Need some help here. I have a 2010 cooper base still throwing a vanos error code after all the related parts have been replaced. Over the past month I have replaced the timing chain, the vanos gear on camshaft, both solenoids, and camshaft position senors. Oil pressure and switch have checked out as well, so now I’m at a loss.. I have also ran the adaptation for the vanos after replacement.. Anyone else have a guess what direction I should look next?

confirmed.

As for back story... not much of one, bought the car used with a CEL. Didn’t think much of it, fluids were good. No oil in the coolant, and no oil leaks when running. When I test drove it, the car ran great, no hesitation or rough idle. Picked it up cheap, so I thought I might be worth the gamble. Got it home, changed the oil, and changed intake and exhaust solenoids, as the looked pretty bad. Still showed cam shaft “a” retarded, so I swapped the camshaft position sensors around to see I’d swapped to exhaust. It didn’t. So those were changed as well. Car runs awesome when still not at operating temp. That’s what sent me down the road of vanos unit, and did the timing chain and kit while I was at it..

checked the timing again, it’s right on.. also shaft looks good. Had a friend who works for a dealer bring it in, his tool says the oil pressure is not in tolerance when the engine is at operational temp. So a couple of roads now... bad valve seals, or grooves worn into the ends of the cams (seals).. car runs fine at idle and drives well, just responsiveness is not there when warm.. Friend said replace the motor, would be easier.. I would rather not.

i didn’t event think of the check valve, car has 110k on it so it’s probably trashed. I’ll try both that and the oil pressure sensor. I’ll let you know.

No go.. changed both with no resolution... only error I get is the p code for the exhaust camshaft.. I rechecked the timing, still spot on.. I swapped the position sensors from intake to exhaust and it didn’t follow.. I’m starting to wonder if there’s a wiring issue from the sensor itself..