So far we’ve covered a number of common diagnostic trouble codes that are universal for almost all vehicles out there. However, in addition to your usual P and U codes, there are also proprietary codes that are unique for whatever brand of car you’re driving.
Today we’ll take a close look at one such code that appears mostly in BMWs. It’s the 2A82 VANOS Intake Solenoid malfunction code, and it has been the bane of many BMW owners’ existence out there. We’ll discuss what this unique check engine light code means, how to diagnose it and how to potentially fix it.
Parts Needed to Fix the 2A82 Code
What is the 2A82 Error About?
The BMW-specific 2A82 fault code means that the VANOS solenoid on the intake side is experiencing an issue. VANOS is BMW’s version of variable valve timing (VVT) that was first introduced in 1992. This system works by adjusting the timing of the intake cam in order to maximize efficiency, power, and torque depending on engine speed, load, and temperature.
There is plenty of reading material on how the VANOS system works if you want to know the details, but let’s just say that it’s a hydromechanical device that requires oil pressure to operate. The solenoid’s job is to let the engine oil into the system as necessary.
Since VANOS is a cam phasing type of VVT system, meaning that it constantly advances or retards the timing of the intake cam, any issues with it can greatly affects the performance of the engine.
Why Does VANOS Intake Solenoid Fail?
There are many reasons why the intake solenoid could fail. Being an electrical component, you could be looking at an electrical issue with the solenoid itself, the connector, or the wiring harness. That being said, the most common reason why these fail is that they become clogged.
If you take a closer look at one of these VANOS solenoids, you’ll find that they feature a number of oil passageways that aren’t all that wide, to begin with. Even though there are filters that screen most of the debris from the oil before it reaches the VANOS system, there is always a chance that these oil passageways get clogged up.
Main Causes of 2A82 Error
From everything we’ve mentioned so far, it would be easy to pinpoint the cause of the 2A82 error as either a bad solenoid or a gunked-up one. However, this error is a perfect example of why you shouldn’t blindly jump to conclusions when diagnosing engine fault codes.
That being said, let’s list the most common causes first, and then we’ll dig into each one in more detail. Here’s what you’re most likely dealing with if your car is logging the 2A82 fault code.
- Faulty VANOS intake solenoid
- Faulty VANOS intake solenoid wiring or connector
- Gunked up engine oil
- Oil filter housing issues
- Leaking cam bearing journals
Faulty VANOS Intake Solenoid
Despite being a relatively simple device, VANOS solenoids are known to fail over time. Thousands upon thousands of activation cycles will do a number on any mechanical component, including these. The very first cause of the 2A82, and the one that is the most logical is a bad solenoid.
You can actually test these solenoids by removing them and supplying them with 12V battery power. They either open up or they don’t. Just be careful not to short the pins when you try this as that would pretty much guarantee that they’re fried.
Faulty Wiring or Connector Issues
Like any other electrical component in your car, these solenoids require battery power to work. The wiring that supplies the power is exposed to numerous hot/cold cycles. Over time, this can technically cause the wiring harness to develop a crack somewhere, or even a break. The same applies to the connectors.
The only way you can test whether your wiring/connector is good is to test them using a multimeter.
Gunked Up Engine Oil
VANOS, much like just about every other popular variable valve timing system out there, relies on engine oil pressure to operate. The oil is fed to the VANOS system via a network of relatively narrow passageways. Almost all VVTs require the engine oil to be of a very specific viscosity in order to work. In other words, it needs to be fresh new oil.
When you start missing your oil changes, the engine oil in your car wears out. It is no longer as viscous as it used to be, and by this time it has lost most of its detergent properties.
Old, worn engine oil will have a much harder time traveling through any oil passageways, thus causing all kinds of issues with the car’s VVT system. Lack of oil pressure in the VANOS system caused by old oil can trigger the 2A82 error.
Oil Filter Housing Issues
This is where things take an unexpected turn. The way BMW has designed its oil filter housing is rather interesting. The filter itself is a cartridge type that slides into the housing. The oil filter cap that screws on top of the filter features a plastic basket. This basket goes through the center part of the filter, and all the way down to the block where a small O-ring forms a seal with an oil drain hole.
Being made of plastic, this basket (or cage) often gets damaged due to improper handling or simply due to age. When that happens, there’s a good chance it won’t be forming a seal with that oil drain hole. At that point, your engine will be struggling to form enough oil pressure, which in turn can cause the entire VANOS system to go haywire. Even worse, this issue can starve your engine of oil, and that’s no fun.
Because of that, if you get a CEL on your dash right after the oil change, and you read the 2A82 error, do yourself a favor and inspect the oil filter cage first.
Leaking Cam Bearing Journals
Unfortunately, not all 2A82-related issues are simple or inexpensive to fix. Loss of oil pressure isn’t something that only occurs outside the VANOS system. If you’re particularly unlucky, you might end up with internal wear issues that lead to there not being enough oil pressure to drive the phasing cam element.
One of the common causes is a leak in the cam bearing journals. The journals themselves are usually fine. It’s the steel O-rings that seal the whole thing that tend to wear out over time. When that happens, you’re most likely looking at a massive job of tearing down the VANOS system, pulling the cams out, and disassembling the drive side of the cams to reach these O rings.
How to Diagnose and Fix the 2A82 Error?
By now you probably have a general idea of what to look for when diagnosing this error. Even so, let’s run through the process in the most efficient way possible. To diagnose the 2A82 BMW DTC, you’ll want to:
- Run a full scan of the ECU
- Check your oil filter cage O-ring
- Check the VANOS solenoids
Run a Full Diagnostic Scan
First thing first, run a full diagnostic scan. Not only is this necessary to pinpoint the 2A82 error in the first place, but it will also give you a complete picture of all faults that have been logged. Sometimes you can get additional errors that can point you in a whole different direction as far as diagnosing this issue goes. Run a full scan, see what you can see, and proceed as necessary.
Check the Oil Filter Cage
As mentioned before, if you’ve logged the VANOS intake solenoid code after an oil change, checking the oil filter cage should be on the top of your list. Start there and work your way into the engine.
If the cage is broken, or if it’s tilting along its axis, there’s a chance you’ll need to get a new one. We recommend getting one sooner rather than later as this issue can lead to oil starvation of your engine.
Check VANOS Solenoids
Next, check the VANOS solenoids on the intake side. If you drive a BMW made after 1995, you most likely have a double VANOS system on your vehicle. In other words, instead of having a VVT setup on your intake came only, you have it on both the intake and exhaust cams.
This can come in handy because the solenoids themselves are identical. If you suspect that your intake solenoid is toast, simply switch their places and run a scan. If you get a 2A87 error instead of the 2A82, that means that your solenoid issue has now jumped to the exhaust cam.
This is also a good time to remove both solenoids and give them a proper cleaning. Use compressed air to blow out the oil passageways as things could get stuck inside them. In many cases, a good cleaning will often solve the 2A82 and 2A87 errors if that’s the only thing your ECU has logged.
VANOS Rebuild?
Unfortunately, cleaning or replacing the solenoids is not always enough. VANOS systems are known to have a 50,000-60,000 miles lifespan at which point many of the seals inside these units are nearing their failure point. A VANOS rebuild or replacement is a common procedure for most BMW owners who have clocked serious miles on their car.
Use Only Quality BMW Parts
One of the best ways to make sure that your BMW’s VANOS system is operating at maximum efficiency is to maintain it using quality parts. Check our online catalog for a list of genuine, OEM, and aftermarket solutions for your BMW. Input your car’s details into our vehicle selection tool and your searches will return only parts that are a guaranteed fit for your car. It’s that easy.
