Hello, I have a 2011 Mini Cooper S, and have recently replaced timing chain, Genuine BMW Vanos Solenoids, Plugs and new HPFP. The car has 100K miles. The car cold starts fine and idles at 900, steady. But as I drive ~10 miles and the car warms up, if I stop at a light the idle will go up and down. Then I will get a CEL p0015. Now the car will be fine, steady idle at 700 and only issue is some reduced power. So it is not timing as all things run well cold and after CEL, so I think it is a programming issue, but not sure. I have cleaned cam sensors and have ordered new ones to see if this fixes it. I have not checked PCV valve, to scared to damage Valve cover, as a new one is $$$. ANy thoughts or advice is appreciated.

 

recheck the timing...I had three cars so far where the timing was flipped 180 degrees and the cars ran ok-ish. double check the obvious and go from there.

reving up and down is a sign of a vacuum leak.

 

On the timing, I had the labels on the cam shafts pointing up, the pin in the flywheel and the shewers in the pistons all aligned, so I feel that I had the timing right, what else could I have done to validate it was in correct position?

 

what you did was fine. I guess I was trying to suggest rechecking it now that the car is on the road. just to make sure the timing didnt move.

 

If you haven't done a walnut blast on those intake valves, do yourself a favor, take out the intake manifold and check those valves for carbon build-up. If it can't breathe well, it won't idle well.

 

I had been few this kind of issues and every time problem was bad or dirty Vanos solenoid, sometime is hard to find , because there is no CEL . Check solenoid(s) and wiring/ connector.

 

Holkki, I have head this as well, so I changed them for new ones, then brought to dealership. They told me mine we after market and therefore they could not diagnose problem. I them bough BMW branded vanos solenoids and problem persists. I now have changed out BMW branded timing sensors, and problem persists. What is odd, is on cold start all is well, no CEL, no reduced engine power symbol, runs great, warms about 15 minutes, rough idle prompts CEL. The other day, I went from cold start right to highway driving and drove for 200 miles with no issue as I never slowed to idle, once I did I got CEL. So I have eliminated timing, as that is mechanical and this problem only occurs at idle. Could it be turbo seal? I am consuming above average amounts of oil?

 

Could there be a vacuum leak? a gas tank purge valve? what was the code for?

 

The code I get is P0015, as well as a P2068, the P2068 i ignore as I get it when I fill the tank and don't think it effects the engine performance. The P0015 could be a side effect of oil blowing through the turbo and causing misfire. I am new to these, so just guessing.

 

Check the electrical connection on the exhaust cam position sensor. Maybe spray some contact cleaner on it and re-install. Otherwise, could be the vanos on the exhaust cam is sticking or not actuating when commanded to. Try adding 5oz of Seafoam to the oil, drive for half an hour to flush the engine, then change the oil. Hopefully, one of those will solve the issue. If not you may have to pull the vanos back off and inspect the two square metal compression rings on the cam. Inspect that they move freely and neither is cracked allowing oil to bypass.

 

Thanks, I will check those things but to restate the vanos is BMW brand and new (1 week old), I will clean connections and update results. Remember the car starts and runs as it should for first 15 minutes from cold start, then if i stop and idle, CEL goes on and engine goes to reduced power. Seems like an issue with managing idle.

 

Gotcha. When I read the post I thought the solenoid had been changed not the vanos unit as well. Oil it thinner when the engine is warm. If everything is else is good maybe consider switching to 5W40 oil.

 

Picked up some 0W 40 last night plan to add this weekend.