[BmwFlooner]

Originally Posted by BMWbill

328xi wagon-with Msport package, built early 2014. Last week in heavy rain, first the front bumper sensors failed on the highway and I got a warning that they were down, and soon after I experienced my first limp mode the second I floored the gas to enter a highway. Engine not hot and air temp in the 60's. Being that I had two electrical bugs in heavy rain, perhaps water was an issue. Restarting car fixed limp mode for the rest of my 500 mile trip but the bumper sensors failed again until hours later when they worked fine after a stop.
Simply reporting my experience in case BMW or someone else uses this thread to collect data points one day. Haven't taken car in yet since I picked it up new.

Wow, a 328 limp. It's like a unicorn. It certainly sounds similar to what affects the 335s, but the wild card is the bumper sensor failure.

[BMWbill]

It sure felt like 2 cylinders were switched off, as the engine really shook like mad at idle. WOuld have been really scary if I hadn't read all these threads! My wife seemed shocked when I looked over at her after pulling immediately to the shoulder, and explained, "Limp Mode. Should be no problem."

As a married man I am used to things going bonkers on me for no apparent reason!

[MulattoMajor]

Originally Posted by BMWbill

My wife seemed shocked when I looked over at her after pulling immediately to the shoulder, and explained, "Limp Mode. Should be no problem."

As a married man I am used to things going bonkers on me for no apparent reason!

LOL.

[TanzaniteBlue]

2/14 built 435i xDrive SPORT line checking in with 2 limp modes in 700 miles. Fan replaced after first limp mode and it happened again after 90 miles.

UPDATE: After much research, it seems this should only affect M-Sport cars, and I can't find a single person complaining about it on the 4 series. I think my car has some incorrect components or software or something. The 435i Sport and 335i Sport are mechanically identical, and I haven't seen and 335i Sport Limp Mode complaints.

[F30.M]

Just had a limp mode while driving around the city. I was on sport mode and was about to draw some attention, so I full throttle and surprise, no power coming from the engine. It was so embarrassing, you can hear the engine accelerating so slowly....

My last limp mode was about 8 months ago. Guess it's time to to visit the dealer soon.

[tliartis]

All,

Rather i think I can get a loaded 13 335i for 38k with 5k on the odometer. It was a buy back due to going to limp mode and had the fan, fan harness, replaced and the battery recharged. Are you guys finding solutions to this? I'm intrigued about this car and would keep it for a while. Let me know your opinions since this has affected all of you.

Thanks,
Tony

[Steven1077]

My fans just went mental when I parked the car so I don't know how it effected the engine, only drove 10 miles and the car has only done 700 miles from new, its the first time I've heard any fan making this much noise

[snowghost]

Originally Posted by tliartis

All,

Rather i think I can get a loaded 13 335i for 38k with 5k on the odometer. It was a buy back due to going to limp mode and had the fan, fan harness, replaced and the battery recharged. Are you guys finding solutions to this? I'm intrigued about this car and would keep it for a while. Let me know your opinions since this has affected all of you.

Thanks,
Tony

The latest fix seems promising. If you get CPO and can lemon it if the issue continues I would consider.

[tliartis]

What is the most up to date fix? Software?

[martinf79]

I just got my car back from the dealer for 2nd limp mode (first time they just replaced the fan).

This time they ordered a new fan (apparently an updated/new model) and reprogrammed the DME (wiped out all of my coding).

Car's mileage has drastically improved and the car actually performs a lot better. Fingers crossed that this actually solves the "limp mode" from re-occuring.

[BMWbill]

Got my car back from service. My particular dealer claims there is no known fix for limp mode, and that limp mode can be triggered by any number of various glitches or it can be triggered to save your engine in a real problem. In my case, there was no fault record in my car's computer so whatever triggered my limp mode was probably a blip in some sensor that lasted a 1/10th of a second, according to the service manager. He claims that there is really no way to figure out what really happened and it could simply be related to the high levels of ethanol in our local gas which they believe can cause problems.

Anyway, they reset my CPU which didn't loose any of my preferences but they said my transmission will have to learn how I drive again but I don't notice it shifting any differently. That's all they did! Not too happy about their not being a fix for this, but on the other hand, at least the guy didn't lie to me when he said that today cars are just so complex with all the computers inside that nobody can really figure out strange glitches like this, which is what I thought before I brought the car in.

I see other dealers are replacing fans and other parts… does any dealer out there really know what they are doing? My guess is no.

[shivaswrath]

Originally Posted by BMWbill

Got my car back from service. My particular dealer claims there is no known fix for limp mode, and that limp mode can be triggered by any number of various glitches or it can be triggered to save your engine in a real problem. In my case, there was no fault record in my car's computer so whatever triggered my limp mode was probably a blip in some sensor that lasted a 1/10th of a second, according to the service manager. He claims that there is really no way to figure out what really happened and it could simply be related to the high levels of ethanol in our local gas which they believe can cause problems.

Anyway, they reset my CPU which didn't loose any of my preferences but they said my transmission will have to learn how I drive again but I don't notice it shifting any differently. That's all they did! Not too happy about their not being a fix for this, but on the other hand, at least the guy didn't lie to me when he said that today cars are just so complex with all the computers inside that nobody can really figure out strange glitches like this, which is what I thought before I brought the car in.

I see other dealers are replacing fans and other parts… does any dealer out there really know what they are doing? My guess is no.

That's a useless dealer!
I would see if there is a service bulletin number you can give them from this post and get the SA on the correct track...

[BMWbill]

Originally Posted by shivaswrath

That's a useless dealer!
I would see if there is a service bulletin number you can give them from this post and get the SA on the correct track...

Yes, I wasn't going to be so blunt but what a waste of time dropping my car of for 24 hours and them telling me there is no fix!
They are the largest dealer on Long Island but that doesn't necessarily equate to mean they have great service. I am a bit shell shocked at this point as this is my very first service visit with them.

[shivaswrath]

Originally Posted by BMWbill

Yes, I wasn't going to be so blunt but what a waste of time dropping my car of for 24 hours and them telling me there is no fix!
They are the largest dealer on Long Island but that doesn't necessarily equate to mean they have great service. I am a bit shell shocked at this point as this is my very first service visit with them.

Exactly, I'd be too.
LOVE your cafe racer btw, VERY sexy.

[Axman85]

Had limp mode twice in 23k miles. Spoke to my dealer about it and he indicated that they have seen this behavior in other models and it's not a big deal. Best option is to pull over and restart the car; that usually clears it up.

Agree, kind of a pain bit that just might be reality in these computerized cars.

I once was on a Delta flight waiting to take off. The pilot came on and said we couldn't go anywhere a without a complete reboot of all of the planes computers because the plane thought we were already in the air. Even jets have these issues.

[Steven1077]

A jet is a bit more complex though

[snowghost]

Originally Posted by Axman85

Had limp mode twice in 23k miles. Spoke to my dealer about it and he indicated that they have seen this behavior in other models and it's not a big deal. Best option is to pull over and restart the car; that usually clears it up.

Agree, kind of a pain bit that just might be reality in these computerized cars.

I once was on a Delta flight waiting to take off. The pilot came on and said we couldn't go anywhere a without a complete reboot of all of the planes computers because the plane thought we were already in the air. Even jets have these issues.

You can't always pull over and restart your car. That's a ludicrous workaround for a very dangerous situation.

[F30.M]

Originally Posted by martinf79

I just got my car back from the dealer for 2nd limp mode (first time they just replaced the fan).

This time they ordered a new fan (apparently an updated/new model) and reprogrammed the DME (wiped out all of my coding).

Car's mileage has drastically improved and the car actually performs a lot better. Fingers crossed that this actually solves the "limp mode" from re-occuring.

I got a call from the dealer today and he said the new fan should do the job. Gonna pick up the car in the next 2 days.

Can you elaborate on how the car performs better?

[martinf79]

Originally Posted by F30.M

I got a call from the dealer today and he said the new fan should do the job. Gonna pick up the car in the next 2 days.

Can you elaborate on how the car performs better?

Pick-Up appears to be much better and more responsive. I felt like the car had lost its "growl"... and if feels like its "spunkiness" has returned.

[F30.M]

Originally Posted by martinf79

Pick-Up appears to be much better and more responsive. I felt like the car had lost its "growl"... and if feels like its "spunkiness" has returned.

Just picked up my car. You are right, the throttle seems a bit more responsive. Did you feel the steering is a bit heavier too?

[BMWbill]

My car is always much faster after I wash it.

[Gio72]

Originally Posted by BMWbill

My car is always much faster after I wash it.

Mine before my lunch time or dinner.