Used M3 purchase service engine codes P2096 and 2271

[Logical]

I bought a used 2010 M3 from New Jersey over the weekend and while I was driving the car home I noticed the service engine light. I drove a few cars and noticed the improved exhaust tone on the car. The car sounds fantastic and the dealer ensured me the cats were on the car. I live in Mass and need an inspection sticker once I get the car registered, and the car will not pass in this condition throwing codes. Any help is appreciated. Also, if anyone has pics from the underside of a stock E92 showing exhaust system please post them. I debated with the seller whether or not the car had cats and his mechanic ensured me the cats were installed.

[Beemdog]

Here is an underside shot. Note the front cats are adjacent to the black DCT cover pan, and the rear cats are just in front of the black cross brace. Behind the "X" in the tubing are two small resonators. This car also has an MPE muffler on it.

[Logical]

Thanks now I need to find a way to lift a lowered M3 lol

[Helmsman]

Beemdog, wow that is a clean car!! Yours?

[Beemdog]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Beemdog, wow that is a clean car!! Yours?

Mine is LeMans blue, but almost that clean (never driven in the rain, undercarriage detailed every year). Yes, OCD...

[douglee25]

How does one detail an undercarriage? Are you physically wiping things down or just pressure washing it?

[omniphil]

How many miles were on the car? Could the O2 sensors be failing?

[Logical]

Only 27K miles I doubt they are failing but anything is possible. The good news is I contacted the dealer and not only are they willing to work with me they lowered my payment and gave me a one year warranty so I can begin troubleshooting without worrying too much about the costs

[tbrown1985]

that's a lean code. probably have an intake air leak somewhere.

[tbrown1985]

or MAF sensor

[douglee25]

No MAF on these cars.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by douglee25

How does one detail an undercarriage? Are you physically wiping things down or just pressure washing it?

Pressure washer, degreasers, and a brush should get most of it.

[Logical]

I have yet to get the car in the air but I did find a leaf stuck in the intake must have pulled it in from the hood scoop/vent. Is there any danger to running the engine in this lean condition?

[bstone801]

Those are the Increased Emissions codes correct? Mine does that, but I also have test pipes in place of the cats.

[Logical]

So I found a receipt for test pipes in the glove box. Can you explain the purpose of the pipes and possibly a pic so I can determine if they are still installed, or have been replaced with cats?

Originally Posted by bstone801

Those are the Increased Emissions codes correct? Mine does that, but I also have test pipes in place of the cats.

[Beemdog]

Originally Posted by dparm

Pressure washer, degreasers, and a brush should get most of it.

I do underside detailing the hard way; after years of entering cars in shows I got used to it. Cars not driven on wet surfaces don't need a pressure wash (never liked those). Best not to do the whole car at once; split it into sections. Good time to detail is when you are changing parts (i.e. the axle back exhaust is being replaced). Really not much point on a daily driver, though. It does have the benefit of finding potential issues/leaks while you're under there.

[Logical]

Can anyone speak to whether or not it's safe to run the car with these lean codes? I'd hate to damage the engine.

[bstone801]

Originally Posted by Logical

Can anyone speak to whether or not it's safe to run the car with these lean codes? I'd hate to damage the engine.

Crawl under the car, confirm whether or not you have test pipes on the car.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Logical

Can anyone speak to whether or not it's safe to run the car with these lean codes? I'd hate to damage the engine.

The car should go into a safer limp-home mode during this time. It's fine for short-term stuff (i.e. the day it takes you to get to the dealer). I would not be making any long trips or driving for a month without getting the codes fixed.

[Logical]

I was concerned at the dealership that the car did not have cats and that it would throw codes, just based on the sound of the exhaust. I looked under the car and noticed the same small oval canister shaped objects and they looked just like the resonators that are in front of the rear diff in the picture above. But that was the only set I don't remember seeing the 2 sets of cats closer to the headers/manifolds.

The dealer sent a mechanic to verify and he said they were the stock cats and it appeared they had been welded back in. Of course I didn't believe him but I liked the car and they have kept their end of the bargain and gave me a one year warranty.

I don't have a low profile jack but I'll see what I can do to get under the car tonight and post pics of the underside. Unfortunately I don't have a lift and the car is very low with a carbon fiber kit that I don't want to damage but I'll figure out something

[dparm]

I'm wondering if someone gutted the factory cats and then re-welded them in to pass visual inspection.

[Logical]

ok here are some pics. Looks like the exhaust setup is similar to the one above.