BMW 3 Series Timing Issue, Engine Light & Power Loss

Hey there! I had a somewhat similar issue with my 2000 BMW 5 series last year. I've got some experience working on cars, but nothing too advanced, mostly basic maintenance stuff. That ticking sound and reduced power really rings a bell. My E39 was showing pretty much the same symptoms. After getting weird sensor readings and poor performance, I took it to my regular workshop. Turned out the crankshaft position sensor was shot, it was causing all sorts of weird readings and performance issues. The fix cost me about 340 Euro, parts and labor included. Since then, the car's been running like a charm, no more ticking, proper power delivery, and fuel consumption is back to normal. Before I can share more specific details though, could you tell me which engine variant you have in your 3 series? Also, what exact error codes are you getting? That would help make sure we're dealing with the same issue.

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! Mine's got 176675 KM on the clock now, and you might be onto something with that crankshaft sensor theory. After reading your comment, I checked my last service records, and there was a note about the sensor being a bit wonky back then, but it wasn't bad enough to replace at the time. Guess it might have finally given up! Would you mind sharing how long the repair took at your shop? Really hoping this won't turn into some massive job, but as these old Bimmers go, you never know what you'll find once you start digging around.

Hey again! Yeah, happy to share more about my experience. Actually, the repair on my 5 series was pretty straightforward, took about 2.5 hours total. The sensor itself isn't too hard to get to, but you know how these BMWs can be, sometimes getting to simple parts means moving other stuff out of the way first. Looking back at when mine acted up, the symptoms were exactly what you're describing. My car had about 165000 KM when it happened, so pretty close to yours. That ticking noise used to drive me crazy, especially on those cold mornings! One thing I forgot to mention in my first reply, before I got it fixed, I noticed the problem would sometimes get worse after driving in the rain. If you're experiencing something similar, it's another sign pointing to the sensor. Mine had corroded a bit, which is apparently pretty common. The best part was that once they swapped the sensor, all those weird error codes cleared up on their own. No need for any additional repairs. Just make sure they use a genuine BMW part, I've heard stories about aftermarket sensors causing issues down the line. Have you noticed if your symptoms get any better after the engine warms up? That was another telltale sign with mine.

Thanks everyone for the feedback! I've gone ahead and scheduled an appointment with my mechanic for next week. After hearing about your experience, I'm feeling a bit more confident that this might just be the crankshaft sensor and not something more serious. You mentioned the rain making it worse, that's exactly what I've been experiencing! And yes, the car does run slightly better once it's warmed up, though still not great. At least now I can give my mechanic a better idea of what to look for. Really appreciate the tip about using genuine BMW parts too. I'll make sure to mention that when I take it in. If this ends up being just a 2-3 hour job like yours was, that would be fantastic. Way better than what I was initially worried about. I'll let you all know how it turns out after the repair. Thanks again for sharing your experiences, it's super helpful to hear from someone who's dealt with the same issue!