[JingChai]

I went to get my 2011 E90 328i N51 smogged today and did not pass because the OBDII Secondary Air System was not ready. It was told by the smog guy to come back after running the OBD2 drive cycle 3 times, then add 100 miles.

I called my Indy and he said to drive it on the freeway for a while to run the system.

I did a AA Stage 2 tune and coded my car earlier this year. Could either one have triggered the OBD2 to not work? Alternatively the smog guy said that because I don't drive the car very often on freeways and only do mostly local driving, that could have also caused the OBD2 to not cycle properly.

[NinetyEight740]

Secondary air monitor sets on a cold start of the vehicle. Nothing to do with driving on the freeway. If the tune is currently in the same you’ll likely need to code back to stock and then set your monitors again.

[JingChai]

I found this article on how to do the drive cycle, will this work?

https://www.instructables.com/id/How...or-Smog-Check/

Originally Posted by NinetyEight740

Secondary air monitor sets on a cold start of the vehicle. Nothing to do with driving on the freeway. If the tune is currently in the same you’ll likely need to code back to stock and then set your monitors again.

[JM98]

Your tune likely turns that monitor off. You'll need to tune back to stock and then go through a drive cycle.

[jwalker87]

I think the link you posted is correct - the attached PDF is what I use.

JM98 is correct that the tune likely turns this off to prevent a Check Engine Light if you have catless DPs or something like that. You need to turn that off first, then do the drive cycle. Any cheap OBDII scanner will tell you the emissions readiness status as well, so you don't waste a trip to the shop.

[JingChai]

I reached out to Active Autowerke and this is the email that I got back:

HI Jing,

I looked over your tune file we did and there is nothing touched in the emissions for secondary air. There is no reason for us to touch any of that because the car does not have any headers or any exhaust modifications done to it.

I suggest you have the SAP system checked using a scanner to see if:

1) the SAP is actually functioning

2) there are any error codes stored in the DME.

If for any reason the DME codes are recently cleared it will take a few days of cold engine start ups and a few drive cycles to take place before the SAP shows ready.

Have you cleared any error codes recently?

I have attached a BMW FTP72 drive cycle procedure for your perusal. Take a look and see maybe if you can do this and see if the SAP will show ready.


I have a guy that has the INPA cable and software that I can use to see if the SAP is working or any error codes.

Originally Posted by jwalker87

I think the link you posted is correct - the attached PDF is what I use.

JM98 is correct that the tune likely turns this off to prevent a Check Engine Light if you have catless DPs or something like that. You need to turn that off first, then do the drive cycle. Any cheap OBDII scanner will tell you the emissions readiness status as well, so you don't waste a trip to the shop.

[Nardoninety]

Different platform, but I had a stock n54 e90 and I couldn't get a monitor to run. Everyone kept saying remove the tune etc, I plugged in my tablet to find out it was mhd stage 0 flashed to block a cel (thanks previous owner lol) and then flashed it to factory and got it to work.

As far as being the cold start related monitor, I believe the ambient temperatures need to be within a certain window as well as the relative engine temp. Also try doing a few cold starts with Ac on, as well as off, and letting it run for 90-130 seconds

[JingChai]

Great news, I went to another shop that specialized in preparing BMW for autocross and racing. They ran an autologic test plan that forced secondary air monitor that passed all tests without faults. They suspect it was the AA software that wasn't acting air injection on cold start.

I got my car smogged afterwards today and passed smog. Saved me a 3 hour+ road trip from having to get my car flashed back to stock!