Limp Mode After Cornering

[JEmm]

I searched a bit and didn't see anything but please let me know if this has been covered before.

For background, I have a 2011 6MT (sulev) 128i with zero mods and pretty base that I bought in August 2013 and have had basically zero problems with besides a few small completely unrelated issues (cracked 3rd brake light and similar stuff).

But now, twice in the past few weeks, when I cornered even somewhat aggressively (not overly so, not getting the back end out or anything) and then gave it a bit of gas (definitely not WOT) I get a "service engine now" light and my car feels like it goes into limp mode. By limp mode I mean it feels like it's struggling and power was cut in half.

First thought was fuel pump but I'm not totally convinced. To note, the first time this happened I had about 1/3rd of a tank of gas and was going up hill, second time I had 1/2 a tank and it was mostly flat (slight incline) and had been on the road for ~45 minutes.

Also, after it happens if I shut the car off for 5-10 seconds and start it up again it's fine.

Any thoughts before I give in and bring this thing to the dealership to get scanned? Appreciate any guidance!

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by JEmm

I searched a bit and didn't see anything but please let me know if this has been covered before.

For background, I have a 2011 6MT (sulev) 128i with zero mods and pretty base that I bought in August 2013 and have had basically zero problems with besides a few small completely unrelated issues (cracked 3rd brake light and similar stuff).

But now, twice in the past few weeks, when I cornered even somewhat aggressively (not overly so, not getting the back end out or anything) and then gave it a bit of gas (definitely not WOT) I get a "service engine now" light and my car feels like it goes into limp mode. By limp mode I mean it feels like it's struggling and power was cut in half.

First thought was fuel pump but I'm not totally convinced. To note, the first time this happened I had about 1/3rd of a tank of gas and was going up hill, second time I had 1/2 a tank and it was mostly flat (slight incline) and had been on the road for ~45 minutes.

Also, after it happens if I shut the car off for 5-10 seconds and start it up again it's fine.

Any thoughts before I give in and bring this thing to the dealership to get scanned? Appreciate any guidance!

1. Scan for codes
2. How many miles and are you original owner? (maybe previous owner put on a tune?)
3. Less important but what tires (i.e are you running slicks or r-comps)?
4. Me thinks clogged injector...

[MarkkyyMan]

+1 Scan for codes.

[corab]

i had a similar issue. I have some of the suspension mods, and like to do hard cornerig on the street. I recently took a very hard turn and got a service engine light, although the engine ran fine. I took the car to the shop and they pulled the code. Based on the code ( i dont remember what the code was), they said it was an issue the Vanos oil check valve. The shop said it could be some debris that got caught in the valve. My theory is there was a momentary loss of oil pressure due to hard cornering. The code self cleared after driving a few miles

[JEmm]

Yea, think I'm gonna have to go to the shop this week and see what codes it's throwing.

Now the code is on full time but the car seems to be running fine.

Thanks for the help!

[JEmm]

For an update in case anyone ends up having the same problem, was misfires on all cylinders in bank 2. Not sure why it was only happening after cornering (and not specifically to one direction). Still diagnosing the root cause - swapped coils over to see if the code follows - but I will update when I figure out what was causing the problem.

[kobeballer96]

Doubt cornering did it. There's plenty of us that track/auto cross and never had that problem.

[aloksatoor]

G forces drained oil maybe? Our cars don't have a dry sump right?

[new135]

have you had your vanos bolts replaced yet? my light only came on after some cornering followed by WOT, bolts might loose and vanos module causing issue

[JEmm]

Originally Posted by new135

have you had your vanos bolts replaced yet? my light only came on after some cornering followed by WOT, bolts might loose and vanos module causing issue

Good to know. Scheduled that for late this week and we'll see if that fixes it.

Sorry it takes me forever to respond on here, for some reason I can read but can't post responses from work and I rarely get on my laptop at home.

[KNS]

Do you ever resolve this issue?

[JEmm]

I did, brought it to the dealership for the vanos but it turns out they did it a few months ago but I guess I forgot since it was done alongside a bunch of other stuff. So they replaced all of the plugs, injectors and coils (or two of those 3, I honestly forget and I'm not home) under some extended warranty and it's running great. They couldn't figure out exactly what the problem was but that seems to have fixed it - could've just been a clogged injector.

I apologize for not posting that up earlier, keep meaning to but I can't reply at work (can access the forums but can't reply) and by the time I get home I always forget.

[1mPanda]

Same problem, I thought it was a no fuel in tank, but today I fill up a full tank and it happened already in the third lap, i dont know what is it
here is my video.
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1099230

[JEmm]

If you can get your plugs and coils replaced by the dealer under warranty (they should, believe it's covered under some kind of extended warranty) try that. Just checked my service receipt and that's what I had replaced and the car feels great

[animah]

Originally Posted by 1mPanda

Same problem, I thought it was a no fuel in tank, but today I fill up a full tank and it happened already in the third lap, i dont know what is it
here is my video.
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1099230

Did you end up solving this problem 1mPanda?