Valvetronic calibration with Launch Diagun

[ghostridersa]

Good day forum members

We overhauled the engine of BMW E46 2003, 318i N42 petrol engine. The engine was completely stripped down and rebuilt and battery disconnected for 4 weeks.
The engine has vanos and valvetronic. When we started the vehicle it starts difficult and takes long to rev up and when it revs over 1500rm there is a noise coming from the cylinder head. A friend who is a the chief technician at the local BMW dealer and came around to check the vehicle and said that although we used all the correct locking tools to set up the valve timing correctly the valvetronic needs to be calibrated/set as the vehicle had lost its settings due to the battery having been disconnected for so long and that cure our problem. He, however cannot take the dealer scanner out to us to sort the problem.

The questions I have for the forum members is:
1. I have a Launch Diagun x431 and want to know if I use the Launch and go into DME can I do the valvetronic calibration needed?
2. Have any of the forum members used a launch to carry out this procedure and can they tell me how they did it?
3. BMW TIS does not list the procedure to be followed, so what is the correct procedure?
Any help with this problem will be most welcomed.
Many thanks in advance

[mattydr67]

Mate
First of all I wanna tell you that I never did this procedures but I wanted to give you a clue
Take a look into your BMW softwear and see if it has this function.
If it has you have to ask your friend which is tehnician at BMW what it is the procedure with the factory tool that he has in his shop.
Becasue the Launch procedure are the same as the one you use item with genuie tools for BMW ( same procedures, same steps )
I did this in other cars and the procedures are the same as in the genuine tools for that cars.
The question is if the Diagun BMW softwear has this function?
Good luck

[smokey08]

There should be no noises. Did you turn the variable valve adjusters back to the stops before you set the timing? If not then the timing will not be correct and therefor it would be difficult to start in the camshaft sensors are not reading the cams in the correct position.

These valvetronic units will self-learn there positions after a bit of driving.
With GT1 it is very easy to do. Select DME, Control unit functions, Service functions, DME, valvetronic learning then test schedules and it will guide you through it.

[ghostridersa]

There should be no noises. Did you turn the variable valve adjusters back to the stops before you set the timing? If not then the timing will not be correct and therefor it would be difficult to start in the camshaft sensors are not reading the cams in the correct position.

These valvetronic units will self-learn there positions after a bit of driving.
With GT1 it is very easy to do. Select DME, Control unit functions, Service functions, DME, valvetronic learning then test schedules and it will guide you through it.

Hello Smokey08

Yip turned them back to correct position, even used the dealer locking tools to set it all up. I guess I am going to have to take bash at doing the calibration with the launch. By the way I have done a lot of valvetronice server motore replacements and agree with you they self learn but have out of about 30 that I have done had to take 2 to the dealer to have set, strange.

[ghostridersa]

Mate
First of all I wanna tell you that I never did this procedures but I wanted to give you a clue
Take a look into your BMW softwear and see if it has this function.
If it has you have to ask your friend which is tehnician at BMW what it is the procedure with the factory tool that he has in his shop.
Becasue the Launch procedure are the same as the one you use item with genuie tools for BMW ( same procedures, same steps )
I did this in other cars and the procedures are the same as in the genuine tools for that cars.
The question is if the Diagun BMW softwear has this function?
Good luck


Hello Mattrydr67

I am going to give it a try in the morning with the launch and hope it works. Many thanks.

[mattydr67]

Ok do as the Mr. smokey08 said
"With GT1 it is very easy to do. Select DME, Control unit functions, Service functions, DME, valvetronic learning then test schedules and it will guide you through it."
I'm waiting a review from you.
Good luck

[ghostridersa]

Ok do as the Mr. smokey08 said
"With GT1 it is very easy to do. Select DME, Control unit functions, Service functions, DME, valvetronic learning then test schedules and it will guide you through it."
I'm waiting a review from you.
Good luck

I dont have GT1 but will be trying it with Launch. Think I have seen service function listed in the DME. Thanks Mate.

[mattydr67]

I dont have GT1 but will be trying it with Launch. Think I have seen service function listed in the DME. Thanks Mate.

I'm talking about the procedure that Mr. smokey08 talking about.
The procedure for GT1 must be the same for the Launch
Maybe a littel bit diffrent in how you get there but the procedure for Calibration it is the same as the one you do with the GT1
That's what I wanna say.
Good luck

[ghostridersa]

Just an update on the valvetronic and launch diagun. I connected to the e46 and it had no option to do valvetronic adaption. I then connected it to an E90 and it have very good options to do valvetronic adaption. So it looks like the newer the vehicle is the more options you have to do factory settings.

[Ashraf6119]

Just an update on the valvetronic and launch diagun. I connected to the e46 and it had no option to do valvetronic adaption. I then connected it to an E90 and it have very good options to do valvetronic adaption. So it looks like the newer the vehicle is the more options you have to do factory settings.

So, did it work out ? did you be able to reset using Lunch Tool.........?

[ghostridersa]

So, did it work out ? did you be able to reset using Lunch Tool.........?

Hi Ashraf6119

No on the E46 BMW I was not able to do it with the Diagun but was able to do it on the E90 BMW.

[mattydr67]

This is very good information.
Thanks
Good luck

[borysgo2]

Early e46 have separate ecu for valvetronic and separate tor engine managment, e90 has one ecu unit - thats why you wasnt able to do adaptations.
I did good few of them, if engine is well assembled, all parts/tolerances are ok - i never had to reset learned values to keep engine running. Basicly after engine job, connect battery, ignition on - wait - ignition off - wait for power latch, repeat 2 times and you have new values stored, engine has to run ok.

[ghostridersa]

The problem turned out to be the valve timing and the valves were slightly touching the pistons.

[teuton]

Did you have to redo valvejob?

[ghostridersa]

Yes we did the valve timing again.