BMW 318 cutting out while driving

sparky32

I have a BMW318ci 2002 and it has been giving trouble over the last 7 weeks. When i'm driving it the battery light flicks on and it loses power then cuts out altogether.I start the engine again then it drives for another few hundred yards and it happens again. The EML light comes on sometimes and the orange warning light and traction control lights come on and stay on too. I have brought it to a couple of different places and the chain tensioner has been changed. It was throwing up the code 27bb which related to the camshaft sensors so i changed those two sensors but it is still cutting out. Anyone have any idea what this problem might be?

ants09

sparky32 wrote: »

I have a BMW318ci 2002 and it has been giving trouble over the last 7 weeks. When i'm driving it the battery light flicks on and it loses power then cuts out altogether.I start the engine again then it drives for another few hundred yards and it happens again. The EML light comes on sometimes and the orange warning light and traction control lights come on and stay on too. I have brought it to a couple of different places and the chain tensioner has been changed. It was throwing up the code 27bb which related to the camshaft sensors so i changed those two sensors but it is still cutting out. Anyone have any idea what this problem might be?

Change the crankshaft sensor. as they dont usually show up as faults on diagnostic when they fail.

Boots2006

Try the DME Main Relay, cheap to replace, causes similar symptoms ...

BillJ

I would also try the crankshaft sensor

Technoprisoner

the camshaft sensors on these cars give trouble....get a diagnostic ran on it a see if it throws up anything

sparky32

Replaced the crankshaft sensor in it just this evening so will see how it goes...

BillJ

I'd like to know if this was the prob so post back here if it sorted it, hope it works for you!

How much for the sensor and labour to change it? Think I remember the sensors being around €60

sparky32

Replacing the crankshaft sensor didnt work. I got about 7 miles out of it then it cut out. Started again after about 3 mins and drove for about 15 miles then cut out again. Altogether it cut out 7 times in 90 miles. I had to drive the 90 miles again today and i drove it at 50mph,it went 86 miles before cutting out. Anyone have any other suggestions??

congo_90

May sound silly but is the battery connections on and tight?

All ht leads secured? Any vacuum leaks?
Fuel pump relay ok?

Technoprisoner

sparky32 wrote: »

Replacing the crankshaft sensor didnt work. I got about 7 miles out of it then it cut out. Started again after about 3 mins and drove for about 15 miles then cut out again. Altogether it cut out 7 times in 90 miles. I had to drive the 90 miles again today and i drove it at 50mph,it went 86 miles before cutting out. Anyone have any other suggestions??

bring it to a mechanic and have it diagnosed properly....its not easy doing it over the internet....but if i was a betting man i would say cam sensor.....but which one do you need??

sparky32

congo_90 wrote: »

May sound silly but is the battery connections on and tight?

All ht leads secured? Any vacuum leaks?
Fuel pump relay ok?

Congo 90 yea these are all fine. its always throwing up the same thing fault 27bb which is the camshaft outlet which i changed. Any other suggestions?

sparky32

Technoprisoner wrote: »

bring it to a mechanic and have it diagnosed properly....its not easy doing it over the internet....but if i was a betting man i would say cam sensor.....but which one do you need??

Technoprisoner i have brought it to a mechanic and auto electronics and that what is being thrown up.Fault 27bb.Changed all cam sensors and its still losing power and cutting out.

enumbers

bring this to a decent independant you have spend a lot on parts that should of been diagnosed correctly before replacement. These engines have a lot of trouble with the vanos units that control the timing. How does the car sound at idle

sparky32

enumbers wrote: »

bring this to a decent independant you have spend a lot on parts that should of been diagnosed correctly before replacement. These engines have a lot of trouble with the vanos units that control the timing. How does the car sound at idle

Enumbers When i start it in the morning it takes a few minutes to settle. Sometimes when its sitting in neutral it will just cut out. When i turn on ignition again the car shakes a bit for a few minutes.

enumbers

what does t sound like at idle normal petrol idle or a heavier almost diesel like idle,

sparky32

normal petrol idle

pa990

Any update on isolating the problem ?

dieselbug

enumbers wrote: »

bring this to a decent independant you have spend a lot on parts that should of been diagnosed correctly before replacement. These engines have a lot of trouble with the vanos units that control the timing. How does the car sound at idle

You probably got the answer here from enumbers.

27BB Exhaust cam control, with the emphasis on "control"

sparky32

Still no luck with this problem, have left it with another man today to see if he can figure it out. I started it today and revved it and i can hear air getting sucked in somewhere, would this have anything to do with it?

sparky32

enumbers wrote: »

bring this to a decent independant you have spend a lot on parts that should of been diagnosed correctly before replacement. These engines have a lot of trouble with the vanos units that control the timing. How does the car sound at idle

Got car back from mechanic and he reckons its the vanos unit as well. Only problem is that no one seems to have the tools to fix it! It looks like im going to have to take it to BMW garage, which i was trying to avoid as they are quite expensive. Has anyone had this problem with their car?

Technoprisoner

sparky32 wrote: »

Got car back from mechanic and he reckons its the vanos unit as well. Only problem is that no one seems to have the tools to fix it! It looks like im going to have to take it to BMW garage, which i was trying to avoid as they are quite expensive. Has anyone had this problem with their car?

have you tried a decent bmw specialist what part the country you in?

enumbers

Were about s are you any decent independent should have the tools for these.

ba_barabus

Where are you?

Bugatti

Sparky, did you get this sorted? If so what was the problem and how much did it cost to fix?