Emissions too high

[b21playa]

Hi all

Just took my car for yearly mot and emissions were too high, ready was over 0.75 apparently.

As far as I know I still have my cats (can not be 100% sure).

Any ideas what this could be?

Thank in advance

[b21playa]

Eml came on today, scanned dme and got the following

180001 catalytic convertor : efficiency below limit value

Nothing came up on idrive though, just orange light

[BeachM5nster]

lol that sucks getting emissions tested!

you most likely just need new cats, they literally physically deteriorate over time like you would expect a thin metal honeycomb matrix being put under heat all the time to

[b21playa]

Oh gosh that’s a massive cost.

Code is intermittent

[arucano]

How many miles do you have on it. Try taking a nice high speed run to clean (burn) them out. If you don't have to get it smog tested right now, wait and see if it in not your after cat O2 sensor starting to give out.

[b21playa]

Originally Posted by arucano

How many miles do you have on it. Try taking a nice high speed run to clean (burn) them out. If you don't have to get it smog tested right now, wait and see if it in not your after cat O2 sensor starting to give out.

85k on the clock. Got a another year before emissions test. Are the post cat o2 sensors easy to replace? The pre cat look easy as they are on top

[b21playa]

Just got home and checked codes, same again. Checked connectors to o2 sensors and made sure they were in right and now getting 12AA02 and 12A902 which are both post cat o2 sensors short circuit to ground - permanent.

Thinking to replace both post cat o2 sensors, what’s the advice?

Thanks

[N52bigblock]

Originally Posted by b21playa

Just got home and checked codes, same again. Checked connectors to o2 sensors and made sure they were in right and now getting 12AA02 and 12A902 which are both post cat o2 sensors short circuit to ground - permanent.

Thinking to replace both post cat o2 sensors, what’s the advice?

Thanks

I noticed in your other posts that the engine in your car was replaced at 30k. Do you know why it needed replacing? If it was replaced for an oil burning/consumption issue, then this maybe the reason it has high emissions. Engines that burn oil destroy catalytic converters very quickly. If it was burning excessive oil for 30k the cats will be in very poor condition now. Oil consumption in S63 and N63 is pretty common. Maybe worth trying to find out why the original engine was replaced. You could also run the ISTA test modules for those 2 faults if you have ISTA. From memory there is a resistance measurement of the sensor that it tells you to check. You could also check the power supply to the 02 sensors. Pin number 4 of the bank 1 connector and pin 1 of the bank 2 connector should have approx 12v with the ign on.

Wiring diagram https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...ystem/GRvrxicj

[b21playa]

Originally Posted by neilj35

I noticed in your other posts that the engine in your car was replaced at 30k. Do you know why it needed replacing? If it was replaced for an oil burning/consumption issue, then this maybe the reason it has high emissions. Engines that burn oil destroy catalytic converters very quickly. If it was burning excessive oil for 30k the cats will be in very poor condition now. Oil consumption in S63 and N63 is pretty common. Maybe worth trying to find out why the original engine was replaced. You could also run the ISTA test modules for those 2 faults if you have ISTA. From memory there is a resistance measurement of the sensor that it tells you to check. You could also check the power supply to the 02 sensors. Pin number 4 of the bank 1 connector and pin 1 of the bank 2 connector should have approx 12v with the ign on.

Wiring diagram https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...ystem/GRvrxicj

New engine went in at 53k miles. This was before my ownership and invoice just says “cylinder damage”. Invoice also shows cats being replaced

I’ll run ista on them faults and see what comes back

[b21playa]

Originally Posted by neilj35

I noticed in your other posts that the engine in your car was replaced at 30k. Do you know why it needed replacing? If it was replaced for an oil burning/consumption issue, then this maybe the reason it has high emissions. Engines that burn oil destroy catalytic converters very quickly. If it was burning excessive oil for 30k the cats will be in very poor condition now. Oil consumption in S63 and N63 is pretty common. Maybe worth trying to find out why the original engine was replaced. You could also run the ISTA test modules for those 2 faults if you have ISTA. From memory there is a resistance measurement of the sensor that it tells you to check. You could also check the power supply to the 02 sensors. Pin number 4 of the bank 1 connector and pin 1 of the bank 2 connector should have approx 12v with the ign on.

Wiring diagram https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...ystem/GRvrxicj

Are you sure them are the correct pin numbers? Diagram shows same PIN numbers for both banks

[b21playa]

Did a continuity test over pin 3 and 4 of o2 plug and open circuit. After doing test with ista even after 15mins it wasn’t showing anything as it couldn’t heat up the post o2 cat sensors, they were still showing red. I tried with ignition on to get voltage reading at pin 4 from dme but very hard by myself to hold everything

Thinking of just buying new post o2 sensors and seeing if that resolves it.

Any recommendations of where to buy from?

Thanks again

[N52bigblock]

Originally Posted by b21playa

Are you sure them are the correct pin numbers? Diagram shows same PIN numbers for both banks

Sorry my mistake. Yes you are correct. I really need to replace my glasses!! Power supply is the same pin on both sensors. I always buy my parts off Ebay. I always buy OEM parts. There are some Ebay guys from Lithuania with very good prices and good feedback. Have bought quite a few things from them with no issues. Way cheaper than NZ prices that's for sure. It's probably worth replacing i think judging from you test results.

Have you had any luck with your 330i power issue yet? I had the same low power issue down low with my n52. It was my big DISA valve. It's quite a common issue.

[b21playa]

Originally Posted by neilj35

Sorry my mistake. Yes you are correct. I really need to replace my glasses!! Power supply is the same pin on both sensors. I always buy my parts off Ebay. I always buy OEM parts. There are some Ebay guys from Lithuania with very good prices and good feedback. Have bought quite a few things from them with no issues. Way cheaper than NZ prices that's for sure. It's probably worth replacing i think judging from you test results.

Have you had any luck with your 330i power issue yet? I had the same low power issue down low with my n52. It was my big DISA valve. It's quite a common issue.

Haha no worries, I’ll get 2 post cat sensors ordered. Bosch are the oem ones from what I’ve been told, can get them for about £70 each.

With the 330i I think it maybe a sticking disa valve as when it’s activated, it doesn’t sound too smooth. Might just order a new one.

All my cars have issues, my e39 m5 has vanos issue as well

[b21playa]

Waiting for new sensors but light came on yesterday and scanned codes and now getting the same errors but intermittent

[b21playa]

Finally got around to changing post o2 sensors and still get the light on intermittently

[b21playa]

Changed plugs as well a few months ago and light still comes on. Don’t drive it enough to test

[b21playa]

But of a light bulb moment, went to check if exhaust valves had been removed and spotted the vacuum hose had been disconnected, guessing to make the exhaust louder. I’ve connected these back up and reset the code and hoping this was what was causing the intermittent code due to seeing different back pressure

[technician117]

Originally Posted by b21playa

But of a light bulb moment, went to check if exhaust valves had been removed and spotted the vacuum hose had been disconnected, guessing to make the exhaust louder. I’ve connected these back up and reset the code and hoping this was what was causing the intermittent code due to seeing different back pressure

The exhaust valves are indeed controlled by vacuum, but not engine vacuum. There is a small pump in the trunk that they are connected to. I still plugged the hoses on mine since the pump is still installed. Has prevented any codes.

[M5Yams]

Originally Posted by technician117

The exhaust valves are indeed controlled by vacuum, but not engine vacuum. There is a small pump in the trunk that they are connected to. I still plugged the hoses on mine since the pump is still installed. Has prevented any codes.

I always understood that on the E39 m5 that was the case, but on the f10 the valves are in fact controlled by the engine vacuum which is why people see such catastrophic power drops. I actually plugged my rear exhaust valve vacuum lines up in the engine bay and strapped the valves open.

[b21playa]

Originally Posted by technician117

The exhaust valves are indeed controlled by vacuum, but not engine vacuum. There is a small pump in the trunk that they are connected to. I still plugged the hoses on mine since the pump is still installed. Has prevented any codes.

These hoses hadn’t been plugged, were just tucked up and away

Happy to have them plugged in, it does also explain why when I installed an exhaust Meister, it made no difference

[technician117]

Originally Posted by M5Yams

I always understood that on the E39 m5 that was the case, but on the f10 the valves are in fact controlled by the engine vacuum which is why people see such catastrophic power drops. I actually plugged my rear exhaust valve vacuum lines up in the engine bay and strapped the valves open.

The e39 M5 does not have a valved exhaust. The F10 DOES NOT use engine vacuum either. Not consistent enough to reliably control the flaps. If you follow the hoses, they terminate in the left hand side of the trunk, connected to a vacuum solenoid. Much like the system used by other OEM's to control 4x4 operation. For example, 2004+ Ford F150's. There is a solenoid mounted under the hood with vacuum lines run to each hub. When activated, they pull a vacuum to lock the hubs to the axles.

[M5Yams]

Originally Posted by technician117

The e39 M5 does not have a valved exhaust. The F10 DOES NOT use engine vacuum either. Not consistent enough to reliably control the flaps. If you follow the hoses, they terminate in the left hand side of the trunk, connected to a vacuum solenoid. Much like the system used by other OEM's to control 4x4 operation. For example, 2004+ Ford F150's. There is a solenoid mounted under the hood with vacuum lines run to each hub. When activated, they pull a vacuum to lock the hubs to the axles.

Whoops, you are correct on the e39 I got it confused for the e90 somehow.