[kingslayer]

Hey friends,

I am new to both this forum and the bimmer gang. I recently purchased a 2014 335i xdrive (45,000) and I am absolutely in love with her. Currently, 3 months into ownership (52,000) and I woke up to my first major fault... the dreaded drivetrain malfunction. The car turns over and the exhaust sounds fine, but there is a slight engine knock/shutter during idle. I used bimmerlink to read some codes, and of course, was greeted with many more than I expected. I plan on taking her in but would like to know what I am getting into.

Digital Engine Electronics
13 errors
1A2108: ELECTRIC FAN, SELF-DIAGNOSIS LEVEL 1: SLIGHT FAN FAULT
20A703: ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM: COMPONENT PROTECTION TEMPORARY ENGINE
POWER REDUCTION
213901: POWER MANAGEMENT: ACTIVE CONSUMER REDUCTION
1FB101: POWER MANAGEMENT: BATTERY FALLS BELOW UPPER STARTABILITY LIMIT
1A2108: ELECTRIC FAN, SELF-DIAGNOSIS LEVEL 1: SLIGHT FAN FAULT
1A2108: ELECTRIC FAN, SELF-DIAGNOSIS LEVEL 1: SLIGHT FAN FAULT
1A2108: ELECTRIC FAN, SELF-DIAGNOSIS LEVEL 1: SLIGHT FAN FAULT
20A703: ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM: COMPONENT PROTECTION TEMPORARY ENGINE
POWER REDUCTION
1A2108: ELECTRIC FAN, SELF-DIAGNOSIS LEVEL 1: SLIGHT FAN FAULT
134F10: VALVETRONIC, ADJUSTMENT RANGE: STOP NOT LEARNED DUE TO
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
213501: POWER MANAGEMENT: BATTERY DEEP DISCHARGE
1A2108: ELECTRIC FAN, SELF-DIAGNOSIS LEVEL 1: SLIGHT FAN FAULT
1A2108: ELECTRIC FAN, SELF-DIAGNOSIS LEVEL 1: SLIGHT FAN FAU

So far, I have only changed the oil.

Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Billfitz]

Many errors will toss a code and then the fault will go away, but the code remains. It's best to clear all the codes, drive the car for a bit and then scan it again to identify faults still present.

[zeikei]

Out of the listed codes the one that most likely is related to the rough idle is the valvetronic error. Cooling fan has an issue but that should not affect your idle.

[thejeremyman9]

How cold is it and how old is the battery. Usually when you get a slew of codes that's a indication the battery could be failing, or just too discharged, and you do indeed have that code.

I would suggest putting the battery on a tender/charger, getting it full, clearing the codes, and then driving to see if they come back.

[cfm56d7b]

Originally Posted by thejeremyman9

How cold is it and how old is the battery. Usually when you get a slew of codes that's a indication the battery could be failing, or just too discharged, and you do indeed have that code.

I would suggest putting the battery on a tender/charger, getting it full, clearing the codes, and then driving to see if they come back.

That would be my suggestion as well. When the battery does not provide the required power, BMW electronic components can generate many codes which do go away after the battery has been fully charged.

Do you take many short trips?

[F32Fleet]

Towards the bottom it says Battery Deep Discharge.

My money is on the old battery.

[kingslayer]

Appreciate the help and fast replies! I cleared all codes and she has been running fine. Will look into a replacement battery.

[kingslayer]

Yes, I take a fair amount of short trips everyday. I let the car warm up for 10-15 minutes when she has sat for a while.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by kingslayer

Will look into a replacement battery.

The most often recommended unnecessary fix is to replace the battery. Deep discharge doesn't mean there's anything wring with the battery, it just means that it's not charged as much as it should be. The number one reason for that is short trips, the number two reason is infrequent driving, the number three reason is cold weather. If you're taking short trips infrequently in cold weather that's a triple whammy. That's my winter driving routine, which I address with a battery tender. Since I use a tender religiously my six year old battery still works almost like new.
Don't bother with the warm up, all that does is to waste gas. Short trips are a killer, because every time you start the car it takes a good five miles of driving to fully charge the battery again even in warm weather. If I have to do an errand up to a mile away I don't drive, I walk. It's better for the car and better for my health.