Water injection issues?

[RandyC54]

Is anybody else having or has had issues with the water injection system? My dealer has tried a couple of times to fix it, but the system has not used a drop of water yet in 1800 miles, including some spirited driving. Pat tracked his this weekend for the first time, and it also didn't use a drop of water. Coincidence that we both are having issues with the water system?

[schnell325]

No discernible water usage whatsoever??

Versus my methanol injection on my E92, my GTS uses far less.


Very odd. Perhaps a call to the M division is necessary ...

[Lienrocs]

I haven't tracked mine but have put almost two thousand miles on it. I got a low water warning around 1200 miles, but when I checked it the water level was barely down and it didn't use any water, that I've noticed, since then.

[BarryB]

I use a water tank for each gas tank at the track and every 4-5 gas tank fill ups on the street.
Something is up, Randy.

[RandyC54]

Originally Posted by BarryB

I use a water tank for each gas tank at the track and every 4-5 gas tank fill ups on the street.
Something is up, Randy.

Yep, I'm hoping to find somebody else who had an issue and says "I had this problem and my dealer did XYZ to fix it" I know only two people with this car, Pat and myself, and both are having the same issue, so somebody else has to, too.

[jeff@autocouture]

Originally Posted by RandyC54

Yep, I'm hoping to find somebody else who had an issue and says "I had this problem and my dealer did XYZ to fix it" I know only two people with this car, Pat and myself, and both are having the same issue, so somebody else has to, too.

Ive seen some friends who didn't have to fill it up for a little while, Try really beating the car up on some spirited drives for a few tanks of gas and see what happens, I can go a few gallons of water at the track or 2,000 miles no problem without having to fill it on normal driving.

do you keep it in sport mode as well?

[RandyC54]

Yep, done autocross and plenty of spirited driving, and it's not used a teaspoon so far. Pat tracked his all weekend, turning in some pretty quick laps, and it also used ZERO water. It did have some heat soak or other temp related issues, however. Maybe somebody else has had an issue, or it's just these two cars out of the hundreds in the USA.

[VCP]

Hi Randy,
When you shut the car off do you hear the water pump cycle to draw water back to the holding tank?

Originally Posted by RandyC54

Yep, done autocross and plenty of spirited driving, and it's not used a teaspoon so far. Pat tracked his all weekend, turning in some pretty quick laps, and it also used ZERO water. It did have some heat soak or other temp related issues, however. Maybe somebody else has had an issue, or it's just these two cars out of the hundreds in the USA.

[Osiris]

Originally Posted by VCP

Hi Randy,
When you shut the car off do you hear the water pump cycle to draw water back to the holding tank?

I have 2500 miles on it and filled up once at dealerships during service. I think it depends on weather. The water system does not run if it's cold (5C). So if you are in cold area that might be issue. Also if you turn the car off you can hear the pump running to empty the system (doesn't happen in cold weather). Finally, to get the injection used just go manual and keep the rpm around 4-5k. That's when the water is used.

[VCP]

Depends on IAT. The pump will run in cold weather to drain the system. That was the purpose of the siphon procedure. So you do not freeze and rupture lines. I hear mine in the cold weather.

Originally Posted by Osiris

I have 2500 miles on it and filled up once at dealerships during service. I think it depends on weather. The water system does not run if it's cold (5C). So if you are in cold area that might be issue. Also if you turn the car off you can hear the pump running to empty the system (doesn't happen in cold weather). Finally, to get the injection used just go manual and keep the rpm around 4-5k. That's when the water is used.

[Y8HOO]

Originally Posted by RandyC54

Is anybody else having or has had issues with the water injection system? My dealer has tried a couple of times to fix it, but the system has not used a drop of water yet in 1800 miles, including some spirited driving. Pat tracked his this weekend for the first time, and it also didn't use a drop of water. Coincidence that we both are having issues with the water system?

Yes had same problem, dealer changed out complete pump assembly just after Running In Service as there had been no water usage up to that point.

Original Post:
https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1391743

[Day Laborer]

I topped mine off fully after break in service, I drive moderately and a few spirited drives and highway pulls, but only have used about 10% of the water after 2000 more miles. Its been relatively cold/cool as well.

I recall that the water injection doesn't start working until after the break-in period, I say this because the sports gauge didnt start going above 450HP until some time after. This might be a good way to see if the water is being used?

[RandyC54]

In both my car and Pat's, the water pump DOES run after shutdown. The weather isn't a factor because this has been going on for a year in the case of my car. Both have also been through break-in service, too, but many report that it worked even before break-in service. Day Laborer, I think you have the same issue. Since you are also in Virginia, then maybe this is limited to Virginia?? (jk)

[M4_GTS]

Originally Posted by Day Laborer

I topped mine off fully after break in service, I drive moderately and a few spirited drives and highway pulls, but only have used about 10% of the water after 2000 more miles. Its been relatively cold/cool as well.

I recall that the water injection doesn't start working until after the break-in period, I say this because the sports gauge didnt start going above 450HP until some time after. This might be a good way to see if the water is being used?

My gts used a full tank of water during break in and there is no difference in power during break in.

[Day Laborer]

Is there a means for the dealership to test this without hooning the car around?

[Y8HOO]

Originally Posted by Day Laborer

Is there a means for the dealership to test this without hooning the car around?

When they changed out the system on my car last year they ran some form of simulation through their diagnostic software.

[TT1351]

Hmmmmm, interesting.

[FlyingLow78]

Originally Posted by Day Laborer

Is there a means for the dealership to test this without hooning the car around?

Since it's DME controlled, I wonder if it's possible to watch for pump activation via an OBDII reader during spirited driving.

When I had an AquaMist water injection system on a turbo car back in the early 2000s, I wired up an LED to illuminate whenever the pump runs. Given that the schematics for the car are readily available, I imagine wiring a similar status light would be pretty easy.

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/f...ion/1VnYvJ1cYH

Per ISTA, if the primary or secondary relay fails, it will set a DME fault. It continues:

"The water injection is activated by the engine control unit under the following preconditions:

- Coolant temperature above 60°C.

- Ambient temperature above 5 °C.

- Water temperature above 5 °C.

- Engine is operated in maximum power range."

Might also be worth checking the water filter to see if it's clogged.

[Day Laborer]

So glad I read this thread. At the dealer now and they are seeing low pressure diagnosis on the water injection. Dealer tested it and will replace the filter tomorrow.
They cleaned the filter in the mean time and showed a large increase in pressure after

[Osiris]

Originally Posted by Day Laborer

So glad I read this thread. At the dealer now and they are seeing low pressure diagnosis on the water injection. Dealer tested it and will replace the filter tomorrow.
They cleaned the filter in the mean time and showed a large increase in pressure after

So what ended up happening?

[Day Laborer]

Originally Posted by Osiris

So what ended up happening?

Dealer had the water filter replaced the next day. Water usage is noticeable when I go above 5k rpm, even on short trips or cool temps.

Went to the track the following weekend at VIR and used about 1/3rd to 1/2 a gallon of water per session.

I also learned the the GTS' MDM mode is more intrusive than other M cars I've tracked, even more than the regular M3/4s MDM mode.

After the 5th session I grew the balls to turn traction control completely off and shaved 7-8 seconds per lap on a fairly consistent basis.

Amazing car on track

[RandyC54]

Pat already had his back to the dealer, and they changed out the filter also. He seems to think there is a difference, and some amount of water is being used in around-town driving, but we have not been to the track since. I'm taking mine in to the same dealer this week for the treatment. Fingers crossed!

Day Laborer, what kind of times are you seeing so far at VIR with MDM off and additional balls?