My new car

-westy- · 28 Sep 2006 at 20:47

Phil W said:
Certainly, i wasn't having a pop, what i meant was he went through the same process with the Mondeo, and that was in fantastic condition aswell.

fair play to him I say, I jumped at the first car I saw, and its taken me until now to sort through the various problems (alternator, radiator, starter, massive oil leak..)

Ron Burgundy · 28 Sep 2006 at 20:52

[TW]Fox said:
Don't know really, not done any sustained pure town work yet - currently showing 30.3mpg after about 270 miles of mixed driving including dual carriageway, country lanes, short trips into town, longer trips into town and suchlike.

So closer to 27.3 as the OBC mpg figures are wack! You need to do the brim fill I think

[TW]Fox · 28 Sep 2006 at 20:59

I've always found the mpg figures to be correct to within +- 0.5mpg - certainly the case with the 530d at least.

Ron Burgundy · 28 Sep 2006 at 21:13

[TW]Fox said:
I've always found the mpg figures to be correct to within +- 0.5mpg - certainly the case with the 530d at least.

This is probably true, but i'm guessing unless its been replaced that the air flow meter is probably so out of spec now due to the mileage that the car will be slightly underpowered and mpg will be incorrect.

Think the M52 units use a Bosch MAF, these tend to be out of spec within 20k miles. BMW replace them, but only once and without the owners knowing.

[TW]Fox · 28 Sep 2006 at 21:20

My car is not fitted with an M52 engine though.

Ron Burgundy · 28 Sep 2006 at 21:22

[TW]Fox said:
My car is not fitted with an M52 engine though.

Sorry, I meant M54 EU3 and M54B30 (same thing)

[TW]Fox · 28 Sep 2006 at 21:38

How do I test it? If its faulty I will get BMW to fit another one.

Ron Burgundy · 28 Sep 2006 at 21:49

[TW]Fox said:
How do I test it? If its faulty I will get BMW to fit another one.

I guess the easiest way is to unplug it, as in at the cable, and see if there is noticeable low down grunt. Unplugging it will cause the engine warning lamp to display but won't do any damage and it will go out again when you plug it back in. The thing is, when they go out of spec or malfunction they are not detected or logged as a fault by the ECU. The Bosch units operate at 200 degrees C above the ambient air temperature so really don't last long.

See through your documentation if there is any mention of it, but as I said, BMW just replaced them without owners knowing as a rule of thumb, but they replaced them with the same part. It was never listed as a recall either. Chances are you'll be able to get it replaced fairly easily.

Dave85 · 28 Sep 2006 at 21:57

sorry to hijack for a sec, but should I get mine replaced its at 84,000 now only had a lady owner so was never abused but I get horrible fuel economy could this be a possible cause ?

I love foxes interior, Mine is the black wood as I didnt like the old style wood trim but would love the allu finish.

Ron Burgundy · 28 Sep 2006 at 21:59

DAvE18 said:
sorry to hijack for a sec, but should I get mine replaced its at 84,000 now only had a lady owner so was never abused but I get horrible fuel economy could this be a possible cause ?

I love foxes interior, Mine is the black wood as I didnt like the old style wood trim but would love the allu finish.

Without a doubt - Try your hardest to get BMW to pay for it (or most of it) as it was a known issue.

Part number is #13621438871 but could be different. Should be stamped somewhere on the unit.

Maz · 28 Sep 2006 at 22:08

Ron Burgundy said:
Without a doubt - Try your hardest to get BMW to pay for it (or most of it) as it was a known issue.

Part number is #13621438871 but could be different. Should be stamped somewhere on the unit.

n00b question./

Is the MAF the one thats plugged into the airbox?

Dave85 · 28 Sep 2006 at 22:09

thanks for that m8, will give them a call tomorrow.

Ron Burgundy · 28 Sep 2006 at 22:15

Maz said:
n00b question./

Is the MAF the one thats plugged into the airbox?

Yaaarrrrrrr

panthro · 28 Sep 2006 at 22:22

Ron Burgundy said:
Without a doubt - Try your hardest to get BMW to pay for it (or most of it) as it was a known issue.

Part number is #13621438871 but could be different. Should be stamped somewhere on the unit.

Do we have a resident BMW mechanic in the house?!

[TW]Fox · 28 Sep 2006 at 22:31

Hope so he will come in handy

Ron Burgundy · 29 Sep 2006 at 07:50

[TW]Fox said:
Hope so he will come in handy

If you'd like an OBDC Connector and software and you have a laptop I can send you these so you can play around if you like. It will show you all the options your car could have and those that are enabled / disabled as well as showing you any fault codes from the ECU etc. This is handy for retrofitting (say COMMS pack, etc)

There CC unit also has a diagnositc test where you press two buttons whilst turning on the igntion and it will test the system. Provides fault codes on the display if any are present and also gives you the charge level in the system. Quite handy.

NickXX · 29 Sep 2006 at 12:06

Ron Burgundy said:
If you'd like an OBDC Connector and software and you have a laptop I can send you these so you can play around if you like. It will show you all the options your car could have and those that are enabled / disabled as well as showing you any fault codes from the ECU etc. This is handy for retrofitting (say COMMS pack, etc)

There CC unit also has a diagnositc test where you press two buttons whilst turning on the igntion and it will test the system. Provides fault codes on the display if any are present and also gives you the charge level in the system. Quite handy.

That would be fantastic - are you coming to the Southampton meet?

Pinter75 · 29 Sep 2006 at 12:26

Ron Burgundy said:
If you'd like an OBDC Connector and software and you have a laptop I can send you these so you can play around if you like. It will show you all the options your car could have and those that are enabled / disabled as well as showing you any fault codes from the ECU etc. This is handy for retrofitting (say COMMS pack, etc)

There CC unit also has a diagnositc test where you press two buttons whilst turning on the igntion and it will test the system. Provides fault codes on the display if any are present and also gives you the charge level in the system. Quite handy.

Where abouts did you get the connector and software? I have seen a few on the bay...

Also would the MAF sensor have affected my 97 540i? I get nasty MPG - but I do have a silly engine.

Ron Burgundy · 29 Sep 2006 at 12:52

Pinter75 said:
Where abouts did you get the connector and software? I have seen a few on the bay...

Also would the MAF sensor have affected my 97 540i? I get nasty MPG - but I do have a silly engine.

I am unsure about the 540i as to weather or not its a Bosch unit or a Pierburgh. I know there was a change, but not sure when without going hunting, but i'm 85% sure its a Bosch item as well. The change was similar to that on the other models in the range, BMW just did it without the owner knowing when it came in for a service. They either swapped them for another unit all together and firmwared the ECU or replaced it with the same Bosh item if the other units were out of stock, etc.

I've known of a Bosh unit to be out of spec within 6 months of being fitted. A clean usually sorts them and could be prudent for some of you guys to try to see if there is a difference, but too high a mileage and you are dreaming. Unplug MAF unit and remove the unit from the trunking, boil some distilled water and place the MAF into it (obviously not the part where the plug sits) and leave it until the water is cool. It could still be worth doing on high milers. Then let it dry naturally, and replace.

I got most of the connectors back in 1999 after doing a valuable apprenticeship!!

and software too. They are quite readily availble on the bay.

Didnt know about the meet. When is it?

NickXX · 29 Sep 2006 at 12:56

Didnt know about the meet. When is it?

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17632231