VANOS help needed: P0010 P0012

[Triqzy]

SES engine light popped up the other day while daily driving, and when I ran the codes P0012 was a "confirmed" code, and P0010 was a "pending" code. Not sure what the difference is between confirmed and pending.

P0012: "A" Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Retarded
P0010: "A" Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit

Forum advice told me this was the Beisan Solenoid so I replaced that this afternoon along with the orings, and my P0010 code cleared, but P0012 remains. It seems unlikely that swapping the solenoid only cleared one code. Since both the codes appeared at the same time, I would expect one underlying issue to be the culprit, and as a result would've expected the new solenoid to either clear both codes, or neither of them. Do I need a new intake camshaft position sensor? Is there a test I can run in INPA to see if the sensor really is bad before I buy one?

[maupineda]

INPA does not support the VANOS test on the S54 engine. Download and install ISTA, it worked on my S54'd Z4M. If you do have INPA, check the adaptation values for your VANOS to see if your timing is off, based on your codes, you may have a timing issue (out of range) or your solenoid valve block requires some cleaning. So I would...

Check VANOS adaption Values in INPA with the engine running to see the requested values VS actuals
Clean the solenoid valve body, a sticky valve would make VANOS to not achieve the requested values by the DME

This is what I am talking about in INPA



In the image above the engine was not running, so the request and actual values are the same, but when the engine is running you will be able to tell how far apart they are, the adaptation values will tell you how much the DME needs to compensate to achieve the requested value, as long as you are in the green zone you are good, ideal would be zero.

[ATB88]

INPA does not support the VANOS test on the S54 engine. Download and install ISTA, it worked on my S54'd Z4M.

ISTA only allows you to access the VANOS tests if you have a very expensive cable -- won't work if you're just using the standard K+DCAN cable. My understanding is the only way to get access to VANOS tests using a standard cable is through DIS/GT1.

[maupineda]

ISTA only allows you to access the VANOS tests if you have a very expensive cable -- won't work if you're just using the standard K+DCAN cable. My understanding is the only way to get access to VANOS tests using a standard cable is through DIS/GT1.

I bought the ICOM based on this internet belief just to find out I was able to run the VANOS test just as well using the K+DCAN cable. At least on the Z4M it works with both, the K+DCAN and ICOM. No one told me, I have both devices, and have run the test using both.

[ATB88]

I bought the ICOM based on this internet belief just to find out I was able to run the VANOS test just as well using the K+DCAN cable. At least on the Z4M it works with both, the K+DCAN and ICOM. No one told me, I have both devices, and the test works on both.

This is fascinating. Care to tell exactly which K+DCAN cable you bought, and what ISTA download you used? I worked very hard to get VANOS tests to work in ISTA with a K+DCAN cable and failed, as have many here. You're the only person I've heard of that has gotten it to work.

Actually, wait, doesn't the Z4M use a different ECU than the MSS54/HP? I'd be willing to bet that's the reason you were able to get it to work but the rest of us can't. (Indeed, your screenshot says MSS70)

[maupineda]

This is fascinating. Care to tell exactly which K+DCAN cable you bought, and what ISTA download you used? I worked very hard to get VANOS tests to work in ISTA with a K+DCAN cable and failed, as have many here. You're the only person I've heard of that has gotten it to work.

Actually, wait, doesn't the Z4M use a different ECU than the MSS54/HP? I'd be willing to bet that's the reason you were able to get it to work but the rest of us can't. (Indeed, your screenshot says MSS70)

Yes, the Z4M has an MSS70.

The reason why I bought on the idea that the Vanos test needed an ICOM was that in my car the test would not run, so I bought the ICOM... well that did not work either... it turned out to be that in the Z4M the CSL box screws the testing routines due to deleting the MAF, which by default the DME uses to calculate load to control rpm, my theory is that this prevented the car to initialize the test.

How did I prove my theory? I decided to swap back the OE airbox and tune and guess what!!! now my CC works, and my VANOS test can be done with either interface.

Now to what matters for most users here...

You can also run the test using WinKFP and a D+KCAN cable. There is a post in this forum showing how to do it... Below are the lines I copied when I was trying desperately to make the VANOS test to work on my car.

1|mss54ds0|STEUERN_EVANOS1_FRUEHANSCHLAG
1|mss54ds0|STEUERN_EVANOS1_SPAETANSCHLAG
1|mss54ds0|STEUERN_EVANOS1_VERSTELLZEIT
1|mss54ds0|STEUERN_EVANOS1_DICHTHEIT
1|mss54ds0|STEUERN_AVANOS1_FRUEHANSCHLAG
1|mss54ds0|STEUERN_AVANOS1_SPAETANSCHLAG
1|mss54ds0|STEUERN_AVANOS1_VERSTELLZEIT
1|mss54ds0|STEUERN_AVANOS1_DICHTHEIT

FWIW, the Z4M commands are different (I found them searching in WinKFP), but they would not work either because of the MAF less setup I have. I did not try WinKFP with the stock box as I had successfully done it with ISTA, but I am sure it did not run because of the same issue ISTA had when I had no MAF.

Give the above a shot in WinKFP, it should work if you have the right sensors for the engine to calculate load and rpm. I assume either OE MAF setup or a true CSL clone setup (MAP) should be fine running WinKFP.

[Triqzy]

INPA does not support the VANOS test on the S54 engine. Download and install ISTA, it worked on my S54'd Z4M. If you do have INPA, check the adaptation values for your VANOS to see if your timing is off, based on your codes, you may have a timing issue (out of range) or your solenoid valve block requires some cleaning. So I would...

Check VANOS adaption Values in INPA with the engine running to see the requested values VS actuals
Clean the solenoid valve body, a sticky valve would make VANOS to not achieve the requested values by the DME

This is what I am talking about in INPA



In the image above the engine was not running, so the request and actual values are the same, but when the engine is running you will be able to tell how far apart they are, the adaptation values will tell you how much the DME needs to compensate to achieve the requested value, as long as you are in the green zone you are good, ideal would be zero.

Thank you for this information. Turns out that after a few more startups and driving around, the P0012 code and the Service Engine Soon light did go away (for now anyway). Unless its in my head, the car feels stronger. I assume the solenoid wasn't functioning at full efficiency as it slowly failed. Putting in a fresh solenoid has the car feeling solid. I honestly think that this solenoid swap + valve body cleaning is a must-do for only $150 (after sending your core back) and an hour of labor.

[mrgizmo04]

Did you reset vanos adaptations after the install? If not it would probably take a bit of driving for dme to relearn and readjust.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[Triqzy]

Did you reset vanos adaptations after the install? If not it would probably take a bit of driving for dme to relearn and readjust.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

I did not reset adaptations, but I think you're right about the DME relearning and readjusting. After the SES cleared on its own, I had the car scanned by a friend who works at BMW with his fancy scanner. This was the stored code if it helps anyone in the future:

"B8: Digital Motor Electronics (DME): function, intake VANOS (Variable Camshaft Timing)"