Secondary Air Valve Replacement

schickane · 04-08-2016, 01:16 PM

My car is throwing a fault code for a bad Secondary Air Injection (SAI) pump. It is my understanding that these go bad due to faulty Secondary Air Valves, which fail in the open condition and allow exhaust gases to flow backward into the pump. I would like to replace the valves when I replace the pump to prevent premature failure of the new pump.

I searched long and hard for a DIY or even just some photos, but it doesn't seem there's any information about accessing the Secondary Air Valves. I'm trying to figure out how they are accessed before I begin the replacement procedure.

Are the valves accessed from above the engine, or from underneath?

Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated.

Here are some relevant photos:

Mfanatik · 04-10-2016, 01:42 AM

I did it a mix of from under and on top...the outer bolts closer to the firewall is what I did from up top.

For the lowers I lowered the Tranny and let it hand down, you should remove the fan before doing so as well.

schickane · 04-10-2016, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mfanatik

I did it a mix of from under and on top...the outer bolts closer to the firewall is what I did from up top.

For the lowers I lowered the Tranny and let it hand down, you should remove the fan before doing so as well.

Thanks for the info. I haven't been under the car yet, so I'm not familiar with how the transmission is mounted. How did you go about lowering it?

BPMSport · 04-10-2016, 07:49 PM

Might save you some time and $ to tune it out if you prefer that route.

schickane · 04-10-2016, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Benvo

Might save you some time and $ to tune it out if you prefer that route.

I have the ESS tune, and the cold-start is definitely disabled. I'm still getting DTC 27AF for the Secondary Air Pump. They are known to fail, so I'm assuming mine has. Are there tunes that suppress the SES light for a failed pump? I have to pass an OBD scan for inspection here in NY.

Mfanatik · 04-14-2016, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schickane

Thanks for the info. I haven't been under the car yet, so I'm not familiar with how the transmission is mounted. How did you go about lowering it?

Remove the driveshaft from the tranny, and remove the trans mount bracket and mounts. I did mine on a lift though.

ddep · 03-19-2017, 01:25 AM

schickane did you get anywhere with this? I need replace a valve I think. I just got P0491 complaining secondary air injection system insufficient flow.

ddep · 03-22-2017, 05:04 PM

looking from under the engine I don't see an easy way to access the bank 1 valve either. Here is a picture Name: valve.jpg
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Mfanatik how did you lower the tranny? are there steps for that somewhere?

Fr0gman · 03-17-2018, 04:46 PM

revising an old thread since I might have to do this on my vehicle...any tips on the process? Will coding it out pass smog?

SYT_Shadow · 03-20-2018, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DToxic

revising an old thread since I might have to do this on my vehicle...any tips on the process? Will coding it out pass smog?

You can usually pass with one sensor off, but then you'd need to have cats

Fr0gman · 03-20-2018, 01:47 PM

Ah thanks. I think I'll most likely replace the valves. My pump works (I feel it pull air on startup) but the tubes may be blocked. Anyone have experience accessing the valves? Is dropping the tranny absolutely necessary?

deansbimmer · 03-21-2018, 08:09 AM

No you don't need to drop the transmission. You can do it from above. If you have smaller hands and patience, you only need to remove the cowl filters and if you still have difficulty, you may also need to remove the engine wiring harness (or unsecure it and move it forward enough to reach behind.)

Dave07997S · 03-21-2018, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DToxic

revising an old thread since I might have to do this on my vehicle...any tips on the process? Will coding it out pass smog?

In Cali the only item that doesn't have a green readiness and pass is the EVAP canister. All else must be in readiness.

Dave

Fr0gman · 03-30-2018, 01:46 AM

Thanks, Dean. Have you done this repair before?

deansbimmer · 03-30-2018, 07:14 AM

Yes that’s why I posted.

waldron80 · 12-22-2018, 11:55 AM

I think this is also my issue. At least for now. Replaced secondary air pump but still getting 27B0. Anyone have success changing this out?

PhYrE · 01-21-2019, 11:18 PM

The BMW way is to take out the entire exhaust manifold. Insane.

https://workshop-manuals.com/bmw/3_s..._valves_(s65)/

nycplumber · 01-23-2019, 05:56 PM

This is like a 45 minute job if you're competent and have the right tools. Like deans said you will need to remove the cowls.

amrazM · 01-25-2019, 02:25 AM

Remove the cowl panel and use a racheting wrench on the top nut and low profile Rachet on the Lower nut, it’s not impossible to do.

amrazM · 01-25-2019, 02:25 AM

I can Do this for you in queens if you need help to remove them.

waldron80 · 07-31-2019, 09:14 AM

Just curious if anyone has any updates on this work or any more experience? I will be performing this work in the coming weeks to pass emissions in GA.

I get that we have to remove the cowl panel but no one mentioned having to remove the plenum? Can we do this without removing the plenum?

Thanks in advance!

killakill · 04-15-2020, 04:05 PM

sorry for reviving and old thread, any luck from anyone? people did say you can do it from the top but the clearance is little to none.

04-08-2016, 01:16 PM	#1
schickane Autocrosser 10 Rep 50 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 M3 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Brooklyn, NY iTrader: (2)	Secondary Air Valve Replacement - How to access? My car is throwing a fault code for a bad Secondary Air Injection (SAI) pump. It is my understanding that these go bad due to faulty Secondary Air Valves, which fail in the open condition and allow exhaust gases to flow backward into the pump. I would like to replace the valves when I replace the pump to prevent premature failure of the new pump. I searched long and hard for a DIY or even just some photos, but it doesn't seem there's any information about accessing the Secondary Air Valves. I'm trying to figure out how they are accessed before I begin the replacement procedure. Are the valves accessed from above the engine, or from underneath? Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated. Here are some relevant photos:
	Appreciate 1 DrFerry6728.50 Tweet Quote

04-10-2016, 01:42 AM	#2
Mfanatik Private First Class 13 Rep 136 Posts Drives: E90 Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Mississauga, On Canada iTrader: (0)	I did it a mix of from under and on top...the outer bolts closer to the firewall is what I did from up top. For the lowers I lowered the Tranny and let it hand down, you should remove the fan before doing so as well.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-10-2016, 07:49 PM	#4
BPMSport BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 3387 Rep 7,541 Posts Drives: Harrop M3 / F10 M5 / F82 M4 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (9) Garage List 2000 BMW M5 [0.00] 1990 BMW 735i Turbo [0.00] 2008 BMW M3 [7.50] 2015 BMW M3 [0.00] 2015 BMW M5 [0.00]	Might save you some time and $ to tune it out if you prefer that route. __________________ -----\| Like us on Facebook \| Instagram \|\| Tuning Information \| Remote Coding \|----- ----Visit us at www.BPMSport.com - Emotion. Driven. \| Toll Free: (888) 557-5133----
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03-19-2017, 01:25 AM	#7
ddep Private 12 Rep 57 Posts Drives: e90 lci m3 sedan Join Date: May 2011 Location: California iTrader: (1)	schickane did you get anywhere with this? I need replace a valve I think. I just got P0491 complaining secondary air injection system insufficient flow.
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03-22-2017, 05:04 PM	#8
ddep Private 12 Rep 57 Posts Drives: e90 lci m3 sedan Join Date: May 2011 Location: California iTrader: (1)	looking from under the engine I don't see an easy way to access the bank 1 valve either. Here is a picture Mfanatik how did you lower the tranny? are there steps for that somewhere?
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03-17-2018, 04:46 PM	#9
Fr0gman Private 20 Rep 87 Posts Drives: MW E92 M3 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (1)	revising an old thread since I might have to do this on my vehicle...any tips on the process? Will coding it out pass smog?
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03-20-2018, 01:47 PM	#11
Fr0gman Private 20 Rep 87 Posts Drives: MW E92 M3 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (1)	Ah thanks. I think I'll most likely replace the valves. My pump works (I feel it pull air on startup) but the tubes may be blocked. Anyone have experience accessing the valves? Is dropping the tranny absolutely necessary?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-21-2018, 08:09 AM	#12
deansbimmer BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 3749 Rep 2,907 Posts Drives: 2011 E93 M3 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: DFW, Texas iTrader: (17) Garage List 1988 BMW M3 [0.00] 2013 BMW M3 [0.00] 2011 X5M [0.00] 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	No you don't need to drop the transmission. You can do it from above. If you have smaller hands and patience, you only need to remove the cowl filters and if you still have difficulty, you may also need to remove the engine wiring harness (or unsecure it and move it forward enough to reach behind.)
	Appreciate 1 DrFerry6728.50 Quote

03-30-2018, 01:46 AM	#14
Fr0gman Private 20 Rep 87 Posts Drives: MW E92 M3 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (1)	Thanks, Dean. Have you done this repair before?
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03-30-2018, 07:14 AM	#15
deansbimmer BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 3749 Rep 2,907 Posts Drives: 2011 E93 M3 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: DFW, Texas iTrader: (17) Garage List 1988 BMW M3 [0.00] 2013 BMW M3 [0.00] 2011 X5M [0.00] 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	Yes that’s why I posted.
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12-22-2018, 11:55 AM	#16
waldron80 Private First Class 32 Rep 112 Posts Drives: 08 e90 M3 6MT Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	I think this is also my issue. At least for now. Replaced secondary air pump but still getting 27B0. Anyone have success changing this out?
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01-21-2019, 11:18 PM	#17
PhYrE New Member 9 Rep 25 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	The BMW way is to take out the entire exhaust manifold. Insane. https://workshop-manuals.com/bmw/3_s..._valves_(s65)/
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01-23-2019, 05:56 PM	#18
nycplumber Major 682 Rep 1,227 Posts Drives: slow Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: nyc iTrader: (0)	This is like a 45 minute job if you're competent and have the right tools. Like deans said you will need to remove the cowls.
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01-25-2019, 02:25 AM	#19
amrazM mTekMods 2135 Rep 2,898 Posts Drives: like a granny. Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Manhatan iTrader: (1)	Remove the cowl panel and use a racheting wrench on the top nut and low profile Rachet on the Lower nut, it’s not impossible to do. __________________ 2011 Frozen Black/Fox Red E90 M3 650+WHP G-Power Supercharged First DCT to Manual Conversion Worldwide KW CS, BBS RI-A, BW Headers, Snow 2.5
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07-31-2019, 09:14 AM	#21
waldron80 Private First Class 32 Rep 112 Posts Drives: 08 e90 M3 6MT Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	Just curious if anyone has any updates on this work or any more experience? I will be performing this work in the coming weeks to pass emissions in GA. I get that we have to remove the cowl panel but no one mentioned having to remove the plenum? Can we do this without removing the plenum? Thanks in advance! __________________
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04-15-2020, 04:05 PM	#22
killakill Captain 76 Rep 746 Posts Drives: E93 M3,6th Gen Camaro SS Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (2)	sorry for reviving and old thread, any luck from anyone? people did say you can do it from the top but the clearance is little to none. Attached Images Last edited by killakill; 04-15-2020 at 11:57 PM..
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