[conlean]

Hello everyone !

I recently bought a 330i N52 2007 90k miles sedan and I found the exhaust solenoid vanos disconnected, so first thing I did was connect it and the problems started:

Main Problem:

Cold Start: the car starts and dies 3 seconds before, then I disconnect exhaust solenoid the car starts fine (no rough idling, no dies) and wait some minutes (the engine gets temperature) turn off engine and then connect the solenoid and starts perfect with all connected.
Reading the fault codes is presented the following error:
2A98 DME: Crankshaft - Inlet Camshaft, Reference.

I did the following work on it checking another’s post.

- Oil change: filter and oil cooler gaskets.
- 2 new solenoids.
- Cleaned solenoids filters.
- Swapped intake and exhaust camshaft sensors.

So I am using the car without vanos connected but I would like to user the n52 with vanos working completely.

I appreciate any feedback you can share.
Thanks.

[conlean]

Hello everyone !

I did some work in my n52 last week to solve my issue according check some threads here.

I found oil in my ESS, so I cleaned everything and plugged vanos and ESS and still failing.
When is a cold start the engine starts 3 seconds maybe 4 and then dies.

If a unplug the ESS the car starts perfectly in cold start, so I stop the engine, plug the ESS and then start again the car and works perfectly but the
2A98 DME: Crankshaft - Inlet Camshaft, Reference stills there.

At this point seems like a issue in the ESS (maybe?) or a major issue in the Inlet Camshaft.

Thanks !

[lowrydr310]

Sounds exactly like the symptoms of a failed ESS. I had this happen to my 330, cold start it would start then immediately shut off. I had no ESS related codes either, just an occasional code for the valvetronic motor exceeding a thermal limit. Replaced the ESS and it's been running great.

The camshaft reference code is interesting, maybe it's a bad camshaft position sensor. But if your ESS has oil on the connector pins, it needs to be replaced anyway so might as well do it.

[GoRomeo]

Yeah I guess its a good start to replace the ESS. I believe you have to pop open the valve cover.

[conlean]

Thanks for your reply !

Yes, the weird thing is the camshaft reference code but really I don’t kwon.
I think my first step will be change the ESS and see if this solve the issue.

Originally Posted by lowrydr310

Sounds exactly like the symptoms of a failed ESS. I had this happen to my 330, cold start it would start then immediately shut off. I had no ESS related codes either, just an occasional code for the valvetronic motor exceeding a thermal limit. Replaced the ESS and it's been running great.

The camshaft reference code is interesting, maybe it's a bad camshaft position sensor. But if your ESS has oil on the connector pins, it needs to be replaced anyway so might as well do it.

[conlean]

Yeap, I saw in youtube some DIY to change de ESS.

Thanks !

Originally Posted by GoRomeo

Yeah I guess its a good start to replace the ESS. I believe you have to pop open the valve cover.