[NYBMWBrian]

I picked up my individual factory build 340i Rear Drive, 6-Spd, M Sport, after a long 9 weeks of waiting a couple weeks ago, have 500 miles on it so far and am in love with it. I do have a JB+ simple piggyback tune installed- not sure this would make a difference to error in car but...

I was driving home last nite after work, going around 70 mph, just driving, no red line shifts yet, no excessive speeds etc. as car is still in "break-in period" I really take care of my BMWs and am anal about service/cosmetics etc. Anyway i felt a slight "thud" from what I thought might be the drivetrain/drive shaft/transmission maybe? And right after thud an error message popped up on idrive screen; please see picture, stating a "Drivetrain Malfunction- Drive moderately- Maximum drivetrain output not available- contact service center immedietly" I happen to be ten minutes from my BMW center so I drove right there.

I parked right in front of service center garage door and went inside and thankfully my long time friend Steve was there and I explained to him what had just happened. We went back outside together and my car would not start at all? All electronics came on as normal the key was in the cup holder so we had to push it into shop area and he hooked up a computer/scan machine to it to get a quick read as it was already now 630PM. An error code came up, not sure of the number but I guess a crank case sensor or sensor that sends the firing order of the pistons to cars computer is bad? Not sure why this would cause the motor to not start up?

I have owned 7 BMWs, including an M3 and I have never heard of such thing/sensor like this going bad. Does this make sense to anyone or has anyone had experience with a similar situation? Kind of stinks that my factory build is in the shop already, after only two weeks but I did get a new X2 to drive while BMW of Rochester Service Center works on my 340. Steve whom I believe is an Assistant Service Manager there is the best there is. He has always treated me very well, he is honest and he cares; which is rare now-a-days, he is first class. One of the reasons I keep sticking with BMWs.

At the end of the day, no one got hurt, no one lost a job etc. it just really sucks and it put a cherry on top of my wonderful day yesterday.

[floydarogers]

I don't know why you think you need help. The warranty is in effect, it's at a dealer, everything will be taken care of.

Sucks, but everything breaks after at some time. I had an injector weird out at 2500 miles; been fine since for 127,500 miles.

[NYBMWBrian]

Thanks for the advice floydarogers, did not know if error/issue required major service work i.e. remove engine crank and/or drive train that's all.

[MONSTAR]

Dang, you slapped a tune on a brand new car? I would have at least waited until after the break-in period to ensure that you don't have some manufacturing defect. Hopefully Steve can turn a blind eye to the tune

[jv004]

What type of help do you need? If you need advice then I would recommend not installing a tune before the car has been properly broken in
Looks like everything will be taken care of through the warranty. Hopefully you didn't tell 'em about the piggyback.

[BunkerJ]

Originally Posted by jv004

What type of help do you need? If you need advice then I would recommend not installing a tune before the car has been properly broken in
Looks like everything will be taken care of through the warranty. Hopefully you didn't tell 'em about the piggyback.

And hope they don't call out a field service engineer.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by BunkerJ

And hope they don't call out a field service engineer.

lol...pay-to-play. I have zero sympathy.

[jsouth]

Crank angle sensor tells EFI when to provide fuel and ignition when to send spark. If that failed, nothing will work. What's odd is how you were able to drive it to the dealer if that was the initial problem.

[BunkerJ]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

lol...pay-to-play. I have zero sympathy.

Exactly. You either get lucky or just have to deal with it.

[N0Chill 335i]

I'm just trying to figure out why you would take a car that has a tune on it into the dealership... My first thought would have been to yank that out of the car. THEN take the car in to see what's wrong.

Best of luck.

[NYBMWBrian]

Hi guys, thanks for the feedback. I feel like an idiot now installing the JB+ right away and not breaking the car in first, I did learn a big lesson there.

Right after the thud and the error msg popped up i headed striaght towards the local BMW Center, I just happened to be about a 8-10 minute drive from it. I did not even think about stopping somewhere, pulling over, turning car off, remove the JB+, then hope the car started back up and continue to the dealer as I was pretty nervous.

[NYBMWBrian]

Here is what BMW Center has found out:

The crankshaft position sensor went bad. That is what through the error code out while I was driving home. They hooked a computer up to the DME port under the steering wheel quick while I was there. If after this sensor went bad I did happen to stop and shut the car off, it would not have started back up as a safety precaution, so I am lucky I drove straight to BMW Center.

Like I have stated Steve there took great care of me and gave me a brand new X2 to drive while repair was sorted out; i have put 500 miles on the X2 already? This sensor error had nothing to do with the JB+ install but he told me it was probably best to remove it and not to use it; I will explain more later on.

BMW Center has had my 340 since Wed nite, July 18. At first BMW did not have a fix for this particular sensor so Steve had to wait a day or two to find out what to do from BMW NA Tech. BMW sent a new crankshaft position sensor to Steve for replacement over this past weekend. BMW also wanted to have the engine bore/scoped ? with a camera to see internals and look at the magnetic measuring ring that pairs with the sensor to make sure that there was no damage to it and it was not damaged in any way which is good.

Steve gave me a call yesterday afternoon, Monday July 23, and let me know that the new sensor had arrived and it was going to be installed later in the day. Thankfully the transmission & flywheel etc. did not need to be removed and reinstalled to get at the crankshaft sensor. If the magnetic ring was bad and/or damaged; by no fault of mine I hope, then the transmission and flywheel would need to be removed to replace that part I was told.

This morning, I touched base with Steve and new sensor is installed and tech is driving 340 to make sure all issues are repaired correctly and there are no more faults/errors. Hope to get her back this afternoon.

Now get this, the interesting thing. Since my 340 M-sport, rear drive, 6-spd "broke down" Steve has had another 340 same specs as mine and an M240 same specs, all rear drive, 6-spd manuals "brake down" and have to be towed in for repair with the same drive train error msg? Maybe a bad batch of sensors from BMW or maybe BOSCH makes them?

Steve in the BMW of Rochester, NY Service Dept is the best there is. Can not thank him enough or give him more praise for what he does for me.

[Sea-Tac]

Hey NYBMWBrian...

Don't kick yourself in the butt over this. You'll get thru it...keep us posted.

[NYBMWBrian]

Hi Sea-Tac,
Thanks. I did not realize installing a simple piggyback tune may cause an issue? In my case it seems very unlikely. Do you happen to know if installing this engine tune can cause any damage to the b58 engine?

[sspade]

Piggyback tunes are not the safest option. Flash tune (by someone who knows what they are doing) are generally regarded as safer and better performing. That being said, not many choose to install any tune on a brand new car. I would definitely remove the tune, let the dealer fix the issue... take a deep breath and enjoy the car for what it is for a few thousand miles. During this time, I would research the shit out of this forum and then reevaluate your next move.

Ps. I was born and raised in Rochester as well. Most of my family and friends still reside there. Cool to see another forum member on here

[NYBMWBrian]

Thank you sspade.

Rochester is a nice place. Cool to chat with you.

[n00bkiller944]

Glad it was an easy (and more importantly FREE) repair! Enjoy the car. I very much envy your 6 speed m sport!

[NYBMWBrian]

Just got the 340 back and it works perfect. No mention of tune or anything. I got a full tank of fuel, nice BMW blu travel mug and a front & rear set of BMW winter floor liners from BMW of Rochester & BMW NA. Very nice of them. The issue was a bad crankshaft position sensor and it needed to be replaced.

[NYBMWBrian]

Also, no charge for anything, i forgot to mention that.

[sspade]

Originally Posted by NYBMWBrian

Just got the 340 back and it works perfect. No mention of tune or anything. I got a full tank of fuel, nice BMW blu travel mug and a front & rear set of BMW winter floor liners from BMW of Rochester & BMW NA. Very nice of them. The issue was a bad crankshaft position sensor and it needed to be replaced.

Great news!

Nice to hear BMW of Rochester treating you right

[MONSTAR]

Good to hear man. I would drive it for a few thousand miles and break it in and then put your piggyback back on or sell it and go with BM3

[NYBMWBrian]

Thanks guys