HELP please! "Engine service soon" issue.

[alpinewhite23]

hi guys,
I need some advices from all experts.
a few days ago, the "engine service soon" yellow light came up on my dashboard, so I took my car to bmw dealer. They checked everything and said its fine. according to the service agent, the problem caused the light to go on is due to "engine burning extra fuel." He also said that they had no way to figure out what caused the problem. He said it might be my intake's problem.
however, i had my intake installed for 3-4 weeks. I didn't notice any problem from it.

after two days of driving, "engine service soon" light goes on again.
I really don't know what cause the problem. The only thing i could think of is that the bottom of my car did hit speed bump a few time since there are a few huge speed bump around my place.

I don't know if you guys had similar problems like mine before.

I am just here to seek some advices before i head back to dealer again.

i appriciate all of helps and advices. thanks a lot!

K

[EIAlfonso]

You need to get a fault code.

Take it to Autozone and they'll read it for free.

Of course if it's under warranty then just take it back to the dealer.

[ritos530i]

The code should read P111f or 3199 I have the same problem and it comes from Increased Emissions. I have the Idrive and it displays the codes with out reading with a OBD scanner.
Anyway I have a scanner and those are the codes that come up. Code read out should be Fuel Emissions Manufactor Control or something very similar to that. If you have the MS45.1 ECU programming I am sure that is what you are getting. Just like BMW says, you have no real problem with the car but that annoying SEL gets on my nerves. The only thing you can do to get rid of the SEL is remove the intake but i would not do that. You will find that once you clear code it will not return until the second time it happens ( what that means is clear the code and start the car run the car aggressive and turn car off the next time you attempt to start the car the code will appear) Maybe a remapping will help i dont know yet but i am trying to get to the bottom of this. Car still runs great.

Just my thoughts from experience. Have the same problem.

[alpinewhite23]

thanks Eialfonso and ritos

my car is out of warranty, but bmw did it for free last time for me somehow :)

I don't really get how this works. Are you saing that i have to "clear code" every time SEL gets on? and how could i clear code it?

If it is not hurting the car or anything, i might just ignore it.

thanks

[ritos530i]

If BMW tells you everything is fine with the car than that is what i would go with. But just keep notice because i am sure someone found a way to get ride of the sel. Good Luck

[alpinewhite23]

got it, thanks a lot

[Asbjorn@ESS]

hi guys,
I need some advices from all experts.
a few days ago, the "engine service soon" yellow light came up on my dashboard, so I took my car to bmw dealer. They checked everything and said its fine. according to the service agent, the problem caused the light to go on is due to "engine burning extra fuel." He also said that they had no way to figure out what caused the problem. He said it might be my intake's problem.
however, i had my intake installed for 3-4 weeks. I didn't notice any problem from it.

after two days of driving, "engine service soon" light goes on again.
I really don't know what cause the problem. The only thing i could think of is that the bottom of my car did hit speed bump a few time since there are a few huge speed bump around my place.

I don't know if you guys had similar problems like mine before.

I am just here to seek some advices before i head back to dealer again.

i appriciate all of helps and advices. thanks a lot!

K


You most likely have a contaminated MAF sensor due to your aftermarket filter installation or a MAF turbulence issue caused by an improperly designed intake. Both will cause the MAF signal to get skewed and will throw a adaptation CEL. Try CRC MAF cleaner and reinstall factory airbox and your problem is most likely gone and in most cases you will even have more power with the stock setup. Most CAI's we have tested reduces engine performance, the best ones we have seen are +-2HP of the stock airbox. Do not underestimate the BMW engineeres when it comes to airflow design in the M54 engines!

[Asbjorn@ESS]

Do you guys know what intake we found to be the best upgrade to the E46 323/328's? Stock E46 325 airbox.. It's a direct fit, it has superiour filtration, hydrolock prevention and sound insulation, and it flows excellent!:)

[ritos530i]

I still maintain my airbox with maf. I know what the code is and bmw told me the same thing. I believe he is not talking about a the housing or box. Asbjorn if the air intake gets a drop of 1.5 it will alert the SEL.

[ritos530i]

he needs his ecu tuned to the change. (a remap)

[jt330ci]

he needs his ecu tuned to the change. (a remap)

for an intake? i dont think so, it shouldn't have to get remapped

[ritos530i]

for an intake? i dont think so, it shouldn't have to get remapped
Can someone please response that has knowledge of this. I don't think we need a guess on this one.

[russ330]

^There's about 34,234 people on this site with an aftermarket intake and NO aftermarket software and NO fault codes. FWIW when I had a GruppeM intake for about 2 years I didn't bother with an ECU upgrade, I never had a problem.

To the OP: Listen to Asbjorn. Not that I am trying to put myself anywhere close to his level of knowledge, but a contaminated MAF is the first thing I thought of as well. Over oiling of the filter (particularly the "short ram" variety) can definitely lead to issues.

[ritos530i]

Oh there is no thought that asbjorn knows his stuff. if we are talking about a different air/cold intake then you are probably right because i thought he was talking about a intake only. I agree with Asbjorn observation the airbox for the 330s are the best option for the car. They make a cleaner for the maf.

[ritos530i]

I bet he has a leak somewhere are forgot to put back on his maf sensor. I took my airbox off to clean once and did not connect it correct and got a sel. He should look at the installation too.

[alpinewhite23]

hi Russ330,

im using GruppeM intake too, and i have been using it for about a month. after a long road trip, i got this SEL problem.

My GruppeM CAI guide shows that i have to remove air flow meter coupler. After i did, the next morning the SEL goes on again. Would this be the reason that cause the problem?

so, what do u guys recommend me to do? Is putting the airbox back is the only solution and its better for my 330?

If i did contaminate MAF during the installation, the SEL should go right on right? I just don't get how it happens after a month i installed the GruppeM CAI.

also, If i did contaminate MAF during the installing, would I hurt my engine or car if i still use this CAI?

btw, what does "ECU" stand for?

thanks a lot

[Asbjorn@ESS]

I still maintain my airbox with maf. I know what the code is and bmw told me the same thing. I believe he is not talking about a the housing or box. Asbjorn if the air intake gets a drop of 1.5 it will alert the SEL.

Ritos,
If you have stock airbox/MAF and the rest of the engine is original you should obviously not have a CEL unless some components have failed. I recommend you correct the issue at once since a CEL is there to warn you of a problem. It is not "normal" to have a CEL.

As for the intake guys: The filter is oiled and will contaminate the MAF sensor over time, it can go 1 day, 1 month or 1 year. Just clean the MAF with CRC MAF spray, reset the CEL and try again. If the CEL comes back try the oem airbox, and if the problem still persists you have to purchase a new MAF.

A standard MAF based CAI does not neccesitate a new software to operate without a CEL. A CEL is thrown if the airflow readings are way of what it should be, and this is normally caused by a contaminated MAF or a incorrectly designed CAI that does not move the air in a straight path without turbulence through the MAF sensor. The Gruppe M is a good intake, so I would try the MAF cleaner first.