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Jaynuts · 03-09-2010, 11:30 AM

Let me see if I can make this as short as possible.
2004 BMW 325i

I took my car to the dealer due to stalling out problems and poor acceleration. The diagnosis was that the mass air flow sensor was contaminated due to the cold air intake that was installed over a year ago. This was a mistake on my part due to lack of knowledge. A few people have advised me that the oil from the filter can contaminate the sensor and make it fail over time.

The repair estimate was way over priced, especially when I can install a new sensor on my own. ...so I thought.

I purchased an OEM mass air meter and installed it today,but the car still will not start.

Does anyone have skill in the BMW dept ?

enderwiggin · 03-09-2010, 01:56 PM

I was just about to crack open my hobbying dictionary to figure out what BMW stood for...

adi · 03-10-2010, 11:38 AM

Google bmw forums and register. You should find what your looking for.

BaldTexan · 03-10-2010, 12:45 PM

Go talk to the guys at the Swiss Garage on West Alabama near Westlayan- good people and will give you a straight up answer.

Good luck

Wayward · 03-10-2010, 05:52 PM

http://www.bavarianmachine.com/

Fair, honest and smart.

JohnnyFarangly · 03-10-2010, 06:40 PM

Is it turning over but not 'firing' at all?

The filter oil cannot 'fail' anything but a coating of oil can change the response of the sensor.
Everything will return to normal if you spray the sensor with 'mass flow sensor cleaner'.

How much beer you got? I could take a look at it.
or
This guy is very good too:
Silvio's Autohouse
401 Tuam Street
Houston, TX 77006-3405
(713) 523-5565

TheDaliLama · 03-11-2010, 08:02 PM

Trade it in for an Infiniti.

DEAR_JOHN · 03-11-2010, 08:07 PM

Trade it in for a Toyota. The run all day long.

Jaynuts · 03-12-2010, 08:24 AM

Thanks a lot for the tips. I couldnt wait any longer, so I sent it over to Eurocar Werk.

Jaynuts · 03-12-2010, 01:06 PM

UPDATE
Turns out that it's the fuel pump module. They are going to replace that and the fuel filter.
This is actually covered under warranty, so hopefully it won't be too bad on the wallet.

tbone2u · 03-12-2010, 01:17 PM

Thanks for the update Jaynuts. I was curious as to what you found. May not have been anything wrong with the MAP sensor

mrhunt · 03-13-2010, 09:46 AM

A MAP sensor is a vacum sensor a MAF sensor is an air flow sensor. If the MAF sensor gets oil on it from your hot air intake you simply have to clean it with an apropriate cleaner. If you air filter is located under the hood you are not getting cold air you are getting hot air from under the hood. A true cold air intake has to be located outside the engine compartment. You have to be very carefull when doing so because if it rains then you will suck water up the intake. The factory air in take is a cold air in take. The air comes from outside the engine compartment and is designed to not suck water in during a rainstorm. I had a customer that had a hot air intake on his Lexus. The radiator blew up and guess where the coolant went.

LittleSpike · 03-13-2010, 01:16 PM

I recommend the Swiss Garage on Alabama near Edloe. Their prices for my '94 Volvo have been more than fair (and considerably less than the dealer).

LS

LittleSpike · 03-13-2010, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDaliLama

Trade it in for an Infiniti.

The Infinitis are great cars (I used to sell them), but the dealers (at least the two I worked for) are assholes !

LS

Wayward · 03-14-2010, 07:12 AM

Jaynuts really glad you got your BMW fixed and you are only going to be out for the fuel filter, if that. It used to be that it was included in a warranty fuel pump replacement but with an extended warranty that isn't always true. There should be some labor overlap with the pump. Unless this is emissions warranty and then the rules change every damn year.

Have seen MAF hot wire sensor damaged by the oil from K&N type filters and it could not be repaired by cleaning. Also seen it fixed quickly and easily, the hot wire's resistance changes with air flow, over time the oil can effect that resistance and make the Mass inop, even after the oil is removed. Most of the time on BMWs it could not be fixed. Companies like BMW spend millions looking for horsepower and the days of finding 'free' hidden power for next to nothing have passed. If they aren't using something obvious on the M cars, there is a reason. Flashing an EPROM is probably the best bang for the buck, but the next time the factory does a software update it is gone.