BMW 3 Hybrid: Valvetronic Problems Causing Multiple Issues

Hey there! Car enthusiast here with some experience working on BMWs. Had a similar issue with my 2020 BMW 5 Series Hybrid (also own a 7 Series). The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I dealt with. Mine had the same problems, sluggish response, rough idle, the whole nine yards. Took it to my regular workshop and yep, it was the Valvetronic mechanism. Cost me around 575 Euro to fix, but the car's been running like a dream since. The mechanic had to do a complete run-in of the Valvetronic system. It's a pretty specialized repair that needs proper diagnostic tools and expertise. Could you share your car's mileage and whether you've noticed any other warning lights or unusual sounds? This would help determine if your issue is identical to what I experienced. Also, have you had any recent work done on the engine?

Thanks for sharing your experience! My car's at 122328 KM and just had its service last month. Actually, I've started hearing a faint ticking noise from the engine bay, especially when idling. No other warning lights besides the check engine light though. Really appreciate the heads up about the Valvetronic repair costs and diagnosis. Guess I should start saving up and look for a workshop that specializes in BMW hybrids. Did your car take long to fix when you had it repaired?

Hey again! Yeah, I totally get that ticking noise you're mentioning, had the exact same thing with my 5 Series. When I got mine fixed, the whole repair took about two days. The first day was mainly diagnostics and confirming it was indeed the Valvetronic system, and the second day was for the actual repair work. Just so you know, my car was making that exact same ticking sound at around 125000 KM, really similar to where you're at now. The timing's pretty spot on actually, seems like these issues tend to show up around this mileage mark. Quick tip though, when I got mine fixed, I made sure they did a complete electronic system check too. Turns out there were some minor software updates needed for the hybrid system that helped with overall performance. Might be worth asking about that when you take yours in. The good news is that since getting it fixed, I haven't had any issues whatsoever. The fuel consumption went back to normal, and that annoying jerking during acceleration completely disappeared. Honestly, it was like getting a new car back. Let me know how it goes when you get it checked out. Really curious to see if your experience matches up with what I went through!

Thanks again for all the detailed info! You've pretty much convinced me it's the Valvetronic system causing trouble. The fact that your car had similar symptoms around the same mileage really helps confirm my suspicions. I'll definitely ask about those hybrid system software updates too, that's a great tip I wouldn't have thought about. I'm calling a few specialized workshops tomorrow to get it booked in. Two days for repairs doesn't sound too bad at all. I've got some time off work next week, so that should work out perfectly. Really hoping it'll sort out all these issues like it did with yours. The fuel consumption thing is killing me right now! It's such a relief to hear your car's been running perfectly since the repair. I'll keep you posted on what they find when I get it checked out. Thanks again for all your help, it's great to get advice from someone who's been through the same thing!