The almighty BMW gods have recently blessed me with a rather bizarre powertrain symptom on my 2013 E70 X5 35i Premium...I could use some guidance if anyone else has also experienced the same. Here's my story:
I had just finished placing my groceries into the trunk of my X5 after my weekly grocery haul. Now ready to leave I placed my foot on the brakes and pressed the ignition to start the car. The flawless roar of the engine on startup reaffirmed another joyous drive ahead. I shifted into reverse and then placed my right hand on the backside of the front passenger seat headrest feeling my fingers sink into the luxurious cinnamon-brown Nevada leather. Vigilant for any rogue shopping carts or height-challenged patrons I then turned my neck to aim my sight through the rear windshield. I began to make my exit from the parking spot...or so I thought.
Unexpectedly, like an inlaw visiting your home in an 00s sitcom, the X5 immediately went into reduced engine power mode and shut off mid reverse procedure. Surprised by the sudden stoppage, I tried the reliable IT trick we've all come to love - I pressed the ignition button while my foot was on the breaks to turn off the engine and then pressed the ignition button again to turn it back on. The engine miraculously turned on but became really rough as indicated by the sputtering RPM tack and an engine malfunction notification appeared on the center screen as well. The SUV was now in limp mode as I exited the parking lot at a max allowed speed of 10-15mph. I courageously, admittedly stupidly, continued to drive to see if I could get back home to bring the splendors of my original quest to my clan and to also figure out what was happening under the X5's hood.
Unfortunately, I didn't make it very far. About 2 minutes down the road all engine power was completely diminished to what I can only describe as a supple punch from an enraged hamster. The car slowed from 10mph to an even more anxiety-inducing 1mph. Even as I repeatedly and desperately pressed my pedal to the metal in hopes of giving it some juice, I could feel my X5's will to live escape through the strained engine vibrations running through my now sweaty palms that were clasped tight to the heated steering wheel. It was becoming more evident that the X5 no longer carried a spark for life beyond this journey.
Using the remaining momentum of this metallic behemoth I veered our course into an adjacent narrow residential street and luckily glided into an open parking spot along the curb. It was at this moment that all visible street lights synchronously illuminated as their sensors had been triggered by a dense fog that was descending upon this neighborhood. Unsettling darkness now cast itself as the fog enveloped all visible light in its path. "Could this be our Valhalla?", I thought as I stared out into the now increasingly disappearing view of the street we had crashed landed on. Oblivious to my surroundings I immediately acted by instinctively pulling out my handy OBDII tool, like a trained swordsman (who had forgotten he originally had a sword but just remembered when he needed it the most), from my glove box and began scanning for a diagnosis. I also reached into a grocery bag for some snacks as I knew it would be a while before help would arrive and/or solve this mysterious case. Over the years I had learned it is not best practice, if it can be avoided, to diagnose car trouble while hungry. This was not my first rodeo nor would I be naive enough to believe it was my last.
After a complete system scanning, the OBDII listed a handful of fault codes. The codes that were displayed were as follows:
(1) Confirmed Trouble Code:
P00BC: Mass or Volume Air Flow "A" Circuit Range/Performance - Air Flow Too Low
(2) Pending Trouble Codes:
P10E0: VVL-Overload Protection Control Motor System Shutdown (Bank 1)
P00BC: Mass of Volume Air Flow "A Circuit" Range/ Performance - Air Flow Too Low
(6) Engine Codes:
2E0F: Status: Active - Valvetronic System: deactivated, excess adjustment error
2DD8: Status: History - Valvetronic-actuator, position sensor: signal implausible
2DD6: Status: History - Valvetronic -actuator, position sensor: Short to ground or open circuit
2DE5: Status: History - Tank level sensor, right: signal
2DE9: Status: History - Valvetronic actuator: module protection, shut down system
2775: Status: History - Air mass, plausibility: Air mass too low
The rough idle was still present when I restarted the car at the curb. The X5 would now only lurch forward at 5mph max and the engine would sputter RPMs drastically/violently. It got to a point where I could tell it was not worth any further potential damage to continue running the engine. I decided to bite the bullet and call for a tow to my local euro repair shop because this was now out of my wheelhouse of car breakdown experiences. The tow truck driver's arrival was timely and my X5 was finally on its way to the shop 3 hours after my initial tow confirmation. I wasn't going to complain, though I want you all to know that it was not a pleasant wait. I was mostly elated that I was one step closer to getting my car back in working order.
Flash forward a couple of days later. I hadn't received any updates from the shop so I worryingly gave them a call. While speaking with the repair tech, they mentioned they were still diagnosing the problem and at the time of the call potentially determined that the engine issue could be the variable timing system. The invoice I received lists the following codes that were picked up on their diagnostic tool:
Current Codes:
2E0F - Valvetronic system deactivated, adjustment fault too frequent
2E10 - Valvetronic system disabled, feedback control deviations exceeded
History Codes:
2DCE - Valvetronic system, no adjustment possible
2DD8 - Valvetronic servomotor, signal implausible
2DD6 - Valvetronic servomotor, short circuit or line disconnection
The tech then recommended removing the valve cover to inspect the Valvetronic camshaft which would come at an additional fee. I've been in this game long enough to know that it always does. I appreciated their asking and confirmed that they should proceed to investigate further.
A few days after the last call I received an update from the tech with his findings. They found some signs of wear in the camshaft and suggested they replace the valvetronic servomotor and camshaft to ultimately resolve the car's issue.
During this repair the tech removed and replaced the following parts, as listed on the invoice:
I paid $2,750 in total for the above-listed parts and about 8 hrs of labor. I'm unsure of standard rates for this but maybe someone can let me know if that was a good/bad deal. I was originally quoted slightly higher than this amount so I'll take the L (read: "learning opportunity") and move on.
While I was sorting this invoice, the tech mentioned that I should bring the car back if I experience any similar engine issues. He said that if the issue persists it could likely be a compromised DME and it may also need to be replaced to fully resolve this from happening again. They quoted replacing the DME w/ wiring harness at $3,500. I thought this over but decided to take the X5 back home and would continue to drive/monitor for any further symptoms while also reassessing my car repair budget so I didn't go overboard if it wasn't absolutely necessary at that moment. Unexpected costs in my healthcare budget have also taken a toll but that's a story for another time.
Wondrously, there were no recurring engine issues for the last 3 days. From the time I picked the X5 up from the shop to the last 40miles of pure driving nirvana...until today.
While leaving work this evening I received the dreaded 'Engine Malfunction' & 'Reduced Engine Power' notification on my center screen. I just felt so defeated after going through the first round. This time, however, the engine did not sputter as violently as it did before. I really only felt/saw a slight sputtering of RPMs during engine start-up and idle but it was otherwise normal-ish. The 'Reduced Engine Power' notification noted that it was fine to drive for a short distance so I chose to drive it home to look into it further. I felt a bit more confident now that it wasn't driving as bad as my first experience. The check engine light was still illuminated as I pulled into my driveway, so I knew we weren't out of the woods quite yet.
Once home, I decided to hook up my OBDII tool to take a closer look. I restarted the X5's engine after grabbing my OBDII tool that was transferred over to my Z4's trunk during the X5's hiatus. Upon startup, the check engine light was still illuminated in my dash cluster but the 'Engine Malfunction' & 'Reduced Engine Power' notifications were no longer appearing. I'm completely at a loss for why but I assume the check engine light is a proxy for these notifications as it's tired of telling me these things at this point. I'll try again tomorrow morning to see if this remains consistent. Nonetheless, my most recent scans showed the following codes:
(1) Confirmed Trouble Code:
P1030 - VVL-Actuator Monitoring Position Control; Tight, no Adjustment possible (Bank 1)
(1) Pending Trouble Code:
P1030 - VVL-Actuator Monitoring Position Control; Tight, no Adjustment possible (Bank 1)
(1) Permanent Trouble Code:
P1030 - VVL-Actuator Monitoring Position Control; Tight, no Adjustment possible (Bank 1)
(2) Engine Codes:
2E0F - Status: Active - Valvetronic System: deactivated, excessive adjustment error
2DCE - Status: History - Valvetronic System: no adjustment possible
The answer to this problem becomes more apparent as I'm typing this all out at my computer now. The compromised DME + wiring harness may be the culprit but I want to see if anyone else may have experienced the same or if anyone may have some insight in other areas to check before hanging my head low, biting another bullet, and taking it back to the repair shop.
Honestly, at this point in the war, I'm just dazed at the thought of spending thousands more for an uncertain fix while also not being able to enjoy my metallic behemoth the same way I used to. I would be so sad to part with it if it does come to that.
I hope the information I presented was somewhat helpful for you all to understand the issue this X5 is having. I understand this is a huge ask to expect anyone to review the information presented above as if it's not an exercise in parsing through an exhaustive melodramatic rant about my car troubles. Just like after my first car breakdown, I'm feeling overly optimistic that somewhere, someone has also experienced the same and may have a fix too.
So with that said, I would greatly appreciate any and all suggestions, insights, links to past forum discussions, thoughts, alternative solutions to this problem I'm facing. I have also attached the generated reports from my latest scan for your review if needed. Please do let me know if any further information would be helpful to dissect potential fixes.
I had just finished placing my groceries into the trunk of my X5 after my weekly grocery haul. Now ready to leave I placed my foot on the brakes and pressed the ignition to start the car. The flawless roar of the engine on startup reaffirmed another joyous drive ahead. I shifted into reverse and then placed my right hand on the backside of the front passenger seat headrest feeling my fingers sink into the luxurious cinnamon-brown Nevada leather. Vigilant for any rogue shopping carts or height-challenged patrons I then turned my neck to aim my sight through the rear windshield. I began to make my exit from the parking spot...or so I thought.
Unexpectedly, like an inlaw visiting your home in an 00s sitcom, the X5 immediately went into reduced engine power mode and shut off mid reverse procedure. Surprised by the sudden stoppage, I tried the reliable IT trick we've all come to love - I pressed the ignition button while my foot was on the breaks to turn off the engine and then pressed the ignition button again to turn it back on. The engine miraculously turned on but became really rough as indicated by the sputtering RPM tack and an engine malfunction notification appeared on the center screen as well. The SUV was now in limp mode as I exited the parking lot at a max allowed speed of 10-15mph. I courageously, admittedly stupidly, continued to drive to see if I could get back home to bring the splendors of my original quest to my clan and to also figure out what was happening under the X5's hood.
Unfortunately, I didn't make it very far. About 2 minutes down the road all engine power was completely diminished to what I can only describe as a supple punch from an enraged hamster. The car slowed from 10mph to an even more anxiety-inducing 1mph. Even as I repeatedly and desperately pressed my pedal to the metal in hopes of giving it some juice, I could feel my X5's will to live escape through the strained engine vibrations running through my now sweaty palms that were clasped tight to the heated steering wheel. It was becoming more evident that the X5 no longer carried a spark for life beyond this journey.
Using the remaining momentum of this metallic behemoth I veered our course into an adjacent narrow residential street and luckily glided into an open parking spot along the curb. It was at this moment that all visible street lights synchronously illuminated as their sensors had been triggered by a dense fog that was descending upon this neighborhood. Unsettling darkness now cast itself as the fog enveloped all visible light in its path. "Could this be our Valhalla?", I thought as I stared out into the now increasingly disappearing view of the street we had crashed landed on. Oblivious to my surroundings I immediately acted by instinctively pulling out my handy OBDII tool, like a trained swordsman (who had forgotten he originally had a sword but just remembered when he needed it the most), from my glove box and began scanning for a diagnosis. I also reached into a grocery bag for some snacks as I knew it would be a while before help would arrive and/or solve this mysterious case. Over the years I had learned it is not best practice, if it can be avoided, to diagnose car trouble while hungry. This was not my first rodeo nor would I be naive enough to believe it was my last.
After a complete system scanning, the OBDII listed a handful of fault codes. The codes that were displayed were as follows:
(1) Confirmed Trouble Code:
P00BC: Mass or Volume Air Flow "A" Circuit Range/Performance - Air Flow Too Low
(2) Pending Trouble Codes:
P10E0: VVL-Overload Protection Control Motor System Shutdown (Bank 1)
P00BC: Mass of Volume Air Flow "A Circuit" Range/ Performance - Air Flow Too Low
(6) Engine Codes:
2E0F: Status: Active - Valvetronic System: deactivated, excess adjustment error
2DD8: Status: History - Valvetronic-actuator, position sensor: signal implausible
2DD6: Status: History - Valvetronic -actuator, position sensor: Short to ground or open circuit
2DE5: Status: History - Tank level sensor, right: signal
2DE9: Status: History - Valvetronic actuator: module protection, shut down system
2775: Status: History - Air mass, plausibility: Air mass too low
The rough idle was still present when I restarted the car at the curb. The X5 would now only lurch forward at 5mph max and the engine would sputter RPMs drastically/violently. It got to a point where I could tell it was not worth any further potential damage to continue running the engine. I decided to bite the bullet and call for a tow to my local euro repair shop because this was now out of my wheelhouse of car breakdown experiences. The tow truck driver's arrival was timely and my X5 was finally on its way to the shop 3 hours after my initial tow confirmation. I wasn't going to complain, though I want you all to know that it was not a pleasant wait. I was mostly elated that I was one step closer to getting my car back in working order.
Flash forward a couple of days later. I hadn't received any updates from the shop so I worryingly gave them a call. While speaking with the repair tech, they mentioned they were still diagnosing the problem and at the time of the call potentially determined that the engine issue could be the variable timing system. The invoice I received lists the following codes that were picked up on their diagnostic tool:
Current Codes:
2E0F - Valvetronic system deactivated, adjustment fault too frequent
2E10 - Valvetronic system disabled, feedback control deviations exceeded
History Codes:
2DCE - Valvetronic system, no adjustment possible
2DD8 - Valvetronic servomotor, signal implausible
2DD6 - Valvetronic servomotor, short circuit or line disconnection
The tech then recommended removing the valve cover to inspect the Valvetronic camshaft which would come at an additional fee. I've been in this game long enough to know that it always does. I appreciated their asking and confirmed that they should proceed to investigate further.
A few days after the last call I received an update from the tech with his findings. They found some signs of wear in the camshaft and suggested they replace the valvetronic servomotor and camshaft to ultimately resolve the car's issue.
During this repair the tech removed and replaced the following parts, as listed on the invoice:
- Camshaft adjuster solenoid
- Valve Cover
- Camshaft bearing (qty:6)
- Oil spraying nozzle
- Stopper bolt
- Breather hose
- Fuel injector seal (qty:6)
- Engine wiring harness
I paid $2,750 in total for the above-listed parts and about 8 hrs of labor. I'm unsure of standard rates for this but maybe someone can let me know if that was a good/bad deal. I was originally quoted slightly higher than this amount so I'll take the L (read: "learning opportunity") and move on.
While I was sorting this invoice, the tech mentioned that I should bring the car back if I experience any similar engine issues. He said that if the issue persists it could likely be a compromised DME and it may also need to be replaced to fully resolve this from happening again. They quoted replacing the DME w/ wiring harness at $3,500. I thought this over but decided to take the X5 back home and would continue to drive/monitor for any further symptoms while also reassessing my car repair budget so I didn't go overboard if it wasn't absolutely necessary at that moment. Unexpected costs in my healthcare budget have also taken a toll but that's a story for another time.
Wondrously, there were no recurring engine issues for the last 3 days. From the time I picked the X5 up from the shop to the last 40miles of pure driving nirvana...until today.
While leaving work this evening I received the dreaded 'Engine Malfunction' & 'Reduced Engine Power' notification on my center screen. I just felt so defeated after going through the first round. This time, however, the engine did not sputter as violently as it did before. I really only felt/saw a slight sputtering of RPMs during engine start-up and idle but it was otherwise normal-ish. The 'Reduced Engine Power' notification noted that it was fine to drive for a short distance so I chose to drive it home to look into it further. I felt a bit more confident now that it wasn't driving as bad as my first experience. The check engine light was still illuminated as I pulled into my driveway, so I knew we weren't out of the woods quite yet.
Once home, I decided to hook up my OBDII tool to take a closer look. I restarted the X5's engine after grabbing my OBDII tool that was transferred over to my Z4's trunk during the X5's hiatus. Upon startup, the check engine light was still illuminated in my dash cluster but the 'Engine Malfunction' & 'Reduced Engine Power' notifications were no longer appearing. I'm completely at a loss for why but I assume the check engine light is a proxy for these notifications as it's tired of telling me these things at this point. I'll try again tomorrow morning to see if this remains consistent. Nonetheless, my most recent scans showed the following codes:
(1) Confirmed Trouble Code:
P1030 - VVL-Actuator Monitoring Position Control; Tight, no Adjustment possible (Bank 1)
(1) Pending Trouble Code:
P1030 - VVL-Actuator Monitoring Position Control; Tight, no Adjustment possible (Bank 1)
(1) Permanent Trouble Code:
P1030 - VVL-Actuator Monitoring Position Control; Tight, no Adjustment possible (Bank 1)
(2) Engine Codes:
2E0F - Status: Active - Valvetronic System: deactivated, excessive adjustment error
2DCE - Status: History - Valvetronic System: no adjustment possible
The answer to this problem becomes more apparent as I'm typing this all out at my computer now. The compromised DME + wiring harness may be the culprit but I want to see if anyone else may have experienced the same or if anyone may have some insight in other areas to check before hanging my head low, biting another bullet, and taking it back to the repair shop.
Honestly, at this point in the war, I'm just dazed at the thought of spending thousands more for an uncertain fix while also not being able to enjoy my metallic behemoth the same way I used to. I would be so sad to part with it if it does come to that.
I hope the information I presented was somewhat helpful for you all to understand the issue this X5 is having. I understand this is a huge ask to expect anyone to review the information presented above as if it's not an exercise in parsing through an exhaustive melodramatic rant about my car troubles. Just like after my first car breakdown, I'm feeling overly optimistic that somewhere, someone has also experienced the same and may have a fix too.
So with that said, I would greatly appreciate any and all suggestions, insights, links to past forum discussions, thoughts, alternative solutions to this problem I'm facing. I have also attached the generated reports from my latest scan for your review if needed. Please do let me know if any further information would be helpful to dissect potential fixes.
