Huge loss of boost, no codes, can't find a leak.

JonEQuest

Specialist
Nov 7, 2018
70
24
0
Kenner Louisiana USA
Ride
2008 335i Convertible
I was driving last month on a 4hr trip. Did a hard pull passing a guy. Suddenly boost dropped and I got oscillation. If I keep it floored I can slowly peak at 9-10psi. Fast forward 1 month. I have.....
(1) Smoke test, no leak found.
(2) Removed IC, hoses, etc. Nothing wrong. Reinstalled everything and pressure tested as much as possible. Can't find a leak.
(3) I put new silicone hoses about 2 years ago and can't find any vacuum leaks.
(4) Pulled wastegate hoses off of boost solenoids and connected a mityvac to each one. Both rods draw in as they should. Also put a T to both wastegates, connected to a long hose through my window, drove with mityvac pulling 20inches in them, no change. Replaced both boost solenoids with no change.
(5) I plugged the end of my charge pipe and pressurized the CP and my intake with no leaks found. So my intake manifold gaskets and BOV valve are good. No leaks and BOV didn't leak.
(6) Ran a boroscope down into my intake tubes so I could see the turbo inlet blades were perfect, not scraping, both were spinning and continue to spin for a couple seconds after engine was shut off. So they are not jammed or have a dragging bearing, etc.

I am so stumped. This problem happened instantly while driving. It felt just like an IC hose that was loose, a split hose, etc. I had just replaced the short hose connecting my aluminum outlet halves in the middle. I thought it was that again but nope. I also was getting an occasional outlet Vanos error so I during troubleshooting this problem, I pulled the valve cover to put new teflon cam seals, replace cam phaser and vanos solenoid. So anything else that may be loose like one of my catch can hoses, etc. has been disconnected and reconnected. Finally my fuel high and low pressures are normal. I also get ZERO error codes. No 30FF, or anything. JB4 display on my phone shows that it is targeting say 18psi and boost is at 4,5,6psi etc. The only thing I have not seen in person is the actual wastgate flap inside the turbo. Removing my downpipes is very tight and I would probably have to drop subframe a little. I guess I could unbolt exhaust pipes from the downpipe and boroscope in. Even that is a pain because my aftermarket upper exhaust bolts are hard to reach unless I lower the whole rear part of the exhaust.
 

JonEQuest

Specialist
Nov 7, 2018
70
24
0
Kenner Louisiana USA
Ride
2008 335i Convertible
I need to do a log and post it. I have the car in the garage. I verified wastgate arms are connected and circlips are there. I plan to unbolt exhaust and use my boroscope to see the actual wastegates and make sure a flapper hasn't fallen off.
 

TheFixer

Sergeant
Aug 16, 2020
548
391
0
Tennessee
Ride
2008 535i
Weird no codes at all. I don't know anything about how jb4 works. I use mhd and custom tune.

Anyway, Have you tried going back to stock tune? See if it reaches stock psi.

Also, just my opinion, catch cans cause more problems than they supposedly solve. Unless you're tracking the car get rid of it.
 

JonEQuest

Specialist
Nov 7, 2018
70
24
0
Kenner Louisiana USA
Ride
2008 335i Convertible
I have tried stock tune it doesn't matter. This happened all of a sudden while under boost, like something opened up. I also run a custom MHD BEF. I blocked my ports and the catch cans have not caused me any trouble so far.
 

TheFixer

Sergeant
Aug 16, 2020
548
391
0
Tennessee
Ride
2008 535i
I have tried stock tune it doesn't matter. This happened all of a sudden while under boost, like something opened up. I also run a custom MHD BEF. I blocked my ports and the catch cans have not caused me any trouble so far.
Sounds frustrating because you've pretty much checked all the components.

Exhaust manifold leak? But that would be noisy.

You have an aluminum outlet to the intercooler. You pressurized that side and good.

Your solenoids are good.

What about those vacuum canisters? Are they cracked?

Did you pressure check the intercooler?

Is the bov closing under boost?
 
Last edited:

JonEQuest

Specialist
Nov 7, 2018
70
24
0
Kenner Louisiana USA
Ride
2008 335i Convertible
I have removed the IC, hoses and all but the rear section of the aluminum outlets. Pressure checked the all. Lat thing is if the wastegate flap broke off the inside of the turbo housing. I also need to pressure check the exhaust just to be sure. I also think it's time to check cylinder compression but the car idles smooth and runs OK too, just weak and does have a slightly different sound, at least I think so, it may just be the laboring with little boost making it sound different.
 

Amgil

New Member
Feb 21, 2025
2
1
0
Weird you have no codes. Instead of taking off the downpipes can you not just unhook them from the mid pipes and snake a boroscope up in there to inspect hot side and also see if the wg ARE actually closing properly/ didn’t break? Should be much easier then fucking with the v band clamps.


Also, is your throttle body plate opening properly?
 

SlowE93

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Jul 2, 2017
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Weird you have no codes. Instead of taking off the downpipes can you not just unhook them from the mid pipes and snake a boroscope up in there to inspect hot side and also see if the wg ARE actually closing properly/ didn’t break? Should be much easier then fucking with the v band clamps.


Also, is your throttle body plate opening properly?
I guess I could unbolt exhaust pipes from the downpipe and boroscope in. Even that is a pain because my aftermarket upper exhaust bolts are hard to reach unless I lower the whole rear part of the exhaust.
🤔
 

JonEQuest

Specialist
Nov 7, 2018
70
24
0
Kenner Louisiana USA
Ride
2008 335i Convertible
Weird you have no codes. Instead of taking off the downpipes can you not just unhook them from the mid pipes and snake a boroscope up in there to inspect hot side and also see if the wg ARE actually closing properly/ didn’t break? Should be much easier then fucking with the v band clamps.


Also, is your throttle body plate opening properly?
I did go in through where the downpipe bolts to the midpipes and the wastegate is bad. The wastegate shaft weld broke and it doesn't close all the way.
 

JonEQuest

Specialist
Nov 7, 2018
70
24
0
Kenner Louisiana USA
Ride
2008 335i Convertible
That sucks, but at least you know what to do now.... Which turbo was it?
It was the front one. I replaced them with new 19T's and after about a month I spun a rod while driving normally. The rod metal then binded up the new 19T's. Engine is apart to be rebuilt. New H-beam rods I ordered from China were lost by UPS. Its a never ending clusterfuck.
 
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SlowE93

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It was the front one. I replaced them with new 19T's and after about a month I spun a rod while driving normally. The rod metal then binded up the new 19T's. Engine is apart to be rebuilt. New H-beam rods I ordered from China were lost by UPS. Its a never ending clusterfuck.
Ouch. Good luck with alll that. You are like me, if it weren't for bad luck, I would have no luck at all ☹️