning.

gthirtyfizle · 09-12-2009, 05:17 PM

Powerchip has a fix for the problem tho. They know excatly whats causing it....

mixja · 09-12-2009, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gthirtyfizle

Powerchip has a fix for the problem tho. They know excatly whats causing it....

I think that is the CEL around torque limits, and I think this issue is different.

The pattern for the issue that appears to be happening here is that the more aggressive aftermarket tunes seem to accelerate the onset of other known BMW issues....

09-10-2009, 04:27 PM	#1
askiles Major Drives: 2008 M3 Sedan - Alpine White Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,149 iTrader: (2)	Engine Malfunction: Reduced Power...BIG PROBLEMS!!! Hey guys, I see that one other person on the board recently had the same malfunction light come on. The problem is, mine was accompanied by a stumbling engine, and it just would not drive worth crap. The engine was REALLY running on reduced power. It was towed 40 miles to my local BMW dealership (my office is far away) and to this day, they still have not nailed the problem. The first part that they replaced was the VANOS solenoid, which did not fix the problem. They said there is about 15 difference error codes coming up, so they were hoping this would fix all of them. NOPE. It just so happened that the regional head of tech was by today to look at this, and he said that it looks like they may need to replace the entire VANOS assembly!!! They are going to have it for awhile, and at this point, no one knows exactly what is wrong, or what needs to be done to make the car usable again! This really blows my mind. It is like this car is so far advanced, BMW does not know how to fix it. I just thought I would share. -Andy __________________ 2008 M3 Sedan- Alpine White
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09-10-2009, 04:33 PM	#2
tom @ eas BimmerPost Supporting Vendor Drives: BMW Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 8,857 iTrader: (12) Garage List 2008 ESS VT2-525 Z4MC [0.00] 2011 ESS VT2-625 M3 [0.00]	Are you running an aftermarket tune? Also list any other mods, if any. __________________ Tom G. \| european auto source (eas) email: tom@europeanautosource.com web: www.europeanautosource.com tel 866.669.0705 \| ca: 714.369.8524 x22 \| fax: 714.908.1796 Blog \| Facebook \| YouTube \| Flickr \| Twitter

09-10-2009, 04:53 PM	#3
askiles Major Drives: 2008 M3 Sedan - Alpine White Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,149 iTrader: (2)	I am, but I don't think it has anything to do with it. I have been running an ESS tune now for many months with no problems at all. The only mods I have are the tune and an AFE filter...well wheels but those don't count. I have just been driving my car like a daily driver recently, nothing crazy. I do drive 40 miles each way to work, and it happened after I drove out there, of course. It could not happen in town! -Andy __________________ 2008 M3 Sedan- Alpine White

09-10-2009, 06:00 PM	#5
askiles Major Drives: 2008 M3 Sedan - Alpine White Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,149 iTrader: (2)	I am not sure if they checked the ICV at all. I could suggest that for them. My problem is different from the Powerchip problem. I was never revving the engine that high. Like I said, it is a daily driver, and was used just like a normal car, nothing crazy. Plus, I have had the ESS tune for a long time now, and those problems happened right after they received their tune. -Andy __________________ 2008 M3 Sedan- Alpine White

09-10-2009, 06:03 PM	#6
tom @ eas BimmerPost Supporting Vendor Drives: BMW Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 8,857 iTrader: (12) Garage List 2008 ESS VT2-525 Z4MC [0.00] 2011 ESS VT2-625 M3 [0.00]	Listing the specific codes/descriptions received would put a lot of speculation to rest. __________________ Tom G. \| european auto source (eas) email: tom@europeanautosource.com web: www.europeanautosource.com tel 866.669.0705 \| ca: 714.369.8524 x22 \| fax: 714.908.1796 Blog \| Facebook \| YouTube \| Flickr \| Twitter

09-10-2009, 08:46 PM	#8
Eugene-TAIWAN Brigadier General Drives: E92 M3 Coupe Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Taiwan Posts: 3,104 iTrader: (4)	I have recently gotten something like this. I DSC lights came on . I went back to the dealer to see what was going on. And they told me it was my DSC ECU that had a malfuction. I notice there was a drop in power out on my car. I thought it was my exhaust people NOT have the right set up which made my car felt slow. But now Slower. Do anyone if this is also a problem. But i must say prior to my dash board lighting up like X-mas lights I did spend 1 full day at the race track with the MDM on so I don't know if this has cause the problems as well. please input. __________________ Past: Gintani stage3 M3 present: Porsche 993, 964,997.1 GT3, Panamera Turbo waiting to be delivered 2015: Porsche 991 GT3RS

09-10-2009, 09:33 PM	#9
askiles Major Drives: 2008 M3 Sedan - Alpine White Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,149 iTrader: (2)	They did not give me the codes, and I did not have a drop in power until the malfunction came up. Nothing before hand pointed to a problem about to occur. -Andy __________________ 2008 M3 Sedan- Alpine White

09-10-2009, 09:49 PM	#10
///V\3Dude I Drive Slow To Save Gas :D $///V\3Dude's Avatar$ Drives: 08 M3, MY11 STi Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: I <3 NY Posts: 467 iTrader: (2)	I had this problem with my car to, it happened twice, one was The ICV- and the second time was a fuel selenoid. I Hope they find the problem for you. __________________
$///V\3Dude is offline$

09-11-2009, 01:47 AM	#13
Ca$hOnly Major Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: In ur fridge, eatin ur foodz Posts: 1,063 iTrader: (5)	Did the dealer ask you if you have a tune? __________________

09-12-2009, 12:42 AM	#18
///V\3Dude I Drive Slow To Save Gas :D $///V\3Dude's Avatar$ Drives: 08 M3, MY11 STi Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: I <3 NY Posts: 467 iTrader: (2)	Dealer, Never Gave me the codes, they fixed it, and Gave the keys back. __________________
$///V\3Dude is offline$

09-12-2009, 04:29 PM	#20
FStop7 I like cars Drives: M6 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Newbury Park, CA Posts: 5,061 iTrader: (3)	So one car that's had this problem has Powerchip tuning Another car has ESS And another car has GIAC This is a little concerning. __________________ My photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/racelap/

09-12-2009, 05:17 PM	#21
gthirtyfizle Colonel Drives: E92 M3 AW Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 2,588 iTrader: (4)	Powerchip has a fix for the problem tho. They know excatly whats causing it....

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