[E902009]

Hi Everyone,

My car went into limp mode a few days ago with no prior warning signs. The car ran fine when I was out and about running some errands, then when I came back to fire the car up 30 minutes later, it went into limp mode the moment I pressed on the gas pedal. Here are some observations:

1. After it happened the first time, I put the car in park, turned off the car, waiting abotuo 30 seconds before starting. The initial check went through normally with no warnings, and then same thing. I put it in drive, and stepped on the gas slightly, and the limp mode kicked on.

2. The next day, I went for a drive in an attempt to nail down the cause, the car ran fine. I drove around for about 25 miles, at times stepping on the gas pretty hard, but mostly under normal driving condition. I could not reproduce the problem.

3. The car is about 500 miles shy of turning 60k.

What are the common causes of putting a N52 car into limp mode? Does the occurrence get recorded into the OBC, or does it get cleared out after each engine start? I'm taking into my shop to have it looked at, but I want to know what the possible causes are. I have not done a code read, as I do not have a code reader.

Thanks!

[desertman123]

Can Vanos solenoids cause limp mode?

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by desertman123

Can Vanos solenoids cause limp mode?

It is a possibility...


But is all guessing at this point. Have the car scanned for codes with a BMW scanner.. If you don't have a check engine light on the OBD scanner won't show anything.. The code will probably be w BMW shadow code so you will need something like a BAV Tool to scan it .

[E902009]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

It is a possibility...


But is all guessing at this point. Have the car scanned for codes with a BMW scanner.. If you don't have a check engine light on the OBD scanner won't show anything.. The code will probably be w BMW shadow code so you will need something like a BAV Tool to scan it .

Ok. Thanks for shedding light on this. i was wondering what scan tool I should get. This answers it. Does the tool come with a code table?

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by E902009

Ok. Thanks for shedding light on this. i was wondering what scan tool I should get. This answers it. Any recommendation as to where I should get one? And does the tool come with the code table?

I have a BAV Tool but there are cheaper options out there...
You can do a lot with the Bav Tool and when it scan for codes it provides the code and the basic description. THere is a list for codes on this forum and use can always search google.

[E902009]

Originally Posted by Delta0311

I have a BAV Tool but there are cheaper options out there...
You can do a lot with the Bav Tool and when it scan for codes it provides the code and the basic description. THere is a list for codes on this forum and use can always search google.

Ha! Yea, just checked out the cost of the BAV tool...not really something I need. What other cheaper alternatives do you recommend?

[Delta0311]

Originally Posted by E902009

Ha! Yea, just checked out the cost of the BAV tool...not really something I need. What other cheaper alternatives do you recommend?

I don't know I never had to use anything else.. But I know a lot of guys on here use a pretty cheap ebay cable and some software... I'm sure they will chime in.

[thakid22]

Originally Posted by E902009

Hi Everyone,

My car went into limp mode a few days ago with no prior warning signs. The car ran fine when I was out and about running some errands, then when I came back to fire the car up 30 minutes later, it went into limp mode the moment I pressed on the gas pedal. Here are some observations:

1. After it happened the first time, I put the car in park, turned off the car, waiting abotuo 30 seconds before starting. The initial check went through normally with no warnings, and then same thing. I put it in drive, and stepped on the gas slightly, and the limp mode kicked on.

2. The next day, I went for a drive in an attempt to nail down the cause, the car ran fine. I drove around for about 25 miles, at times stepping on the gas pretty hard, but mostly under normal driving condition. I could not reproduce the problem.

3. The car is about 500 miles shy of turning 60k.

What are the common causes of putting a N52 car into limp mode? Does the occurrence get recorded into the OBC, or does it get cleared out after each engine start? I'm taking into my shop to have it looked at, but I want to know what the possible causes are. I have not done a code read, as I do not have a code reader.

Thanks!

My bet is on the VANOS solenoid(s). My N54 does the exact same thing when the oil is dirty/old. I will get random half engines immediately after starting to drive away from a startup. A VANOS code was stored in the DME. The dealer has already replaced my intake VANOS. My exhaust VANOS is original. I suspect that it is lazy/slow and thus causing the issue. I will eventually replace it. But for now, new oil has silenced the Sensors error. I also ran an engine flush treatment prior to the oil change, just to help everything get clean in there.

Seems to have worked well.
Get your codes checked and tell us what you find.

[E902009]

Originally Posted by thakid22

My bet is on the VANOS solenoid(s). My N54 does the exact same thing when the oil is dirty/old. I will get random half engines immediately after starting to drive away from a startup. A VANOS code was stored in the DME. The dealer has already replaced my intake VANOS. My exhaust VANOS is original. I suspect that it is lazy/slow and thus causing the issue. I will eventually replace it. But for now, new oil has silenced the Sensors error. I also ran an engine flush treatment prior to the oil change, just to help everything get clean in there.

Seems to have worked well.
Get your codes checked and tell us what you find.

Will do, and thanks! My oil is probably middle of the road, not brand new, but I never let my oil get too overdue. I'm usually within +/- 100 miles of the due interval.

[thakid22]

Originally Posted by E902009

Will do, and thanks! My oil is probably middle of the road, not brand new, but I never let my oil get too overdue. I'm usually within +/- 100 miles of the due interval.

Pick up a can of motorflush (whatever brand you prefer) and use it right before your oil change as indicated by the directions on the can. It'll clean things out and let the crap drain out when you do your oil change.

Alternatively, you can use Marvel Mystery Oil in the oil now , then wait a week (continue driving) and then do an oil change. The stuff is great at cleaning and you'll notice a smoother engine for having used it.

[5tony]

Sounds like your eccentric shaft sensor has gone bad. Pull the codes. Any code related to the valvetronic motor is most likely due to the eccentric shaft sensor.

[E902009]

Originally Posted by 5tony

Sounds like your eccentric shaft sensor has gone bad. Pull the codes. Any code related to the valvetronic motor is most likely due to the eccentric shaft sensor.

So my shop pulled the codes today...two of them: 2D20-P2138 and 2DEB-P160C

2D20 suggested accelerator pedal module, pedal position sensor, plausibility between signal 1 and 2

2DEB suggested power management, vehicle electrical system.

Does anyone know what could possible cause these two codes to pop up?