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Thread: Guess what's wrong with my E39?

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    Guess what's wrong with my E39?

    I've got an 01 530i with the M54B30. It idles and runs great, but has the MIL on, and my Peake code reader shows the following:

    O2 sensor adaptation limit, both banks
    Misfire on 4, 5 and 6
    Cat converter efficiency, Bank 1 (1,2,3).

    I'm guessing it's throwing the codes on cold startup, because by the time I get to the on-ramp and rev it out at full throttle, there's no noticeable performance issues.

    I will hook up my laptop to it and start digging around with INPA, any bets on what the issue turns out to be?

  2. #2
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    Any recent maintenance/work?

    Any chance you swapped oxygen sensor connectors?
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
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    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  3. #3
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    The only recent work was replacement of the ABS pump solenoid module with a remanufactured one, 5 months ago. The recent codes just appeared about 2 months ago.

  4. #4
    dworthy's Avatar
    dworthy is offline Wagon meister :) BMW Tech Expert
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    So have you tried to clear the codes to see which ones come back?

    Second, that peak tool is about useful as a OBD-II scanner, not really going to do much for you.

    How much of a DIYer are you? On these cars, you cannot get away with generic codes for diagnostic work.

    Lastly I am thinking you have a vacuum leak for the oxygen codes.
    Darin
    Current:
    16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
    05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
    Past:
    95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
    84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
    91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
    82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
    79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
    79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
    M-Flight Member

  5. #5
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    Yes, I cleared the codes and they came back.

    One vote for vacuum leak, that always seems to be a possibility, but it seems odd in this case that only the rear 3 cylinders are affected with misfires.

    I have INPA on my laptop, that's how I diagnosed the ABS pump control module. I will probably plug it back into the car this afternoon and see what's up.

    Oh, and I'm jealous of your mudflaps on your E46 touring, I wish those hadn't sold out so quickly.
    Last edited by mechanicalzen; 02-01-2019 at 12:24 PM.

  6. #6
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    E39 hamster/ruberbandPWR
    Have you checked to plugs ?
    Or, try relocating the coils to see if the misfires the follow ?

    Looking for an E39 belly pan , passenger front inner fender liner …

  7. #7
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    I haven't done basic ignition testing yet - three cylinders in a row at the same time is too big of a coincidence for me. I'm sort of guessing I'm going to find an O2 sensor coated with carbon or something. Couldn't hurt to pull the coils and plugs, I haven't done it yet during my 1 year ownership of the car.

  8. #8
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    Ok, I plugged in my laptop and warmed up the car. INPA says all the codes were thrown at idle except for Bank 2 O2 sensor limit exceeded, which was thrown at 1600 rpm.

    The O2 sensor heaters functioned normally, and both precat sensors were sending readings. The bank 1 sensor showed voltage swings between 0.2-0.8 volts as expected. The bank 2 sensor, however, appeared to be stuck at 0.15 volts at idle (pretty lean, may be the misfire cause), and when I revved the engine to 5000 rpm and held it there, the sensor reading climbed to 0.65 volts (somewhat rich) and stuck there.

    Gotta do some reading, I suppose. I haven't seen an O2 sensor behave like that before.

  9. #9
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    I think I'll try a vacuum test before throwing an O2 sensor at it.

  10. #10
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    I'd smoke test the intake/ccv system with a real smoke machine....and order a pair of primary O2 sensors. The effective lifespan for primary sensors is ~100k miles, after which they become very slow, and often grossly misread.

    The common denominator for a single bank mixture code is most often the O2 sensor - however, keep in mind that the sensor is easily fooled. For instance, if one injector is clogged, the DME sees a lean condition for all 3 cylinders on that bank, and adds fuel to all 3.

    You could always swap the two precat sensors, and see whether the frozen reading follows the sensor, or stays with bank 2. Be careful to mark the engine side of each plug, so you don't end up accidentally misconnecting them.

    Th

    Chris Powell
    Racer and Instructor since, well. decades, ok?
    Master Auto Tech, owner of German Motors of Aberdeen
    BMWCCA 274412
    German Motors is hiring ! https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...1#post30831471

  11. #11
    dworthy's Avatar
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    +1

    Best to do both sensors at the same time. I would also be willing to bet the P.O. only has replaced one when the CEL came on. Why people do this I have no idea, the best thing I can think of is they is being cheap. So just as a side not, Bosch is the OE provider for these sensors, and off Amazon, they tend to run 75 bucks each.


    P.S. Mud flaps were purchased with the car when new, but for the E-36's it is: 82169402980
    And you can get them from here for 40 bucks:
    https://www.thebmwminipartstore.com/...&siteid=218365
    Darin
    Current:
    16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
    05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
    Past:
    95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
    84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
    91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
    82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
    79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
    79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
    M-Flight Member

  12. #12
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    I finally got around to reading the manifold vacuum. 16.5 inches Hg at idle, which seems borderline low. I pulled the line from the check valve behind the manifold to read from, and it was a bit degraded, so I replaced it. After replacement, I got 17 inches Hg, which still seems low, but that may have been my problem. My cheap vacuum gauge may also be calibrated on the low side.

    Will report back if the CEL comes back on. The car won't be going anywhere until the 6 inches of snow in my driveway melts.
    Last edited by mechanicalzen; 02-14-2019 at 05:46 PM.

  13. #13
    dworthy's Avatar
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    No, that would be about right as you are at sea level and it should be between 14-20 HG, blip the throttle and lets us know what happens.

    Of course if it hold steady at 17 Hg, I would say you have good vacuum, if it is bouncing around at idle, then you have other problems.
    Darin
    Current:
    16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
    05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
    Past:
    95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
    84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
    91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
    82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
    79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
    79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
    M-Flight Member

  14. #14
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    Yeah its nice and steady at 17 at idle, 19 at 1500 rpm, blipping throttle it drops toward 0 and then back up around 20, then settles at 17 again. No fluctuations. My Subaru pulls 18 at idle here, so I think 17 is OK.

  15. #15
    dworthy's Avatar
    dworthy is offline Wagon meister :) BMW Tech Expert
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    When you blip the throttle, it should drop like 5 Hg, so that is expected. Every car will pull a different amount of vacuum based on it's engine, so you may get more from the Subie.
    Darin
    Current:
    16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
    05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
    05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
    Past:
    95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
    84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
    91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
    82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
    79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
    79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
    M-Flight Member

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