Hi cantfind1 - thanks very much just the sort of info im looking for. Yeh the EML light (ie actual EML letters) has never been on...always the emission warning light (picture of an engine).
There was never any rattling or as I say any loss of power. To me the car was (and still is) acting 100% normally except fot the fact that the emission warning light is illuminated.
The car was taken to a main BM dealer in Glasgow and was put on their diagnostigs to access the problem. 1st they told me it was a faulty actuator which was replaced and sorted the problem (when I say problem I mean that the light was off!!!) than about 150 miles later the light came back on.
Sent the car straight back to them and this time was told that the diagnostic machine had detected a faulty vanos. The whole unit was replaced and the light once again goes out, but again about 150 miles later....its back on.
Really concerned that Ive forked out almost £2500 so far for 2 problems that did not exist!!!!
The whole vanos unit has been replaced ie
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...=11&fg=15&hl=2 . From this site it appears that the solenoid part on its own has been discontinued. Do you know if this is correct?
The main dealer is one of only 2 in Glasgow and yes will be naming and shaming if I do not get a satisfactory response tomorrow.
Finally did ask for the faulty Vanos unit but was told that it had to be sent back to BMW and that I was getting some money back because of that. No idea if the unit is new but I do know the guy who ordered it for me (a friend in the parts dept at the main dealer) so would very much suspect that it is new.