[GhOsT_E90]

Just to start i am not writing this to bash any one product so please refrain from any arguement. Just looking to see if anyone has had any problems with there aftermarket catted downpipes.

Ok lately i have been getting and SES light and pulled these codes P2096,P2098. I was told that maybe the O2 sim was to strong and terry said to send it in to adjust it. To back track alittle i recently had the ecu updated to the newest version, i was have cold start issue with long cranks when the engine was cold and hot. The dealer said they check the fuel pressures and said it was good and updated the ecu with the newest version. When I got the car back it ran great, the update even seemed to make the engine more responsive and less lag. Well 2 weeks later i started getting the SES light. Then i started getting what felt like a cylinder misfire, it would never go into limp mode but i would sometimes get bad enough that i would have to stop the car, turn off the engine and wait a few then restart it. Now lately the problems have gotten worse, i started getting a blinking SES light and the car would got into limp mode.

The owner manual says that the blinking SES light is a catalyst system failure, meaning the cats are failing possibly clogged up and failing. So today i remove the downpipes(Riss Racing) and i can not see the catalst element inside the pipe but the exterior shows signs that the cats have been getting Red hot around the cat itself. Which i know should not happen and is a sign of a clogged cat.

So i put the factory downpipes back on to see if the engine would run as normal, but still the same. I can't even go past 1/4 throttle and the engine will shuttler like a cylinder misfire from either lack of fuel or lack of spark. Going uphill triggers a limp, and anything past 1/4 throttle does too.

[Diggy Diggy]

Which catted downpipes do you have? I'm looking for some... but the entire reason is so I don't have to go into the ecu with the O2 fix for the SES light... please share the brand!

[marconi118]

it is possibly one defective O2 sensor

[joec500]

Ugh...Welcome to my world!!!! My car is going in on Monday for the same issue.

[GhOsT_E90]

Originally Posted by Spoolin

Which catted downpipes do you have? I'm looking for some... but the entire reason is so I don't have to go into the ecu with the O2 fix for the SES light... please share the brand!

They are the Riss racing catted dp. Unfortunetly i dont think you will find a aftermarket DP that wont through the SES light. I have heard though that some cars dont through the SES light anyway. So have the DP installed and if it throughs the SES light then install the Sim.

Originally Posted by marconi118

it is possibly one defective O2 sensor

No, it turns out to be much more then that.

I took the car in Yesterday and they pulled the codes and it turns out cylinder 4,5,6 are misfiring, and there is a code for the HPFP. All of these will create a lean air/fuel and through the codes for the rear O2 sensors reading lean. I am here in Germany and thought i wouldn't be a victim of HPFP issues since the gas here is much better and no ethonal. Guess i was wrong. The service manager said he sent the codes to Munich and the guys there make the decision on what to do, he did say though parts are probably going to be replaced. I have already had an ECU update 3 weeks ago for long cranks.

All this is seriously bad timing, i am leaving for Iraq in 5 days.

[stressdoc]

Have a good, safe tour.

[ar design]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

Have a good, safe tour.

x2

[Mahhvinn]

that sucks! hopefully everything will be fine with your car soon. Also, have a safe tour and come back soon!

[GhOsT_E90]

Thanks guys, will do.

Probably be contacting AR about their catless downpipes while i am there. I havent received word back from Riss about my catted downpipes. I got a closer look at the cats inside these downpipes and they are definently bad. My option cause of failure could be pointed in both directions, my fuel pump or these dp. I could take some pics of the red discoloration of the cats on the downpipes. My mechanical experience is that its a sign of a cats thats failed and heated up red hot.

[zsapphire7]

this maybe another issue on the new dme updated software... several people with o2 sims on the procede revII have been reporting similar problems with ses lights and so on because the new software interprets o2 sensor data differnetly and maybe more sensitive... Id have to look for the post to see what came of it.

[JayKay335i]

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=314154

[GhOsT_E90]

UPDATE

Took the car into the dealer here in Germany this morning, pleading to the service manager if he could work my car in today, i had an appointment for Monday but the engine issues got worse.

They told me they pulled like 6 differant DME code, they reset the ecu, reset the adaptations and drove the car again and it came up with the same problems.

The codes are as follows
29CC, 29D0, 29CE, 29CD, 29F2, 2C31, 2C32

Basicly cylinder misfire in 4,5,6 and a HPFP issue, and the rear O2 sensors lean, which is the result of the misfire and fuel pump. not sure, havent been able to find an explanaton of the codes.

[GhOsT_E90]

Well got the word back finally from the local dealer here in Germany. They are replacing my HPFP and possibly all my injectors. Being here might be a plus with this issue in some ones since i have not heard of other stating what their dealer is having done.

The Service manager explained to me how things worked here cause it seemed differant from what i have read about in the states with this issue. He explained that here in Germany that any issues with the N54 engine that involves warrranty work requires BMW HQ approval. They emailed the codes to an engineer, and whatever other info they are getting off the ECU about my issue. This thing set off 7 DME codes, but good to know that none of them were any manipulation codes that might of been shadowed.

He said basicly BMW HQ are the ones that diagnose the fualt codes and what to replace. It seems no recommendation from the dealer is made to troubleshoot the issue which i thought was weird. Making the local dealer mechanics basiclly just parts changers.

So they are replacing the HPFP, and not the low pressure fuel sensor with it. Also they said they are removing the injectors, recording what injectors are in the car as far as serial numbers or part numbers and possibly replacing the injectors. Also they are updating the DME again with another new version, i have the 32.9 version now, the latest that i know of thats in the states now. They said they have to do some special test drive to set up the adaptations, then they are going to do a fuel pressure test of the system. Something i believe i read about in technical service bulletin.

I still believe the Cats in my downpipes are done, espically the front one that has all the discolorations. Riss racing still hasnt contacted me back the email i sent.

[Zeph]

Are cylinders 4, 5, and 6 all off the same O2 sensor? Seems like whatever they all 3 have in common that cylinders 1, 2, and 3 don't would be a logical direction to go as far as troubleshooting. I wouldn't be surprised to see them change all 6 injectors, spark plugs, and HPFP and still get issues

Either way hopefully you will get the car back soon and running like new!

[GhOsT_E90]

Well i went back and read the codes and asked the Service manager since he told me 4,5,6 were misfiring but the codes for the misfire are for 1,2,4 I just reread the codes and explanations he gave , all of which is in German.

If you read this TIS http://www.bmwtis.com/tsb/bulletins/...p/B130309g.htm it explains that misfire codes are basiclly part of a HPFP failure. He said they aren't replacing the spark plugs, that they can only replace what BMW HQ says to as they are paying for it. They said they were not even going to remove them and check them so if through more trouble shooting they don't replace them i will myself.

I won't know how it drives until next June when i come back from Iraq for R&R. Possibly by then i will be trading it in for an M3.

[scottp999]

Are there any numbers on the cats that would help figure out who makes them? Has Riss ever said what brand of cats they use? One thing I liked about ARs was that they were using a Magnaflow product. ARs have never thrown a light on me, but I am running a very early software version (whatever was loaded in april 2007).

Good luck and thanks for all of the information.

[ar design]

Originally Posted by scottp999

Are there any numbers on the cats that would help figure out who makes them? Has Riss ever said what brand of cats they use? One thing I liked about ARs was that they were using a Magnaflow product. ARs have never thrown a light on me, but I am running a very early software version (whatever was loaded in april 2007).

Good luck and thanks for all of the information.

GhOsT_E90, we have catted downpipes in stock, if you need a replacement set, just let me know, and we will get you taken care of!