BMW Z3 Rough Running & Stalling: Camshaft Sensor Issue?

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2000 BMW Z4 last summer. I have some experience working on cars, mostly basic maintenance and repairs. When my car showed those exact symptoms, rough idle, stalling, and jerking during acceleration, I first thought it was something simple like spark plugs. Took it to my regular workshop and after diagnostics, they found it was indeed a faulty encoder wheel on both camshafts. The repair cost me 695 Euro, but it fixed all those symptoms completely. The car's been running smoothly ever since. Before I can share more specific details about the repair process, could you tell me if your check engine light throws any specific error codes? Also, how many miles/kilometers are on your Z3? This info would help determine if you're dealing with the same issue I had. It's pretty common on these models, had a with a BMW M3 from around the same era who faced similar problems.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My Z3 has about 93K on the clock and just had its service last month. Haven't pulled the error codes yet, but planning to get that done tomorrow. Interesting that you mentioned the encoder wheel, my mechanic briefly suggested it could be that, but wasn't entirely sure without running diagnostics first. Definitely noticed these issues getting worse over the past couple weeks, especially during cold starts. Really appreciate the heads up about the repair cost too, helps me prepare for what might be coming. Did your car also make any weird ticking noises before you got it fixed?

Hey again! Yeah, actually my Z4 did make some ticking sounds, especially during cold starts, kind of like a metallic ticking that seemed to come from the top of the engine. This happened mostly in the mornings before the engine warmed up properly. Those symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I dealt with. Mine also started getting progressively worse over time. At first, I could sort of "live with it" but then it got to a point where I didn't trust the car anymore, especially when it started stalling at traffic lights. Just a heads up, when they fixed mine, they actually found that the wiring harness connected to the sensor was also a bit worn. Had them replace that too while they were in there. Added about 100 Euro to the bill but figured it was worth doing everything at once. Since you're getting it checked tomorrow, make sure they look at both camshafts. Sometimes these BMWs can show similar symptoms even if only one sensor is acting up, but in my experience, if one's going bad, the other usually isn't far behind. Let me know what the error codes show up. If it's anything like P0340 or P0345, then we're definitely looking at the same issue I had.

Thanks so much for all this detailed info! The ticking noise you mentioned is exactly what I've been hearing, really good to know it was related to the same issue. I'll definitely have them check both camshafts and the wiring harness too, wouldn't want to fix one thing only to have another problem pop up in a few months. Smart thinking about getting it all done at once. I'm actually relieved hearing your experience because I was worried it might be something much more serious (and expensive!). Will definitely get those error codes checked first thing tomorrow and let you know what comes up. Really appreciate you taking the time to explain everything. These older BMWs can be tricky sometimes, but man, when they're running right, they're just amazing to drive. Time to get my baby back in proper shape!

Hello, my 2007 BMW 320I X Drive Touring has a problem with the heating. The warm air only works on the left. Only cold air comes out on the right. The thermostat is new and the fuses are also ok. What else could the problem be?

(Translated from German)

It sounds like you might be dealing with a faulty blend door actuator, which controls the airflow and temperature on each side of the vehicle. Try checking if the actuator is functioning properly or if it needs replacement. If you're comfortable, you can inspect it yourself, but if not, consider having a mechanic take a look. Let me know how it goes or if you have any further questions!