Drivetrain Malfunction and misfire issues in BMW's part 2

This is a PART 2 video is about Drivetrain Malfunction messages and reasons for them. I had sooo much feedback and question from the first video. I made this second video with some additional details/cause of 'Drivetrain Malfunctions'. Misfires, fuel issues, etc are just a few things that can cause these messages.

[@luta_m]

We drive them like we stole them 😂😂😂 I appreciate the warning lights actually Thank you for the explanation

[@yungnite25]

You definitely kinda be from Cali 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@kburris1688]

Valid point😂💯‼️

[@michaelbauer3518]

Awesome video Bob, thanks for the insight and putting my mind at ease a bit. "We drive them like we stole them" is a line I will use again!

[@TerrilynndeGuitar]

My drivetrain malfunction was caused by two things.. a broken ceramic on a stuck spark plug, AND a bad vacuum pump. My vacuum pump leaked oil into the pier berg valve. (Boost controller). I have the X3 with a vacuum actuated boost controller. So nice to finally have a reliable X3!!

[@amarish864]

Bob Thank you for posting such a great video. Infact i was scared to hell when i had this issue as Dealers are hungry to exploit such issues. Thank you so much

[@bobmac1970]

Glad it was helpful :)

[@louisjarman3671]

Hi Bob i find your videos very interesting i am a big BMW fan and thanks for sharing valuble info

[@johnnyortiz606]

Thank you so much! Please keep these videos on BMW issues coming! I love my 750 Li but must admit it’s quite scary when you see drivetrain malfunction on the screen! You’ve talked me down from the ledge… Thanks again!

[@NkwasiasemAkwakwa]

Yea, that really sounds like a bad transmission or broken engine .

[@stevefrazier1644]

I have a 2011 Bmw 535i GT and nobody can figure out why the drivetrain Malfuction keep showing up. I've been to three dealerships already. Can anybody help me something?

[@johnnyortiz606]

@@stevefrazier1644 Steve… I’m not a mechanic but when my screen showed drivetrain malfunction it turned out it was one of the coils/injectors. I do understand that the drivetrain malfunction can be triggered by an assortment of different issues on the car. On my vehicle, my mechanic found the problem immediately once he hooked the car up to the computer. Good luck!

[@stevefrazier1644]

@@johnnyortiz606 I tried fixing so many things. Its crazy because the car looks brand new and runs well. However, I get that maltrain drive function sometimes.

[@bayad1058]

@@stevefrazier1644 what fuel do you regularly load your 535 up with

[@nigelfhs2000]

Thank you so much for calm my nervous about this warning light!!!! I am more confident about these errors....

[@otube67]

I got a drivetrain malfunction warning on my F30 and it was a wheel speed sensor it came along with other warnings like restraint fault, stabilizing warning flat tire monitor warning etc.

[@mrp4235]

Olmedo Mendez well....what happened...fixed!?

[@otube67]

@@mrp4235 yes, happily fixed, thank you!

[@gerardozamora5157]

Same here bro this guy really calm me

[@sekurebag8689]

How did you fix?

[@biggur5]

On my 530d f10 n57 the error went away after spraying egr cleaner down the intake and pouring some dpf regenerator fluid into the tank. Took it for a long drive in manual and in a low gear after clearing the codes. Till date the problem has gone away. No more drive train error or mode mode I knew it wasnt timing chain as one would assume with drive train error because timing change issues had recently been fixed. The only error I had was increase in back pressure (which I assumed it being dpf issues as the car is diesel and I had not been driving it much due to lockdown and all my journeys were cold short journeys which is not a good thing for diesels

[@bettymenk2332]

Hey Bob Mac, your really informative , I've learned a lot watching your videos. TFS your knowledge 👍😉🙂

[@bobmac1970]

Thanks! Anything to help! :)

[@janiceroman9073]

Today I tried turn on my bmw 428i xdrive and it hesitated and all of a sudden the drivetrain message appeared but no transmission problems arose. Car drove good so what could that be

[@gdgg82]

Thank you Bob from Bulgaria. Thank you for the insight I have the same problem on F01 750 IL I took it to the dealership waiting for the results.

[@D-bow288]

I have a 750L as well what was the cause?

[@benpoopoo7933]

@@D-bow288 Did you find out the cause?

[@ka3ax85]

This is perfect explanation to what I thought is going on as I managed to find someone with a ODB2 and got a free look. BMW wanted to charge about $150 just to read a few codes!

[@bobmac1970]

Glad the video helped! ;)

[@tawfiqtube]

Hey! Super liked your video. Got a BMW 318 F30, mileage less then 9,000 and got the drivetrain malfunction today. Still under warranty, will take it to the dealer tomorrow. However, was very relaxed after watching your video. Super informative. Thanks mate!

[@bobmac1970]

Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for watching! ;)

[@tawfiqtube]

Hey Bob, took my car to the dealer/workshop yesterday and after going through the car they said it was an issue with the greabox and they have done something/adjustment with the ‘gearbox adaptation’ setting! Didn’t give me any more details, make any sense to you? Thanks for your replies in advance, really appreciate it.

[@bobmac1970]

@@tawfiqtube Sounds like a bit of a strange explanation from your dealership, but definately possible...rare but possible. The adaptation is simply a process in which they reprogram the shift pattern to an initial value. Do you drive in alot of stop/go traffic?

[@tawfiqtube]

@@bobmac1970 Yes, the city I live in is Dhaka, absolutely stop and go traffic virtually always, bumper to bumper, all the time, everywhere........thanks again Bob for your replies.

[@bobmac1970]

​@@tawfiqtube No problem. Hope it gets sorted out for you

[@ericcapdevielle7363]

Aloha Bob, Greetings from Hawaii, and many thanks for your video! Quick question: any particular OBD scanner you would recommend for a 2009 750li? There are so many on the markets, I don't know where to start from. Thanks again!

[@Medea007]

Download ISTA

[@henrysweeten7722]

Bob, I remember the day that your 435i's fuel pump went out... (graduation day I believe). I really miss picking your brain on a daily basis so thanks a lot for your videos :-)

[@bobmac1970]

I'm still only a phone call....and three States away! ;)

[@henrysweeten7722]

@@bobmac1970 True... brothers are always there for each other!

[@SuperHero-su6vv]

Thanks for video.. Can Drivetrain malfunction happens as a reset of coolant leakage inside the engine and/or the fuel system ?! Please advise.. Many thanks

[@chadlarson6259]

thank you for the info i definitely subscribed

[@davidcortese3300]

Thanks Bob, just got my 2014 328i XDrive back.... My mechanic found that my #4 fuel injector was bad/failed. It was dumping raw fuel into the c-chamber and the fuel got into the oil. So, I (we) agreed to replace the injector, as well as the spark plugs and coils; and a couple of other service items. Ran ($) me 1.3 "boxes of ziti" all in. I agree, that the warning (Drivetrain Malfunction), even early, gives the owner a call to action. I do not have scan tools, so relied on my local shop. The cost of the injector is pretty pricey, but nonetheless, all sorted.

[@bobmac1970]

Glad you got it sorted early enough. Open leaky injectors can actually completely ruin an engine. The excess fuel washes the oil film off the cylinder wall and causes scoring. It's not a bad idea to take a cheap endoscope camera to look into cylinder #4 to make sure it looks good.

[@davidcortese3300]

@@bobmac1970 Thanks Bob, you (and my bro-in-law also) mentioned the possible scoring in the cylinder wall. I will chat with my mechanic this week and ask for his "review" of the c-wall. (When the dreaded Drivetrain Malfunction came on, firstly, I was less than a mile from home, and that shaking really threw me.... Secondly, I got home and with a chat with my mechanic; did not drive it at all, I got it towed to the shop. Fingers Crossed as they say. Thank you again....

[@ziehmnkumane5861]

We appreciate your assistance Brother.

[@bobmac1970]

Thanks for the kind words! Glad it helped you.

[@user-yb7pw2jc2e]

Hello very useful video I bought a car in America Bmw X5 Xdr40E I have the same transmission problem Do the same problems described in your video apply to my car?

[@bobireviews6309]

This is really helpful...thanks!

[@corbinparker2734]

Hey this is incredibly insightful. I think my BMW dealership robbed me. I had the same drivetrain malfunction issue and I got the misfire and it choked and shutdown in traffic. BMW got it & charged me $4700 for repairs then my car broke down on me the same way 3 weeks later while I was out of town.

[@bobmac1970]

What did they claim was the issue? $4700 is a hefty repair bill!

[@ET-vj4vz]

I was getting it once in awhile on my 535i xdrive, but no codes. Than one cool MN night got on it to merge into freeway traffic and BAM! The loudest squeal and sound of every gear inside the front Diff exploding. This also nearly sheared both front axles, after this there was not a single malfunction for the drivetrain. Drove it on serious limp off the freeway to a KwikTrip. Repair was $6,000 to replace with all new BMW parts. Only 2,000miles later having drivetrain Mal. Indications and some serious slippage feeling under acceleration...Hmmm🤔??? My 96 doesn't act like this at all...Drive safe!

[@kjhnsn7296]

That's your Transfer case. You can easily test it to confirm by unplugging it. I busted one of these and had similar slippage symptoms.

[@ukrays7668]

Cheers Bob. Good vid

[@KennethBostonian]

Great video with explanation. My X5 sport the 4x4 light came on and the engine skipping and the check engine light came on. I couldn’t believe it. Ignition coil #2 was bad. Every time I would accelerate everything would come on and engine skipping. Once changed all fixed.

[@donaldhill1618]

Thank you for the info. Our 2024 X5 BMW gave this code last Tuesday and again today. It has 2206 miles on it. This codes started after I had a message that app updates were available !! (And Downloaded) ???

[@4restRobi]

I have a 2011 535i with 108k miles and the code that I’m getting is p112f. However, I often get the drive train malfunction but I’m not sure if the 2 are related . Any suggestions ?

[@ghermanraul6097]

in my case, it was the EGR valve. cost me about $380 for the valve, diagnostic test, and the fitting.

[@Medea007]

Dealer or indy?

[@chorusgirl1a2b3c]

Hey, I've watched several of your videos. My 2018 330i just won't start. The Drivetrain Malfunction codes P2089 and P0456. Could you tell me what parts I may need?

[@teresacerna1612]

Popular Topic! Hi Bob thanks for anwering so many questions, wow! My 2013 BMW 3xi28 drive train malfunction light came on but went of when it was turned off and restarted. Usually it happens during heavy exceleration or climbing a hill. There have only been a few times where I could tell it wasn't allowing full performance, so I took it to my local repair shop not a BMW shop and the guy ran diagnostic testing $90 but could not find a reason it was showing drive train malfunction, So, I took it to the BMW shop; it was reprogramed , they drove it 20 miles the light did not appear until I drove off happy : ) that it wasn't the worse case and about that time the light appeared : ( . So i called them and they said usually when this happens it needs a new TURBO! $4000 plus change. How can they know that since it didn't give them a code for a new turbo? Also, on about four occasions upon start up I have seen blue-black smoke that had an unusual smell a rich smell is the only way i can describe it , not like burned oil but I did put 100% gasoline in it a few times but have not done that since. One other thing, while its idoling it is a little noisey, not bad but someone asked me if it was a diesel. Its going in another shop this week, Btw- BMW charged me $466 to reprogram and change my oil. I barely had 3000 miles on the last oil change but they required I have it changed to do the reprogram. So, basically I paid $466 to have my oil changed becasue nothing was fixed and they are guessing. The shop its going to is local import shop that is recommended but Im sure they will be guessing as well since it isn't showing codes for the problem. Does this sound like a spark plug change could help this ? Im really tired of paying diagnostic fees. Thank you !

[@bobmac1970]

Unfortunately a sparkplug change is not going to fix your issue. There is a plastic pipe(2)that go to the turbo. These are known to occasionally crack, which would cause your symptoms....that being said, when you mentioned blue smoke, the turbo becomes the suspect. The turbo on your BMW is oil and water cooled. There is a seal that keeps oil from being sucked into the exhaust or intake areas of the turbo. When this fails, small amounts of oil either get sucked into the engine, burned, then smoke blue....or a small amount of oil gets blown into the hot exhaust, which will also smoke. On the 100% gas I assume you mean 100 Octane? A good independent shop should be able to repair this for far less than $4k. Wherever you take it, they should pull the sparkplugs to at least inspect them to see if they're oily. Good luck with the repair!

[@Ahmed-ud7he]

@@bobmac1970 im also been told to replace the turbo..as I did my plugs and coils changed..should I change the turbo ?? Or just the pipes .. they are saying my turbo is having oil leaking in it ... plz advise

[@bobmac1970]

@@Ahmed-ud7he Do you have blueish smoke coming from your exhaust? Are the plugs oily?

[@Ahmed-ud7he]

@@bobmac1970 no .. smoke comes only fee days back before the drive train ..very little smoke comes ..there is some oil leaking in turbo .the machinic told me to change the turbo ..

[@KJDEION21]

Hey sir, I just recently deleted the resonators and put catless down pipes on the car, after I put the downpipes on it drove fine for about a week, I was getting in it the other day and it went into limp mode and gave me the drivetrain malfunction code… when I would start and stop it and restart the car it would go away it only came back when I got on it from 1st, then 2nd above 5000 rpms, I feel like if it was the plugs the problem should stay no matter how many times you turn off the car… That being said, it only does it when I jump on that hard… And I got the kids read I got to drive from my function with the code UO200-lost communication ecm/pcm “A”… I did a hard reset on the car… Then got on it that day and I never did it but I’ve been driving the car pretty little what a pretty low without gunning it and it drives fine… any ideas… I have a JB4 tune to install but before adding that much torque and hp I would like to see if it fixes the issues… I’ve find it may fix it… any advice?

[@jerryledwaba7995]

Hi! I have same warning as drivetrain, the car did cut off power and start being shaky! After some time the warning dissapeared and it still driving well, i went to Check with service operators and said its thermostat but i am not sure of that as i ddnt allow them to change it! My warning came as i was overtaking on a steep! Should i change thermostat?

[@DuckMcDuckinson]

Ima explain my story. I got a 2015 BMW 428i for 58,000 miles just 5 days ago from a dealership. They gave me full warranty on the car like a 3 year 50k miles. I was driving the car the 3rd day I got it and I was leaving a Sheetz and the car bogged or shook like crazy and it said a drivetrain malfunction occurred, and then it said the transmission temp was overheating so I parked it at a pediatrics place and I had to wait for a tow truck for awhile to come pick me up but the car wouldn’t go into reverse and was in limp mode or in neutral while in reverse, a check engine light came on later and it arrived at the dealer and they told me the next day that the car was throwing a bunch of codes for improper gear ratios and such. I just wanted to know how that happened and how can I prevent this from happening again and even if it was my fault or if i did something?

[@SirupyDiego1980]

Hey Bob, I got a F20 116i, spark plugs replaced and coil pack too however the car struggles to turn on, usually it only turns on when the car is cold but if its warmed up forget about turning it on, it wont even try to ignite, and also the engine has been replaced so it only has around 10k miles

[@bobmac1970]

Start with an OBD II read of the codes. There are too many things that could cause your difficult starting to begin guessing. Anything from temperature sensor to MAF to a bunch of other things could cause this. Reading the Codes is the only way to get a bit closer to the actual cause.

[@SirupyDiego1980]

Thanks for replying mate appreciate it

[@bobmac1970]

@@SirupyDiego1980 It's getting a little more challenging to reply to all, but I'll try to keep it up! That's what makes this platform great....mutual help.

[@D-bow288]

Based on your probable issues what is the cost average to get these fixed at the dealership. This is my 3rd 7series and the dm indicator came on. I think I may have put a little bad gas but not sure. My car drives perfect and I hardly drive my car over 70 :((( I trust my service advisor but kinda freaking out on what it cost to fix these things?

[@davidkalantar8885]

Cars need exercise 70 is slow for a BMW , let her rip once a month, “Italian tune ups “ are also for German cars 😂

[@NkwasiasemAkwakwa]

Very informative

[@jerrymorales9588]

My bmw m235i was driving fine but one night I put it on sports mode plus and I hit the gas, I press the brake a little hard to make sure i don’t hit a stop sign then I do a 180 degree drift. After that “drivetrain malfunction” pops up but it says I can drive moderately. What do you guys think is wrong?

[@KyleGreenSpeed3]

It’s tellin ya to learn how to drive lol

[@JuanGonzalez-hh9ry]

Bob, I own a 2011 BMW 550i MSport for about 2 years now(75k). Within the first 6 month I got the CEL, power train malfunction light, vehicle running rough, and lost power took it in to dealership I bought it from they replaced both turbos and 02 sensors luckily that repair fell under emissions warranty drove the vehicle about 1 week problem came back same code same cylinder #4 to it back. I get a called that I needed engine assembly or replace timing chain (timing chain stretched out) beats me. I take the car to a second dealership to get a second opinion same diagnosis, I said fine let’s replace the engine, well here I am 1 year later I’m still getting same code p0304, powertrain malfunction, lost of power and running rough.. took it back in they said spark plug and coil had them replaced problem came right back within the week any ideas( besides get rid of it)? Vehicle is back at the dealership… HELP!..

[@stopcorruptioninozqoa2030]

Is yours the n63 engine V8 4.4 TT ? Check for holes in the intake manifold part NUMBER ending in 555666

[@tracywoolley7149]

Hi mate what about in the diesel engines??? F21 1 SERIES??

[@bachiratallah5351]

Dear Bob, Happy holidays. I have a 228I 2016 and never had any issues with my car. With the heavy rain yesterday in south California, I drove on street and went through an area of water that was relatively high. After that I drove for 3 miles and stopped my car! The next day my dashboard gave me the msg: drivetrain malfunction, road assistant required. What do you think it is the problem? Should I wait for few days maybe the sun will dry any wet spot at some sensors! Any suggestions! Thank you for your help

[@bobmac1970]

Open your Air Filter box, and check the air filter to see if it's wet. I hope I'm wrong, but it sounds like you may have sucked in some water thru your intake...hopefully not.

[@bachiratallah5351]

@@bobmac1970 Thank you Bob for your msg. Thank god it fixed by itself, I left the car to dry for two days! After that all good. Probably was the filter wet! That’s what other mechanic said .

[@198888joshua]

Hey I have Bmw f10 2013 65K this is the first time I get this message, what should I do. Help please

[@romellowalker2796]

Hey I’m not sure if you’ll see this or not but I have some really thick white smoke coming from the exhaust, and from the passenger side of the car with rough idle and misfires on my F10 m5 along with a drive train malfunction and some kinda sweet smelling coming thru vents, what do you think it could be?

[@bobmac1970]

Sweet smell is definately a coolant leak. Stop Driving until you find the issue. The white smoke is an indication that coolant is making it in to the combustion chamber and being blown out as white smoke. Sound like a head gasket blown to me. Two things to verify would be compression test on all cylinders, and a 'leak-down' test of your cooling system. Good luck.

[@luckycali13]

So I took to advanced auto parts and they ran a diagnostics test and 4 I believe cylinders were miss firing and an o2 sensor malfunctioning and also a tcm issue do u think it could be a tune up issue also i did get a lean bank code 1

[@bobmac1970]

If all were misfiring...hmm...look at your fueling, high and low pressure pumps. Fueling issues can cause all the issues that are showing up for you

[@ziggym5]

Thank u for the info. I have f30 320i also misfiring. Plugged obd in and gave me errors on cylinder 1 & 3 so i changed out all spark plugs and coil pack for 1 & 3. Issue still persists but only on cylinder 3 so i now swapped coil pack 3 with 4 and still cylinder 3 is an issue. Went a little further to check the injector on 3 and that also is working fine. Furthermore we checked if the injectors r getting power with a voltage meter and they r. Now im totally lost & not sure where else to look. Mac seems to think the piston and rings could be gone i need help pls some advice of what else we could check

[@Ahmed-ud7he]

I had same problem and been told to change the turbo .. but still not sure ..what to do .

[@ziggym5]

@@Ahmed-ud7he im gonna have my injectors checked again along with voltage thats passing thru. Im looking to check all externals b4 we open the head as the cost to fix will rise very quick. Hope u come right is there anyway i can get hold of u directly for updates mine is going in this week hopefully gets sorted

[@ronaldking8521]

Hi Bob i just have a drivetrain error message 2 hours ago on my bmw x3 f25 the car was not moving , i checked, the gear was at neutral and i could not change to drive i restart the car it took me 7 second to start the engine since then no more error message Please help

[@bobmac1970]

Definately read out the error...may be fuel pump going bad, who knows? Reading out the OBD II error codes will help figure things out. Don't drive around much! Something is wrong...

[@hsseobserver5256]

Excellent

[@zacktorres8593]

I just had this happen to me last night. Turned car off for 5 min and back to normal. This morning the car tried to start but didn't until the second time. Taking it in to my mechanic soon and will try to follow up on this post in case it helps anyone else out in the future. I'm hoping it's the sparkplugs/coils. Just spent 3k on engine, radiator hose, and alternator! UGH.

[@janoszky]

hey Zack. What was it? I got the same, turns on every second time only with drivetrain comin up. It’s at the service just now.

[@Cryptohubmena]

I was driving my Bmw520i at 110km and little more acceleration caused drivetrain malfunction. What to do

[@lmm2282]

Hi bob i just purchased a 2012 alpina b7 with 70k miles. The car runs great but when i get on the throttle and it goes above id say 4k rpm drive moderately comes up and the acceleration is not there. Now if i shut the car off and restart it i have my acceleration is back and it drives fine. Any thoughts?

[@bobmac1970]

Any lean codes? Could be HP Fuel pump...but reading the errors with an OBD II reader will put u in the right direction

[@peakebarbecue9181]

I've been driving BMWs since 2005, I now have a 2015 X5 Diesel which was not cheap to buy and as soon as I hit 85K the Amber engine light started to come on. Then I got the Drive Train Malfunction twice. I would scan it. All scans pointed to Fuel Injectors 5 and 6 mechanic said "but it's cleared so you should be ok" Then 3 mos later engine light would come on and again Fuel Injector 5 and 6. Scanned it myself, this last time, and same two fuel injectors (Fuel injector 6 completely rusted out) I thought that was strange. I went on the BMW forums and apparently it's an issue with the X5s and should be a design recall as those last two fuel injectors are exposed to rain/moisture) I changed out both 5 and 6 fuel injectors and car has been running like a dream and then two mornings ago and just three weeks after putting in new fuel injectors. Drive Train Malfunction and Engine light amber, which has now cleared and not come back on for two days. Car is running fine but now I have to scan it again and who knows what it will be. I guess my issue is... In a $100K+ car I don't expect to get this many warnings and this many issues and potentially engine issues when the car is very well maintained. Mostly highway driven. You buy a BMW for the security and confidence you can drive it and not end up with thousands of dollars in repairs every year. My old 2005 325i Bimmer, never had an issue and that straight six engine was fabulous. Much as I love Bimmers. This will probably be my last BMW. They just don't seem to be the same car anymore. It seems to be a racket to have the car end up with major issues once you are over 85k. A five year old car that is well maintained should not be continuously firing off error codes related to the engine. All to say, your video was very helpful and hopefully this next scan shows something simple like a spark plug and not another fuel injector or worse.

[@bobmac1970]

I do hear you. It can be frustrating, and yes they are not cheap. If I didn't have the ability to perform a good bit of maintanence and troubleshooting myself, I'm not sure I would be driving one. I do think they are very reliable overall. I don't think the diesel side of the house is their strong suit. Unfortunately most manufactors source their parts from the same third party companies instead of making their own in-house anymore. It's all about cost. Definately sounds like your issue may be a designing mistake. Is there anyway to shield #5 and 6 injector to preven re-occurance?

[@JMack1746]

@@bobmac1970 Fortunately I'm a gear head and I have a good friend who works with me on my current BMW and he's a licensed mechanic. You are so right about the parts. A lot made in China but things like fuel injectors are still BOSCH. What amazes me is the amount of plastic parts... it's as if they design them to fail and to have you in a constant loop of buying a new car every five years. BMW service advisors get a shock when this blonde, lady grills them LOL. Anyway, just scanned my X5 this morning and now it's the EGR. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE driving BMWs which is why I keep buying them but I'm not impressed with how they are now building them these days. May go back to my 1995 Silverado for day to day driving in town

[@JMack1746]

@@bobmac1970 and I think a lot of the emission regulations are what create issues for the diesel engines. Diesel engines used to run forever. Now with all these parts they have added I think they create more problems for the engine. I top up the DEF regularly but if I could get away with disabling the EGR I would as I think they create even more damage to the engine but I agree with you. They are reliable cars and I do love them it's just a killer if you have to go to a dealer for a service. I'm thankful I can do a lot on my own.

[@malikbukaiinyc900]

Hello Sir. 2011 7 series with 140K. Have replaced, injectors, plugs and yet the drive train persists. BMW says it's the catalytic converter. 6K repair! I don't believe BMW! They suggested the prior fixes and now we're up to the converter? Thoughts?

[@stopcorruptioninozqoa2030]

I have done the same costly repairs 133’000km on my e70 Xdrive50i 4.4L n63 engine .. oh & now they find melted pin holes in the intake manifold part number ends in 555666

[@robertopena4x4]

Hola Bob, what do you recomend, change one coil, the cad one, in pair ( 1 and 3, or 2 and 4) or the 4 coils?

[@bobmac1970]

It's kind of a budget question, but when I change one coil, I may as well change all. You only need to change them though if one of them fails...that's when I replace all.

[@sekurebag8689]

How do you know if the coils are bad?

[@robertopena4x4]

@@sekurebag8689 no spark, misfire, also chek spark plug , inyector and compression

[@abdullahalhashmi8974]

Hey Bob, so I had my car 535i 2011 diagnosed by an obd 2 and the errors show that a misfire and the injection is turned off so what I did was replace the spark plugs and clean the injectors but the problem is still there and the check engine light keeps blinking what do you think I should do the next step?

[@bobmac1970]

Depends on what codes you are getting. There are lots of possiblities causing your issue

[@FabianCharrua]

My F12 gave me that message along with a misfire. Next day drove like it never happened. The message came up on Sport + mode down shifting to pass someone. It hesitated as if not getting gas then misfired the whole way home. I thought it was the tranny but now I think maybe it was starving for gas

[@MohammedEmranM]

hey supper Thanks Bob

[@davidkalantar8885]

PCV valve or any vacuum hose leakage will cause it to, but then again you’d know by the scanner that there’s a leak , also a dirty MAF, and other small annoying things like VANOS solenoids dirty as well , in my case it was a cracked down pipe , good maintenance has kept my 146000 mile 8 cylinder X5 (F15). Problem free though , changed voila and sparks a couple of times , one tensioner and the serpentine belt , all else is just fine , oil change every 5k religiously and air filters every 20,000 miles as well ;)😊

[@bobmac1970]

The plastic down pipes are really prone to cracking. Let me guess...it was cracked along the seam near the connection.

[@Johnrv9923]

Hi Bob just bought an X3 2021 Hybrid. Got the Drive Train Malfunction message on last Tuesday and it’s still at the service center they can’t seem to find what’s wrong. Deeply concerned this won’t be a recurring thing and I get a Lemon Is this normal for a new car.? Any suggestions Regards

[@bobmac1970]

Unfortunately as the technology in vehicles increase, so do the fail safe's....the fail safe being the error message you got. While new cars shouldn't have things like this happen, the technology within is moving so quickly across all brands, that many manufactors, not just BMW, have this issue. Try to give the folks a chance to repair your new Bimmer. The enjoyment will outweigh the frustration in time. ;)

[@dennismichael8901]

Hi all, could drivetrain fault be caused by a Dpf malfunction? Any help appreciated 🙏

[@gatorbait8318]

I have a 2013 X3 xdrive 28i Drive train Malfunction Warning came and went 3 times now wants to stay on mostly. I got a 130104 VANOS intake control fault camshaft jammed. Any ideas or thoughts? Camshaft Solenoid or sensor ? Easy or hard to change these? Thanks

[@bobmac1970]

The 'Error' sounds terrible initially...it simply means the VANOS is worn beyond where it should be...not repairing will guaruantee issues. The repair requires a couple special tools to align things if I'm not mistaken. I'm not sure of your skillset. You would definately need a good repair guide book. Timing is very critical. The engine needs to be at TDC etc. Before you start get everything you need.....then watch a few of the youtube clips of folks that have done this.

[@we-kp1fc]

I have a mechanic report that i NEED to send it to you, can i please do that?

[@johnjenkins4811]

Hey Bob my bmw 750idrive train when I start it it idle then turn off I put Lucas in and it stayed on when I put it in drive it turns off it's shaking what do u think

[@Ahmed-ud7he]

I have changed my plugs and coils . Still after 5 days o start in the morning it show again the drive train.. then I went to a local machanic .he said might be turbo need to change as these is some leaking oil in turbo .. but then he said there can be also problem in gaskit and head .. that to do not sure... any suggestions

[@stopcorruptioninozqoa2030]

Check intake manifold part number ending in 555666

[@Ray22591]

Hey bob have a 2017 bmw 430 coupe. Couple days ago started feeling a jerk when car will shift gears. Yesterday check engine light started flashing with power train message. Any idea what this could be ? With worst case first.

[@bobmac1970]

Hi, Without reading out the codes with a OBD II reader it's difficult to say. It could be a bad coil pack...but that would be gambling, as there's a million other things that could cause jerking. Once you read out the codes, you can pinpoint a bit better.

[@robertturner4347]

My 2013 bmw x5 4.4 m5 reduce power comes on with this code 2b2b or 2b2d what does this mean ?

[@majesticwonder]

this was kina sexi how hes so knowledgeable. I have a BMW X3 2o21 . This drivetrain malfunction shit came on .2 days later it started that tremble n shake I couldnt ignore. Its brand new .only had it abt 4 months now. Pissed me off honestly. BMW is coming pick it up from my house tomorrow to get in their expensive ass shop. really makes u wonder , for a foreign that is supposed to be made w impeccable excellence

[@bobmac1970]

Unfortunately no matter how good anything is, there are many things that influence stuff happening...from critters chewing on wiring to bad fuel etc. Hopefully they'll get it sorted fairly quickly for you. ;)

[@majesticwonder]

@@bobmac1970 took 2 days ..they had to order a new part ...said it was misfire in the wiring and triggered a sensor or something like that

[@bobmac1970]

@@majesticwonder I'm glad it was a minor issue! Hope you enjoy it error free now! :)

[@mattkitts2336]

Hey Bob What if my 2015 335i never had any issues. Then I changed all my spark plugs and received misfire cylinder 5, injection switched off? Code 140501

[@arkeemj336]

Short story, I purchased 2013 528i back in january of 2020. A few weeks later i got the DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION error and the car shut off on me. No CEL. I also got a FUEL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION as well. after a few minutes the car started and it actually drove better than it had the day i got it. I took it to the shop and they of course couldn't find anything. I recently had the same issue and once again, no CEL. because of COVID-19 the dealership has been closed. I plan on taking it back once they open. any thought of the possibilities? car has 51k miles Also, i get a STEERING error once in a while along with a flickering dash...

[@bobmac1970]

The steering sounds like an electrical connector or sensor issue....just off the top of my head without seeing. The fuel issue could be a few things. HPFP (high pressure fuel pump), but it's untypical to get better once going bad. In tank pump, same....it's typically not going to just get better. Some things that would be possible are fuel filter (not probable), contamination in the fuel tank, or most likely bad tank of fuel. I've had a bad tank of fuel in the past...it causes all kinds of problems. The solution is dilution. Fill up with new fuel and maybe add some "fuel dryer". If water gets into the fuel it can cause the issues you describe.

[@alikazami1761]

i have a 2012 535i xdrive the car was throwing cylinder 6 misfire which i replaced spark plug and ignition coil just for cylinder 6 check engine light went away but drivetrain malfunction still on and when i plug the code reader it’s throwing random multiple misfire now and cylinder 6 misfire but no check engine light any idea or recommendations?

[@jacobMU1]

Hi Ali have the same car/year as you, got malfunction message on startup twice and car was shaking......how did you fix your car ignition coil or spark plugs?

[@jflorez4280]

I turned on my 650i and the drive train light came on I put it in drive and it shook alittle bit I turned it off and right back on and it was like it never happened and drove good? What is that problem?

[@joshbose7495]

Thank you so much for these videos Bob. You did an awesome job. i drive BMW X3 2013 (xdrive 28i). My car has around 103K miles and did not had any major issue so far(fingers crossed). Because of covid-19 i am not driving it regularly. May be putting 200-250 miles per week. I did got drive train malfunction error few weeks back when i was driving in sport mode and hit the gas pedal a lil harder. This error goes away every time i switch off the car. Since then i have seen this error 3-4 times when i accelerate harder. I don't get this error if i keep driving under 2000 rpm. After watching your video today, i read the code using hidden menu and the DTC code is "E114A6". Could not find a lot of info about this error code. The complete error code line read like "01 E114A6 002799 38684691 0". The last value is 0 under Active. Not sure if i need to re-read the hidden menu again when drive train error is active. Any help/guidance is appreciated. Thanks a lot again.

[@Medea007]

Download ISTA

[@justinewassef9358]

Hey Josh, I actually have the same model BMW as you and due to the fact that you are around 100K mile mark I just thought to warn you that the timing chain usually gives out around then and can cause catastrophic engine damage which is a known problem for the N20. My timing chain gave out and I had to get a new engine and it is still throwing codes for engine problems.

[@user-dg1py8cs2c]

Helloo BOB THANK FOR REPLYING BACK TO ME I HAVE THE XTOOLTECH OBD SCANNER

[@alexai4731]

I have a 2010 550i Gt and it’s doing the same thing. Except when I first turn it on it’s already shaking saying drivetrain malfunction. We’ve changed the spark plugs and computer and the issue is still there. Any help ? Thank you !

[@aj90262]

Mines too but I have a 2013 X3. Misfire on cylinder3. BMW says its my fuel injectors but another company says its not. 🤒

[@stopcorruptioninozqoa2030]

I have Xdrive50i injectors replaced then multiple hoses & throttle body & map sensor - $10k to now find its pin holes in the inlet manifold.. pissed off 😤

[@nigelfhs2000]

My car needs an update is it worth it at the dealer? I need some help since it won’t restart, and there is nothing mechanical wrong with the drive train malfunction except it being in power down mode;....

[@bobmac1970]

There's about a million additional questions here....Is it a BMW? What is "Power Down Mode"? What is the car doing?.....

[@992turbos8]

Limp mode in my case (F10,F90 M5) was always the coil pak.

[@bobmac1970]

That's 90% of the weak spot for Drivetrain Malfunctions on the F Series. I've noticed slightly beefier coilpacks on the G Series...maybe BMW noticed too.

[@flockyrocky6116]

My 2010 750li I did this it was spark plugs paid $2200 to replace them and the car is running great. Great video.

[@quickliqproductions]

$2200? for changing a couple of sparkplugs? are they made of gold?

[@SAVAGE8]

Bob, will failing Vacuum pump cause Drivetrain Malfunction only No check engine

[@michaelbush1122]

Hello and first and foremost thanks. I have a 08 bmw 528i which has. Malfunction in drive I’ve changed spark plugs and coils then replaced crank position sensor I’m currently getting a bad whistling sound my bmw mechanic says my valve cover leaking and that’s probably the problem for the whistling sound but is that gonna help get rid of malfunction in drive. Mechanic says. Valve cover taking in air which may be causing a misfire just wanna know your thoughts. Thanks in advance

[@bobmac1970]

This is an interesting case. The whistling actually sounds more like a vacuum leak (ie one of the hoses is cracked or has a pinhole). Do you actually see the valve cover oil leak? If so, you may have two issues. The PVC system is designed to not let oil gases into the atmosphere...so remotely I guess a valve cover could maybe cause the issue, but my bet is on a cracked hose...check around the hoses in the valve cover area

[@michaelbush1122]

Bob Mac yes I’ve noticed the valve cover leak for about a month just purchased a new valve cover have to be put on car ASAP just hoping that fixes my car I love my bmw that’s all I’ve own in last 30 years

[@bobmac1970]

@@michaelbush1122 If it's still whistling after, check all vacuum hoses

[@tracywoolley7149]

Bob I have No loss of performance/no misfires/starts every time/no vibrations/no strange noises/all functions appear to work i.e sport mode , sport+ etc F21 1 series 2016 UK..????

[@bobmac1970]

If you have the message, you have an underlying issue. Some are intermittent or random, so the only way to find the problem is to read out the OBD II codes

[@simplyyes839]

Transmission Malfunction error message says Do not stop engine or continued driving may not be possible Consult nearest service center. It also will shift into park mode usually when on a little cliff/incline or stop sign just started doing this a few days ago?

[@rammovva4424]

Hi how you got it fixed finally ?

[@TheInfradred]

Hey bob I had a drivetrain malfunction and replaced all my spark plugs the warning went away but now when I remove my foot from the gas pedal the car shakes

[@dallasmonroe5520]

You probaly need the error code removed or computer reset.

[@lasahro1108]

What happend to me was the disc and the brakes when it use to shake hopefully you fix it I have a 5 series

[@christinejames6778]

I have a 2017 x3 , diesel , I was just driving home and it lost power going uphill and felt a little shaky. The drivetrain error said I could continue the journey at moderate speed , full performance not available and get it checked . Any ideas , thanks , I enjoy your listening to you , you have heaps of knowledge.

[@RobertGarcia-jf1ig]

Did you ever find out what was the issue?

[@jaykay2242]

My 2014 550i gave me the notice after I filled up at a BP. Used 93 octane of course, but I never go to BP, I always use Shell gas. Got home fine, started it up this morning to check, and now the car is shaking... Called my mechanic, but he's closed til Tuesday. Have you ever encountered this?

[@bobmac1970]

Yes. If it shudders and you turn off then wait and restart, does it still shudder?

[@jaykay2242]

@@bobmac1970 It seems to have stopped. Took it up the road for a mile without issue. Still have the warning though. Should I use the fuel treatment you recommended?

[@bobmac1970]

@@jaykay2242 A fuel 'dryer' wouldn't be a bad idea. Reading the codes with an OBD II reader will also give you some additional insight. Could be bad fuel, spark plug, or coil pack. Drive carefully...wouldn't go on a road trip. Put a fresh tank of fuel in, then see what happens...but we're just guessing without reading out the errors. I use an app called Bimmerlink along with a bluetooth OBD II reader. Works great.

[@jaykay2242]

@@bobmac1970 Thanks Bob, greatly appreciate your insight with this. I'll try the fuel dryer, but will leave it parked until Tuesday when I can see my mechanic. Hell, not many places to go these days anyway.

[@ps3dayday]

Did yu ever get it fixed

[@silvestresantiago9662]

Hello I m have 2013 BMWX3. The problems. Drivetrain malfunction deive moderately on . What recommended can I do?? Thanks yuo

[@bobmac1970]

Hi, The first step is to get an OBD II reader if you don't have one, then read the error codes. Without doing this, you're just guessing. The car computers will store errors and give you an idea where to start looking.

[@BuffaloSoldierH]

I only had the drivetrain malfunction code come up after I tuned my car to stage 1 with bootmod3. I have recently changed spark plugs ahead of the tune. Any idea why a tune would cause this issue?

[@bobmac1970]

More info needed...catless? 91 Octane? Find out what the code means?

[@BuffaloSoldierH]

Bob Mac no mods. Tune only 93 octane. I’m going to try and take it to the shop tomorrow to see how the code reads. I’m guessing a misfire but it can’t be a coincidence that it happened the day after I tuned the car. Thanks for any help!

[@BuffaloSoldierH]

Figured out the issue for anyone curious. This can happen with bootmod3 but you just have to go back into the module and do a “recode” to clear the malfunction code. It happened a day after I got the tune so I was confident it wasn’t an actual issue

[@bobmac1970]

@@BuffaloSoldierH I had a hunch it was BM3 related. Good catch. Thanks for posting the solution.

[@tonicollins7151]

Thanks for the video...I have a 2015 X6, around 40k miles...received drivetrain malfunction error, car shakes and barely goes over 40mph...mechanic says the code shows it's the alternator, could that be a possibility?

[@bobmac1970]

Typically with a bad alternator you will get a 'Battery Discharge' message on the screen. If a battery is severly discharged and the alternator is not producing voltage, it indeed can cause misfires, as it's supposed to produce the voltage for the coils to create electricity for your spark plugs to spark...no spark, no boom in the cylinder...did you get a battery message at all?

[@tonicollins7151]

Bob Mac I only saw the drivetrain malfunction but the mechanic said he did get a low battery message. He has replaced the alternator and the car continues to do the same. He placed it back on the monitor and he says there is an issue with the fuel injector, coil pack and spark plugs.

[@bobmac1970]

@@tonicollins7151 Is your mechanic versed with BMW's. It sounds like he's fishing for the issue. A bad battery can give you the warning also. Tell him to give you the actual code he's supposedly retrieving. Let me know the codes.

[@tonicollins7151]

Bob Mac now he’s saying a variety of lights are coming on, seatbelt, door, etc. he was talking about replacing the module. We’re going to pick up the car and go somewhere else, he def sounds like he’s guessing.

[@bobmac1970]

@@tonicollins7151 Good choice. If several lights are coming on all together and it isn't making sense....a bad battery will often cause this. Mine did this too. The old one showed 12v, but was bad. The new battery does have to be registered thru the OBD II port though.

[@pravinakarthigesu9313]

Hey bob so mine only happens when i reverse the car, it turns to neutral and i can't reverse. What could be the cause? I was told its the transmission and told to change it, but I'm getting more opinions before changing

[@bobmac1970]

It does sound like a transmission issue. The shop should read out what transmission codes they are getting. It could be something as relatively simple as a stuck or non-functioning solenoid. Good choice to get a second opinion!

[@Darild.Peters]

I had the drivetrain malfunction come up and car started going slow and shaking then turned it off and on went back to normal ,,, couldn’t find any codes in obd though?? 328i

[@NOTHING5313]

Tell me pls , I have 530 D manual version ... I just get this error while driving, after second drivetrain disappear it was not visible even I put "check" via IDRIVE .. Car rides normally no vibration , no chocking simply like before error... Means error is still there ? or it just randomly shows up and immediately disappear? thank you for reply.

[@bobmac1970]

The error is most likely stored...meaning that it is something that is still in need of repair, but it's intermittent. The 'Drivetrain Malfunction' let's you know something is going to go wrong if you ignore it.

[@NOTHING5313]

Bob Mac Thanks bob for answer , also one additional question i just reach hidden menu to check error codes there and also nothing there, anyway i will take it to bmw dealer.

[@bobmac1970]

@@NOTHING5313 You can try the bimmerlink app. It can clear codes and also see if they are still present

[@MasteringCapCut]

Hey I've a question, my BMW 528i gave me an alert that my battery is not charging and then after like 20 minutes it gave me another alert that I r drivetrain malfunction, do you think the battery not been charging can cause a drivetrain malfunction?

[@bobmac1970]

Yes. Battery replacement will often fix strange drivetrain issue...especially if you got the battery message

[@jonathanbravo201]

The code popped up on my 335 f30. It popped up after I haven’t started the car for a while like 5 days. I just turned the car off and turned it back on and it went away is this normal

[@bobmac1970]

Yes....but the car is telling you there may be a lurking issue on the horizon. Check for error codes with an OBD II reader. See what you've got...I'm sure there's a stored error code.

[@pdgr8tw660]

I have a i535 xdrive , the car had been sitting for 3.5 months. When I went to start it up I got the DSC and drivetrain error, and it quickly looses power and I can’t drive it. Could it be the battery? The car was running fine before this time . Thank you for your help!

[@danielalic5793]

yea!

[@pdgr8tw660]

daniel alic thank you for your reply! I have been freaking out! I will try new battery thanx

[@bobmac1970]

@@pdgr8tw660 Did you get it sorted out?

[@pdgr8tw660]

Turns out it was indeed the battery!!!! Thank you all!

[@vedrana3134]

Hy can u helo me, i have bmw 2012, f10 525 xdrive and the same problem. Please help

[@avram_fo20]

Help me I have a 2013 BMW 528 drive and I have a drive train malfunction light and many more what can I do?

[@yavuzarslan8797]

Hi Bob, i have F30 316i. My car has problem which error code is " 1F0515 valvetronic line disconnection". I went to 3 repair house to fix this issue but they couldn't success that. Could you please give me any advice?

[@bobmac1970]

This could be a few different issues. I believe there is a relay that controls this. Find the relay, swap with a known good one, clear the code, then see if it comes back...I'm surprised a competent shop can't figure it out...there's a few things that can cause the issue. They should just start at the simple stuff then continue...

[@yavuzarslan8797]

@@bobmac1970 Hi again Bob. Thank you for your efforts but there isn't any relay about valvetronic system. There is a valvetronic servo motor and it's connected directly to control unit with a cable group.

[@yavuzarslan8797]

@@bobmac1970 Hi again. We fixed the issue finally. The issue was because of integrated supply module. We fixed that part and now everything is OK. Thank you for your helping.

[@bobmac1970]

@@yavuzarslan8797 I'm glad you were able to figure it out!

[@SammerSO]

What about Drivetrain malfunction with rough idle and loss of power, barely drivable.

[@mauricemcghee834]

That's the problem I'm kinda having with a sluggish start up

[@jamesgideon5121]

Check your spark plugs and coil pack I had the same issue went and just replaced all 8 spark plugs and coils runs solid took like an hour or 2 to have it all done

[@mauricemcghee834]

@@jamesgideon5121 well do thanks brotha.

[@gorangoran8506]

I get about 200 times that message and the car still runs fine

[@patriciamabe3437]

I have a 2015 328i with 55,000 miles on it. I had the drivetrain message come up, took it to the dealership, and am being told the turbocharger is going out. Have you ever heard of this as being one of the problems associated with the drivetrain message?

[@bobmac1970]

I would definately have the OBDII Engine codes read out by someone. It is possible that it's not the turbocharger, but the pipes going to the turbo. They are made of plastic and have been known to crack sometimes. Is your exhaust showing white or blue smoke? Is the performance less than normal? Weird noises? A turbocharger can go bad, but usually there are some symptoms that come along with a failing turbocharger.

[@JesusG12]

@@bobmac1970 I have a bmw 320i 2015 and I made it home safely just turn off the car next day try turning it back on and it would just crank but not start so I then acelérate the car and it turn on but it was throwing white smoke 💨 and car was vibrating a lot. Then just turn off itself lost power. I just order spark plugs to replace them but on the scanner it came out to be a misfired cilindro 4 detected and exhaust gas recirculation flow malfunction. Do you think it could be the head gasket of the engine ?

[@JesusG12]

P0400 code & P0304

[@joeconyer3579]

That code just came on for me after adding more oil to my car. Is the drivetrain light likely to come on from adding oil or too much oil?

[@bobmac1970]

Check your oil level thru the idrive while the engine is idling. If you overfilled, do NOT continue driving. Drain some until you are at a correct level....difficult since there is no dipstick.

[@ezzatramadan4200]

got my used 2014 435i 92k miles 4 days ago. Accelerated and overtook someone on the highway when the drivetrain malfunction happened. Getting it checked on Monday :( Happened again twice when I stepped on the gas going 40-60 into the highway. Sucks.

[@bobmac1970]

Hopefully something simple! The 'Drivetrain Malfunction' often alerts you to keep bigger things from 'exploding'....so hopefully it's that in your case. Good luck.

[@Swag0saurusRex]

Do you think faulty fuel injectors could’ve caused it?

[@dustingibson2678]

There's a technical service bulletin for the injectors...BMW will fix for free if the injectors are the problem

[@DijaBanks]

this notification came on in my 2013 x3 but I feel my engine is also louder than normal can the two be related

[@AdrianPurcell916]

Yes it’s definitely related. You say the engine is louder, you mean an exhaust sound or an intake sound? Could be a loose O2 sensor, or possibly a charge pipe or intercooler connection if applicable. Your best bet is to have someone scan it and find out for sure. A real obd2 scan tool that supports the can bus system (for German cars). Don’t ignore it or just shotgun parts at it because new parts are more expensive than domestic cars. Any repair really needs to be done with new parts if possible to avoid the same issue later

[@bobmac1970]

They can absolutely be related. I would not drive anymore until you can identify the noise, or have someone look it over. The light will give you an idea what is going on if you get the OBD II codes read out. Hoping it's nothing major. Good luck.

[@michaelradomicki3498]

brand new 2023 BMW X5, only 2000 miles on it, Drivetrain Malfunction, Can't believe having this problem new vehicle, can you give some insight on this. thank you.

[@bobmac1970]

Sometimes BMW's get upset by minor things that can trigger a drivetrain malfunction. The first question I have is: What grade/type of fuel do you fill up with? Contaminated fuel can cause issues. Of course it could be a number of other things too, but with the car being this new, I doubt it's anything major. See the 'Drivetrain Malfunction' as an early warning system to actually prevent damage. I would schedule an appointment with the dealer. They can read out the precise cause. Let us know what they came up with.