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      12-30-2012, 10:07 PM   #1
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First F30 Limp Mode

UPDATE:
"Limp Mode" affects only 335i MSports, 6MT/8AT, X-drive/RWD, & regardless of build date.

Symptoms:
1) Loss of power and car will not rev. past ~3,000 rpm (no fault codes on dash)
2) Radiator electric cooling fan on max (very loud)
3) Engine Oil Temp. approx. 205 degF or lower (while limp mode is occurring, temp. is usually not at normal operating temp of 245 degF)

The problem goes away once car is turned off and back on (it resets). Many users have reported that it seems to happen after a long comfort mode drive on the freeway followed by city driving and switching to sport mode.

Repair attempts:
1) Auxiliary electric Cooling Fan Replacement (mounted to the radiator and fan shroud) - Biggest Culprit (The fan is tested directly and will fail the test but may or may not have a fault code stored in the ECU)
2) Fan relay Replacement
3) Thermostat Replacement
4) DME Replacement with software update

As far as we can tell, there is no SIB yet but plenty of PUMA cases have been filed. Some users have also reported that the MPPK will not solve the issue. A few people have had their cars bought back and replaced by BMW.

Most importantly, there have now been 50+ members of F30Post who have reported the exact same problem on this thread.

Photo from a member while on full throttle in limp mode:
Name:  Flooring It.jpg
Views: 33364
Size:  49.6 KB

Photo from a member showing the repair invoice:
Name:  Error Invoice.jpg
Views: 33151
Size:  715.7 KB



Original Post:
I don't believe I've seen anyone else on this forum enter into limp mode with their F30 yet. I believe I have for the first time.

I spent the day driving around LA on and off the freeway. The engine was strong all day and I always waited for the oil temp to reach a comfortable level before revving.

About 1 stop sign away from my house (coming back home after a long day) my car won't rev. past 2.5k rpm. I notice a loud fan noise. I do not get any error messages on screen though. I restarted the car as soon as I got home but the fan noise went away and the car was back to normal. Has anyone else experienced this yet?

Is this limp mode? Should I bring it in?

Last edited by DarkTrigger; 07-10-2013 at 08:56 PM.. Reason: Update per new information from member posts.
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      12-30-2012, 10:17 PM   #2
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yeah bring it in.

and if there were error codes, ALWAYS snap pictures. the tech's are lost without it if the limp mode isn't noted in the ECU error list.
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      12-30-2012, 10:23 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkTrigger View Post
I don't believe I've seen anyone else on this forum enter into limp mode with their F30 yet. I believe I have for the first time.

I spent the day driving around LA on and off the freeway. The engine was strong all day and I always waited for the oil temp to reach a comfortable level before revving.

About 1 stop sign away from my house (coming back home after a long day) my car won't rev. past 2.5k rpm. I notice a loud fan noise. I do not get any error messages on screen though. I restarted the car as soon as I got home but the fan noise went away and the car was back to normal. Has anyone else experienced this yet?

Is this limp mode? Should I bring it in?
had something very similar happen to me the other day on my way to work.

-was chilly outside
-i always drive real easy to work eco pro the whole way
-this time tho i noticed the oil temp stayed real low, was weird(usually is around 240 by the time i get to work, this time it was around 180
-when i got to work i too heard a very loud fan noise, at first i thought there was an 18 wheeler near me, it was that loud.
-never happened again.
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      12-30-2012, 10:38 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by justinnum1 View Post
had something very similar happen to me the other day on my way to work.

-was chilly outside
-i always drive real easy to work eco pro the whole way
-this time tho i noticed the oil temp stayed real low, was weird(usually is around 240 by the time i get to work, this time it was around 180
-when i got to work i too heard a very loud fan noise, at first i thought there was an 18 wheeler near me, it was that loud.
-never happened again.
Never happened again? Well, I hope it's a one off for mine too. I'm still going to bring it in though. I really have not been driving it all that hard.
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      12-30-2012, 11:20 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkTrigger View Post
Never happened again? Well, I hope it's a one off for mine too. I'm still going to bring it in though. I really have not been driving it all that hard.
to be honest, unless you bring it in with the problem, its pretty much a waste of time, from my experience at least
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      12-30-2012, 11:24 PM   #6
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Was this with a 328? Or 335?
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      12-30-2012, 11:57 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DarkTrigger
I don't believe I've seen anyone else on this forum enter into limp mode with their F30 yet. I believe I have for the first time.

I spent the day driving around LA on and off the freeway. The engine was strong all day and I always waited for the oil temp to reach a comfortable level before revving.

About 1 stop sign away from my house (coming back home after a long day) my car won't rev. past 2.5k rpm. I notice a loud fan noise. I do not get any error messages on screen though. I restarted the car as soon as I got home but the fan noise went away and the car was back to normal. Has anyone else experienced this yet?

Is this limp mode? Should I bring it in?
Hmmm, could the loud noise be an unprimed HPFP?
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      12-31-2012, 12:57 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3@Apex
Was this with a 328? Or 335?
335i. Craziness with 335i's again?? Oil temp didnt even budge on my 328i on any track sessions.

This is bot good to hear.
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      12-31-2012, 01:21 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3@Apex View Post
Was this with a 328? Or 335?
335i, 2,800 miles, 2 months old.
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      12-31-2012, 01:55 AM   #10
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There was a thread on this some weeks ago. It happened to me once and I was told by the dealer to bring it in when it happens again!

Scanned with my BT cable and I had an error for " Electric fan" in the electric module and another error in the transmission module. It has not happened again but if it does, I will just scan with BT cable and wrote down the error codes and take it in to the dealer.
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      12-31-2012, 01:59 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mak135i View Post
There was a thread on this some weeks ago. It happened to me once and I was told by the dealer to bring it in when it happens again!

Scanned with my BT cable and I had an error for " Electric fan" in the electric module and another error in the transmission module. It has not happened again but if it does, I will just scan with BT cable and wrote down the error codes and take it in to the dealer.
So they didn't change out anything? I guess maybe I should not bring it in. Keep me updated if it happens again. This is my first!
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      12-31-2012, 02:20 AM   #12
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Like somebody else on this thread, I was advised by the dealer to bring it in while it was happening which seems ridiculous since it could happen at night or on a Sunday or when I'm out of town!

Anyway, I do not tell the dealers I have the BT cable. But, if it does happen again, I'll simply take it in and ask them to look for codes. If they say they can't find any, I'll "point them in the right direction".
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      12-31-2012, 06:35 AM   #13
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Most likely a Fan/Thermostat error
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      12-31-2012, 09:04 AM   #14
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Yes this happened to me twice already when the car had 400 miles. Now the car has 780 miles and it hasn't happened since. Fan full blast and dead throttle. 335i

I'm wondering if it cleared itself in my car with increasing drive cycles. No codes either and restart it went away
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      12-31-2012, 09:08 AM   #15
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ES_TRADER:
How do you know there were no codes? Or do you mean no error messages in the dash?
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      12-31-2012, 09:44 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mak135i
ES_TRADER:
How do you know there were no codes? Or do you mean no error messages in the dash?
Right I mean no codes on idrive and check control was OK. There could be stored faults inside but I can't be sure since I did not scan the car.

I want to see it happening on a consistent basis before bringing it into the dealer because they could waste my time with the usual could not duplicate customer concern.
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      12-31-2012, 12:48 PM   #17
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Wow, I can't believe this has happened to so many people. Any 328i drivers had this problem yet?
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      12-31-2012, 01:44 PM   #18
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Thumbs down video


This happened to me a few weeks ago , I just uploaded a video of it.
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      12-31-2012, 01:45 PM   #19
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It's the electric cooling fan guys.

I was experiencing the same symptoms. The dealer found some fault codes and saw that the fan was toast.

Dealer replaced the fan and my car has never felt stronger.
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      12-31-2012, 02:22 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ybbiz34 View Post
It's the electric cooling fan guys.

I was experiencing the same symptoms. The dealer found some fault codes and saw that the fan was toast.

Dealer replaced the fan and my car has never felt stronger.

+1.
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      12-31-2012, 07:41 PM   #21
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I also forgot to mention when this happened to me the oil temp gauge on the right was right at the notch between 160 and 250 and I know for a fact the car was fully warm. The temp was stuck there after driving for 40 mins too.

Everytime my fan went on Max, engine temperature was stuck and never at the middle mark
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      12-31-2012, 08:29 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ybbiz34 View Post
It's the electric cooling fan guys.

I was experiencing the same symptoms. The dealer found some fault codes and saw that the fan was toast.

Dealer replaced the fan and my car has never felt stronger.
I'm experiencing lack of power in my 2nd gear completely and a loud fan turning on... Is this the same problem? 1 / 3 - 6 gears are awesome though I believe...

I've also noticed my temperature going from being in the middle and going down a bit then back to normal. Is that normal?
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