BMW 2 Series Performance Issues, Valvetronic Problems?

Hey there! I'm a moderate DIY mechanic with some experience working on BMWs. Had almost the same issue with my 2013 BMW 3 Series diesel last year. The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I experienced, sluggish acceleration, rough idle, and that annoying check engine light. The dealer confirmed it was indeed the Valvetronic mechanism. They had to do a complete run-in and replacement of some defective parts. Set me back about 575 Euro, but the car's been running like new since then. I actually considered the 2 Series before getting my 3er! Can you share more details about your car? Like the exact engine variant and mileage? This could help narrow down if we're dealing with the same problem. Also, are you noticing any specific patterns when these symptoms occur? Like when the engine is cold or at certain RPMs? Just a heads up, this isn't something I'd recommend trying to fix yourself unless you're really experienced with BMW engines. The Valvetronic system is pretty complex.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My car has 115020 KM on the clock and just had its service last month. The symptoms are pretty consistent with what you described. They seem worse when the engine is cold, especially in the morning. The engine feels particularly rough between 1500-2000 RPM. I thought about tackling it myself since I do basic maintenance, but after your comment about the Valvetronic complexity, I think I'll let the professionals handle this one. Did you notice if the fuel consumption went back to normal after your repair? Mine's currently drinking fuel like crazy.

Hey again! Yes, I totally remember dealing with this on my 3er. To answer your question about fuel consumption, absolutely, it went back to normal after the Valvetronic repair. It was such a relief seeing those numbers drop back down! Before the fix, my car was gulping about 25-30% more fuel than usual. Those cold start symptoms you're describing are super familiar, my car did the exact same thing. That rough running between 1500-2000 RPM was particularly annoying during my morning commute. I actually started leaving my car running for a minute or two before driving just to minimize the roughness, but obviously, that wasn't a real solution. Smart move letting the professionals handle it. I know you mentioned you do basic maintenance, and I'm the same way, oil changes, filters, brakes, that kind of stuff. But the Valvetronic system is a whole different beast. When they opened it up at the shop, I got to take a look, it's incredibly sophisticated with all those sensors and actuators working together. One thing I didn't mention before, after the repair, not only did the fuel consumption improve, but the overall power delivery became much smoother. It was like getting a new car again! Keep us posted on what your mechanic finds. With those symptoms and mileage, I'd bet money it's the same issue I had.

Thanks so much for all that detailed feedback! It's really reassuring to hear your car had such a complete turnaround after the repair. I've actually booked it in at the shop for next week, your experience has convinced me it's definitely the Valvetronic system. The part about the fuel consumption going back to normal is particularly encouraging since that's been driving me crazy lately. You know what's funny? I've also been doing that thing where I let it idle for a bit in the morning, thinking it would help! Glad to know I'm not the only one who tried that workaround. Really looking forward to getting that smooth power delivery back, I miss how the car used to feel. I'll definitely give you an update once it's been fixed. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience, it's been super helpful!