Z3 MoT (2001 1.9i) 140k miles: fix or not...?
- Thread starter Zeddicus
- Start date
Thanks for all the advice..
Here’s the emissions report (as Tony requested)
Having thought about things I’ve decided not to take to the scrap yard yet (£157 offerred), instead I’m going to drive it home, SORN it, look for some advice here, and then try and get things sorted myself, before trying for a retest in April.
Does that sound like a plan?
I can still scrap it (for a little less) if i - or my wife - change my mind over the next month.
So far all I’ve had to invest is the failed MoT test (£55)
Z
Here’s the emissions report (as Tony requested)
Having thought about things I’ve decided not to take to the scrap yard yet (£157 offerred), instead I’m going to drive it home, SORN it, look for some advice here, and then try and get things sorted myself, before trying for a retest in April.
Does that sound like a plan?
I can still scrap it (for a little less) if i - or my wife - change my mind over the next month.
So far all I’ve had to invest is the failed MoT test (£55)
Z
Attachments
Ok. So it failed on Lambda not CO. Does the exhaust have small blow near to the front of the car, if so, that is most likely why it failed. CO passed on the upper limit and they did not test the oil temperature so my feeling is that if they had tested it properly it may very well have passed. The engine was not hot enough.
Tony.
Tony.
Thanks. The engine does sound a little “throaty” to me, in a good kind of way, but i hand’t noticed any holes. It’s a stainless steel exhaust system that was replaced about 5 years ago... it had a lifetime warranty - although that lapsed when it was given to me.
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2012
- Points
- 178
- Location
- Newport, South Wales,UK
- Model of Z
- Z3 M43 1.8 (1999) and Z4 E85 2.0i (2007)
Good call, get a live data code reader on it and see how the exhaust sensor is performing you should see a rising and falling voltage with the engine running at a regular rate. Lambda sensors don't last forever and can get lazy, they are not cheap so best have a look at it with diagnostics before lashing out on a replacement. Sound advice about the exhaust blowing up stream of the sensor as a possible cause. Also check all rubber hoses on the inlet side from air filter to throttle body for any splits and cracks, replace any that are found with leaks.
Worth checking that they have identified your car correctly. Natural idle max CO for my car is 0.30, so yours would have passed against this criteria. Mine actually made -0.01 with a new OEM cat. Also the speed is 450 (min) to 1500 (max) for the natural idle test on my car.
For the record, my engine code is194S1 (yours seems to be 194E1) - this might explain the difference.
For the record, my engine code is194S1 (yours seems to be 194E1) - this might explain the difference.
It did pass,on the limit for CO Ian, it failed on Lambda.Worth checking that they have identified your car correctly. Natural idle max CO for my car is 0.30, so yours would have passed against this criteria. Mine actually made -0.01 with a new OEM cat. Also the speed is 450 (min) to 1500 (max) for the natural idle test on my car.
For the record, my engine code is194S1 (yours seems to be 194E1) - this might explain the difference.
Tony.
Lamba looks OK, seems to have failed the Natural Idle Test?
Natural Idle CO max is 0.2, measured 2.93, Result "Not OK".Have a better look mate.
Lamba max is 1.03, Measured 0.990 Result OK
What am I missing?
Nothing Ian. I'm looking at this on my phone and it doesn't show the full screen. Apologies mate.
Natural idle is the fail item as you point out. An exhaust leak would not affect that
Tony.
No worries at all, the certificate is not as clear as it could be!
I suspect the issue will still be that the engine wasn't hot enough Ian, possibly allied with another problem may air leak etc.
Tony.
Tony.
I tried everything I could to get mine down for the MOT including replacing sensor, getting it real hot (100 miles then test), replacing cat with an aftermarket one and trying cat cleaners. Only thing that worked for me was replacing the cat with an OEM one. Just hoping there is a cheaper fix for the OP.
Sometimes it's the only thing to do.
Tony.
Tony.
Gonna be controversial now.. some garages around here put Dipetane in fuel tanks of cars with high emissions to get them down to pass level for MOT.. well worth a try as it may well just get yours down enough and give you another years motoring..
If your CAT is totally cattled then fair enough, but you have nothing to lose by trying..
I use it in both my cars, not for emissions but just because I believe it prolongs the life of the CATs
Sold on eBay and I see you can now buy it in Halfords..
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine-oils-fluids/fuel-oil-additives/dipetane-1ltr-fuel-additive
Manufacturers website:
https://www.dipetane.com/
If your CAT is totally cattled then fair enough, but you have nothing to lose by trying..
I use it in both my cars, not for emissions but just because I believe it prolongs the life of the CATs
Sold on eBay and I see you can now buy it in Halfords..
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine-oils-fluids/fuel-oil-additives/dipetane-1ltr-fuel-additive
Manufacturers website:
https://www.dipetane.com/
Thanks for all the comments.
I'm borrowing a code reader at the weekend, I'll be putting that on the car and will post the findings here.
Yes - it failed on idle "Natural Idle CO max is 0.2, measured 2.93, Result "Not OK"."
I posted pictures of the results here, but i understand that it's not always easy to see pictures on small devices.
To explain what the MoT garage i used did...
...I know them reasonably well, have been using them for years. I told them not to waste money... but they did (for free) strip down the throttle assembly and clean out the valve (although they said it looked quite clean anyway). The re-test was done straight after i'd driven it for 20 miles to work. Their guess was catalytic converter next. But given the age/mileage of the car (and the decay in the hood), i decided to pause the investigation.
I wasn't planning on using it much over winter... i need to replace one of my cars at the beginning of April, so I have until March (and £25/month of road fund tax is not insignificant.
... i wonder how much it will deteriorate if left outside (even under a plastic sheet) overwinter?
and until i get it through the emission check I still won't know whether it's worth fixing the rest.
Realistically my wife may object to it sitting unused on our driveway all winter!
Z
I'm borrowing a code reader at the weekend, I'll be putting that on the car and will post the findings here.
Yes - it failed on idle "Natural Idle CO max is 0.2, measured 2.93, Result "Not OK"."
I posted pictures of the results here, but i understand that it's not always easy to see pictures on small devices.
To explain what the MoT garage i used did...
...I know them reasonably well, have been using them for years. I told them not to waste money... but they did (for free) strip down the throttle assembly and clean out the valve (although they said it looked quite clean anyway). The re-test was done straight after i'd driven it for 20 miles to work. Their guess was catalytic converter next. But given the age/mileage of the car (and the decay in the hood), i decided to pause the investigation.
I wasn't planning on using it much over winter... i need to replace one of my cars at the beginning of April, so I have until March (and £25/month of road fund tax is not insignificant.
... i wonder how much it will deteriorate if left outside (even under a plastic sheet) overwinter?
and until i get it through the emission check I still won't know whether it's worth fixing the rest.
Realistically my wife may object to it sitting unused on our driveway all winter!
Z