2004 Range Rover HSE 4.4 M62TU Vanos Problem P0011 P0012 Fault Part 1

On this 2004 HSE with a BMW M62TU 4.4L V8, we did a full timing chain job on it, replace the primary and both secondary timing chains, all three primary timing guide guide rails and tensioner, and secondary tensioners with BMW genuine primary tensioners and Ina branded secondary tensioners. We did the full Beisan systems seals and press kit on both vanos units, replace the intake and exhaust cam bolts and used the German Auto Solutions (GAS) M62TU timing kit, in a process that we followed very closely. There are a few things to note:
-First, when we mounted the upper timing case covers back, we did not have the special tool to press them down and they rode just slightly higher than the cylinder heads, this may have caused an alignment issue.
-Second, the timing chain guides at some point in the history of this 162,000 mile M62TU engine had exploded and trapped some particles inside the screen of the oil pickup tube. While we inspected to make sure that the oil pickup tube wasn't clogged (and it was not), we did not replace the tube, which is our next step.
-We used 5w-40 fully synthetic engine oil and it is filled to the correcte amount. I'm not sure if this viscosity is causing any issues with oil pressure to the Vanos transmissions.
Problem manifestations:
-The idle is very rough but when you apply gas and bring the engine speed up to 1500-2000rpm it smoothes out dramatically and the engine is butter smooth.
-We initially got P0011 and P0012 codes instantly upon startup, and then we tried a slew of things: we removed both valve covers, inserted the crankshaft lock pin in the flywheel, installed both banks GAS lock blocks and confirmed that the timing was good. On Bank 1, we had to use a 27mm wrench on the intake camshaft to pull the Vanos to the full retard (CCW) position to slide the block on, we understand this to be normal.
-We then loosened the 24mm nuts on the impulse trigger wheels and aligned them to the holes in the upper timing covers precisely using a 5mm allen key. This made no difference and we still got the P0011 and P0012 codes instantly.
-Since we have another 2004 Rover with the identical engine and functional Vanos, we took the Camshaft Position Sensors (CPS) from the known good M62TU and swapped them over to this one and noticed that the engine would run fine with Vanos actuating for about a minute before throwing the code.
-We then took the valve covers back off and slightly retarded the Bank 1 (passenger side) impulse wheel and tried again. We then noticed that the codes only are triggered when at idle, as long as the engine is kept above idle there are no codes.
-The Vanos solenoids are brand new Genuine BMW. We tried swapping them out to the old Genuine BMW solenoids and there was no difference, both sets of solenoids work perfectly fine.
-We triple checked our oil level (engine cold, pull dipstick once, wipe it, insert dipstick fully and quickly retract it to check oil level); and it is right at the base of the max fill line. The oil filter was of course changed and the pickup tube confirmed to NOT BE BLOCKED, although we know for certain that there is at least one piece of guide stuck inside of the mesh filter, we but also know that we have oil pressure as there are no oil pressure warnings.
-We attempted to disconnect the MAF and start the car and it dies nearly instantly after a second or two. The car only will run with a MAF connected.
-We attempted to disconnect both Vanos solenoids to see if the idle smoothes out. Upon disconnecting them and then starting the car, the car threw two new codes indicating loss of connection to the Vanos solenoids and the idle was still rough with a rougher power delivery. Upon reconnected the Vanos solenoids and clearing the codes, the Vanos solenoid connectivity loss codes disappeared and did not return, however, we will had just the P0011 and P0012 codes which only appear when letting the engine sit at idle.
-Additive adaptions are not reported, multiplicative adaptions are always at 1% for both banks. Adaptions for each cylinder populate in the negative values at idle.
-Engine roughness for Cylinder 8 is higher than the others at idle.
Our next plans are to:
-Purchase the BMW special tool for mounting the upper timing case covers, they consist of plastic inserts that you put in place of the valve cover gaskets, in hope of properly seating the upper timing case covers.
-Realign the Vanos impulse trigger wheels to the newly aligned/installed upper timing case covers.
-If that does not work, attempt to slightly advance or retard the impulse trigger wheels based on the adaptions we are seeing.
-Do a compression test to see if there are any compression issue with cylinder 8 that may be causing excessive engine roughness.
-If that does not work, purchase brand new Genuine BMW Vanos actuators, install them with the brand new Genuine BMW Vanos solenoids to rule out any issues with the Vanos system.
-Replace the oil pump pickup tube.

[@susguy5]

What is this program that you're using? 😬

[@mjrgroup]

frank w hi Frank. Using iLAND from Atlantic British

[@joncorry]

Did you managed to get to the bottom of this issue?