Stalled, need advise on cure. - United Bimmer Community

**doughboyea** · 05-11-2005, 10:56 PM

I've heard this can happen, but of course, I never thought it would happen to me. And I'm not sure of the cause.

I was heading back to my campus, was making a right turn, had the a/c on, head lights, right blinker, and was applying brakes when all of a sudden the steering wheel got really heavy. The oil light, battery light and check engine light came on. Scared the shit out of me. Waited a few seconds and started her up again. Drove home later that night with no problems.

Now I do know that in the early 1999 328's (E46), the Vanos control unit had a glitch. BMW of course doesn't really acknolage this. They know, but never will call a recall on that defective unit. I find that when it's cold out, the rpm's will creep down to stall... then jump up to just above 1000rpm. I know that's the Vanos, but now it's warm, it doesn't happen, except, now this occured.

I know this is a $1500 part and have no idea what the labor is for such a job.

Am I correct in my assumptions? Is this the infamous Vanos???

So... advise me, o mighty United Members.

Dough

**Rooz** · 05-11-2005, 10:58 PM

I heard of a simlar issues bck on bimmerwerkz....

**SpeedThrill** · 05-15-2005, 09:19 AM

It could be, you better let that check. A typical BMW glitch

**94bmw325i** · 05-15-2005, 08:59 PM

Doughboy my car does that, stalled out twice last week. I just put some of that fuel injector cleaner u put in your gas tank and it hasn't done it since.

**doughboyea** · 05-21-2005, 09:40 AM

Sorry, slow response, been out of the country....

I've been afraid to drive my car since it's happened, I bought her to avoid shit like this! I friend of mine has the 2000 year 328i and after coninually stalling, the dealer installed a new Vanos unit under warranty.

I wanted to go into the dealer today, but, of course, thier service department is closed on Saturdays.

Now, if this is happening to ALL 328i's (E46), why wasn't there ever a recall. I mean, it's happened after the factory warranty expires (of course) and needs to be delt with. If all need replaceing and it isn't just a wear and tear issue, someone should start some sort of class action here. When I get the car checked on monday I'll see if I can find out anything from the tech, regarding how many 328i's have been fixed with this problem.

Damnit this sucks,

Dough

**TerryY** · 05-21-2005, 10:03 AM

Hi

Not a 3 guy but always willing to chime in.

As suggested above--If you don't normally use Techron or BK-44 fuel injector cleaner, give it a try. If your injectors are spitting and sputtering because they are dirty it accentuates any stall at idle problems the car may have.

And your gas mileage will go up too

And no matter what remember that it could be worse

The Jaguar XK8 stalls for no apparent reason at highway speeds. Just stops running on the freeway! Restarts ok. Dealers charged $4800 to fix it and a year later it starts happening again. Jaguar just started fixing them last year after about 10 years on the market

**storme** · 05-22-2005, 01:46 AM

it dont help you,,but i just done a search on ebay(uk) and it seems that you can get the vanos units on there.. also try this site maybe just for info

but it will give you a price guide.

www.eurocarparts.co.uk i did a search on vanos, and it came up with 100's of results from about £200-£600 .. might help a bit

**doughboyea** · 05-26-2005, 09:35 PM

Ok, finnally got around to getting to the dealer. They checked the computer and found no faults. However, the problem that occured wouldn't of have registered with the computer. The asked me if they could have the car over night and check it with a cold engine to reproduce what I've been experiencing (cold start, car in drive, brake applied, rpms migrate to stall then spike). They gave me a loaner, a 2005 325i, and no, they wouldn't give me an M3, "We don't give out M3s."

. They called the next day saying, "We were able to reproduce the irratic idle and we're going to assume that it is the Vanos." They gave me an estimate of ~$1200 for the job. Less than the $1500 for the parts alone other dealers are doing it for.

I'll post up the final bill tally when I do get it. But until then, I'm going to beat the shit out of this loaner...

, just kidding of course

.

Dough

**528man** · 05-26-2005, 09:39 PM

just kidding, yeah right lol

**doughboyea** · 05-31-2005, 08:17 PM

OKOK... Finnaly able to get back online.

Before I give up the final recipt, note this....
When I got the loaner, I was warned that I recieved the car with a full tank of fuel, I was expected to return it in the same condition. I did that. I left my car with a full tank of fuel with them as well, with 0 miles on the trip. Got it back with 3 miles lapsed and 1/4 tank gone. I ask you, WTF?

. Also found an empty Dunken Donuts coffee cup in the car, not mine. Dirty loaner... bad dealer

.

Exactly what the recipt says:

A C/S AFTER A COLD START- IDLE WILL FLUCTUATE - SPIKE AND DROP - ONE TIME CAR STALLED

RPR REPLACED VANOS CONTROL UNIT

1...11-36-1-433-817.....GASKET STEEL....................$8.29EA.
1...11-12-9-070-990.....PROFILE GASKET SET.......$47.39EA.
1...11-36-1-440-142.....AT-ADJUST UNIT.............$444.89EA.
2...32-41-1-093-596.....SEAL RING 14X20................$0.61EA....$1.22PR

VANOS HYDRAULIC UNIT FAULTY INT FAULT MEM-NO FAULTS RAN CAR UNEVEN IDLE PRESENT-CHECKED RUNCTION OF VANOS-FAILED SELF-TEST REPLACED VANOS HYDRAULIC UNIT

ONE DAY SERVICE LOANER.....N/C

LABOR @ $97/HR. = $625.65
PARTS = $501.79
TAX @6% = $67.65

TOTAL = $1195.09

Problem fixed, I hope that's the last major thing.

Dough