Installed O2 spacer, running lean...

[NORAGRETS]

Just put in a spacer on bank 1 and the car as expected is running lean, and is stalling out occasionally etc. I'm using it
For state inspection then Taking
It out.

I'm worried about possible damage...can anything bad happen with the O2 spacer in for about 150+ miles before I go through a drive cycle?

[3002 tii]

Does the O2 spacer actually remove the CEL from the downpipe? Everything I read said these spacers don't work on our cars and JB4 was the only way to clear the codes.

[jturboawd]

Bank 1 as in 1st o2 sensor on downpipe? If so PLEASE remove promptly. 1st o2 is the critical sensor that determines AFR etc. 2nd o2 (post cat) is the one to space (if any).

[NORAGRETS]

Originally Posted by jturboawd

Bank 1 as in 1st o2 sensor on downpipe? If so PLEASE remove promptly. 1st o2 is the critical sensor that determines AFR etc. 2nd o2 (post cat) is the one to space (if any).

right but wouldnt that be the one to space if i wanted to get it to work...since its failing o2 monitor readiness

[NORAGRETS]

Originally Posted by jturboawd

Bank 1 as in 1st o2 sensor on downpipe? If so PLEASE remove promptly. 1st o2 is the critical sensor that determines AFR etc. 2nd o2 (post cat) is the one to space (if any).

whats your reasoning...and what kind of damage could it do

[NORAGRETS]

essentially its just running lean with the spacer in...as opposed to running too rich with a catless DP...so...the ecu should compensate for it on its own, no?

[NORAGRETS]

ok, its on bank 2 now...here are my 3 codes

these 2 were present while the spacer was on bank 1 and are still present after the switch the bank 2

2CF4 - bank 1 - Oxygen sensor before catalytic converter, dynamics: Slow response
The diagnostic function monitors the dynamic response of the oxygen sensor before the catalytic converter.


2D25 - bank 1 - oxygen sensor before catalytic converter, line fault: Open circuit, pump current lead The diagnostic function monitors the voltage of the oxygen sensor before the catalytic converter.

this one is new after the switch to bank 2

2CED - bank 2

Oxygen sensor after catalytic converter, dynamics, from rich to lean: Slow response. The diagnostic function monitors the dynamic response of the oxygen sensor behind the catalytic converter on overrun.

[gemini.m3]

damn may b inm same boat.. have n55 w/ bmw pe and ppk1, looking for downpipe (ar or bms) to get more power.. but i dont want that raspyness but most of the vids i seen it doesnt sound that way

[NORAGRETS]

Originally Posted by thrilla135

damn may b inm same boat.. have n55 w/ bmw pe and ppk1, looking for downpipe (ar or bms) to get more power.. but i dont want that raspyness but most of the vids i seen it doesnt sound that way

I'm swapping it back
Tmrw morning for inspection those codes will NEVER go away like it is and will fail emissions

[jturboawd]

You cant run spacer on bank one. This is what ECU uses to determine fuel, timing, etc. So if you space it the ECU will see less AFR, heat, etc, and likely compensate some. So you will run rich with a lean reading, calling for retard ignition, yadadada = very bad.

You would space bank (2) but our cars do not like 02 spacers. The ECU readers are precise enough to be finicky with most spacers. I have used them on some cars in the past but it seems the new bmws will not tolerate them. Some have got them to work but typically they are specially fabricated ones and still only work some times. If you go to bb flash the light will stay gone and you may pass emissions. You can also get someone to code in the readiness. It appears the days of easy cat less are over. I am running bb flash with aftermarket downpipes and have no code. I have not taken in form inspection yet but if the obd does not call for readiness I plan to just swap the down pipes. Its only 2-3 hours per year and I get to check on my waste gates and clean things up int he process.

[darkrom]

Bank 1 should never be spaced. It has a functional purpose.

Bank 2 can be spaced and won't change anything but emissions readings, but like you've noticed it is unreliable at best on these cars.


The only way to pass an OBD based inspection for emissions with a N55 is swap to stock cat, drive until your readiness is reset, then swap back after. Pain in the ass, but its the only way. The N54 you can use the DPfix but not so with the N55 unfortunately.

[135Pats]

110% pull the spacers. Do not space the widebands like that. It's one thing to house the wideband in a heat sink, but spacing it out of the exhaust stream is asking for a lean out.

[NORAGRETS]

yep, 1000000% did not work, nor will ever work. the codes it showed will never clear w the spacers in, nor will it pass emissions test, it will endlessly loop as "not ready". factory cat is back in, trial and error gents...note to others, not worth it, just swap your pipes and save the $$ on installing spacers and labor etc

[MightyMouseTech]

Bank 1 or Bank 2 does not refer to Primary or Secondary O2 sensors. You can have Bank 1 Primary AND secondary, and Bank 2 Primary AND secondary. Like on a V6 that has separate sensors for each side, or bank.

I believe you guys are talking primary and secondary O2's? I don't think our cars have a Bank 2 sensor.

No way in hell is a spacer going to run properly on a primary 02 sensor.

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Bank 1 or Bank 2 does not refer to Primary or Secondary O2 sensors. You can have Bank 1 Primary AND secondary, and Bank 2 Primary AND secondary. Like on a V6 that has separate sensors for each side, or bank.

I believe you guys are talking primary and secondary O2's? I don't think our cars have a Bank 2 sensor.

No way in hell is a spacer going to run properly on a primary 02 sensor.

Right, the 55s are single turbo twin scrolls, so the exhaust gasses merge pre-turbo and the DME views everything aft of that as "one bank" of exhaust gas. The 54 wants to see the two cylinder banks as separate entities until you get aft of the secondaries, then it merges down.

It's why single turbo N54 tuning was a pain for awhile, getting the O2s mounted pre-turbo exposed them to a ton of heat.

[dcaron9999]

Lots of good info in this thread!

Preparing to install a DP on a Cobb/PTF custom e-tuned N55-based 2011 135i.

Living in Quebec, Canada, were there are no emission laws yet. Other Canadian provinces do...

Even with my Province's "privilege", I was considering spacers as I would prefer to not generate CEL codes, even if Cobb AP + BMS JB4 tuners manage/auto-clear these codes.

I will avoid the spacer on the secondary O2 sensor on my N55 engine, now that I read though this thread ...

On a somewhat different note, any good or bad experiences with the new N54tuning.com "Performance Line" N55 Downpipe? A DP is a DP, just an empty pipe, so why spend too much money on them, correct?

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1000304

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by dcaron9999

Lots of good info in this thread!

Preparing to install a DP on a Cobb/PTF custom e-tuned N55-based 2011 135i.

Living in Quebec, Canada, were there are no emission laws yet. Other Canadian provinces do...

Even with my Province's "privilege", I was considering spacers as I would prefer to not generate CEL codes, even if Cobb AP + BMS JB4 tuners manage/auto-clear these codes.

I will avoid the spacer on the secondary O2 sensor on my N55 engine, now that I read though this thread ...

On a somewhat different note, any good or bad experiences with the new N54tuning.com "Performance Line" N55 Downpipe? A DP is a DP, just an empty pipe, so why spend too much money on them, correct?

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1000304

TBH I haven’t researched the various DP options but I have been doing a lot of planning for my exhaust on my other car, and difference in price generally comes down to

1. Design for optimal flow (radius, bends, etc.)
2. Construction quality, specifically the welds
3. Materials, not all stainless steel is the same
4. Finish and fitment, how easily it bolts up to OE hardware

[jturboawd]

Don't forget profit margin. Sometimes the main difference is just price. I'm all for quality parts but some products offer 3% increase in qaqc and 75% increase in cost. For example I'm using the cx intercooler (500+super low iats and good fit) and used bmw dps (150 eBay), bmw flash, and a few other things. Not much invested and making reliable 420 whp daily for more than 20k (car now has 85k). Everyone has a opinion, please do your research before dropping 1k on a set of pipes......

[NORAGRETS]

Originally Posted by dcaron9999

Lots of good info in this thread!

Preparing to install a DP on a Cobb/PTF custom e-tuned N55-based 2011 135i.

Living in Quebec, Canada, were there are no emission laws yet. Other Canadian provinces do...

Even with my Province's "privilege", I was considering spacers as I would prefer to not generate CEL codes, even if Cobb AP + BMS JB4 tuners manage/auto-clear these codes.

I will avoid the spacer on the secondary O2 sensor on my N55 engine, now that I read though this thread ...

On a somewhat different note, any good or bad experiences with the new N54tuning.com "Performance Line" N55 Downpipe? A DP is a DP, just an empty pipe, so why spend too much money on them, correct?

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1000304

dont install ANY spacer...1st 02 sensor or 2nd 02 sensor...youll end up with MORE codes on the car than just running it catless without a tune...

what i did, and still do, is run a BMS CAN-tool (they dont make them anymore, so look on the for sale forums) and run it on auto-clear for the DP CEL light. it also can hi jack the gauges and stuff for boost and IAT and other stuff...but it is not a tune. just gets rid of the cel.

again, a spacer will create MORE problems. just running it catless will just throw a code that says "lean bank etc." which is harmless...a spacer, as i have just figured out via trial and error, will throw off A LOT of things like a/f ratio, 02 ratio, etc.

the car with the catless dp never had issues. it ran rich which is good for turbo cars anyways.

with the spacer it ran SUPER lean, even though, it wasnt actually running lean...and stalled out a lot, etc.

[dcaron9999]

Originally Posted by Twhill19

dont install ANY spacer...1st 02 sensor or 2nd 02 sensor...youll end up with MORE codes on the car than just running it catless without a tune...

what i did, and still do, is run a BMS CAN-tool (they dont make them anymore, so look on the for sale forums) and run it on auto-clear for the DP CEL light. it also can hi jack the gauges and stuff for boost and IAT and other stuff...but it is not a tune. just gets rid of the cel.

again, a spacer will create MORE problems. just running it catless will just throw a code that says "lean bank etc." which is harmless...a spacer, as i have just figured out via trial and error, will throw off A LOT of things like a/f ratio, 02 ratio, etc.

the car with the catless dp never had issues. it ran rich which is good for turbo cars anyways.

with the spacer it ran SUPER lean, even though, it wasnt actually running lean...and stalled out a lot, etc.

Thanks for this!
I received my N54tuning N55 DP today...
http://www.n54tuning.com/index.php?_...&productId=164

I was debating whether to get the spacer and postpone my DP installation. Sounds like sticking a spacer in the Secondary O2 sensor socket would create more issues than it is trying to solve. I will pass on the adjustable spacer then, and let my Cobb custom e-tune (based on stage 2 OTS map) manage the auto-clear functionality then ...

[NORAGRETS]

Originally Posted by dcaron9999

Thanks for this!
I received my N54tuning N55 DP today...
http://www.n54tuning.com/index.php?_...&productId=164

I was debating whether to get the spacer and postpone my DP installation. Sounds like sticking a spacer in the Secondary O2 sensor socket would create more issues than it is trying to solve. I will pass on the adjustable spacer then, and let my Cobb custom e-tune (based on stage 2 OTS map) manage the auto-clear functionality then ...

yeah i would have done cobb too if it was available for my car

there is NO DP FIX FOR n55 cars!

just auto clear, or tunes like cobb if youre lucky and have a 2011 n55 or jb4

[NORAGRETS]

this was the 2nd spacer on the 2nd 02 sensor.

the 1st spacer on the 1st 02 sensor was the same brand and length, just straight vs curved