P38 DSE, question for diesel experts

hello,

has anyone adjusted DSE fuel injector pump using rovacom?
I tried, monitoring EDC inputs / fuelling. timing modulation showed me values between 76-92% on tickover, I adjusted the FIP slightly to advance, the values I get now is 60%ish on tickover and 45-55% at 2000 rpm.
(they mention that the modulation should be at around 45-55%, but do not say at which engine speed)
the car starts fine hot or cold, power is good. but I get some clattering when I try to accelarete hard without kickdown from 1700-1800rpms upwards.
so I am a little concerned about turning the pump more to advance. when I retard the whole thing, timing modulation goes up again and the engine needs more fuel at average and longer cranking to start when hot

which way should I go?
standard engine, late EDC-1999 on, 120K kms or 74K miles, no tuning, no hot start fixes, etc.

many thanks, korkut

Interesting, didn't know you could do all that in Rovacom.

What do you mean by 'clattering'? Is that the only problem, it sounds okay otherwise.

hello,
-clatter- I think, I don't know the exact english term for this.
It happens when I floor the accelerator pedal from low revs. sounds like valves(?) are making a klick-klick-klick noise(?) until the engine gets over 2300 rpm...
and yes this is the only problem incl. not reaching the values rowacom mentions.
many thanks, korkut

I think what you are describing may be the sound of the diesel injectors. I read on a thread before that when they are not getting enough diesel that they rattle. But I've never been able to find that thread again.

This is a very interesting as I have a similar issue with mine although its most apparent when the engine is not fully warmed up, my best guess has been that I'm not getting enough diesel. By the time I get it the 40miles to my specialist the noise is hard to pick out! I haven't got rovacom but I'm seriously interested in getting my hands on one if it can go into that level of detail.

Do you ever get the injector light coming on at a light throttle (say going down a gentle motorway incline) with a complete loss of power for a few seconds followed by a complete recovery?

hello,
I do not get any warning lamps, never had any.
as mentioned, the car is absolutely fine. the only unsure issue is having the fip adjusted correctly.
I don't think, that the injectors are not getting enough fuel, since I get some black smoke on full throttle - like nearly every diesel engine does.

If you have manage to adjust the “timing” to far advanced, you will get a “clattering” this means the diesel knock is much harsher & the shock wave may cause damage, you may also notice black smoke from the exhaust? Retarding the timing below the norm will result in a quieter engine & will produce a blue smoke from the exhaust. Stick with the factory setting, or only just above, but below the “clattering” (that’s not good)

Regards Trevor2

PS "clattering" is the correct term

hello,
thanks for the advice,
I went to 'advanced' as trying to get the right values shown in rowacom faultmate. it is near but still not there. I would not go any further here.
black smoke and clattering is only evident, when I floor the throttle instantly&fully down (more throttle than the engine can take in a certain rev range) and not on normal operation.
everything is fine if I drive smoothly or manually downshift before it occures.
should I go back a little or learn to drive more smoothly or look for a failing item somewhere else in the fuelling system?
cheers, korkut

Sounds like you could be driving it a bit more smoothly, or are you rallying it or something?!?

If everything is fine could I suggest you live with it how it is? You're not going to get a new set of injectors, or do any cylinder head work are you, you'd asking for trouble then.

The BMW is a noisy bugger in the Rangey, and at high revs a paranoid mind could find a thousand funny noises (leave the radio on!).

Having said all that your engine could be on the verge of disintegrating, so who knows?