The dreaded N42

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DanThe
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Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:52 pm

Anybody here brave/stupid/perverted enough? Ive got one in from a mate to 'have a look' at why its such a dog, missing like a bstard when cold runs ok when warm, keep getting the faults - misfire checksum failure - misfire cylinder one
No other faults, cyl 1 is firing fine, plugs/coils swapped etc, has the updated tensioner and the timing looks bang on :?
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rich318i
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Fri Aug 24, 2012 9:20 pm

and was it fine before the new tensioner?
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rich318i
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Fri Aug 24, 2012 9:28 pm

they got that valvetronic screw systerm shit on them dan?
DanThe
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Fri Aug 24, 2012 10:43 pm

N42 = Valvetronic = shite, yeah :)
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rich318i
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Fri Aug 24, 2012 10:51 pm

yep that whats at fault needs a new one. £110 or that unit if i remember right. what software you use for reading faults?
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Sat Aug 25, 2012 10:05 am

Dan, if you want i can get barry to ring you if you PM me your number.
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DanThe
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Sat Aug 25, 2012 10:57 am

Spoke to Barry earlier Trev, needs a BMW Dealer spec puter to fix it, waved the turd off this morning :)
Dan320is
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Sat Aug 25, 2012 12:03 pm

They're awful donks.

My ex had a 318ti with the 2.0 N42. It had valvetronic issues and then the chain tensioner failed. It doesn't have a removable front timing cover. In the end BMW paid for the parts as the car had only done 23k and we paid the labour, not bad for seven year old car.
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Sat Aug 25, 2012 12:10 pm

My anti had one of these lumps had a slight knock oneday went to the garage to have it looked at turned out the oil had gone like jelly so the garage changed the oil and when they got it back next day it put the conrod though the block! Total wipe out cracked the head, pushed the plug out, dropped a valve one side and pushed the valve out the top of the head breaking both cam shafts.
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DanThe
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Sat Aug 25, 2012 1:00 pm

I did the right thing and told him to sell it quick :)
Andyboy
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Sat Aug 25, 2012 8:26 pm

You need INPa or. GT11 to sort these. They're absolutely horrid things to work on.
e30topless
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Sun Aug 26, 2012 12:43 am

a swan vesta and a gallon of esso's finest unleaded sorts the N42 out :D

complete shit, i did a head gasket on one it had me in tears :cry:
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badassyas
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Sun Aug 26, 2012 1:11 am

Basically the car needs hydraulic valve lifters... Adapting the valvetronic won't necessary help the cold running. The lifters are glazed and can no longer hold pressure.
bss325i
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Sun Aug 26, 2012 10:28 am

SO many experts on this thread!

After instruction from me, Dan disconnected the eccentric shaft sensor and the engine ran much better.

This indicates wear in the mechanical valvetronic system as the way the valvetronic works is that it has .2mm of valve lift at idle. When the valvetronic system wears this valve lift decreases to nothing causing the valve to be shut at idle and cause rough running when cold and/or a misfire when the throttle is initially applied.

Disconnecting the eccentric shaft sensor with the engine running set the valvetronic to a default setting of max valve lift of 9mm at idle and uses the throttle butter fly to vary air intake.

To help cure the reduced valve lift at idle through from wear, there is a service function on BMW's diagnostics systems, BMW DIS/GT1 which is the old type or the current BMW ISTA.
This service function can increase the valve lift at idle to .6mm

Autologic may be able to do this but i have not had the chance to use it yet.
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fixedwheelnut
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Thu Aug 30, 2012 1:22 am

^^ Ditto^^ exactly what I was going to suggest when I saw the thread :)
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rich318i
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Thu Aug 30, 2012 1:25 am

bss325i wrote:SO many experts on this thread!

After instruction from me, Dan disconnected the eccentric shaft sensor and the engine ran much better.

This indicates wear in the mechanical valvetronic system as the way the valvetronic works is that it has .2mm of valve lift at idle. When the valvetronic system wears this valve lift decreases to nothing causing the valve to be shut at idle and cause rough running when cold and/or a misfire when the throttle is initially applied.

Disconnecting the eccentric shaft sensor with the engine running set the valvetronic to a default setting of max valve lift of 9mm at idle and uses the throttle butter fly to vary air intake.

To help cure the reduced valve lift at idle through from wear, there is a service function on BMW's diagnostics systems, BMW DIS/GT1 which is the old type or the current BMW ISTA.
This service function can increase the valve lift at idle to .6mm

Autologic may be able to do this but i have not had the chance to use it yet.


didnt i say this at the start of post??? by asking what software are you are using!!
bss325i
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Thu Aug 30, 2012 7:41 am

rich318i wrote:didnt i say this at the start of post??? by asking what software are you are using!!
No. You said it would be the valve tronic motor. Which it isn't!
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pacerpete
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Thu Aug 30, 2012 8:47 am

Grrrrrrrrr ! :)
bss325i
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Thu Aug 30, 2012 9:14 am

Do I have to use a smiley emoticon every time to show I'm not angry now? :)
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Andyboy
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Thu Aug 30, 2012 8:40 pm

He's been to Wokefield for the injections!
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Thu Aug 30, 2012 8:47 pm

pacerpete wrote:Grrrrrrrrr ! :)
Haha :D
suchy
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Thu Aug 30, 2012 8:51 pm

bss325i wrote:Do I have to use a smiley emoticon every time to show I'm not angry now? :)
"That's my secret Captain, I'm always angry" :)
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