IVM or why my engine runs sluggish???
N62 applies to ALL cars with it. E53/e65/e60/e63/e64/e66
In this unique article i will describe why your engine feels weak and you don’t feel low end torque anymore. So you cannot find any faults in DME and no lights are on, everything is clean, but you feel your V8 runs like 4 cylinder KIA on lows?
It applies to all bmw with n62 engines: E53, E63,E65, E66, E64, E60 and others. Probably you heard about IVM failure main symptom: -it will not start when you press the button, like no cranking at all, but it might start the next time or in few secs.
It also might throw few errors in CAS because it didn’t start. Yes, this happens when IVM went out completely and you are lucky if you got this symptom and you replaced IVM and found out it runs so much better and no issues at all. Well, but in most (90%) cases it will not fail completely and will not show any symptoms and errors will be thrown.
For example in my case, i didn’t have any faults, but i was trying to find out why i have: -Weak torque o low rpms 2-3k rpm, it just feels weak, gets better if it gets past 4-5k -weak response when you press the gas pedal -delay hesitation on take off -transmission shifts incorrectly and feels like it shifts to higher gear too early.
Like it will shift to 5th gear, but there is no power for it. -sometimes you feel slight vibration on idle -on HWY you feel like you need to constantly press the gas pedal otherwise it will slow down a lot.
IN OTHER WORDS, IT DOESN’T PULL BEFORE 4000K -MPG is very bad Anyways after spending some time and lots of money, honestly, it was very annoying and upsetting, so i was about to get rid of my car, because it doesn’t feel V8 at all, it simply feels like 4 cylinder honda or something like this. You press on the gas and it doesn’t go, you have to press to 4000rpm to make it moving!!!!
So after i tested my engine compression, transmission and all diagnostics showed up no errors, i was upset, because nothing else was left! I even replaced fuel pump though old one was showing ok pressure etc.
NOBODY COULD TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG.
and inside after T40 torxs were taken out: And at some point i decided to open IVM since i was replacing the Ebox fan ( if you have ebox fan error, i strongly recommend replacing it, because it helps to cool down ecu, and if it overheats it will cost you thousands easily).
So what i found in IVM??? First what is IVM???
IVM is an INTEGRATED VOLTAGE MODULE, but in reality is just a relay module with 12 mini nice looking 4$ relays, yes simple relays, and everything looked good, except for DME RELAY!! 2 legs had soldering points cracked!! I assume they use silver solder and it cannot withstand the heat !! so…. you understand now what happens if DME relay points don’t have a good contact? yes, injectors will not get a good signal and cannot open like they should and probably same thing for ignition! As a result engine runs like crp:)
After i repaired it, my N62 started running like brand new! and now i get 17/25 mpg easy! after that i saw about 30 cars and all of them had same issue, but nobody complained about engine torque:) they thought it was supposed to be like this! this is repaired IVM:
I recommend installing a new one if you are not ok with soldering or try to solder it yourself and save 80$. Always clean contacts from old solder and sand it as much as you can and use old school lead based solder with good flux.
TRY IT AND ENJOY, EVEN IF YOU THINK EVERYTHING IS OK WITH YOUR CAR!! TAKES 10 MINS TO REMOVE. DO NOT BELIEVE THE DEALER THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH YOUR CAR BECAUSE THE COMPUTER DIDN’T SHOW ANY ERRORS, NOTHING IS PERFECT SO IS BMW, IT CANNOT DIAGNOSE ITSELF 100%.
I FOUND THIS PROBLEM ON 30+ cars and counting! ITS A DESIGN FLAW, BUT BMW WILL NOT RECALL IT, THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE IT WHEN YOU GET NO START ERRORS!!!
Customer Comment: My 2006 e65 has been sluggish at slower speeds and I have to kick it in the a** to get going. Cleaned vanos solenoids and replaced seals. This made a difference, but not all the way.
Ran across this write-up and decided to try it. Mine has no codes showing. My contacts looked a lot better than yours, but one seemed a little discolored like arcing had been taking place. Re-soldered one joint. This seems to have made a difference. 30 minutes later and I don’t notice the hesitation anymore. Thank you