POOBD / 290900 Fault after EGR cooler recall?
Discussion
Hi,
I'm at my wits end at the moment with this fault and looking for some help regarding this, specifically if anyone has any experience with this after the EGR recall.
My car (B37 engine) went in to BMW for the recall as it was giving drivetrain errors. They replaced a lot of parts including exhaust manifold, inlet manifold / swirl flaps, exhaust pressure pipe, gaskets etc etc.
Car ran fine for a few months with no issues, however this fault keeps popping up and never popped up before. It started with the engine management light coming on but then would turn itself off again a day later then back on again and again. Now it just stays on the whole time.
I'm a driving instructor so cover a lot of miles. Would say since the recall the car covered around 8000 miles before the fault stays on constantly.
Basic OBD code is P00BD
- MAF "A" Circuit Range/Performance Flow Too High
In depth scan with Bimmerlink code is 290900 - Air system, air to EGR mass flow plausibility: measured air mass too high compared to calculated air mass
Things I've done...
Replaced air filter
Checked for any visible leaks or loose fittings - none.
Checked tightness of all intake related fittings - all good.
Used smoke machine to check for leaks - none visible.
Removed EGR valve and cleaned it (wasn't that dirty anyway)
Removed DPF and got it professionally cleaned out as was also getting a fault with this so thought it could be related. This fault has now gone but the main one remains.
Reset DPF mileage and registered a new DPF.
New Differential exhaust pressure sensor and registered a new one.
Cleared all faults but keeps coming back.
Handed to my local garage who's pretty good and he never had any luck.
I haven't yet tried a new MAF sensor but my gut tells me this won't be the problem.
I'm now checking to see if anyone has any experience or knowledge of this especially after the recall. If this is all due to the recall then surely it should be fixed under the warranty for recall parts... Proving that this is the issue though without being charged a fortune is a different matter.
Any help much appreciated.
Thanks
I'm at my wits end at the moment with this fault and looking for some help regarding this, specifically if anyone has any experience with this after the EGR recall.
My car (B37 engine) went in to BMW for the recall as it was giving drivetrain errors. They replaced a lot of parts including exhaust manifold, inlet manifold / swirl flaps, exhaust pressure pipe, gaskets etc etc.
Car ran fine for a few months with no issues, however this fault keeps popping up and never popped up before. It started with the engine management light coming on but then would turn itself off again a day later then back on again and again. Now it just stays on the whole time.
I'm a driving instructor so cover a lot of miles. Would say since the recall the car covered around 8000 miles before the fault stays on constantly.
Basic OBD code is P00BD
- MAF "A" Circuit Range/Performance Flow Too High
In depth scan with Bimmerlink code is 290900 - Air system, air to EGR mass flow plausibility: measured air mass too high compared to calculated air mass
Things I've done...
Replaced air filter
Checked for any visible leaks or loose fittings - none.
Checked tightness of all intake related fittings - all good.
Used smoke machine to check for leaks - none visible.
Removed EGR valve and cleaned it (wasn't that dirty anyway)
Removed DPF and got it professionally cleaned out as was also getting a fault with this so thought it could be related. This fault has now gone but the main one remains.
Reset DPF mileage and registered a new DPF.
New Differential exhaust pressure sensor and registered a new one.
Cleared all faults but keeps coming back.
Handed to my local garage who's pretty good and he never had any luck.
I haven't yet tried a new MAF sensor but my gut tells me this won't be the problem.
I'm now checking to see if anyone has any experience or knowledge of this especially after the recall. If this is all due to the recall then surely it should be fixed under the warranty for recall parts... Proving that this is the issue though without being charged a fortune is a different matter.
Any help much appreciated.
Thanks
Hi,
Just got registered as I'm having the same issue what you since first EGR cooler recall in 2020 for my F34 318d 2014.
I have done most thing as you plus replaced the PCV valve and put new turbo in. BMW replaced the EGR cooler three times for me as I come back to them with this issue every year since 2020. Unfortunately, they have no clue what is the cause.
What I know 100% in my case is that the EGR cooler gets clogged. I use ISTA to determine it and as the cooler is new, the exhaust flow through the cooler is at 107% and then drops, during the 8-10 months span, down to under 80%. This triggers engine light and 290900 error code. Get it out, clean it, flow is at over 100% and then start dropping again. On top of it, I loose 1 litre of oil for around 2.5k miles. Suspect that this is the reason why my EGR cooler gets clogged. I can see traces of oil in my intake system. Anyway, no-one is able to find out the source of the leak. So after so long struggling with that fault, now I suspect that there might be a software issue as apparently that is what they do upon EGR cooler recall.
Found this recently (doing copy past from a pdf as I'm unable to put links as a new member). It comes from a BMW technical service document:
DDE FAULT CODE 290900 AFTER PROGRAMMING
MODEL
SITUATION
The engine has a hesitation and the Service Engine Soon lamp is on after programming the
vehicle to an Integration level of 16-07-500.
The following fault code may be stored:
290900 – Air system, air to EGR exhaust mass flow plausibility
CAUSE
Unfavorable DDE software application
The fault will be stored if terminal 15 is switched on, and then off, without starting the engine.
CORRECTION
Reprogram vehicle.
PROCEDURE
1. Perform diagnosis with the latest version of ISTA.
2. Program the vehicle using ISTA/P 3.59.3 or higher.
Note that ISTA/P will automatically reprogram and code all programmable control modules that do
not have the latest software.
Always connect a BMW approved battery charger/power supply (SI B04 23 10).
SI B13 02 16
Fuel Systems
August 2016
Technical Service
F25 (X3 xDrive 28d) F30 (3 Series Sedan 328d) F31 (3 Series Sport Wagon 328d)
With the N47T engine
Models Integration Level
F25 (X3 xDrive 28d) 16-07-504
F30 (3 Series Sedan 328d)
F31 (3 Series Sport Wagon 328d)
Page 1 of 2
For information on programming and coding with ISTA/P, refer to Centernet / Aftersales Portal /
Service / Workshop Technology / Vehicle Programming.
WARRANTY INFORMATION
Covered under the terms of the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty for Passenger Cars and Light
Trucks.
If you are using a Main labor code for another repair, use the Plus code labor operation 00 00 556
instead.
Refer to KSD2 for the corresponding flat rate unit (FRU) allowance.
Vehicle Programming and Coding
Control module failures that occur during programming:
Please claim these consequential repairs under the defect code listed in this bulletin and use
the applicable KSD2 labor operations.
Other Repairs
Control module failures that occur prior to programming:
When covered under an applicable limited warranty, claim these repairs using the applicable
defect code and labor operations in KSD2.
Anyway, will be going back to BMW as it's under the warranty still. Last year I paid them a bit to diagnose the issue. At the end, as they couldn't find what is the cause of the 290900 code, they have just replaced the cooler again.
Just got registered as I'm having the same issue what you since first EGR cooler recall in 2020 for my F34 318d 2014.
I have done most thing as you plus replaced the PCV valve and put new turbo in. BMW replaced the EGR cooler three times for me as I come back to them with this issue every year since 2020. Unfortunately, they have no clue what is the cause.
What I know 100% in my case is that the EGR cooler gets clogged. I use ISTA to determine it and as the cooler is new, the exhaust flow through the cooler is at 107% and then drops, during the 8-10 months span, down to under 80%. This triggers engine light and 290900 error code. Get it out, clean it, flow is at over 100% and then start dropping again. On top of it, I loose 1 litre of oil for around 2.5k miles. Suspect that this is the reason why my EGR cooler gets clogged. I can see traces of oil in my intake system. Anyway, no-one is able to find out the source of the leak. So after so long struggling with that fault, now I suspect that there might be a software issue as apparently that is what they do upon EGR cooler recall.
Found this recently (doing copy past from a pdf as I'm unable to put links as a new member). It comes from a BMW technical service document:
DDE FAULT CODE 290900 AFTER PROGRAMMING
MODEL
SITUATION
The engine has a hesitation and the Service Engine Soon lamp is on after programming the
vehicle to an Integration level of 16-07-500.
The following fault code may be stored:
290900 – Air system, air to EGR exhaust mass flow plausibility
CAUSE
Unfavorable DDE software application
The fault will be stored if terminal 15 is switched on, and then off, without starting the engine.
CORRECTION
Reprogram vehicle.
PROCEDURE
1. Perform diagnosis with the latest version of ISTA.
2. Program the vehicle using ISTA/P 3.59.3 or higher.
Note that ISTA/P will automatically reprogram and code all programmable control modules that do
not have the latest software.
Always connect a BMW approved battery charger/power supply (SI B04 23 10).
SI B13 02 16
Fuel Systems
August 2016
Technical Service
F25 (X3 xDrive 28d) F30 (3 Series Sedan 328d) F31 (3 Series Sport Wagon 328d)
With the N47T engine
Models Integration Level
F25 (X3 xDrive 28d) 16-07-504
F30 (3 Series Sedan 328d)
F31 (3 Series Sport Wagon 328d)
Page 1 of 2
For information on programming and coding with ISTA/P, refer to Centernet / Aftersales Portal /
Service / Workshop Technology / Vehicle Programming.
WARRANTY INFORMATION
Covered under the terms of the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty for Passenger Cars and Light
Trucks.
If you are using a Main labor code for another repair, use the Plus code labor operation 00 00 556
instead.
Refer to KSD2 for the corresponding flat rate unit (FRU) allowance.
Vehicle Programming and Coding
Control module failures that occur during programming:
Please claim these consequential repairs under the defect code listed in this bulletin and use
the applicable KSD2 labor operations.
Other Repairs
Control module failures that occur prior to programming:
When covered under an applicable limited warranty, claim these repairs using the applicable
defect code and labor operations in KSD2.
Anyway, will be going back to BMW as it's under the warranty still. Last year I paid them a bit to diagnose the issue. At the end, as they couldn't find what is the cause of the 290900 code, they have just replaced the cooler again.
Edited by ms1984 on Sunday 18th August 09:56
Thank you, interesting read that the new cooler could be clogged up! I never thought that could be the issue since it's a new part.
My egr cooler was replaced at around 200,000 miles and I never actually had any issues or symptoms of a failure.
But now it's got a new one it's throwing up codes and potentially clogged up!
So the new replacement egr cooler, which is there to replace the old faulty one, is also faulty?!
I wonder if this will become a more wide spread issue now more and more coolers are being replaced.
My other car - F31 320d is also due its recall but I don't want the same thing to happen.
I actually went to extremes the other day to get this fixed and I'm very happy it actually worked - coded out the EGR completely. The EGR valve is now coded to stay closed, which means no air will travel into the cooler, which then means if what you say is true about the coolers getting choked up and restricting air flow, then now there won't be any air going in there at all and therefore no problem!
Ran it for 5 days now and runs sweet, fault is not coming back.
My egr cooler was replaced at around 200,000 miles and I never actually had any issues or symptoms of a failure.
But now it's got a new one it's throwing up codes and potentially clogged up!
So the new replacement egr cooler, which is there to replace the old faulty one, is also faulty?!
I wonder if this will become a more wide spread issue now more and more coolers are being replaced.
My other car - F31 320d is also due its recall but I don't want the same thing to happen.
I actually went to extremes the other day to get this fixed and I'm very happy it actually worked - coded out the EGR completely. The EGR valve is now coded to stay closed, which means no air will travel into the cooler, which then means if what you say is true about the coolers getting choked up and restricting air flow, then now there won't be any air going in there at all and therefore no problem!
Ran it for 5 days now and runs sweet, fault is not coming back.
I really want to avoid coding the egr valve out and want to have it sorted properly. Please note, that the reason for the cooler recalls was coolant leak but in my case it getting clogged with oil soot. Funny thingbis, last year at BMW, I did show them ISTA results for sooted cooler, but apparently they have inspected the cooler with the camera and noticed no sooting. Coolant leak damages the cooler while oil soot just get it dirty. It had been replaced last year in September (cooler flow at the time at 107%), in April the flow through the cooler dropped to 87% so had it professionally cleaned and it went back to over 100%. Now we have August and it's down to 80%. Will be talking to BMW next week so will see what they gonna do thos time lol
Edited by ms1984 on Monday 19th August 09:01
Yeah, they are not cheap but I'll follow my complaint from last year. It was about the cooler but they have charged me for diagnostic £150 and they couldn't find anything wrong. They gave me the car back 2 times saying it's sorted but by the time I was back home the error code was back. On the third visit they miraculously said that black valve which is in the middle top of the cooler (sorry forgot the name) is faulty (wasn't as I had replaced it year before) and charged me £70 for this. By the time I got back home the 290900 code was present lol so they gave up and replaced the cooler free of charge. Now, as per their website, I have the warranty for the service they provided last year. I got my complaind last year done by my solicitor so he will follow up and writen one for me tonight again. Another thing, I get emails from them once a month with £100 good will voucher due to last year visit so hoping to reduce the costs to the minimum. In spite of they are hopeless, I don't see anyone who could find the issue if not them. Don't expect to be booked in there earlier than 2-4 weeks as I need the courtesy car, but if I get any update, I will definitely post it in here.
Not sure if you asking me or @MaccaTVR but my side should be spot on. Apart from BMW having my car to diagnose on multiple occasions and checking all the hoses etc I had the whole intake stripped down recently, including manifold, turbo, cooler and dpf. Think any blockage, holes etc would have been spotted. Of course I can't be sure 100% but having ISTA help me to keep an eye on everything. Since 2020 the only error code connected to the engine or intake/exhaust in my car is 290900. Nothing else, not a single one. Fuel consumption is low, all readings via ISTA are good, no smoke etc from the back, car drives perfectly.
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