04 325i codes 2960 2973

[Ickrus]

Just wanted to see if anyone had and ideas on this. I just got the car out of the shop. Had a check engine light on and the shop replaced the maf with an oem maf and the ccv was replaced. The car was showing lean bank 1 and 2 . 1000 or so miles later check engine light is back on. So I took it back to the local shop and codes 2960 and 2973 are on. What is yall's recommendation just an O2 sensor? The guy at the shop is telling me I need an dme flash..

Thanks

[bmwdirtracer]

No, you need a SMOKE TEST of the intake / ccv system.

Run away from whatever shop you're dealing with, and go to a BMW / Euro specialist shop.

Any good BMW guy knows that lean codes mean intake/ccv system leaks, 90% of the time. Any NON-BMW mechanic just starts throwing expensive parts.

TEST first. Throw parts after you know what parts to throw.

[Ickrus]

Ccv and maf have been replaced with oem. And we have smoke tested the engine also no leaks. Someone in an other thread is saying this.

Yes, you need a DME update/flash to rectify the 2960 and 2973 fault.

BMW SIB 12 40 06

[bmwdirtracer]

I find no reference to that SIB. The date code seems impossible.
But okay, let the shop update the software; always a good idea. If they can't, find another shop.

Personally, I've cured a helluva lot of lean codes on late E46s: A ten minute smoke test and a crankcase vacuum test and a fuel pressure test, on the road have pretty much always identified the culprit.

Certainly, any primary O2 sensors more than 100k miles are maintenance replacement items. I do not consider the MAF to be a maintenance replacement item on any BMW. I do not replace BMW MAFS without bad readings via live data.

When the ccv was replaced, were all 4 associated hoses and pipes replaced?

Was the smoke test done AFTER all work was completed?

[shadowpuck]

If I recall 12 40 06 was related to zhp models only.

correction - this can apply to other models as well. As long as the fuel trims look good and there are absolutely no leaks
then it'd be worth seeing if the update is needed on this car.

[Ickrus]

Honestly I don't know if he replaced all the hoses when the ccv was replaced. And I don't know if he smoked the engine after . That's a good question.. I'm just about ready to take it up to a Bimmer shop in town to get to the bottom of this I would hate to flash it and the dreded CEL light just come back and it end up being the O2 or something alike I do think it needs the flash thoe because around 3000 revs I get a shudder in the final gear above that it smothes out.

[MarcoZandrini]

Find a reputable shop that specializes in bmws at www.bimrs.org. Also check the website of the local chapter of the BMWCCA. I bet you’ll find recommendations in the website.

[Ickrus]

I will keep y'all posted on what happens. I think I'm going to go through with the flash. And just go ahead and replace the O2 sensors also soon.

[Ickrus]

It ended up being a faulty o2 sensor on bank one. Went ahead and had both upstream sensors replaced and glad i did she pulls like a ticked off bull now.

[bmwdirtracer]

Just so you know: the O2 sensors have absolutely no effect on performance when the throttle passes 80% (aka "wide open throttle"). Under this condition, the DME switches to stored maps, and ignores the O2 sensors.