[DeltaFX1942]

06/2012 production. Car has had 2 drivetrain malfunctions in the past 1300 miles (once at 12500 and another yesterday at 13800 miles). Both times the engine started shuddering, but once I pulled over and restarted, the issue went away. First time was on the highway going steady at 75mph with half a tank of fuel. Second time was on the highway as well, but with only 40 miles left to the tank. Right after I restarted, my fuel reserve light went on.

[hsk1610]

I started my car this morning and got the dreaded drivetrain malfunction error message along with the fuel supply malfunction. I drove to the dealer 20 miles away and dropped off the car. Couldn't tell any difference in power from the engine. Hopefully it's something minor. I have 2400 miles on my 13 328IX.

[hsk1610]

Originally Posted by hsk1610

I started my car this morning and got the dreaded drivetrain malfunction error message along with the fuel supply malfunction. I drove to the dealer 20 miles away and dropped off the car. Couldn't tell any difference in power from the engine. Hopefully it's something minor. I have 2400 miles on my 13 328IX.

After 3 days in the shop, the dealer says the drivetrain malfunction is partly due to the brake/ camshaft recall. I don't recall ever hearing about drivetrain malfunction associated with this recall so not sure what he is talking about. Guess I'll know more tomorrow if, and when, the car is ready for pick up.

[elborhamy]

The BMW team found that the turbo intake solenoid valve was malfunction, they replaced it by new one, now i received the car and the problem seems to be solved, but of course it will not be clear if the problem solved or not now, it has to be tested by time.
i'll inform you with any new
thanks

[casualDIYer]

Maybe I should have read this post BEFORE I bought an F30. Some of those problems seem pretty serious for a new car.

Why didn't I get the TL again? Lousy mileage, cramped back seat, a design that hasn't changed since 2008 . . . oh yeah.

Jeez BMW where do you buy parts? At VW?

[casualDIYer]

Originally Posted by hsk1610

After 3 days in the shop, the dealer says the drivetrain malfunction is partly due to the brake/ camshaft recall. I don't recall ever hearing about drivetrain malfunction associated with this recall so not sure what he is talking about. Guess I'll know more tomorrow if, and when, the car is ready for pick up.

Brake or camshaft? Those are very different parts. Maybe you talked to Guess-a-lot Gerry.

I think we've all spoken to Gerry in one form or another. Many moons ago I owned a Kia (which is just as bad as it sounds) and the computer 'broke' when the car started to 'knock' driving up hills just after the odometer hit 12k Gerry told me

"All cars do that"

I then spoke to Get-it-Done Gus, the ECU was swapped with a newer version, and that problem went away. Find Gus.

Why the does nobody at the dealership use a computer to find out what's wrong? Oh yeah, because at every luxury car dealership I've been to, they use Windows 95 on computers they bought 13th-hand at a lawn sale.

[DeltaFX1942]

Well. Sitting in the road typing this. Car died on the way home tonight. Car started vibrating and then completely lost power. I rolled into a shopping center on whatever was left over of the cars forward momentum. Will be dropping car off at the dealership...no loaners, rental closed, and service department closed. Guess the taxi is the way to go. 4th drivetrain.malfunction in 6 weeks and 2nd in one week. Car just came back from 15k service where they couldnt find anything wrong. Frustrated.

[jenfro34]

the infamous drivetrain malfunction!!! this has happened to me just a couple times, for just a split second then disappears. yesterday I did notice a little jerky movement. As of today it sits in the shop and I am waiting on what they find. This should be the best week ever!

[NAV8TT]

Originally Posted by jenfro34

the infamous drivetrain malfunction!!! this has happened to me just a couple times, for just a split second then disappears. yesterday I did notice a little jerky movement. As of today it sits in the shop and I am waiting on what they find. This should be the best week ever!

What r u driving? F30 or the new M3? I heard it happened few times with the M3 too

[jenfro34]

new to this forum stuff so I am probably in the wrong one, I drive 07 328i e90. But all in all it seems this is a very popular problem. Just heard back from service dept. car was throwing 2 error codes one was gear box related and one was oil pressure sensor. I have never gotten any messages on my idrive for that issue. they want to pull it apart for thousands of dollars to find out whats really going on. Super!

[NAV8TT]

Originally Posted by jenfro34

new to this forum stuff so I am probably in the wrong one, I drive 07 328i e90. But all in all it seems this is a very popular problem. Just heard back from service dept. car was throwing 2 error codes one was gear box related and one was oil pressure sensor. I have never gotten any messages on my idrive for that issue. they want to pull it apart for thousands of dollars to find out whats really going on. Super!

Sorry to hear buddy, maybe it's time to pull the trigger on a new one.

[Pang]

Has anyone figured out this problem? Our 2014 335i is currently with BMW service for the 3rd time within a month for the "Drivetrain malfunction".

The service adviser has been good at keeping us in the loop with updates. So far they have replaced the Vanos units, adjusted the Vanos bolts, checked the engine timing, checked camshafts, camshaft journals. They said the next options per BMW is to replace the DME or cylinder head. This car only has 9k mile on it! I'm not sure how comfortable I feel with having the cylinder head torn apart and replaced at such low mileage.

Has anyone gone the Lemon law route?

[300hp]

Originally Posted by Pang

Has anyone figured out this problem? Our 2014 335i is currently with BMW service for the 3rd time within a month for the "Drivetrain malfunction".

The service adviser has been good at keeping us in the loop with updates. So far they have replaced the Vanos units, adjusted the Vanos bolts, checked the engine timing, checked camshafts, camshaft journals. They said the next options per BMW is to replace the DME or cylinder head. This car only has 9k mile on it! I'm not sure how comfortable I feel with having the cylinder head torn apart and replaced at such low mileage.

Has anyone gone the Lemon law route?

My 13 335i had similar issues. The first time they replaced the DME and some drivetrain bearings and Vanos related items were replaced. Second time the cylinder head was replaced. The car was probably in the shop for over 3 weeks in total. The first time I did not get any error messages. I noticed that at start up and when starting when using ASS the cars revved to about 2000 rpm. Sometimes when starting from a cold start the car would almost stall just after driving off. The second time I did get the drivetrain malfunction error and could not get more than 150 horses and 150 tq based on the sport displays. The car was cutting power around 150 horses.


When the car was in the shop for the second time I called BMW , we had a five minute discussion that I needed to have my car replaced. They said give us a day or three to think this through and I now have a 2014 335i.

Your experience may not play out like mine but only BMW can decide what's going to happen in your case. Call them

here is the thread i started back then

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=879819

[itikia]

Drivetrain malfunction happened to me 2 weeks ago. Driving a 2014 335i m-sport. It was shaking pretty badly. They ended up replacing all the injectors and plugs. Car is running good so far

It's definitely not a keeper! I've had an 07 335i with n54 and 2011 335i w n55 and never had any engine issues

[reevan8]

Hi, I am reading this thread, and there seems to be lots of encounters of this issue, each with different resolution (if any), I just bought my CPO 2012 328i couple days ago, and this morning I saw this warning on the screen, I took it to the dealer for service.

My question is, I think I can still return the car for full refund at this point, so would you guys think that this is something that calls for "get rid of this car while u can, as it appears to be one with problems that may go on and on" or just get it fixed since it very common failure that even getting another car may still face this issue at some point?

I am just seeking an opinion, as I know there is no definite answer to it....

[reevan8]

Originally Posted by reevan8

Hi, I am reading this thread, and there seems to be lots of encounters of this issue, each with different resolution (if any), I just bought my CPO 2012 328i couple days ago, and this morning I saw this warning on the screen, I took it to the dealer for service.

My question is, I think I can still return the car for full refund at this point, so would you guys think that this is something that calls for "get rid of this car while u can, as it appears to be one with problems that may go on and on" or just get it fixed since it very common failure that even getting another car may still face this issue at some point?

I am just seeking an opinion, as I know there is no definite answer to it....

Update: Dealer called me and said that car is ready to be picked up, they said after checking everything and was good......finally a software update fixed the problem!!

[scramblur]

I've been dealing with this problem for about two months now. I have a 2014 335xi. Has 8000 miles on it.

They replaced the vanos, software patches, even a patch to address the error light being thrown too quickly. When it happens, I get a series of behaviors from normal operation to limp mode, to shifting oddly.

It has only happened to me on a cold engine and so far it has only happened during the cold of winter.

Dealer has had it three times and I'm still getting it.

My understanding is this message is the equivelant of a "check engine" light, meaning, it can be anything. I'm personally under the belief this is more of a software issue, but regardless it is impacting my ownership and enjoyment of the vehicle. Reading all these posts is not making me feel any better either.

[scramblur]

Shouldn't have mentioned "check engine" light, because when I got home after writing that last post, I got the drivetrain error again, this time with the check engine light! A new behavior.

Going back into the shop tomorrow. 4th time a charm?

[Pauloxxi]

It hapened last night on my F30 320xi, at highway speed 80MPH. The vehicle jerked while passing another, light poped up, shaking and loos of power in the fast left lane. Not really preasure moment. Drove almost 30 miles back home, in limp mode on a car shaking like a Harley Davison. Desapointing for a car less than 5000miles. Anyway, as I get in home turn it off in the garage, after a few minutes I turned on and the problem has gone. I just wonder that a dealer may take and not find anything. But I'll keep record of this visit, in case the issue comes back. I'll keep you posted.

[Pauloxxi]

It required a software update. It is working fine for while.

[Burnt C6]

It happened to me the day after I got the Dinan Tune installed. I had hit a good size pot hole and it cam on. I thought that might have caused it. I got home turned it off and restarted it and the message was gone was gone. That was back in September it came back on last night right as I was pulling into the garage. It won't go off this time. It also came up with the Chassis Malfunction notification at the same time. Time to take it in and see what the hell is going on.

[435ivan]

Originally Posted by NAV8TT

I was driving to work in Eco pro mode and once i entered the highway, i tried to catch up on speed so I moved the gear to DS from D position and all of a sudden the car jammed up, started shaking and a signal came up in the iDrive saying Drivetrain malfunction, drive moderately, and the car wouldn't allow me to exceed 50 mls/h. The car kept shaking till I took the next exit. It was very dangerous as I entered the highway with that speed and there was a bunch of cars going at least 75 mls/hr that had to leave the lane I'm on. Darn it. The engine light is on now. I parked the car and I'm at work now. WTF!!

I have a 435i that I just got in November. I haven't had a problem with it till a couple weeks ago that I have gotten a down pipe and the jb4 installed. That night I was doing some highway pulls and once I reached top of 6th that I shift to 7th I got the drivetrain malfunction. It pretty much just cut all power It wouldn't rev or accelerate it got down to 60mph and so I pulled over to the side turned off the engine and turned it back on and I was fine. But it has happened a few times already. I asked around and someone had told me that wen it gets too hot or reaches a certain temperature the call will pretty much put itself into a safe mode and it starts giving those malfunctions. I don't know what to do to prevent it from happening besides no more highway pulls. Has anyone found a solution?