What is this error code?

[Cubieman]

I'd probably clear the adaptations, faults and then run a vanos test.

What does resetting adaptations do exactly?

Would their be any benefit to not resetting adaptations and leaving it the way it is before I take it in and spend $129 for the VANOS test?

Also is is their any harm in driving it with that code? I know that may be a very ambiguous question.

Why would this code not produce an engine light? My local BMW guy was kind of surprised it didn't.

[ATB88]

What does resetting adaptations do exactly?

Would their be any benefit to not resetting adaptations and leaving it the way it is before I take it in and spend $129 for the VANOS test?

Also is is their any harm in driving it with that code? I know that may be a very ambiguous question.

Why would this code not produce an engine light? My local BMW guy was kind of surprised it didn't.

I've heard a lot about how for certain things, the MSS54(HP) is actually pretty tolerant of non-ideal or not-so-great values before putting on a CEL or EML or even logging a fault code, much more so than a regular BMW engine. For example, I've driven my car with long term fuel trims above 12% for several tanks of gas and not a single CEL/EML or fault code logged. 12% is a terrible LTFT but according to a mechanic I spoke to who did some research on it, while anything above 11 triggers a fault on an M54, for the S54, LTFTs have to go above 20% for any light to come on. Point is, just because there's no light/fault code doesn't mean it's running right, unfortunately :/

[jbfrancis3]

In the event the tune did NOT account for US cams and thinks I'm running CSL profile cams that would certainly cause this error correct?

That's where I'd guess the code is originating from, in my very limited experience (aka limited to my vehicle). My Kassel DME had CSL cam offsets left in it even though Jim indicated they were US spec. Offsets are as they sound: used to changes the DME's relative reading of camshaft position. Many members helped me here. The difference between non-CSL and CSL offsets is 4 degrees (I'm blanking if that is intake, and exhaust slightly different, or both). Terra is alluding to how the DME can adapt up to 8 degrees, but Martyn is saying if your physical timing is slightly off and causing a higher adaptation already, that added 4 deg bump could throw you outside the 8 degree tolerance. Remember, this is from the perspective of the sensor readings and is not to be confused with physical timing changes (because there haven't been, unless you went into the valve train which I know you didn't).

I'd have the test done but this is probably of case of leave it be for now, and come the time to tune (including remote) the tuner can verify offsets. If the VANOS fails, I'm not saying ignore it, but I pointing out that you probably have not done something wrong, and it very likely to be CSL-conversion related.

[Cubieman]

Awesome...looks like I'd better find ISTA so I can run the test myself.

[ATB88]

Awesome...looks like I'd better find ISTA so I can run the test myself.

Lol smh. They charged you and didn't even run the test?

ISTA isn't the way to go unless you want to spend hundreds of dollars on an ICOM cable setup. The basic functions of ISTA work with a normal OBDII cable, but none of the advanced functions, which the VANOS test is. You need DIS. By far the simplest way I've seen to get it up and running is to just pay these guys $45, DL their software package, follow their install instructions. If anything goes wrong they'll fix it for you very quickly. Might want to double check with them first that it'll work with CSL software, but I don't see why it wouldn't. https://www.pss-autosoft.net/

[Cubieman]

Lol smh. They charged you and didn't even run the test?

ISTA isn't the way to go unless you want to spend hundreds of dollars on an ICOM cable setup. The basic functions of ISTA work with a normal OBDII cable, but none of the advanced functions, which the VANOS test is. You need DIS. By far the simplest way I've seen to get it up and running is to just pay these guys $45, DL their software package, follow their install instructions. If anything goes wrong they'll fix it for you very quickly. Might want to double check with them first that it'll work with CSL software, but I don't see why it wouldn't. https://www.pss-autosoft.net/

Yeah, I was charged AND it happened to be the one F'ing day it rained so my fresh wash/wax was compromised, oh boy.

Thanks for the info, I'll check that software out tonight.

[heinzboehmer]

Awesome...looks like I'd better find ISTA so I can run the test myself.

Wait they have the software but couldn't read it because it was in German and still charged you $130?

[Cubieman]

Yes. They used ISTA, they said they didn't feel comfortable proceeding with the prompts/menu options (or whatever) because it was in German.
F**k me.

[heinzboehmer]

Yes. They used ISTA, they said they didn't feel comfortable proceeding with the prompts/menu options (or whatever) because it was in German.
F**k me.

Wtf. This is at a BMW specific shop? Shouldn't they know that BMWs are German cars? Have they really never used ISTA on another car? Something seems off.

[ATB88]

Wtf. This is at a BMW specific shop? Shouldn't they know that BMWs are German cars? Have they really never used ISTA on another car? Something seems off.

I think the issue here is that normal US spec DME software, when interfaced by ISTA, will give everything in English, whereas the CSL DME software only comes in German, so ISTA will return things in German when speaking to it. So, for every car these guys have ever dealt with, everything in ISTA has come up in English, as they likely haven't dealt with anything that has a CSL tune before. I don't think it was on the shop to have known it would go down this way in advance, this is a rare and specific situation. I still don't think they should have charged. It takes two seconds to see that it's in German. At the very least they should have offered an hour of labor towards something else in the future if they were going to make him pay.

[heinzboehmer]

I think the issue here is that normal US spec DME software, when interfaced by ISTA, will give everything in English, whereas the CSL DME software only comes in German, so ISTA will return things in German when speaking to it. So, for every car these guys have ever dealt with, everything in ISTA has come up in English, as they likely haven't dealt with anything that has a CSL tune before. I don't think it was on the shop to have known it would go down this way in advance, this is a rare and specific situation. I still don't think they should have charged. It takes two seconds to see that it's in German. At the very least they should have offered an hour of labor towards something else in the future if they were going to make him pay.

Ah that makes a lot more sense. But I agree, I don't think they should have charged.

[repoman89]

WTF? They could have looked up how to run the test and just pushed the damn keys to get through the menus, German or not, and it would have taken less than an hour

[ATB88]

WTF? They could have looked up how to run the test and just pushed the damn keys to get through the menus, German or not, and it would have taken less than an hour

Also very true, but unfortunately not how these kinds of places tend to roll

[Cubieman]

There are only 2 other E46 M3s in my town that they deal with according to them, of those 2 I have seen one.
Living in a medium sized town in NE is not great when it comes to getting work done on you specialty German cars. Muscle car stuff your good to go.

So this was quite possibly the first time they have dealt with a CSL DME, so I'll give them that. They had a bunch of cars in the lot and all bays were full so I don't think they were interested or had to time troubleshoot, all they knew was "this one is coming up in German, not worth F'ning with".

I was surprised when I got charged the full rate but I'm in the service industry and understand time is money so it what it is. I also inquired about a rebuild of my Vanos with Beisan parts, they won't do anything but install a complete Vanos.
They make their money changing oil etc. for people that don't want to pay dealer prices and aren't really a performance oriented shop. I am on my own.

Sucks to get my car rained on and have to pay for it.

[terra]

I was surprised when I got charged the full rate but I'm in the service industry and understand time is money so it what it is. .

I mean it is, but there's no way it took them a full hour to get to that point. I get that shops have their minimums, but when they didn't actually accomplish something they should have cut you some slack.