[50pence]

The car would hold 1200-1500 revs when cold - couldn't pull away on gravel drive without the wheels spinning - was driving fine otherwise, so took it to local garage who read fault code:
133E10 Permanent Valvetronic system: deactivated, adjustment fault too frequent

BMW indy then replaced the faulty actuator (Short circuit in old unit) but the new unit wouldn't learn its limits. The code initially cleared but had returned after the road test along with a second code for position learning.

Car drove ok for a few miles, before going into full limp-home mode - car just would not go above about 35 mph, so then had it recovered to main dealer.

Thanks! Did you get the clicking noise when turning the ignition on and starting that others have reported?

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[CharlieM135i]

Thanks! Did you get the clicking noise when turning the ignition on and starting that others have reported?
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Not that I can remember, and don't appear to have emailed it as a symptom to the garage

 

[JohnsM135i]

Wow, feel for the OP.

Just goes to show regular oil changes may have prevented this!

Is this a cylinder head removal to repair and what part fails or is it an oil starvation issue that causes the failure?

20k is such a long time for a oil service !

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[Matt4552]

As per my message on Pistonheads, this is actually a very common issue, but when the valvetronic motor fails, it defaults to throttle body only, so barring the slight/occasional clicking on startup, the normal man in the street wouldnt notice a difference. It doesnt give an EML (but will show a shadow fault code on proper diagnostics), so the only other tell tale is poor mpg, but you already own the car by that point if you havent read the codes.

To put it into perspective, when i was looking at the back end of last year, 5 out of the 7 M135is i looked at had the following code:

Fault Code: 133E10
Fault Explanation: Valvetronic system: disabled to frequent Verstellfehler

Search the US forums and its far more detailed info/fix wise as they are much more mechanically aware.

Info:

http://www.fluidmotorunion.com/bmw-valvetronic-eccentric-shaft-failure/

More info:

https://bmwtechnician.com/2017/03/27/n55-eccentric-shaftvalvetronic-motor/

Google search term:

https://www.google.com/search?q=n55...alvetr&aqs=chrome.3.69i57j0l3.3875j0j7&hl=en-GB&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

If the valvetronic motor fails (usually as the shaft isnt being lubricated properly), the eccentric shaft stops turning, this then causes all manner of issues with the cams, ie scoring, etc if left too long.

Thanks for this. My mpg has actually been really good the time I have had the car and fairly comparable with what others are getting. I am definitely to blame for not having the codes read when buying the car but I did think that with a years warranty it would have cropped up sooner.

I have read the fluid motor union page before, it was a good read. I think from now on I will just need to do plenty of oil changes.

 

[Matt4552]

I had a similar issue with my March 2013 M135i in December 2017 with 72,000 miles on the clock.
My local garage wouldn't touch it, took it to an independent BMW specialist who replaced some components in the head (forget which), but he wasn't happy as the engine still wouldn't self-calibrate properly.
It went into limp-mode again so got recovered to BMW main dealer, who were great.
£4,500 total bill for work including new Servomotor, new Eccentric Shaft, reduced to £1140 by BMW UK as goodwill gesture.
1st 3 services were BMW under lease (previous owner)
4th service was my local garage, but he'd used correct oil and BMW filter, so BMW had no issue
113,000 miles on the clock now and still going fine

Sorry to hear you had the same issue, was hoping it was just me! I am going to try and contact BMW UK and try much luck but I think they will just say my car is to far out of the Warrenty period. Glad to you're car is fixed and has gone on to do some milage, give me some hope.

I agree that the original service is not ideal. I don't think is was oil starvation as when I went to look at the car I had a good pock around the head and everything had a good oil film covering it. The car had been sat for a couple days at that point. As far as I know the head doesn't need removed its all done from removal of the cam cover.

 

[JohnsM135i]

I had a similar issue with my March 2013 M135i in December 2017 with 72,000 miles on the clock.
My local garage wouldn't touch it, took it to an independent BMW specialist who replaced some components in the head (forget which), but he wasn't happy as the engine still wouldn't self-calibrate properly.
It went into limp-mode again so got recovered to BMW main dealer, who were great.
£4,500 total bill for work including new Servomotor, new Eccentric Shaft, reduced to £1140 by BMW UK as goodwill gesture.
1st 3 services were BMW under lease (previous owner)
4th service was my local garage, but he'd used correct oil and BMW filter, so BMW had no issue
113,000 miles on the clock now and still going fine

Sorry to hear you had the same issue, was hoping it was just me! I am going to try and contact BMW UK and try much luck but I think they will just say my car is to far out of the Warrenty period. Glad to you're car is fixed and has gone on to do some milage, give me some hope.

I agree that the original service is not ideal. I don't think is was oil starvation as when I went to look at the car I had a good pock around the head and everything had a good oil film covering it. The car had been sat for a couple days at that point. As far as I know the head doesn't need removed its all done from removal of the cam cover.

Understand everything had a good covering of oil- I was wondering if the long service interval combined with contamination in the oil etc may have blocked the spray bar nozzle, this then created the wear of the valvetronic system?

Typically small orifices on variable valve/control valve systems on any engine type can be blocked or not work properly due old oil -egr systems/ direct injection is constantly adding contamination into the oil.

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[Chapscrap]

I wondered if the high mileage before the first oil change, and maybe an unsympathetic driver originally caused the damage to the inlet cam, and the Valvetronic system failing is unrelated.
Having looked at how the Valvetronic works I cannot see how the servo motor failing to one position can cause excess wear on the cam, as the cam lobes operate on a roller mounted on the intermediate lever, so wear on the cam is unaffected by the eccentric being in a fixed position through servo failure.
I would certainly check oil pressure and top end lubrication in case anything is blocked or restricted. I hope for op's sake there's no other hidden damage.
This is may be an example of why lube oil should be changed more frequently than BMW recommend.

 

[CharlieM135i]

I've never liked these extended service intervals - I've only ever bought 2nd hand cars, so never taken a main dealer service package (which I'm not sure aren't designed to do anything more than make sure the car lives longer than the warranty!) and have always changed the oil annually

 

[Broony]

Mine has just gone,bought the Valvetronic sensor and had it replaced today,no joy,its going to need a new eccentric shaft etc so i,m into £££££.

Car has had one careful previous owner,35000 miles when i bought it and 39000 now,full service history with interim oil changes on top,pampered within an inch of its life and hey presto its knackered.To say i,m gutted is an understatement as i left the E46 M3 fold because they had so many inherent problems.I will have to just suck it up at this point but i will be making it my lifes ambition from this point forward to help fellow citizens and myself to never ever ever buy a BMW as they are the least reliable cars with the most expensive problems and flaws i have ever known.Why they have such a following and so many fanboys is totally beyond me.
I,m not even joking when i say it "I SO WISH I,D JUST BOUGHT THE FIESTA ST,HALF THE PRICE AND A QUARTER OF THE REPAIR COSTS AND PROBABLY 99% OF THE FUN"
Right now BMW sucks
Steve

 

[Dizeee]

Sorry this is a thread revival from a year ago - what car do you have and what has happened to it? Needs a new camshaft - what is the cost of that - and what has caused it if it is has good service history?

 

[Guest]

I know it's not what you want to hear and in no way am I defending bmw's non Japanese approach to reliability. First to admit you have to know sometimes what you're getting into when you buy some cars.

The fiesta whilst no doubt is a good drive. They aren't exactly reliable. I feel your pain but as I always say, all cars are unreliable **** boxes. Designed to fail instead of designed to last but it's all cost's and price points.
Big bills can happen with any car though, just luck of the draw more than anything unless you buy an old EP3 civic. As long as the timimg chain, clutch and gearbox are all in order they are bombproof cars while they rust away around you.
Supercharging one and upgraded suspension etc. I'd like to see many cars keep up.

 

[Broony]

Sorry this is a thread revival from a year ago - what car do you have and what has happened to it? Needs a new camshaft - what is the cost of that - and what has caused it if it is has good service history?

Just to update the situation,there was no point answering earlier as i did,nt know what was going on.

Car is an M135I,2015 lci,I,m the 2nd owner from new and i met the first owner when i bought it so i know its been looked after from day 1.Full BMW service history and i,ve had 2 oil changes done as well,plus air and cabin filters,always driven well within its limits and always run on V-Power fuel from new,car is now on 39,500 miles.

I first noticed it had a ticking noise when i pressed the key fob to open it in the morning/the car started with really high revs/down on power/down on MPG,and i could feel a really slight judder when stationary so i assumed it was in need of new coil packs so i bought them.As if by magic someone posted a short video on Facebook with my exact symtoms and a poster said it was probably the Servomotor(£300 plus adaptations)

Reading further into this i found it was a £5k job from BMW worst case scenario and pooped myself

Long story short i took it to my trusted independent expert who tried the new Servomotor,no joy,so it ended up being a new Servomotor/New Eccentric shaft plus ancillary parts and i got a few other bits done,i.e oil and filter change/coolant changed/springs checked/Forge charge pipe fitted,all in all £2200.

Parts i needed i.e eccentric shaft with ancillary bits plus servomotor/rocker cover gasket were around £1400.

My Indy reckons the failure was down to poor quality parts(eccentric shaft)if you look for the original part number it has been superseded which he says is a sure fire sign that they have had a lot of complaints about it so have improved the design and changed the part number.

Anyway the good news is it now runs like an absolute dream,it cost me half what i expected and i now plan to keep the car as i really do love it.I know all cars have faults but BMW faults are just so expensive its hateful,i know its the entry level model but for a near £40k car i would expect more.

I,ll put pics up tomorrow if i remember,but for those who say the N55 has no problems,think again,its a BMW :?

Steve

 

[Tuska20000]

Great Scott I'm gonna be listening for ticking every morning now. Better than beef I guess.
No on a serious note, sorry you guys have had to folk out all that doe. It would cripple me now if my car started playing up. I have an n55 engine. Is it worth any preventative work. Maybe having the head looked at for signs of something being malformed or pitting.
Maybe worth having the revised part replaced early?

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[Broony]

I wouldn't rush out and buy all the parts mate,just wait till it goes but put a few quid away when you can just in case.
It just happened out of nowhere, but I was still driving it till I got it fixed(under 2k RPM)I drove it like that for about 3 weeks as I didn't know what was actually wrong,I'll never know if that made it worse or not but the same parts would have needed replacing anyway.
I'm just glad I heard that video clip when I did as it was identical to how mine sounded.
Steve

 

[Tuska20000]

Roger that Steve ill look into this cheers [emoji106]

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