Unknown reasons for codes

[gabethebabe0204]

Hey everyone, I have a 2013 m5 with 112,500 miles. About a month ago I got a drivetrain malfunction out of no where (car had had no issues and was driving perfect) and I got codes 120408, 120908, and a vanos 131601. After I got these codes from a cold start up I let the engine heat up to operating temp and I cleared the codes and the codes don’t come back at all and the car drives perfect, but when I cold start again I get the same three codes. I replaced the vanos solenoid that was throwing the code, spark plugs, coil packs, and oil, and the car still is giving me the same codes but also when the car is warm it drives perfect and seems like there is no issues whatsoever. I had a shop do the vanos solenoid because it was a little more involved that what I was hoping and I’m not sure if they replaced the correct solenoid. Anyone have any solutions to what could be causing these codes and why the car runs perfect when warm?

[M5Rick]

It may or may not be a small plastic piece jammed in a vanos gear, thing about this in previous posts not too far back.
https://f10.m5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2201658

[gabethebabe0204]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

https://f10.m5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2201658

So did he just have a piece of plastic stuck in his vanos gear? Also is there a work around to fix this solution without having the replace the vanos gear? I’m not particularly wanting to get into something like that because I know it’s a big job😬

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by gabethebabe0204

So did he just have a piece of plastic stuck in his vanos gear? Also is there a work around to fix this solution without having the replace the vanos gear? I’m not particularly wanting to get into something like that because I know it’s a big job��

I don't blame you for not wanting to go this far but the symptoms you describe match that of what this guy in the video describes getting the DTM and eventually fixes. From what it shows he did produce the plastic piece jamming the vanos gear.

[gabethebabe0204]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

I don't blame you for not wanting to go this far but the symptoms you describe match that of what this guy in the video describes and eventually fixes. From what it shows he did show the plastic piece jamming the vanos gear.

Gotcha, I just emailed my private mechanic last night to see if they could diagnose it further since I took it to bmw and they basically farted around for 6 hours and then the quoted me $1600 for another 7 hours of just diagnosing. Is there anything else that it could be other than the gear? Also is there a way to remove the plastic from the vanos gear or is this a thing that will for sure require a replacement?

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by gabethebabe0204

Gotcha, I just emailed my private mechanic last night to see if they could diagnose it further since I took it to bmw and they basically farted around for 6 hours and then the quoted me $1600 for another 7 hours of just diagnosing. Is there anything else that it could be other than the gear? Also is there a way to remove the plastic from the vanos gear or is this a thing that will for sure require a replacement?

I wouldn't like to stick my neck out and say but when the guy put it back together again with a new vanos gear as he says there was no DTM.

[gabethebabe0204]

Originally Posted by M5Rick

I wouldn't like to stick my neck out and say but when the guy put it back together again with a new vanos gear as he says there was no DTM.

Alright well thank you for the help! I’m gonna wait to hear back from my mechanic and see what happens when they diagnose it, fingers crossed it isn’t a bad vanos gear..