2010 N14 - cooper S, 145,000 mi.

Installed aluminum valve cover (ECS Tuning), cause the plastic one was leaking. Later, because of misfires and very rough starting, swapped out high pressure fuel pump. It's running much better, but I still get a few dropouts while idling and a CEL just showed up - 2782 - which I read points to the exhaust cam position sensor. Two things: I think the position sensor reads the intake (not exhaust) camshaft and I think I heard some guys talking about the sensor being very sensitive to position and after-market valve covers may not be made with the right tolerances. So it may not be the sensor, it may be the position of the sensor relative to the valve cover.

Does anyone have any experience with this type of thing? If I have to pony up for another plastic one, then I guess that's what I have to do, but if there's some way to tell if it's the sensor and not it's position, or if there's some way to alter the sensor's position to get it to work properly with this valve cover, I'd like to know that, too.

Thanks for any help with this,

-Steve

 

Hello,

On the sensor, make sure the head is clean and inserted all the way into the valve cover. It could be a bad sensor, not seated all the way down, or not plugged in all the way.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...s-misfire.html

DIY on cover: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...acement-2.html

 

Can you retrieve the BMW fault code rather than a generic fault code?

If you remove the oil fill cap with the engine running, is there strong suction or does the idle stumble?

 

Hi -

Sorry I haven't responded. Been packing for a move, repairing the house, etc.

I looked at the spark plugs (2 years old) and they didn't seem great. Ordered new cam sensor and air filter and plugs. Replaced the plugs and the air filter and voila! Idle is perfect now; car's running great. So I guess the cam sensor was OK after all.

Doh.

Anyway, thanks so much for your responses - I appreciate it.

-Steve

 

Hello Steve,

Thanks for the update and glad that worked,

Thanks
Mike