vanos on no vanos

got a check engine light today,on my way to work. had my friend across the street pull codes for me,here's what we got p1253,p0420,p0456

p1253 control vanos position, exhaust camshaft

p0420 cat-conv efficiency bank one

p0456 minor leak-e-vap system.

myself im leaning to the vanos because i dont think it has even been rebuilt or replaced. but on the other hand i could see it beaging the cam sensor. but i


heres what the car is doing now...has a really frim up shift checked trans fluid already-clean&full
seams kinda bogged under 3000rpm. found no trans codes in memory.


99 323i sport 208xxx miles

Sounds like camshaft position sensor on exhaust side. But I'm no mechanic. It's cheap and extremely easy to change out yourself.

Your VANOS seals are *definitely* toast by now, and leaky seals can trigger a false CPS code.

Originally Posted by 99BMW323

got a check engine light today,on my way to work. had my friend across the street pull codes for me,here's what we got p1253,p0420,p0456

p1253 control vanos position, exhaust camshaft

p0420 cat-conv efficiency bank one

p0456 minor leak-e-vap system.

myself im leaning to the vanos because i dont think it has even been rebuilt or replaced. but on the other hand i could see it beaging the cam sensor. but i


heres what the car is doing now...has a really frim up shift checked trans fluid already-clean&full
seams kinda bogged under 3000rpm. found no trans codes in memory.


99 323i sport 208xxx miles

You surely need VANOS seals, but it isn't the cause of your codes. Replace the EXHAUST cam sensor and then see if the cat code doesn't go away too. The evap leak is likely the evap purge valve or the large charcoal cannister under your passenger side rear trunk area.

i plan on doing the VANOS i have been reading up on rebuilding them, im not new to working on cars,im just new to bmw. called a local shop,to see what they would want to rebuild em...was told that that wasnt my prob. witch could be right,but after reading about the o rings and how the cars act when there bad,i know with out a dought that they need rebuild.

this maybe a stupid question,but does any one have a pic of where the exhaust cam sensor is? i think i have a good ideal already just want to make dang sure of it.

Originally Posted by 99BMW323

i plan on doing the VANOS i have been reading up on rebuilding them, im not new to working on cars,im just new to bmw. called a local shop,to see what they would want to rebuild em...was told that that wasnt my prob. witch could be right,but after reading about the o rings and how the cars act when there bad,i know with out a dought that they need rebuild.

this maybe a stupid question,but does any one have a pic of where the exhaust cam sensor is? i think i have a good ideal already just want to make dang sure of it.

How bout a video?

works like a charm..sorry for a stupid question. and just so you know thats the sensor i thought it was. you wouldnt happen to know what allen socket that takes do ya?

I like how I posted the issue the first reply but no one cares and watch it'll be what I said it was lol.

oh i plan on doing that 1st,was just wanting your guys thought on it as well

Originally Posted by 99BMW323

oh i plan on doing that 1st,was just wanting your guys thought on it as well

Yeah it's a cheap easy fix. But as other said your vanos seals are definitely bad to. Luckily doing the vanos seals isn't to hard. it's just a bit messy and annoying.

yeah it dont look to be that hard to do the vanos,and as far as i can tell i dont think i need any special tools.

Originally Posted by 99BMW323

yeah it dont look to be that hard to do the vanos,and as far as i can tell i dont think i need any special tools.

na you dont. An exacto blade will help taking the old seels off. That's all the advice I have lol.

Originally Posted by 99BMW323

yeah it dont look to be that hard to do the vanos,and as far as i can tell i dont think i need any special tools.

I do VANOS rebuilds for basically cost of materials. Includes hot tanking, cleaning, polishing, rebuilding seals, VANOS gasket, new bolts and washers, and shipping back to you. All you'd have to do is bolt it on and go.

PM me if interested.

Originally Posted by 99BMW323

got a check engine light today,on my way to work. had my friend across the street pull codes for me,here's what we got p1253,p0420,p0456

p1253 control vanos position, exhaust camshaft

p0420 cat-conv efficiency bank one

p0456 minor leak-e-vap system.

myself im leaning to the vanos because i dont think it has even been rebuilt or replaced. but on the other hand i could see it beaging the cam sensor. but i


heres what the car is doing now...has a really frim up shift checked trans fluid already-clean&full
seams kinda bogged under 3000rpm. found no trans codes in memory.


99 323i sport 208xxx miles

all 3 codes are a problem of its own. changing the exhaust cam sensor will not repair your cat efficiency code. cat converter efficiency is measured by post cat o2 sensors. so its either the cat or the post cat o2 sensor that has an issue (you'll want to look at the o2 sensor values with car warmed up and idling)

as for the evap code goes, check if your gas cap is sealing correctly. if not, i've had many cases where the evap hoses from/to dmtl or charcoal canister being loose/cut. you will want to smoke test the system to verify the leak if it is not obvious from a visual inspection.