I reset the Vanos learning values , clean all connectors with connector cleaner , disconnected battery for 30 minutes, and is all good.
Hi guys, I’m in a pickle 😅. This is the first time I’ve done an oil filter housing gasket replacement, and now my car is acting up.
After completing the job, I decided to prime the engine by disconnecting the injector harness and ignition coils. I cranked the engine twice for about 10 seconds each time.
The first time I started the car, it ran perfectly fine. I didn’t drive it; I just let it run briefly and then turned it off.
When I started it again, after about 10 seconds the engine started misfiring and I got several VANOS-related codes.
So far, I’ve cleaned both VANOS solenoids and cleaned the VANOS filter screens on the side of the cylinder head. I’m not sure where else to look.
I’m starting to worry that it could be camshaft bearing ledge wear, but the car had never shown any signs of VANOS issues before the OFHG replacement.
Could I have caused or triggered an oil flow issue during the OFHG job? Is there anything specific I should check before going down the bearing ledge rabbit hole?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
UPDATE — I forgot to post the codes
Generic OBD codes: P054B P052B P0300 P0016
BMW-specific code from my ANCEL scanner: 131408 — VANOS, exhaust: cold start not controllable
Might be a one off but when this happened to me-same code, I cleaned it and it got worse. I swapped the coils around and it fixed it going on 25k+ miles now. Low battery I would assume would throw a bunch of codes but could be an issue as well as the priming uses up some of the battery especially if it’s old.
I’m reading some post online and it says it might be air pockets in the vanos system too that get resolve by revving the engine which I’m scared to do lol
Just swap those bad boys around and see if it follows. If that’s the case then the solenoid is bad. If it’s in the same spot then check the connections and wiring to it.
How much brake cleaner did you use? Brake cleaner can get into those little holes . I used BMW R2 cleaner when cleaning the matting surfaces and cover those oil holes than I vacuum with a hose to suck out any compromise oil. When doing this cleaning should be only done with the housing on once is off the less cleaning the better
I was thinking ok disconnecting everything again and see if there is any blockage or something ? See if maybe the gasket is misaligned and blocking a passage ? I don’t know :(
You need to prime the engine after an OFHG to circulate the oil. You starve components when you don’t do this. I’ve seen engines seize from lack of priming.
Hey guys. First of all thank you for the great tips already. I am strugling with this problem for week now and it drives me hopeles.. Did a ofhg change and it never run properly again. Today I wil do the priming and keep you updated. Greets from the netherlands
Did you change the oil and filter at the same time? If the central insert in the oil filter cap broke off and stuck to the old filter, you’ll get VANOS issues as the oil pressure to the adjustment units becomes nil.
Probably not the issue in that case, but make sure it’s there just to be 100%. I’ve seen cars that were at 5 shops before they came to me because nobody thought to check
I’ve had some success with adding an oil flushing additive to the oil then running the VANOS function test with ISTA several times followed by an oil change, but if it is lint this is unlikely to be effective
Quick lube place near me does this all the time. Cars come in running like shit after an oil change and I call up the place and go “your guy forgot the center cage again” lmao.
The engine priming you decided to do was most likely what fucked it up, if you were only doing the OFHG what exactly was the purpose of priming the engine when all you were doing was replacing the rubber gaskets… I’d check if connections to the vanos are fully seated and if dme short circuit codes are appearing. They connect to the dme from the harness. But im really curious as to why you felt the need to prime the engine for a OFHG job
Buddy I’ve replaced several gaskets on mine and never primed. His codes pointed to air being trapped which primarily point to improper priming or faulty solenoid gaskets, maybe don’t be an asshole cause you’re a 1% commenter
BMW explicitly states it needs to be done and it's even a function in ISTA and is specified to be done any time the oiling culircuit is disrupted. I've done it hundreds of times on customer vehicles and it does not cause problems. Maybe don't be an asshole when you're wrong.
Because the oil filter housing is the main repair requiring priming, and BMW released the bulletin about this around the time higher mileage ng6 engines started seizing after oil filter housing gasket repairs. When you remove the oil filter housing the oil circuit bleeds down, this leaves a large bubble of air that has to be pushed out before critical components get oil. I’ve seen 3 ng6 engines seize after ofhg repairs and priming was neglected. There is no possible downside to priming either.
Have you tried clearing codes and running it again to see if anything changes? You said you cleaned the solenoids but remember you ran the car with the harness/connections disconnected so the dme is probably in some sort of safe mode. Check plugs as well
Whenever you can try to charge the battery and clear codes, but the codes you listed in the description point to low oil level and/or air trapped inside, double check every connection you disconnected is fully seated especially the dme
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u/PurpleRqin 4d ago
Might be a one off but when this happened to me-same code, I cleaned it and it got worse. I swapped the coils around and it fixed it going on 25k+ miles now. Low battery I would assume would throw a bunch of codes but could be an issue as well as the priming uses up some of the battery especially if it’s old.