BMW 1 Series Engine Stalling, Camshaft Sensor Issue?

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2012 BMW 3 series (also gasoline). I've got some experience working on cars, but nothing too advanced. The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I dealt with. My car was doing the same thing, rough idle, stalling, jerky acceleration, and that dreaded check engine light. After taking it to my trusted mechanic, they diagnosed it as a defective encoder wheel on the camshafts. The total repair came to 695 Euro, parts and labor included. Could you share your current mileage and whether you've had any recent work done on the engine? Also, are you getting any specific error codes? This info would help confirm if we're dealing with the same issue. In my case, getting it fixed made a world of difference, the car runs smooth as butter now. The 1 series and 3 series share quite a few components, so it might be the same problem.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm at 198,497 KM and just had my routine service last month. Actually, I haven't scanned for error codes yet, that's a good suggestion. I'll definitely get that checked before heading to the mechanic. That repair cost sounds reasonable if it fixes the issue. It's reassuring to hear your car is running smoothly after fixing the encoder wheel. Did you notice any warning signs before it completely acted up? Just wondering if I should have caught this earlier. My gut feeling was pointing towards the camshaft sensor, but now I'm thinking it could be that encoder wheel you mentioned since our symptoms match up so closely.

Hey again! Great to hear back from you. Yeah, looking back, there were actually some warning signs I probably should have mentioned in my first response. About a month before things got really bad, I noticed the car would occasionally hesitate for a split second when accelerating from a stop. I honestly brushed it off at first, thinking it was just the cold weather or something. In my case, the encoder wheel had worn down over time, it wasn't a sudden failure. I wish I'd paid more attention to those early symptoms because the jerky acceleration got progressively worse. Given your mileage (mine was around 185,000 KM when it happened), it's very likely the same issue. The mechanic showed me the old encoder wheel after replacing it, and you could clearly see the wear patterns. The grooves that help the sensor read the position were pretty much smoothed out in some spots. That's why the engine computer was getting confused and couldn't properly time everything. Definitely get those error codes checked, that'll help narrow it down. When I finally scanned mine, it was throwing a P0340 code, which points to camshaft position sensor circuit issues. But in reality, it was the encoder wheel not giving the sensor proper readings. Keep me posted on what you find out. I'm really curious if it turns out to be the same problem!

Thanks for the detailed follow-up! Come to think of it, I've actually noticed that same hesitation from stops over the past few weeks but didn't think much of it. Really wish I'd paid attention to it sooner now. I'll definitely get those error codes read tomorrow. Super helpful to know about the P0340 code you mentioned, I'll keep an eye out for that specifically. It's actually a relief to hear this is likely just normal wear and tear at this mileage rather than something more serious. The encoder wheel explanation makes total sense, I can see how those worn grooves would mess with the sensor readings. I've got a trusted mechanic I usually go to, so I'll show him this thread and see what he thinks. Thanks again for all your help! Really appreciate you taking the time to explain everything in detail. I'll let you know what the diagnostic scan reveals when I get it done.