Problems with BMW 3 Series (2003): Jerking when accelerating, increased fuel consumption and suspected Valvetronic defect

Hi, I happened to have a similar situation with my 2001 BMW 1 Series. I don't have the greatest experience with cars, but I could tell what was going on after a few faults. At my garage they found that the Valvetronic mechanism was broken. It cost me around 575 euros at the time to fix the problem. I had similar symptoms to yours, jerking and poor performance. After the repair, my car ran much better and the check engine light went out. It is of course always advisable to have it checked by a professional.

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Hey, thanks for the tip! My 3 has 158716 km on it now, the last service was recently, at about 157000 km. It's a basic 320i, so nothing special with the specification - but it's always been close to my heart. Do you think I can still drive it until I find a mechanic? Or should I have it checked by someone straight away? Because that sounds really serious if there are metal shavings in it.

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Hey, given the symptoms, especially the metal shavings in the oil, I would strongly recommend you take the car to a mechanic as soon as possible, ideally tow it straight away. This can cause really serious damage to the engine. As hard as it is, I wouldn't drive it again until the problem is fixed. Hopefully it can be fixed quickly and without too much cost. Good luck with it and let us know here how it goes!

(Translated from German)

Hi guys! I followed your advice and took my car to the garage immediately. It was actually the Valvetronic system that needed to be repaired. It cost me about 700 euros, but now the car is running perfectly again. Thank you so much for your help, it really made a difference. I will definitely be in touch again soon if I have any more problems. See you next time!

(Translated from German)

Hello everyone, Years ago, I also had an older BMW 3 Series with similar symptoms. In my case, however, it was not the Valve-Tronic mentioned above, but the timing chain was defective, which then also had to be replaced. The workshop also found small particles in the oil filter of my car. However, this was plastic abrasion from the guide rails of the timing chain. During the repair, the oil pan was also removed and everything was cleaned. The car then ran for many more years until I sold it.

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Engine fault light illuminated, error eccentric shaft sensor 2A5B, 2A6B, 2A69, 2A59 . What could it be? Defective eccentric shaft sensor and engine ? Thanks in advance guys !

(Translated from German)

The error codes you've mentioned are related to the Valvetronic system in your BMW. The eccentric shaft sensor is a common failure point in this system. It's responsible for varying the lift height of the valves to provide variable valve timing. If it's faulty, it can cause a variety of issues including loss of power, rough idle, or even a no start condition. I would recommend starting with replacing the eccentric shaft sensor. However, it's also important to check the wiring and connector to the sensor for any signs of damage or corrosion. After replacing the sensor, you should clear the fault codes and see if they return. If the problem persists, it might be a more serious issue with the Valvetronic motor or even the engine itself. Please keep us updated on your progress.

The hot car shuts down and will not start!

(Translated from Spanish)

This could be due to a number of issues, but a common cause is a faulty engine coolant temperature sensor. When this sensor fails, it can cause the engine to shut off when it gets hot and not restart until it cools down. Another possibility is a failing ignition coil or fuel pump, which can also cause the car to shut off when hot. I recommend starting with checking the coolant temperature sensor and then move on to the ignition coil and fuel pump if necessary. Please remember, if you're not comfortable doing these checks yourself, it's always best to take your car to a professional mechanic. Keep us updated on your progress.