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Lumpy Startup, Knocks when idle and codes 29E0&29E1 after BMW oil service

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103 views 10 replies 5 participants last post by  nazali  
#1 ·
Hi all,
My car has just been into the BMW dealership for an oil and filter service, not due, but it has been 10,000 miles. The car is a BMW 130i LE.

The car started up fine this morning and drove to the dealership absolutely no issue. All I had done was an oil change and the oil filter. I have then got back in the car and started it up and the startup is really lumpy, the car shakes a lot, revs drop below 500, then bounce between 500-700 for a bit, and then jump to 1,100 and fall to idle speed (last part as you expect). I went back in and they got the technician to come out. He started my car and said that the startup was lumpy, and then checked the oil cap to see if it was on properly, which he says it was. He sort of just says that we only really took the oil cap off and changed the oil so that shouldn't have caused an issue and says to come back if the issue continues, as that lumpiness needs looking into.

I then got back in my car to leave but on starting it up again it was still super lumpy, annoyingly I can't tell how bad it was when the tech guy was in the car whilst I stood to the side. I started it up a few times and the issue persisted. Even once it was down to idle revs at about 600, there was still the occassional knock. So i decided to scan the car and got codes 29E0 and 29E1, which I haven't seen before and I can't imagine they were there when I drove this morning, as the car was fine.

What possible explanation could there be for a car that drove fine this morning but was really lumpy after a simple oil change? Ofc I cant guarantee those codes weren't there this morning but the car was definitely not lumpy like that because I would have noticed the whole car shaking and the rev needle going all over the place.

Many thanks
 
#3 ·
Update: BMW tech says there is some kind of hissing he can hear under the rocker cover. He says it stops making that noise when the oil cap is open which makes sense because it's sucking the air in through the oil cap and not where the leak is. Also mentioned the breather valve. He did ask if I had some warning lights or cleared some codes recently but I havent seen anything yet and I havent cleared the codes. Makes me wonder if the key showed those codes weren't there before the service. I mentioned that my rocker cover gasket got changed last week (by my local indie), and so he says it will be something there. But I don't understand how it has driven hundreds of miles since the rocker cover gasket change and only runs lumpy after my service has been done.
 
#5 ·
They have fuk'd something, you can't tell me that you take a perfectly running car in and NEXT day its doing this.... NOW... I'm not saying a fault can't just come on, but that's to coinkidental

Mistake, accident or on purpose, and as above they usually scope your car BECAUSE the reason its there is to get more work.

One other thing, I'm not sure which engine you have BUT the oil filter ( at least on N52's and B46's) have a small rubber o-ring, IF that wasn't put on, you'll have problems there is also a cage which sometimes dumba$$ mechanics break off again can cause a problem

missing the o-ring can cause oil starvation on the filter's center tube prevents oil from flowing back to the sump, ensuring the engine is constantly lubricated. If it's missing, oil can bypass the filter, starving the engine and causing serious internal damage.

The top of that cage provides the seal for the inside of the oil filter (red arrow in photo) and absent that cage, unfiltered oil can leak past the oil filter pleats at the top.

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#6 ·
Thanks for your replies, I do indeed have the N52 engine.
They did say they should know what codes are on my car when they scan my keys before the service, so on my way out of the dealership I did ask what codes were on my car when they scanned and the mileage for when those codes appeared. Annoyingly, the mileage is in km when the codes are scanned, but they said that the codes 29E0 and 29E1 came on at "158,272"km and with my car being on 98,345miles at the time of service converts to "158,277"km (quoted figures they wrote down for me). Essentially, they told me the codes came on 5km before I got to BMW, i.e. on my drive there.
However, when I got back I checked the numbers and the service book, which indeed says 98,345miles. They told me the code came up at 158,572km, which when I covert to miles, is 98,345.66. Unless I have done the conversion wrong myself, it seems that BMW's conversion from km to mls is wrong, and the code came up at the exact mileage the service was being done. Seemingly more suspicious.
It is worth mentioning that my car didn't have a lumpy start this morning or in the evening yesterday, adding to the confusion of what has happened, but maybe it will come back.
Ofc, BMW tech guy was seemingly getting annoyed at me at this point, and I had work to get back to so couldn't investigate further at the dealership. I understand his point of they have literally only done a simple oil change, but it all seems very fishy. I thought getting an oil change at a BMW dealership would be simple lol.
Thanks again for all your replies Nazali, Steve, and Pem, plus any more.
 
#7 ·
That's very odd. But faults happen by coincidence more often than not. Have you checked none of the plugs/vacuum hoses have been disturbed? No signs of leaks of around the rocker cover gasket that's just been fitted?

There is a term called "the bath tub curve" so its not uncommon for a new part to fail when near new if for example it's the rocker gover gasket. It's why new cars and parts have warranties or some form of guarantee.
At this point I'd let your indy have a look if bmw are rinsing their hands of you.
How does it drive under normal use? For whilst you are suffering with lean conditions try to avoid using wide open throttle.
The ecu should protect things but just to make sure you don't melt anything avoid WOT and labouring the engine. Should be fine but better to be safe than sorry.
 
#8 ·
No signs of leaks, and couldn’t see any plugs or vacuum hoses loose when I had a quick look yesterday. Will have a better look today to see if anything is more obvious now. BMW tech did mention he could hear hissing under the rocker cover and likely from breather valve/sucking in air where there is a leak or something. So defo possible something has happened with that rocker cover gasket change start of last week, just taken till now to go wrong. 3 other seals/gaskets at the front of the engine were also changed at the same time, waiting on invoice to see exactly what ones they were. Annoyingly only had a new rocker cover, gasket and valvetronic motor gasket replaced in Nov last year and several months later there was a slight oil leak from engine with oil on that rocker cover gasket, meaning it got changed again. Needs a new fuel filler flap mechanism that my Indy ordered so it’s got to go back anyway, so he can take a look at it then. Only had a short drive today and yesterday evening but it seemed okay then, and responsive. Defo wasn’t lumpy on startup like it was yesterday either. I did let it settle all the way down in the revs yesterday when I drove it away from the dealership. Be odd if that lumpiness doesn’t come back over the next couple days as I would have assumed the issue would always cause that on startup. Will be gentle with it until I get it to the indy. Appreciate the help novice
 
#9 ·
Not a problem. I perhaps suggest a new rocker cover may be needed if the gasket keeps failing.
Fingers crossed its nothing too complex.
That would be very odd if it doesn't come back. Hopefully you get somewhere positive with it.
Best of luck and keep us updated 👍
 
#10 ·
2 bit's of anecdotal evidence :)

1> I was doing some work on my car, coil pack went, replaced that and the spark plug, fired her up ran like crap, checked for codes and all manner of codes, then I double checked my work and I'd forgotten to reconnect the MAF sensor......
Reconnect... all good.

2> Car was in an accident, everyting was working, when I took to bodyshop, the perfectly working headlight (on 2 series) stopped working - LED (around 3k a pop) swore blind it was working, they towed to BMW who fixed it

The MORAL of the story BEFORE you let your car go, pull codes, screengrab with dates

I didnt think they could get codes from the key... I'll have to research that
 
#11 ·
The remote fob does NOT record Check Engine Light Data or other warning lights.
It does have the mileage (odometer) & VIN data…as well as CBS info.

It does keep fault code data. The car also keeps manufacturer fault codes that are above & beyond the OBD II. This info can ONLY be retrieved through the diagnostic port connector.

another trusted source:
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