Help please 🙏

S

stewartF

Newbie
Joined
Apr 27, 2026
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3
Good morning,

I have a 99 2.8 z3 I've recently changed the rocker cover, gaskets, spark plugs, air intake, brake pads disks and calipers and adjusted the handbrake. I don't think any of these things will have caused the new issue, but figured worth mentioning incase I'm wrong.

Then yesterday it decided not to start, it looks like an ECU/immobiliser issue. I have a basic obd scanner, the guy from RAC had a better one although still not 100% clear what the issue is.

I'm comfortable doing mechanical repairs, but this is a bit beyond my comfort zone.

Does anyone know someone I can call to come take a look? Or somewhere I can take the car? Or could possibly point me in the right direction on what I will need to try and fix it myself? I'm In Sandhurst Berkshire.

Thanks kindly for reading
 

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Sounds like the EWS system has lost sync with the main DME computer and not releasing the starter to allow it to fire up. A good scanner should be able to resync the EWS and DME to see if that solves the starting issue. The last code in your screen shot is the clue.
As to the other codes, you probably have an air leak causing the fuelling issues and maybe a bad Maf sensor, check all rubber inlet pipes and plastic air pipes across the engine for holes or leaks. Same for your recent rocker cover gasket fix, check its sealed correctly.
You are not that far from RBM in Hook who is a known good BMW garage but getting a non starter there will be a problem.
 
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Thanks, for helping 👍🏻

When I first got the car it broke down and came up with the airflow error. There were a couple of leaks in the air pipe and the maf has been replaced too so that's all fixed. I've not had any issues with that since.

What would be a good scanner to purchase it's a bit of a minefield?
 
Ok, I've ordered the k+dcan cable and found the inpa software, What's the harm in giving it a go, it's not like I can break something that's already broken 🤣
 
Good luck with the INPA setup it can be a bit of a problem setting it up on a Laptop, threads on here if you get problems. A good handheld Scanner is the Creator 310+ or their later 410 model on ebay and Amazon circa £50ish.
 
colb said:
Good luck with the INPA setup it can be a bit of a problem setting it up on a Laptop, threads on here if you get problems. A good handheld Scanner is the Creator 310+ or their later 410 model on ebay and Amazon circa £50ish.
Click to expand...

Wow you are not wrong, after trying several different downloads I've ordered a Foxwell nt530 hopefully that does the trick. I have a laptop with Microsoft 365 which doesn't like any of the downloads so buying a new laptop seems to be a pricy option
 
All fixed 💪🏻 £50 for a Foxwell 530 on FB marketplace and a bit of guesswork mashing the buttons and I reset the ews. It fired straight up!

The beast lives again 😁
 
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