That could be camshaft sensor or timing is off, I would get it scanned with Bmw specific software as P codes can be misleading on Bmw

 

The camshaft sensor isnt the camshaft solenoid sensor right? and if not where is the camshaft sensor located on a bmw 116i f21? i cant find anything online, unless its the solenoid @Johnnyroper

 

Not too sure on that engine, could be front of head or in rocker cover.
But before replacing anything scan with proper diagnostics as you could be chasing a fault based on that code but it’s actually something different as generic scanner has interpreted the bmw hex codes incorrectly

 

If it's the n13 b16 engine the sensors are on top - see photo.

However more likely to be the valvetronic mechanism or actuators and both of these are not easy to get at.

 

Hi, thanks both for the reply.

i cleaned those sensors and still have the drivetrain issue.

Its so weird because if i let the car sit there for 5 - 8 minutes its fine.. then the drive train issue comes and an engine warning light comes... then 2 minutes late engine warning light is gone but drivetrain malfunction is showing and the car still sounds rough and is in limp mode?

As soon as i turn the car off and on the engine light is gone and so is the drive train malfunction.

i can only run the obd scanner when the engines on as thats when the warning light comes with the code..

Im completely stuck now. Ive ordered a more expensive obd scanner in hopes it reads / displays a more indepth error..

 

Scanner came and this is all it says... @Atyn or @Johnnyroper

So I presume this obd scanners as useless as the other but with a higher price tag.

One thing did notice was the Catyalyst temperature bank 1, sensor 1 was returning 315.32 degree F

Fuel rail pressure at 1001.95 psi with a fue lelvel input of 34.118%

and engine coolant temperature at 145.4 degree F.

The water pump rubber does look quite worn so could it be that? Although not sure how it would effect the camshaft..

 

Starting the car up once more brought a new error, that being P1339. Are P13c0 and P1339 in any way related?

 

BMW Fault Code Lookup - BMWFaultCodes

Look them up. But 1339 relates to exhaust camshaft so looks like your issues are all related to the vanos.
Could be a faulty sensor.

Cam sensors are about £14ea from Autodoc so not too costly if they didn't cure the problem.

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/abakus/13300192

Enter your reg no. to find the correct part.

P13C0 is intake vanos and the above site suggests intake solenoid but click on 'view' for more into. Note the comment about oil pressure - when was the oil and filter changed?
Might be worth using some engine flush if they need doing.

The intake solenoid is on the drivers side at the front under the ecu but fortunately more accessible than the exhaust one on the opposite side.

The solenoids are £36.

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/control-valve-camshaft-adjustment-15036/bmw/1er-reihe/1-f20/10311-116-i

 

Thanks for the links @Atyn I'll order the cam sensors as the 'fault info' suggests doing so. Regarding the solenoid, the car came with it damaged. (literally looked like they tried hammering it out. I ending up getting it out and putting a new one in and it slid in perfectly fine, so that's already new.. however the harness has seen better days and I may need a new plug. But again not sure how much of an impact that could be especially if it still plugs in.

The oil and filter were changed a few days ago. From what I read the oil amount was from 4.2l to 4.7l

wait wait.. theres TWO intake solenoids?! do you possibly have a diagram of where the exhaust one could be found?

Now noting that the intake solenoid (under the ecu) had been replaced with a new one, could it merely be the exhaust solenoid causing the issue or would it not work like that?

 

thanks for the link @Atyn I checked my ecu for the ecu variant, but no clue on which one it could be... The label on the ecu says DME but not sure if that related to any of the ecu variants that website shows..

I'm assuming it's got something to do with the alignment of the timing chain after reading the fault info on that website.

 

I found an image on a pdf of it. I think this is the one the previous owner had problems with but had no idea where it was. It was difficult finding the the image for it's location and after seeing what job they did on the previous, i'm sure they had no idea where this one was.

So i'll order another solenoid, the two sensors and I'll see how it goes. I've also ordered a new obd scanner, one which can work with bimmerlink in order for me to find the specific code. I'm just hoping its got nothing to do with the camshaft timing as i have no clue on how I would even begin a job like that.

 

There shouldn’t be 2 intake solenoids there is one per cam shaft so one on exhaust one on intake.
I think at this point the mechanical timing should be checked before throwing parts at it along with Bmw diagnostics.

 

Ive scanned the car with bimmrlink and saw a few errors. In regards to the camshaft ive found this and based on 130F20, i think its needs either a new timing chain or realignment :/ @Johnnyroper @Atyn

 

Don’t even bother trying to re-time it if it’s off it’s off for a reason. Most likely stretched or guides breaking up.
Do a complete chain kit along with sump removal and clean sump/oil pick up to make sure no debris.

 

The cam chain kits with or without new sprockets and the tools needed are reasonably priced om ebay and videos are on Youtube.

The chain, complete with guides just drops in from above so no major dismantling.

I plan on doing mine in the summer.

 

The petrols are a doddle hardest part is locking crank to crack boot off and then torque it up again.

 

@Johnnyroper @Atyn could either of you refer a link to a set of tools for the locking of the camshafts please?

 

Help yourself it's not hard to look on ebay or Amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dayuan-Engine-Camshaft-Timing-Cooper/dp/B07V2MDC6V

Same for the chain kits.

 

@Atyn yeah i got the chain kit, but there were several timing chain locks. thank you for the link, hopefully this goes well.

to confirm, only need the timing chain kit and the locking kit and nothing else right

 

Rocker cover gasket aswell, sump gasket if you are taking sump off to check for debris which is advisable. Obviously oil and filter then aswell

 

thank you

 

@Atyn or @Johnnyroper or anyone do you know of any videos / pdfs of how to align the camshaft/ where the camshaft marks are? ive only found videos of people removing the chain but not really aligning it?

thanks

 

There’s no marks you need a timing kit like this to align and lock the camshafts and sensor pick up wheels

 

ive bought that, i have it now but and sorry if this may be a silly question, i understand it locks the camshaft in place, but the camshaft can be mis aligned right? so how does it align both the intake and camshaft to be in the right position if its out of time / alignment?

from what i understand 'Angular offset to crankshaft outside tolerance' means its out of alignment right? dont i need to align it when replacing the chain and camshaft/intake? @Johnnyroper


thanks

 

You need to lock crank shaft at TDC with the locking pin, make sure cams are in a position where number 1 valves are fully closed the cam lobes should be facing upwards but not completely vertical.
As it’s a 4 stroke you can have camshafts 180 degrees out so you need to confirm lobes pointing up.
If the locking tool won’t go on as cams slightly out of time then you will need to slacken cam bolts and move camshafts with a spanner until tool will slide over and lock them up.

 

Ok, cam lobes pointing up. The kit i bought includes intake and exhaust gears (the two gears that the chain goes on) when i take them off to replace, do i put them in the same position they were in or does it not matter as ive locked the camshaft as well as have the cam lobes pointing up? @Johnnyroper

thank you again )

 

The vanos hubs can go in any orientation, you just need to make sure you match inlet to inlet and exhaust to exhaust. The bit that needs to go in correctly is the cam sensor pick up, there should be a lock tool in kit to align them.

 

Boa noite @Johnnyroper estou com problema p13c0 oque pode ser?