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Hello. I just bought a (new to me) 2001 Z3 3.0i automatic from my in-laws. Well, 3 weeks later and I am now forced to learn about BMW repair! I did about an hour of searching first, but did not find out much. ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE APPRECIATED IN ADVANCE BECAUSE I MAY BE STUCK AT WORK! Anyway, today while driving the 4 miles to work, I took a sharp left corner at the light and gassed it. The Z3 sputtered/lurched and became very pissed off at me. This caused the dash to light up with the DSC light, the other exclamation mark, and maybe even the check engine light. Great. I limped the car the remaining half mile to work (and it continued to sputter a little as I drove). When I got to the parking garage, I hooked up my cheap ODB code reader that was in the glove box and I got the following errors: P0335 (CRANKshaft position sen) (I had gotten this code a few times in the last week, but I had just erased it. I am not positive that this code was tripped this morning or was already in the system). P0727 (engine speed input circuit no signal) P0171 PD (system too lean bank 1) P0174 PD (system too lean bank2) P0174 PD again P0174 PD again P0171 PD again P0727 again Any ideas? Part numbers for the parts that I should buy? (I am pretty good at working on my own vehicles… but I will admit that most of my experience is on Jeep Grand Cherokees, Chevy Tahoes, etc… and not higher end cars like BMWs) Can the crankshaft position sensor (if that is the problem) be changed in the parking garage? (or do I need to get it towed home so that I can put it up on jack stands?)

Submitted: 44 days and 11 hours ago.
Category: BMW
Value: $18
Status: AWAITING CUSTOMER ACTION
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Optional Information

Year: 2001
Make: BMW
Model: Z3
Engine: 3.0i with Auto trans

Posted by bimmaster 44 days and 11 hours ago.

Answer

Hi, if the crank sensor fault has stored more than once, the sensor is failing and needs to be replaced. It is in a tight spot, which is best accessed from under the vehicle.
It is on the drivers side of the engine block in the rear corner near the transmission. It is held in place with 1 5mm allen screw, and sealed with an o ring.

For the mixture too lean faults, the most common issue is an unmetered air leak from the rubber intake boot where it branches off and feeds air to the idle air valve. This can be seen from the top, the rubber cracks and leaks air. It's best to inspect with a flash light and check all the cracks in the upper and lower boots for tears in the rubber. Replace accordingly.

If the intake boot has no leaks, if could be the crankcase vent valve has failed, and causing a high vacuum on the crankcase. Can be checked by removing the oil cap, while its running and checking for high vacuum, and idle speed changes with the cap removed.

44 days and 11 hours ago.

Reply

Thanks for the help.

 

Update: During lunch, I went to the parking garage and started up the car (just to see if it would). It took a bit longer than usuall, but then it started up. The dsc light, exclamation point light, and check engine lights all came on. Do you think that it would be ok to drive the car back home (personal opinion if it was your car)(~5 miles)?

 

Which problem do you think caused the z3 to sputter/ get really pissed off? the crank sensor fault or the air leak? (like I said before I had seen the crank sensor fault in the past few weeks and erased the codes).

 

Sorry for all the questions, but here is the last one: do you have a part number for the Crank sensor?

Accepted Answer

The crank sensor was likely the cause for the sputtering. If it were mine, I would try to limp it home, it shouldn't hurt anything. Just try to stay on back roads in case it dies out on you.
The dsc, and the engine control need the crank speed signal, so that is why those lights are on.

The crank sensor part # is 12141709616, the oring part # is 12141748398

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Expert: bimmaster
Pos. Feedback: 100.0 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 10/7/2009

BMW Technician

3 years dealer experience, master bmw tech

43 days and 12 hours ago.

Reply

Hey, thanks a lot for the help. The Z3 limped home ok. One final (I promise!) question if you don't mind (although I am approving this now):

 

I found the crank senor part and Oring online for approx. 60 bucks with shipping for a "febi bilstein" brand crank sensor. I dealer quoted me $145+tax for the OEM part. Do you think it would be ok to go with the febi bilstein part almost 1/3 the price or should I shell out the money for the OEM part? (Btw, there was also a Siemens brand sensor for around 75 bucks).

 

Thanks again!

Ryan

Posted by bimmaster 43 days and 12 hours ago.

Info Request

The febi bilstein part should be fine, they are a German company that makes good parts.

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