Bank 1 CPS replacement - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Katvis · 8th August 2009, 20:55

Hi guys
I am trying to replace my bank 1 CPS after the vanos test failure. Of course I have read all the DIY's but still I do not manage to get access to the CPS. According to TECH: Replacing intake Camshaft Position Sensor... this link you can access the CPS from the top of the engine. Firstly I had no problem removing the air duct, what I did not read in any thread was that the intake CPS on the bank 1 was also covered by a bracket, I can see both exhaust CPS's and they seem really easy to get to but unfortuanetly I cannot reach the intake CPS on bank 1 from the top, firstly the bracket is in the way and all my efforts today to remove the two 10mm bolts was not successful..;( I do not know if my hands are just to big to fit in but if I use a mirror I can see the CPS and also the 5mm allen head bolt but no way could I get the spanner on the two bolts to remove the bracket to access the CPS bolt.

My question to the guys who has managed to successfully replace the CPS is this, did you have a bracket as well that covered the bolt and if so did you remove the bracket from the top or did you work from the bottom?

Any help and additional advise will be greatly appreciated as I am quite embarrassed that I could not do a 1hour job at all.

Regards
C

midtwnman · 8th August 2009, 22:19

I removed the bracket from the top. Highly recommend getting some type of wobble bit for your ratchet, makes work a lot easier. I put the bracket back on the driver side (US car), but I left it off on the passenger side since it really didn't seem to do much. Hope that helps a bit.

midtwnman · 8th August 2009, 22:22

Replacing the left-hand side intake camshaft position sensor on E39 M5 S62B50

Here is an excellent write up by the way.

Katvis · 8th August 2009, 22:52

thanks midtwnman, I will try tomorrow again, read in all the post it was difficult but never thought it was this difficult the first time, I am sure the second time around it will be easier, thanks for the post of DavidS as well, it is very descriptive

rroberrto · 9th August 2009, 05:30

I did both bank's intake CPS from the top, it's certainly doable but you'll spend most of the time finding & feeling the 2 10mm nuts holding the bracket. I used a small inspection mirror to locate them, also a torch will help if the lighting condition's not ideal.

After that a tiny ratchet with the proper bit is almost essential to get the job done if you're trying it from the top, more so for the driver side due to the piping around. It's a real tight reach but pateince and appropriate sized racthets will eventually prevail.

Now here's the tip to ease future replacements: leave the bracket unattached. It's main purpose is that of supporting the plastic tubing which is pretty well supported alreday on both ends and I don't see any harm in leaving out the brackets. At least for the thousands of miles that I ran without them and checking things from time to time.

Tortuga · 9th August 2009, 05:30

I did mine from underneath, all that gets removed is the belly pan...

Katvis · 9th August 2009, 11:41

Thank you very much guys for the input, I successfully replaced the intake CPS on bank 1 from the top, DavidS DIY helped a lot and it should be much easier next time after I removed the bracket. I will take the car next week for another Vanos test and will report back on the results.
Cheers
C

malexgcab · 11th August 2009, 07:24

I had dealership replace my Bank 1 CPS and the Tech worked from the engine bay without raising the car.

Aerostar601 · 23rd August 2009, 06:46

Thanks guys,

The hints and David's textbook tutorial really made things easier. I don't have a Peake meter yet ( It's on the "to-get" list) so I went to Autozone and got a P0012 code and a P0340 code.

From what I saw it was a "******ed timing" code and the "intake CPS on Bank 1" which is the US passenger side.

I checked for part availablility on Friday but they couldn't get one into Peoria, Illinois until Tuesday. I got on Autozone, Napa, Carquest and O'Reilly's websites and found an O'Reilly's 40 miles away that had the only one in the area (Kewanee , Illinois of all places?!)

The long drive with the non-functioning Camshaft position sensor really made me appreciate the change when I finally got the CPS changed.
I bought a few tools to do the job with since I'm staying in a hotel and didn't have my usual set-up with me.

Of course I was too impatient to let the car cool off enough so I had to wait until I could get my hands back there and get that bracket off (the one that's held on by the two 10 mm bolts)

David's idea of getting to know the area by feel was a good one. Having a mirror really helped visualize and learn the area to know what you were feeling around for when you couldn't see. The 5mm ratchet bit was great with a 1/4" stubby ratchet to get the 5mm hexbolt out of the sensor to allow removal.

I removed the old one from the harness, stuck the new CPS on and bolted it back in.

Repositioning the metal bracket was a bit tricky but I finally got it into place and re-seated the two prongs into the wiring harness box which rests above it. By this time the 10MM bolts had cooled sufficiently to allow for fairly easy positioning and starting into the holes- to be tightened with the 10mm socket and stubby 1/4" ratchet. After the the air duct was replaced along with it's filter box.

THe first start-up was still a bit rough but I revved it and let it idle for a minute or two before I tried clearing the codes again. After the warm up I cleared the codes and OH MY GOD IN HEAVEN I COULD NOT BELIEVE THE DIFFERRRRRRRRRRRRENCE!!

THROWN BACK INTO THE SEAT WITH THE SAME FORCE AS A SHUTTLE LAUNCH!

I am so happy! I hadn't realized the changed in power could be so dramatic. As a matter of fact I think I have to go back out and rip around a bit more as a reward.

THanks to all SO VERY MUCH for these valuable DIY tips.

Rich in St. Louis

Katvis · 23rd August 2009, 10:57

thanks for the feedback, I must admit, I never even noticed any performance difference after replacing the CPS, I took the car as precaution for the Vanos test and was obvious very concerned when she failed the bank 1 test, after replacing the the intake CPS I never noticed any difference. We took a 3000km tour last week and thus far no difference, she stills goes like mad like ever before..

btw I never replaced my bracket, I still have the old one and have plans to redesign the bracket with an opening for the allen key and then reinstall it.