2009 E90 N46B20 issues

[Bendy 0]

I’ve got a 2009 320i LCi E90 N46B20B which is having some slight accelerations issues that I’m trying to resolve. I’m hoping someone will have some experience or opinions on the matter  

 

- Acceleration can be a little sluggish from low RPM.

- There’s a slight jerky-ness to acceleration when RPM is around 2000. 

- Also the clutch is shuddery when cold from take off. 

 

I’ve ruled out my air flow meter. I added a flush into my fuel which I think made a slight difference to performance and increased fuel usage. So I’m in the process of finding a new fuel filter.

Now I’ve been reading up about coils and injectors being a common issue with this engine. Has anyone had any experience with this?

Just weighing up the idea of replacing injectors.. I am wondering if I do replace the injectors will I need to have any reprogramming done?

I’ve read that the Bosch OEM coil packs tend to fail and it’s recommend to replace with Delphi coil packs  

I orignally thought the clutch may have some deposits on it that smooth out with temperature. But recently I’ve been reading about software updates being able to resolve this.. Anyone had any experience with this?

 

thanks in advance for any help =)

[zero 1162]

Before you start throwing money at it, get it scanned by a decent bmw tech.

 

How many kms on the motor?

[Bendy 0]

I have had it scanned with its last service a week ago, though I do need to follow up with the mechanic to see what the actual codes listed were, if any. Going by what he has written on the invoice there didn’t seem to be any.

 

Has done 126,000km

 

[allan 295]

Hi Ben sorry to hear of your troubles Short answer i.m.o is wrong engine both the n42 and n46 series have not got a good history record unless bmw make some dramatic changes to them. As Nathan has stated get it scanned by someone that knows what they are doing and as you have shown it has but are no further ahead. With out throwing money at it until sure what is faulty check the condition of the air inlet hoses and others associated, vacuum lines, fuel type and condition. With it at 126,000 service items like spark plugs, fuel filters air filters etc should have been done or due. Best of luck and keep us posted on developments

[Bendy 0]

Thansk Allan.

I might get myself a scanner. The Foxwell NT301 looks pretty good. The more I can learn about my car and can understand what the mechanics are talking about the better going forward so I can have a clear record and understanding of what I’ve tried and could try.

I bought the car as first owner in NZ from Japan at 109,000km. I have the service manual which has a lot of services recorded but of coarse I can’t read Japanese. So unsure what has actually been done. 

I just had the air filter replaced last week.

Spark plugs have been replaced with Bosch so they’ve been done at some point but may change them again now.. how often would you change spark plugs? If recommendations have been followed then It’s probaly close to requiring second replacements right? 

Still enquiring on some fuel filters to feel for average price. BMW have quoted $420 for part only which seems ridiculous.

May pull my Vanos solenoids out and give them a clean. 

I noticed a few days ago while I replaced the valve cover gasket that the valvetronic sensor had a little oil inside it. Didn’t know anything about this at the time but I will clean this out. 

Any other fairly basic maintenance things you could think of before any parts need replacing?

[Gabe79 410]

6 minutes ago, Bendy said:

Thansk Allan.

I might get myself a scanner. The Foxwell NT301 looks pretty good. The more I can learn about my car and can understand what the mechanics are talking about the better going forward so I can have a clear record and understanding of what I’ve tried and could try.

I bought the car as first owner in NZ from Japan at 109,000km. I have the service manual which has a lot of services recorded but of coarse I can’t read Japanese. So unsure what has actually been done. 

I just had the air filter replaced last week.

Spark plugs have been replaced with Bosch so they’ve been done at some point but may change them again now.. how often would you change spark plugs? If recommendations have been followed then It’s probaly close to requiring second replacements right? 

Still enquiring on some fuel filters to feel for average price. BMW have quoted $420 for part only which seems ridiculous.

May pull my Vanos solenoids out and give them a clean. 

I noticed a few days ago while I replaced the valve cover gasket that the valvetronic sensor had a little oil inside it. Didn’t know anything about this at the time but I will clean this out. 

Any other fairly basic maintenance things you could think of before any parts need replacing?

If you pay carjam, they'll give you that service history in English, or you can get a translations service...

Fuel filter sounds ridiculous at $420. Mind, I got mysel to the medical centre with fume/petrol poisoning when I changed mine, I wouldn't say that it is actually hard if you're not stupid like I was.  It shouldn't cost more than ~$120NZD or so. Spark Plugs are maintenance items, but you can actually check them here:

What you're describing sounds to me like what I had one mine (different engine altogether, note) and it was decidedly fuel filter/dirty ICV/throttle body. 

 

[Bendy 0]

Thanks for the spark plug picture! I will check the condition of mine. Yea from other bmw fuel filters I’ve seen, I’m expecting to find one around the $120 mark.

I looked at translation services a while back but couldn’t find many places that would do it for less than $500. I will check out carjam, thanks  

What I’ve read up on about ICV and throttle body it sounds like my symptoms aren’t quite as bad as that. I don’t have any issues at idle. But I will have a look at my throttle body and see it needs a clean. 

Another symptom I forgot about which doesn’t happen too often..

From memory this happens just in first gear where acceleration is so poor and revs don’t climb that it doesn’t really move. I can either wait it out with current pressure on acceleration pedal or even foot to the floor and it slowly gains revs after a couple seconds. Or just press the clutch in slightly to help it out. It doesn’t really feel like it’s going to stall.. This can happen on flat ground.

But I always end up saving it pressing the clutch slightly and increasing revs. Just like trying to pull off in 2nd gear I guess. 

[Gabe79 410]

Does the N54 have a CCV system like the M54 does? What you are describing is almost to a T what I was experiencing and it's all gone away since replacing CCV, cleaning ICV+Throttle Body and replacing the fuel filter (which was the original one... from 2001...) This all got rid of misfires too. 

Sometimes, going up a hill, I'd have massive loss of acceleration, to where the car felt like it was going to stall. 

 

EDIT My car's an automatic, note.

Edited September 27, 2017 by Gabe79

[M3AN 4016]

I think people are jumping to conclusions about getting it (re)scanned. We have no information to suggest it wasn't done by a competent mechanic the first time around.

That picture you posted @Bendy says "faults listed" and then "recorded" - did they give you a copy of that record? i.e. did you get the fault list? Post that here.

 

Edited September 27, 2017 by M3AN

[allan 295]

Any help re filter https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/SearchResults.aspx?searchString=fuel+filter+e90&type=Search&searchType=2738&user_region=100&user_district=0

Under the impression a good quality spark plug should last around 100, 000k, fuel filters, air filters 40,000 unless very dusty conditions oil filter you choose

 

[Gabe79 410]

7 minutes ago, M3AN said:

I think people are jumping to conclusions about getting it (re)scanned. We have no information to suggest it wasn't done by a competent mechanic the first time around.

That picture you posted @Bendy says "faults listed" and then "recorded" - did they give you a copy of that record? i.e. did you get the fault list? Post that here.

 

Absolutely. We need proper diagnostics done here. Proper scan results would be swell too. Take it to a BMW shop, not an Euro shop, or some other kind of car shop...

[Bendy 0]

11 minutes ago, Gabe79 said:

Absolutely. We need proper diagnostics done here. Proper scan results would be swell too. Take it to a BMW shop, not an Euro shop, or some other kind of car shop...

Still waiting for mechanic to get back to me regarding faults list. If there were any I don’t know why he didn’t list on the invoice. Made me think that there were none but will definitely clear this up. I am in Whangarei and there isn’t many options for BMW specialists. I use BMW Ltd (Betta Motor Works) independent BMW specialist. 

[Bendy 0]

1 hour ago, Gabe79 said:

Does the N54 have a CCV system like the M54 does? What you are describing is almost to a T what I was experiencing and it's all gone away since replacing CCV, cleaning ICV+Throttle Body and replacing the fuel filter (which was the original one... from 2001...) This all got rid of misfires too. 

Sometimes, going up a hill, I'd have massive loss of acceleration, to where the car felt like it was going to stall. 

 

EDIT My car's an automatic, note.

CCV symptoms sound a bit beyond my symptoms. I am very keen to replace the fuel filter and cleaning the throtttle body though. Thanks fot sharing your experience. I will keep the CCV in mind. 

[M3AN 4016]

43 minutes ago, Bendy said:

I am in Whangarei and there isn’t many options for BMW specialists.

Fair enough.

If they didn't keep the codes and the problem persists the codes will get stored again (if they existed in the first place) and the shop should scan it again for free to give you the codes.

 

Edited September 27, 2017 by M3AN