330e drivetrain malfunction

Deano1889 · 09-22-2023, 04:20 AM

My F30 2016 330e has thrown up a drivetrain malfunction warning.

There's a clear issue when the car transitions from eclectic drive to the petrol engine. The best way I can describe is that it's as if the car has to think for a few seconds before the petrol engine and power kicks in. It then kicks in higher revs than normal, almost as if it's embarrassed by its delay in power and so tries to make up for it. It leaves me with no power gain on the accelerator for a second or two while it thinks it over.

Any advice?

Barry330e · 10-06-2023, 02:45 PM

Hi, 2016 330e owner here also.

I had the exact same problem over the summer. I took the car to my local independent BMW mechanic who diagnosed the problem as a faulty auxiliary battery. This is a small battery under the bonnet, at the rear right hand side. He replaced the battery with a genuine BMW battery and cleared the fault and the issue was sorted. Total bill was €170.

Hope this is of help to you.

TurboWeasel · 10-06-2023, 03:28 PM

Check the voltage of the starter motor battery with a meter, it should be at 12.6-12.8V with the engine switched off.

If that is OK, it will be the starter motor solenoid usually. The delay is the control unit waiting for the 12V starter motor to turn the engine over, if it times out, it then uses the hybrid motor to turn it over instead.

Deano1889 · 10-16-2023, 02:48 PM

Update on this one for closure and in case anyone else encounters the same issue in future.

It was the AUX battery! Thanks to @Barry330e and @TurboWeasel You've both helped me save a lot of cash and stress!!

£184 fitted and coded to the car. The old one was OEM branded so I suspect it'd never been replaced up to now so was ready to be replaced anyway.

Factor in the initial £96 indi diagnostics and it comes in at under £300. Needless to say, I'm very happy and relieved compared to how I was when I had the first diagnostic report and quote.

So if you get the same issue as I initially posted. Try replacing and coding the AUX Battery before anything else and save yourself £££ (the one under the bonnet NOT in the boot!)

09-22-2023, 04:20 AM	#1
Deano1889 Enlisted Member 16 Rep 40 Posts Drives: BMW 330e Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Sheffield iTrader: (0)	330e drivetrain malfunction - EV to Petrol lag My F30 2016 330e has thrown up a drivetrain malfunction warning. There's a clear issue when the car transitions from eclectic drive to the petrol engine. The best way I can describe is that it's as if the car has to think for a few seconds before the petrol engine and power kicks in. It then kicks in higher revs than normal, almost as if it's embarrassed by its delay in power and so tries to make up for it. It leaves me with no power gain on the accelerator for a second or two while it thinks it over. Any advice?
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

10-06-2023, 02:45 PM	#2
Barry330e Registered 0 Rep 3 Posts Drives: BMW 330e Join Date: Oct 2023 Location: Ireland iTrader: (0)	Hi, 2016 330e owner here also. I had the exact same problem over the summer. I took the car to my local independent BMW mechanic who diagnosed the problem as a faulty auxiliary battery. This is a small battery under the bonnet, at the rear right hand side. He replaced the battery with a genuine BMW battery and cleared the fault and the issue was sorted. Total bill was €170. Hope this is of help to you.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-06-2023, 03:28 PM	#3
TurboWeasel Major 825 Rep 1,056 Posts Drives: BMW 330D Join Date: Nov 2022 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Check the voltage of the starter motor battery with a meter, it should be at 12.6-12.8V with the engine switched off. If that is OK, it will be the starter motor solenoid usually. The delay is the control unit waiting for the 12V starter motor to turn the engine over, if it times out, it then uses the hybrid motor to turn it over instead. Last edited by TurboWeasel; 10-06-2023 at 03:35 PM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-16-2023, 02:48 PM	#4
Deano1889 Enlisted Member 16 Rep 40 Posts Drives: BMW 330e Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Sheffield iTrader: (0)	Update on this one for closure and in case anyone else encounters the same issue in future. It was the AUX battery! Thanks to @Barry330e and @TurboWeasel You've both helped me save a lot of cash and stress!! £184 fitted and coded to the car. The old one was OEM branded so I suspect it'd never been replaced up to now so was ready to be replaced anyway. Factor in the initial £96 indi diagnostics and it comes in at under £300. Needless to say, I'm very happy and relieved compared to how I was when I had the first diagnostic report and quote. So if you get the same issue as I initially posted. Try replacing and coding the AUX Battery before anything else and save yourself £££ (the one under the bonnet NOT in the boot!)
	Appreciate 0 Quote