I'm not the expert, but I do work with experts. This appears to be a problem with the intake and exhaust camshaft position sensors.
This would be a good place to start.

 

And hopefully not an internal vanos issue.

 

Make sure you've plugged everything in. But, that you did all this a month ago and now you're running into issues suggests that something new is wrong...or maybe you just didn't plug something in firmly (or it lost its clip) and it's fallen loose. Start by checking connections on the items you removed to do the work you did. Then start looking for something else.

 

Describe the symptoms better.
Does it start hard?
Runs rough when cold, or hot?
Lacks power?

 

If you removed the flywheel, it could be off by 1 bolt.

Very common problem for people to have the flywheel installed wrong and/or bend the timing teeth on the flywheel.

 

Install the flywheel wrong? didn't know it had a system to install to... i just popped it on and torqued it up :/

 

Yes, the flywheel can go on MANY ways, but there is only one proper way. 6 ways to install the flywheel, only one is correct!

The dowel, or hollow sleeve is often lost or sticks in the original clutch. It is also often left in the crank and if not aligned with the flywheel properly it can be crushed and not be obvious the flywheel was installed wrong.

If the engine runs bad and the lacks a lot of power and the flywheel was removed, my money is the flywheel is installed wrong and the dowel is missing or crushed.

See this diagram, not 100% sure this is your exact year, but they should all be about the same setup.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=AY72&mospid=47632&btnr=11_3187&hg=11&fg=20

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lSi5MoZZw4

wee video i took... Thanks

 

Check all connections and wires. The flywheel position sensor could be the culprit.
After you check everything, clear all codes, reset all adaptations, and disconnect the battery for ten minutes.

 

Did this start a month later, or right away after the clutch install?

 

ive just done the clutch on my car but the car is running like s**t now...

I took my clue from here.

Clutch was replaced, now the car runs like s**t.

Maybe the OP can clarify the order of events?

In for 20 questions!

 

yes was running fine before clutch .

Please dont tell me i need to do the flywheel again!! :banghead: ill check all conections today...

 

If you cannot 100% be sure the flywheel was installed on the crank correctly, this this is likely the problem if the car ran fine until the clutch was replaced. If upon the initial start up the car ran bad, then it may be the flywheel alignment and/or the timing cogs may be bent.

Sorry, but this happens quite often and when you have many ways to install a flywheel, the chances are very slim it will be put on properly if you were unaware of the alignment issues.

 

Gearbox back off next weekend thanks for your help guys :thumbsup:

 

Hi, i took off the flywheel and it wasn't on right so i fixed that problem and was still running the same so put a new camshaft position sensor on it and its still doing the same... the bmw scanner said it was missfiring on 1 and 3... got a few things cleared on the scanner but still getting this...

DME* -> 2858/62 - VVT-Teaching function at stop
285E/E1 - VVT-Control unit internal failure
2782/64 - Camshaft sensor outlet
2731/62 - Camshaft control inlet
27BB/62 - Camshaft control outlet-VANOS0


5E16/20 - CAN Timeout instrument cluster


IKE -> BF/58 - Internal fault, EEPROM checksum 1 (BMW-section), coding incorrect/incomplete

any ideas guys? Thanks

 

Did you do an LS swap? Because that thing is camming like a mofo..

Seems weird that there would randomly be an internal VANOS failure from doing a clutch job

What all did you end up disconnecting while doing the job? Fuel lines for example?

 

Hi sorry i should have said my mate had the car and said it was running like that before the clutch whent, he was clutching it with high revs to get the car home.

i dont know what an ls swap is?

 

That was the clutch

 

Whoa....
So you may have some other damage in the flywheel area...

 

the flywheel had a dent on the face of it thats why i replaced that aswell

 

The LS swap is referencing swapping a Chevy LS V8 engine into the car.

Man, that looks like a grenade went off inside the bell housing!!

Is the engine/crank still in good shape?

The teeth on the flywheel that the crank sensor monitors are also very critical, bent, broken or missing flywheel teeth can cause problems.

Also is the flywheel from the same type of engine?

Not sure I would get overly excited about the VANOS quite yet, but you mentioned the engine was running bad before the clutch grenaded?

Did your buddy/mate drive this car like he stole it all the time?

 

An LS swap is a V8 engine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_small-block_engine

Keep us posted.

 

Hi flywheel was bought from ebay and was listed for my car.. how do i check if the crank is ok? tbh ive only ever worked on old escorts and novas etc so im not clued up on this..... car was driven to the extreme i think... i turned up next day and one of the tyres was burst, wouldnt go into gear and the car was running like a pig...

no ls swap just a 2lt 318 ci se

 

Hi flywheel was bought from ebay and was listed for my car.. how do i check if the crank is ok? tbh ive only ever worked on old escorts and novas etc so im not clued up on this..... car was driven to the extreme i think... i turned up next day and one of the tyres was burst, wouldnt go into gear and the car was running like a pig...

no ls swap just a 2lt 318 ci se

You worked Novas and don't know what an LS is? :b: (just bustin' your balls)

The VANOS code you got seems like a somewhat common code on the 318s. You could have an unrelated problem, but as jfoj said, check your flywheel and crank sensor.. all that. Anything could have been damaged from the clutch exploding. If the crank sensor is damaged or bad it may be the root of your car's evil.

 

Yes, the crank sensor could have taken a hit, but if this car has been beat as hard as it looks, I wonder if other mechanical damage occurred??

How easily does the engine start? Long cranking or does it start easily?

Anyway a 6 cylinder flywheel could fit this engine in case you were sold the wrong part?

Does your flywheel only have a single trigger like this picture?

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E30-318i-M10_1.8L/ES20345/

I know many of the other flywheels have many, many teeth to also detect misfires and these teeth all need to be in good physical shape.

 

Based on the video it seems like it starts right up, but runs like ****.

I just quickly Google searched the VANOS code and it came up for a bunch of people with the 2L motor. Only difference is they got the codes under different circumstances. Any chance that it's unrelated? Based on the looks of that clutch I would think some other damaged occurred, especially with all those small metal pieces rattling around in there at high speed.

 

The flywheel is a duel mass...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E46-Coupe-318ci-02-2001-2003-DUAL-MASS-FLY-WHEEL-N42B20-/360645759862

i didnt know what i was looking for on the flywheel sensor but the flywheel is on the right way now.

flywheel was in good condition with not much play and matched up to the old one

car starts first time, runs like s*** and cuts out.. wont rev over 4000 rpm
Thanks for the help everyone

 

I'd like to think he meant this nova.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_Design_and_Development