peter's canadian imola ZHP project

[slater]

I had MAF issues a few months back. Mine was showing lean banks 1+2 as well as Air Mass System.
One thing you could do to try to diagnose a bad MAF would be to unplug it. You'll get a SES light, but do some accelerations full throttle. You'll find that it runs like a bat out of hell. You'll get terrible gas mileage, but at least you'll be able to rule other things out. Do this if you experience the hesitation again.

If the hesitation is present, unplug the MAF. If the problem goes away, your MAF is bad. In my case, I didn't have severe performance issues, but a new MAF resolved my lean codes. A bad bad can cause a variety of other codes to come up as well, just like my lean codes.

thanks, i will try that out. i have to say that my 228K-mile ZHP coupe seems to feel stronger than my 115K-mile sedan does. the hesitation feels more like 'bucking' around 2500rpm in 4th, 5th, and 6th gears, which is why i was thinking about the DME flash. top end is good. i'll definitely unplug the MAF and see what happens, as i can easily reproduce the 'bucking'.

peter

[az3579]

thanks, i will try that out. i have to say that my 228K-mile ZHP coupe seems to feel stronger than my 115K-mile sedan does. the hesitation feels more like 'bucking' around 2500rpm in 4th, 5th, and 6th gears, which is why i was thinking about the DME flash. top end is good. i'll definitely unplug the MAF and see what happens, as i can easily reproduce the 'bucking'.

peter

Based on this, I'd say a MAF is definitely worth looking at.
It's too bad the MAF is so friggin' expensive...

[slater]

Based on this, I'd say a MAF is definitely worth looking at.
It's too bad the MAF is so friggin' expensive...

tell me about it! at least i have the one in the coupe to test with.

i found a new VDO MAF for $322, or a remanufactured 'A1 Cardone' MAF for $179. hmmm.

peter

[alexandre]

tell me about it! at least i have the one in the coupe to test with.

i found a new VDO MAF for $322, or a remanufactured 'A1 Cardone' MAF for $179. hmmm.

peter

Complex sensors like this aren't something I'd go aftermarket on. I'd either of the following:

- New VDO is $249 at eeuroparts.
- Used ones seem to go for ~$75-100 on car-part.com (search for "Air Flow Meter")

[slater]

Complex sensors like this aren't something I'd go aftermarket on. I'd either of the following:

- New VDO is $249 at eeuroparts.
- Used ones seem to go for ~$75-100 on car-part.com (search for "Air Flow Meter")

hey alex!

it's $272 USD at eeuroparts... i checked there first - but they jacked up their duty-free delivery charges, they want $62 USD to ship it! i just ordered through them a few weeks ago and i got a big box of stuff for $40. weird.

peter

[alexandre]

hey alex!

it's $272 USD at eeuroparts... i checked there first - but they jacked up their duty-free delivery charges, they want $62 USD to ship it! i just ordered through them a few weeks ago and i got a big box of stuff for $40. weird.

peter

VDO part number is 5WK9642Z if it helps you look around - these manufacturer numbers are way more useful when shopping around.

[az3579]

tell me about it! at least i have the one in the coupe to test with.

i found a new VDO MAF for $322, or a remanufactured 'A1 Cardone' MAF for $179. hmmm.

peter

Complex sensors like this aren't something I'd go aftermarket on. I'd either of the following:

- New VDO is $249 at eeuroparts.
- Used ones seem to go for ~$75-100 on car-part.com (search for "Air Flow Meter")

Autohaus has it for $214 on sale... Not sure what their Canadian policies are.

VDO part number is 5WK96132Z if it helps you look around.

Sorry guys, those are all aftermarket. You'll be damned to find an OEM one for under $350, unless pricing has changed that much since July. If it's in the $200's, you can be sure it's aftermarket.
Prices seem to vary a lot depending on dealer and what kind of a discount you get. My local dealer quoted me $560!!! The place I ended up getting it from was my buddy's dealer, where it cost me $380.

Keep in mind; even though VDO/Siemens makes the Genuine BMW part, they are still aftermarket if labeled as VDO, and thus is still a risk. I've been told from numerous sources that just because the brand makes the Genuine BMW part, it doesn't mean it's exactly the same. For electrical stuff, I will always buy Genuine. For mechanical parts, it matters less, depending on the part.

[alexandre]

I have a VDO in my car installed by PO in 2011... No issues. I went with the OE supplier for my O2 and camshaft sensors as well and no issues thus far. Genuine sensor is $650 at my rapist of a dealer

[az3579]

I have a VDO in my car installed by PO in 2011... No issues. I went with the OE supplier for my O2 and camshaft sensors as well and no issues thus far. Genuine sensor is $650 at my rapist of a dealer

Glad you're not having issues. Considering how much money that is, I didn't want to take the chance at ordering an aftermarket and it not working out, since electrical components are defect-only returns.

[slater]

Based on this, I'd say a MAF is definitely worth looking at.
It's too bad the MAF is so friggin' expensive...

hey botond,

i swapped in the MAF from my coupe (which runs perfectly), and i have no change in behavior - it is still hesitating/bucking around 2500rpm under load in 4/5/6th gear. i guess now i need to start checking for vacuum leaks. also, i have an aFe intake on the sedan, OEM intake on the coupe. i wonder if it's not happy with that?

peter