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BMW "Drivetrain malfunction" warning
Power is cut back to protect the engine or gearbox. Drive gently to a shop unless it is shaking, flashing or red.
Last updated
At a glance
| Can I keep driving? | Usually yes, gently and not far |
|---|---|
| Warning color | Yellow (amber); red versions mean stop |
| Wording you may see | Drivetrain malfunction. Drive moderately. Engine problem! Loss of power (older E-series wording) Full engine power no longer available Drivetrain malfunction CCM |
| Usual causes | Misfire: ignition coils, spark plugs or injectors Boost faults: charge pipe, boost leaks, wastegate Low fuel pressure or high-pressure fuel pump VANOS (variable cam timing) Engine oil level too low Automatic transmission faults Network or communication faults between modules |
What it means
The engine computer (DME, or DDE on a diesel) or the transmission computer has stored a fault that affects how much torque the car can safely make or deliver, so it limits power. BMW's own E90 wording for the yellow version is "Engine problem! Loss of power. Full engine power no longer available. Drive carefully." Newer cars say "Drivetrain malfunction" with "Drive moderately". The message names a symptom, not a part: the stored fault code says what triggered it.
Can I keep driving?
Usually yes, gently and not far. If the car runs smoothly in reduced power and nothing red is showing, BMW's instruction is to drive carefully and have it checked. Stop as soon as it is safe if the check engine light is flashing (an active misfire that can overheat the catalytic converter), the engine shakes badly, or a red engine, oil pressure or temperature warning appears. BMW's red engine message reads "Engine! Stop carefully. Continuing driving can cause engine damage." Switching off and restarting often clears the message for a while, but the fault stays stored.
This is general guidance. Your owner's manual has the exact instruction for your car, and any red warning means stop as soon as it is safe.
Usual causes
| Cause | Cars most affected | What you notice | BMW bulletins | Repair prices (national average) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Misfire: ignition coils, spark plugs or injectors | All gasoline engines; N54, N55 and N63 most discussed | Rough running and misfire codes for one or more cylinders. BMW has also fixed erroneous misfire faults with software on early N63TU cars. | SI B12 10 16 (PDF) | N55 ignition coils (all six) Indie $355–$789 Dealer $1,064–$1,299 |
| Boost faults: charge pipe, boost leaks, wastegate | Turbo engines: N54, N55, N20, B58, N63, S55 | Power drops under load and boost-pressure codes are stored. BMW bulletins cover N55 boost-plausibility failsafe, an over-sensitive boost check on the early M2, and N63 wastegate actuators. | SI B12 16 11 (PDF) SI B12 17 16 (PDF) SI B11 04 16 (PDF) | N55 charge pipe (intercooler to throttle) replacement Indie $578–$922 Dealer $1,287–$1,744 |
| Low fuel pressure or high-pressure fuel pump | N54 above all; also N63 quantity control valve faults | Long cranking, stumbling or power loss with fuel-pressure codes. BMW extended the N54 high-pressure pump warranty and found a loose relay behind some N63 quantity control valve faults. | SI B12 55 06 (PDF) SI B12 37 15 (PDF) | N54 high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) replacement Indie $745–$1,586 Dealer $2,086–$2,523 |
| VANOS (variable cam timing) | N51, N52, N54, N55 and later engines | Power loss after the engine is fully warm, VANOS codes such as 2A82/2A87. BMW traced many to oil supply to the VANOS units. | SI B11 02 08 (PDF) SI B12 14 12 (PDF) | VANOS solenoids (intake / exhaust) Indie $549–$703 Dealer $973–$1,199 |
| Engine oil level too low | N63 and others with electronic oil level sensing | BMW bulletins describe the drivetrain warning with fault 1C4002 "Engine oil level: too low". Check the level before anything else. | SI B11 01 18 (PDF) | — |
| Automatic transmission faults | ZF 8-speed cars (F15 X5, 330e and others) | Harsh shifts or a stuck gear with transmission fault codes. BMW's instruction for some codes is software and adaptation, not parts. | SI B24 06 16 (PDF) | ZF 8-speed automatic transmission fluid and pan/filter service Indie $535–$789 Dealer $1,080–$1,515 |
| Network or communication faults between modules | N20/N26 automatic F-series built to 10/2015, others | Intermittent warnings with "no message" communication faults stored between engine and gearbox computers; the transmission may go into failsafe. | SIB 12 04 17 (PDF) | — |
Bulletins are BMW service information filed with NHTSA; open one for the exact models, build dates and repair. A bulletin isn't a recall and doesn't mean your car has the problem. Estimates are national averages built from BMW warranty labor time, regional shop rates and parts prices; open a repair for your ZIP. "Owners paid" is the middle half of sourced prices, shown where we have at least 3.
What to do
- Note any other warnings shown at the same time; a photo of the dash helps.
- If it's safe, stop, switch off for a minute and restart. If the message clears, still have the fault memory read.
- Check the engine oil level (dipstick or the iDrive oil level menu).
- Have the fault memory read with a BMW-capable scan tool. A generic code reader may only show a generic P-code. See our BMW fault code pages.
- Before paying, check whether a warranty extension covers the part (N54 fuel pump, N20 timing chain and others). Our recall check lists recalls and bulletins.
Fault codes often stored with it
P0300–P0306 (misfire) 2A82 / 2A87 (VANOS) P0299 / 120308 (underboost) P0087 / 29F2 / 29DC (N54 fuel pressure) P1290 / 123401 (wastegate) 2A3F (Valvetronic power)
Other BMW bulletins that mention it
- SI B12 08 19 M2 competition CCM: engine malfunction loss of power F87 · Mar 2019
- SI B12 35 15 Shift Delay or Loss of Power in "MAX eDrive" Mode I12, I15 · Nov 2015
- SI B12 23 15 Reduced Engine Power with “Charging Pressure Too High” Faults Stored F06, F10, F12, F13, F15 and others · Jul 2015
- SI B11 21 16 CCM: "start/stop failed": loss of power F15 · Feb 2017
- SI B12 31 16 Engine power reduced with DME fault 10170f - throttle valve adaptation G11, G12, F30, F31, F34 · Jan 2017
- SI B61 18 16 Drivetrain malfunction & sme fc 21f0e3 I12, I15 · Sep 2016
- SI B12 21 10 N51 Engine: Service Engine Soon Lamp Illuminated - Loss of Power and Various Faults Stored in the DME E46, E82, E88, E90, E91 and others · Mar 2016
- SI B12 21 10 N51 Engine: Service Engine Soon Lamp Illuminated - Loss of Power and Various Faults Stored in the DME E46, E82, E88, E90, E91 and others · Oct 2014
56 of the BMW bulletins we hold mention this warning in their text; these are the closest matches.
Related warnings
Check engine light, no message Chassis stabilization Transmission malfunction All warning lights
Sources
- BMW E90 Driver Information Systems (BMW technical training manual): Check Control message list
- BMW USA: digital owner's manual for your VIN
- NHTSA: BMW technical service bulletins and recalls by VIN
Message wording in quotes is BMW's own, from the Check Control list in BMW's E90 training manual or from the bulletins linked above; newer cars word some messages differently. The explanations are ours.