My M5 died on me

djtroy · 13th March 2008, 08:09

I have been having an intermittent SES light going off and on. I have also been hearing ping and detonation around 3k RPMs once and a while. I was driving home and all of a sudden the car shuts off and dies. I pull over and try and start it up. It starts but quickly dies. Eventually it wont start at all it just turns over. I get it towed and the guy reads the codes and tells me I got a CPS fault, a VANOS fault, an auxiliary fan that doesn't work and my belts need changing (I changed them 20k miles ago). He thinks replacing the CPS will possibly fix a few codes, hopefully the VANOS one. He also told me the aux fan cools the car and it will cost about $300 for the part and about the same in labor because he has to remove the bumper. He quoted me $50 for the belts and $80 for labor. He quoted me $105 for the CPS and 1 hr labor and 1 hr diagnostic.
How does this sound what do you guys think? Will a bad CPS make the car quit running out of the blue?

Envisage0 · 13th March 2008, 09:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by djtroy

I have been having an intermittent SES light going off and on. I have also been hearing ping and detonation around 3k RPMs once and a while. I was driving home and all of a sudden the car shuts off and dies. I pull over and try and start it up. It starts but quickly dies. Eventually it wont start at all it just turns over. I get it towed and the guy reads the codes and tells me I got a CPS fault, a VANOS fault, an auxiliary fan that doesn't work and my belts need changing (I changed them 20k miles ago). He thinks replacing the CPS will possibly fix a few codes, hopefully the VANOS one. He also told me the aux fan cools the car and it will cost about $300 for the part and about the same in labor because he has to remove the bumper. He quoted me $50 for the belts and $80 for labor. He quoted me $105 for the CPS and 1 hr labor and 1 hr diagnostic.
How does this sound what do you guys think? Will a bad CPS make the car quit running out of the blue?

Similar symptoms to mine last year. Pulling out of a motorway slip road, going hard for a gap in heavy traffic, suddenly all grunt disappeared just as I had joined the flow. The engine wouldn't rev although it didn't die. I put my hazards on and the truck behind me could see I had a problem, fortunately slowing down. At the end of the slip road I pulled onto the hard shoulder. 'Engine failsafe programme' was the message. I abandoned my trip, limped the car to my indie and he got codes for both exhaust CPS's. He fitted these next day and problem solved, hasn't been a problem since.

Kmac · 13th March 2008, 13:33

Be careful posting "my car died". This is like the wild west out here, I was already thinking of buyers for your parted out carcass.

Kmac · 13th March 2008, 13:39

No idea on the CPS or Vanos, but I know that the bumper is a pain in the butt to take off.

Since the CPS (Cam Positioned Sideways) and VANOS (Valves Are Not Operating Sucessfully) both have something to do with detonation and timing, yeah they could shut the car off. The worriesome thing is the belt. What is it attached to that is not operating properly and caused it to fail prematurely?

Do we have a belt driven water pump?

Also, it sounds like your engine got hot, did you notice anything on the water temp sensor?

gsfent · 13th March 2008, 14:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by djtroy

I have been having an intermittent SES light going off and on. I have also been hearing ping and detonation around 3k RPMs once and a while. I was driving home and all of a sudden the car shuts off and dies. I pull over and try and start it up. It starts but quickly dies. Eventually it wont start at all it just turns over. I get it towed and the guy reads the codes and tells me I got a CPS fault, a VANOS fault, an auxiliary fan that doesn't work and my belts need changing (I changed them 20k miles ago). He thinks replacing the CPS will possibly fix a few codes, hopefully the VANOS one. He also told me the aux fan cools the car and it will cost about $300 for the part and about the same in labor because he has to remove the bumper. He quoted me $50 for the belts and $80 for labor. He quoted me $105 for the CPS and 1 hr labor and 1 hr diagnostic.
How does this sound what do you guys think? Will a bad CPS make the car quit running out of the blue?

I can only comment on the CPS. $100 is probably about right for retail, you can find it for less, but the mechanic will usually mark up his cost 10%. 1 hour is flat rate time, unless drivers side exhaust, should be about 1/2 hour. So I would say those numbers are reasonable.

I would also change CPS first, that usually clears the VANOS codes since they are related. Bad CPS often throws VANOS codes.

Not sure the front bumper needs to come off for the fan, although it would make it easier. Might ask how much labor involved in R&R bumper, it might not be a big deal.

20k miles on belts suggests either they were NOT changed last time, or there are some other issues. The aux fan helps cool the car, especially with AC on, but it shouldn't prevent the car from running. Other folks have removed the stock fan and relied solely on the aux fan, so one fan should be enough, especially in weather this time of year (but not for summertime). I am not sure I would do the fan work without a second opinion unless you have trust in this mechanic. I assume all fuses have been checked...

Regards,
Jerry

TopEnd · 13th March 2008, 15:53

Remove the bumper????

WTF is This??

MGZ · 13th March 2008, 15:59

Well if he has to remove the bumper it's an easy job. 8 small screws and 2 Torx 50 bolts. Furthermore remove the PDC contacts and clamp the headlight washer line. 15-20 minutes maximum. But why remove it?

TopEnd · 13th March 2008, 16:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by MGZ

But why remove it?

Thats the part I'm trying to understand!!

djtroy · 13th March 2008, 16:25

Oh you guys are the best. I feel so much better now hearing about the CPS. I wonder if not fixing the Aux fan and running a better glycol radiator fluid or a "water wetter" for summertime will help. I do live in Florida and it gets hot though. I use Engine Ice in my dirt bikes and it actually makes the bikes run cooler.
I told the guy I was going to wait on the aux fan till after I get the cps and belts fixed. So I can get a second opinion if I want to get it fixed.
Thanks so much I feel better now.
Sorry no parting out the car just yet.

vaporhat · 13th March 2008, 16:30

The bumper can't be anymore difficult to remove then my B5 A4. that little bastard has to be nearly preyed off. So scary. Although on that car the bumper has to be removed for everything.

No clue about the CPS.

Just wanted to say I was frightened when I read DIED. I think your beast is going to pull though this one.