BMW Drivetrain Malfunction, Drive Moderately: Causes and Fixes
Reviewed/Verified by:
“Drivetrain malfunction” on a BMW means the engine computer (DME, or DDE on diesels) or the transmission computer has detected a fault serious enough to cut power to protect the engine. You can usually drive on gently, which is what “drive moderately” means, but the car will not make full power until the fault is found and fixed. The message itself does not tell you the cause. The fault code stored in the DME does, and on most gasoline BMWs it turns out to be a misfire, a boost leak or low fuel pressure.
At a Glance
- What it means: the DME limited engine output because it saw a fault. BMW bulletins describe the message appearing with “limited engine output” or reduced power.
- Can you drive? Gently, to get home or to a shop, if the engine runs smoothly and no red warning, overheating or oil pressure warning is showing. Stop if the engine shakes hard or the check engine light flashes.
- First step: stop, switch off for a minute, restart. If it clears, the fault is still stored; read the codes.
- Most common causes: misfire (coils, plugs, injectors), boost leaks and cracked charge pipes on turbo engines, high pressure fuel pump faults, VANOS solenoids.
- Free coverage to check: N54 fuel pump (10 years or 120,000 miles on covered cars), N54 wastegates (8 years or 82,000 miles), N20 timing chain (7 years or 70,000 miles).
- Tool you need: a BMW capable scanner. Generic readers miss most BMW engine fault codes.
What the Message Means
BMW’s Check Control system shows a warning light plus a text message when a monitored system has a fault. Some messages stay on until the fault is fixed, and stored messages can be reviewed under Vehicle Info, Vehicle status, Check Control (BMW 3 Series owner manual). The drivetrain message is the DME’s way of saying it has switched to a reduced power or failsafe strategy.
You will see slightly different wording depending on model and software, for example “Drivetrain malfunction. Drive moderately,” “Maximum drivetrain output not available,” or “Full performance not available.” They all mean the same thing: power is limited and a fault is stored.
🔧 Find out what is actually wrong before you pay someone to guess
Dealer level diagnostics at home with the YOUCANIC UCAN-II Pro.
- ✔ Covers most makes and models, including many luxury brands. Send us your VIN and we will confirm your car before you order
- ✔ Reads every module, not just the engine, so you find the faults a basic reader says are not there
- ✔ Commands the car: test a fan or pump, bleed ABS, retract an electronic parking brake, register a battery
- ✔ No subscriptions. Free lifetime updates, so the price you pay is the whole price
- ✔ Backed by real mechanics in the USA you can email before and after you buy
Featured in The Wall Street Journal
Common symptoms
- Loss of power, often sudden, especially under hard acceleration or when passing
- Check engine light on, or flashing during a severe misfire
- Rough idle, shaking or a stumble
- Long crank or hard starting (classic N54 fuel pump sign)
- A pop under boost followed by limp mode (cracked charge pipe on turbo engines)
- Transmission holding a gear, if the fault is in the transmission
What to Do When It Appears
- Check the check engine light. If it is flashing, BMW says to reduce speed and have the system checked immediately because severe misfiring can damage the catalytic converter (BMW owner manual). If the engine is shaking badly, stop.
- Look for other warnings. Red oil pressure or overheating warnings mean stop the engine now.
- Restart. Pull over safely, switch off, wait a minute and restart. On some cars, such as N63 V8s covered by a BMW bulletin, an ignition cycle clears the message (BMW SIB for N63). The fault stays in memory either way.
- Drive moderately. If it returns or stays on, keep revs and load low and get the codes read soon.
- Read the DME codes. This is the step that actually finds the cause.
Common Causes, with What BMW Says
1. Misfire: ignition coils and spark plugs
A misfire is the most frequent trigger. BMW defines misfire fault codes by cylinder: 29CC for several cylinders, then 29CD through 29D2 for cylinders 1 through 6 (BMW SIB B07 03 14). If one cylinder is named, swap that coil with a neighbor, clear codes and drive. If the misfire follows the coil, replace the coil. If it stays with the cylinder, look at the spark plug, then the injector. Old plugs make coils fail, so replace plugs on schedule; see BMW spark plug replacement intervals and how to replace BMW spark plugs.
2. Fuel injectors (N54 piezo injectors)
On N54 engines built from April 2007 to November 2008, BMW ran a voluntary emissions recall because “the piezo injectors may cause misfire faults with erratic engine operation,” and directed technicians to replace fuel soaked spark plugs too (BMW recall 10E-A02).
3. High pressure fuel pump
Low fuel pressure on direct injection engines triggers reduced power. On the N54, BMW documented long cranking, a check engine light and reduced performance, with codes 29DC, 29F1, 29F2 and 2FBF for low pressure in the high pressure system (NHTSA file PE08032). BMW extended the emissions warranty on the N54 pump to 10 years or 120,000 miles for 2007 and 2008 335i and 535i and the 2008 135i under SIB B13 03 09, and in 2010 announced a voluntary action covering about 130,000 N54 vehicles (BMW Blog report). This was an emissions action, not an NHTSA safety recall, so ask a dealer to check your VIN. On N63 V8s, BMW traced some drivetrain messages to a loose connector at the fuel quantity control valve relay (BMW SIB B12 37 15).
Low pressure from the in tank pump causes similar symptoms. See BMW fuel pump control unit problems.
4. Boost leaks, charge pipes and wastegates
On turbocharged engines, the DME cuts power when actual boost does not match target. For the N55, BMW lists “Induction leaks, restrictions, loose clamps, or cracked pipes or housings” and collapsed boost vacuum hoses as causes of fault 120308, says to smoke test the intake, and warns technicians not to replace turbochargers without approval (BMW SIB B12 16 11). On the N54, 30FF means charge air pressure too low, often from vacuum leaks, wastegate actuators or loose charge pipe clamps (Motor Age case study). The factory plastic charge pipe on N54 and N55 engines is prone to cracking; the typical sign is a pop under boost and an instant loss of power.
BMW also extended coverage for N54 turbocharger failure caused by a wastegate defect to 8 years or 82,000 miles for 2007 to 2010 335i, 2008 to 2010 135i, 535i and X6 xDrive35i, and 2009 to 2010 Z4 sDrive35i. BMW notes that a slight wastegate rattle is normal (BMW SIB B01 02 12). On the 2016 M2, BMW found the DME boost check too sensitive and fixed the drivetrain message with a software update (BMW SIB B12 17 16).
5. VANOS solenoids
On N51, N52 and N54 engines, BMW bulletin B11 02 08 describes power reduction with codes 2A82 (intake VANOS) and 2A87 (exhaust VANOS), often after long drives at full temperature, restored by an ignition cycle. The fix is replacing both VANOS solenoids and changing the oil (BMW SIB B11 02 08).
6. Carbon buildup on direct injection engines
Direct injection keeps fuel off the intake valves, so oil vapor bakes on as carbon. BMW states drivability complaints and misfires on N54 engines “may be attributed to the formation of intake valve and port carbon deposits,” and the fix is walnut blasting the ports (BMW SIB B12 02 12).
7. Fuel quality
For the 2013 3 Series (N20 and N55), BMW recommends AKI 91 and sets AKI 89 as the minimum, and says not to use fuel below the minimum because it “may impair engine performance” (BMW owner manual). Check the fuel section of your own manual, since requirements vary by engine. Bad or low octane fuel causes knock, which makes the DME pull timing and can contribute to reduced power. Octane boosters are not a fix for a stored fault.
8. Timing chain (N20 and N26)
On 2012 to 2015 four cylinder N20 and N26 engines, BMW extended the timing chain and oil pump drive chain warranty to 7 years or 70,000 miles. The warning sign is a whine from the lower engine that rises with rpm (BMW SIB B11 03 17). A stretched chain can set camshaft timing faults and reduced power.
9. Low voltage and electrical faults
Voltage dips can upset control units and set a cluster of faults at once, especially on cold mornings with an aging battery. On 2007 to 2011 1 Series, 3 Series and Z4, recall 13V044 covers a positive battery cable connector that can degrade and cut power so the car may stall (NHTSA recall data). On the i3, a high voltage isolation fault shows the same drivetrain message (BMW SIB B61 38 14). See BMW battery warning and alternator problems.
10. Diesel EGR cooler (328d, 535d, X5 35d and others)
On N47 and N57 diesels in 2013 to 2018 models, recall 18V755 covers EGR coolers that can leak internally. Listed symptoms include a coolant loss warning and reduced engine power (NHTSA recall 18V755).
Reading the Codes
A generic OBD2 reader shows only standardized P codes, and often nothing at all for BMW specific DME faults like 30FF or 2A82. The scanner reads the DME, DDE and transmission (EGS) modules in BMW format, shows freeze frame data, and clears codes after the repair.
- Read and save all codes from the DME and EGS.
- Fix codes marked current or active first; they are the live fault.
- Clear codes, drive under the same conditions, and rescan.
- If misfire codes return on one cylinder, swap the coil and retest before buying parts.
| BMW code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 29CC | Misfire, several cylinders |
| 29CD to 29D2 | Misfire, cylinder 1 to 6 |
| 29DC | Injection cut out, high pressure system pressure too low |
| 29F1 / 29F2 | Fuel high pressure plausibility / pressure too low |
| 2FBF | Fuel pressure at injection release too low |
| 30FF | Turbocharger charge air pressure too low (N54) |
| 120308 | Boost pressure too low (N55) |
| 120208 / 120408 | Boost pressure too high / boost control switched off |
| 2A82 / 2A87 | Intake / exhaust VANOS fault |
| 11A002 | Fuel high pressure too low (B38, B46, B48 family) |
Code meanings come from the BMW bulletins cited in this guide. Newer BMWs use six character codes; older ones use four.
What This Repair Costs
| Part or job | Typical figure |
|---|---|
| Ignition coil, each | $19 (Bosch) to $86 (genuine BMW) |
| N54 or N55 spark plug set of 6 | About $111 |
| High pressure fuel pump, N54 and N55 | $275 (Bosch) to $1,109 (genuine BMW) |
| Lower charge pipe kit, N54 and N55 | About $180 to $240 |
| VANOS solenoids | Varies by engine; replace in pairs |
| Carbon cleaning (walnut blast) | Roughly $400 to $1,000 at a shop |
Parts prices from FCP Euro coils, FCP Euro plugs, FCP Euro fuel pumps and Turner Motorsport, checked October 2026, before labor. Before paying, ask a dealer whether your car is still inside one of the extended coverage windows above.
When to Stop and Hand It Over
- The check engine light is flashing or the engine shakes hard.
- Codes point to fuel pressure, timing chain or VANOS and you are not set up for fuel system or engine timing work.
- The car is still inside an extended warranty window. Let the dealer do covered work for free.
- You smell fuel or coolant, or see smoke.
Sources
- BMW SIB B07 03 14, misfire fault codes
- BMW SIB B12 16 11, N55 boost pressure too low
- BMW SIB B11 02 08, VANOS power reduction
- NHTSA PE08032, N54 fuel pump bulletins
- BMW SIB B01 02 12, N54 wastegate coverage
- BMW SIB B11 03 17, N20 timing chain coverage
- BMW SIB B12 17 16, M2 drivetrain malfunction
- BMW 2013 3 Series owner manual
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep driving with “Drivetrain malfunction”?
For a short distance, gently, if the engine runs smoothly and no red warnings are on. That is what “drive moderately” means. Do not drive with a flashing check engine light or a badly shaking engine; a severe misfire can destroy the catalytic converter.
Why does it happen when accelerating?
Hard acceleration is when the engine needs the most spark, fuel and boost. A weak coil, a tired fuel pump or a boost leak may cope at cruise and fail under load. That is why the code and its freeze frame data matter more than the message.
Why does it appear in cold weather?
Cold starts stress the battery and the fuel system, and a weak battery can drop voltage enough to upset control units. Check battery health first if the message mainly appears on cold mornings.
It appeared right after an oil change. Is that related?
Possibly. A loose oil filler cap or a disturbed vacuum or crankcase vent hose can cause lean or boost faults. Check what was touched, then read the codes.
How do I clear the message?
Fix the cause, then clear the codes with a BMW capable scanner. Restarting may hide the message temporarily, but it will return if the fault is still there.
Related guides: BMW Engine Malfunction Reduced Power · BMW Check Engine Light Half vs Full Meaning · BMW Transmission Problems Explained · BMW Fuel Pump Control Unit Problems | EKPS module · BMW Recommended Spark Plug Replacement Interval · BMW Battery Warning and Alternator Problems
I have a 2017 328D and had the Drive Moderately Maximum drivetrain output not available. Consult the service center notification come on. 78K miles on the car. I noticed that it would come on at around 200 ft pounds of torque. It would clear on its own after a bit. After a day of this, I noticed the check engine light came on and stayed on. The drivetrain notification would come and go. The car rode fine. Was able to do whatever speed I wanted. With the engine light staying lit and the notification coming and going, after a few days I brought it to the dealer. Here is what they found:
HOOKED UP BATTERY CHARGER AND PERFORMED VEHICLE TEST. FOUND FC# 244C00 CHARGING PRESSURE CONTROL CHARGING PRESSURE TOO LOW, FC# 244D00 CHARGING PRESSURE CONTROL CHARGING PRESSURE TOO HIGH, FC# 25CE00 CHARGING PRESSURE SENSOR SIGNAL TOO HIGH, FC# 290900 AIR MASS SYSTEM MEASURED AIR MASS TOO HIGH AND FC# 25D400 EXHAUST BACK PRESSURE SENSOR BEFORE TURBO CHARGER SIGNAL TOO HIGH. PERFORMED INSPECTION OF TURBO CHARGER AND FOUND CONTROL ROD FOR WASTE GATE MISSING. REMOVED LOWER ENGINE SPLASH PANELS AND FOUND MISSING CONTROL ROD. DETERMINED CLIPS FOR CONTROL ROD HAS BROKEN AND CLIP FELL OFF. RECOMMEND TO RE-INSTALL CONTROL ROD AND SECURE WITH CLIPS TO START.
Essentially the control rod between the turbo and waste gate fell off as the retaining clips broke. Luckily the tech found the control rod on splash panels. That control rod and clips cannot be ordered. They would have had to order a turbo. He was able to source c-clips to hold the control rod onto the shafts. $577 later all is good!!!! Could only imagine what the cost of a turbo would have been.
My New Diesel 2023 X1 showed drivetrain malfunction after 1800 miles. Car was uplifted by BMW and taken to their retailer. The only thing they could find was numerous faults with the adblue. The technician checked the lines and couldn’t find anything wrong. The car has now just done over 3000miles and drivetrain malfunction is coming up again.
It’s fine sometime the car senses things that aren’t dangerous and gives you the message, even if the message persists sometimes it’s very minor and just needs to be reset.
I have a 2015 BMW 320i and last week on the freeway the car message came up drivetrain malfunction, drive moderately. I drove it home slowly and I have not taken it to BMW dealer yet but a mechanic told me that I need a new turbocharger for the car, is that true? does that message mean I need a new turbocharger? no check engine light came up and when I got home and parked the car for a while the message disappeared.
I have a 650I w/53700 miles on it. My warming about the Drivetrain Malfunction happen yesterday. I immediately drove to and dropped the car at the dealer.
My question: BMW just pulled my engine less that 4000 miles ago. There was a recall to do a valve job on the car. In order to do the recall work my engine needed to be removed. Could that be in relation to this drivetrain malfunction now? I find it odd that this is happening pretty close to the major recall work. Please advise me on your thoughts.
I had this exact problem and it went on for about 1 year beginning about 75,000 which was 300 miles after the warranty ended. I have a 2014 BMW X3 and I got stranded on the freeway, towed it to BMW and they had the car for 3 weeks. Replaced the spark plugs and 1/2 of the fuel injectors. Got it back and in less than 12 hours, I was stranded again, same problem. Towed back to the dealer who replaced the rest of the fuel injectors and the coils. It was fine for a year and then I received the drive train malfunction error multiple times over 3 months but the warning would come on sporadically and then the warning would randomly go off.
This time I took it to my BMW mechanic (not the dealer), and he tested and replaced the battery because it failed all tests – seriously in a 4 year old car… Got it back and the drivetrain malfunction came on again, this time as I was going out of town on a long road trip. Back to the mechanic and this time they worked on troublehooting with BMW and they figured out that it was the turbo waste gate. Replaced the part and it runs like a top. Too bad, it took so long to figure this out.
This car has been a huge disappointment and I’ve been a BMW owner for 20 years. Ask your mechanic to check the turbo waste gate before you do all of the other expensive repairs.
I recently got an oil leak fixed on my BMW 535i which required the mechanic to remove a lot of parts from under the hood. After the oil leak was fixed I got an error message: DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION: DRIVE MODERATELY. MAXIMUM DRIVETRAIN OUTPUT NOT AVAILABLE. CONSULT SERVICE CENTER.
This occurs every time I accelerate to pass another car or accelerate on the freeway. This error NEVER happened prior to getting the oil leak fixed. I am concerned that the mechanic may have forgotten to connect something or knocked a sensor out of place. The error comes and goes and I do not have any shaking or anything. The car drives normal.
I have a 2011 BMW X3 and have the same problem with the DriveTrain Error coming on right after I spent $2800 on service (new fuel pump & full maintenance etc.)due to the Engine light coming on for high temperature and Get Roadside Assistance. I finally picked up the car after 2 days and immediately I get the DriveTrain error and subpar performance. And its not the 1st time. Always after service. Something is very wrong at BMW. I’ve only owned BMWs since 1991 but will trade this lemon in this year for something else.
I have a 2015 BMW X3 Diesel. About 3 months after I drove it off lot, it went into limp mode while driving from Wa to Ca. Had to spend one night and got a rental. Two weeks later got car back. Then similar stuff happened. Have 75k miles. Recalls and one on Monday, now back in shop today waiting for Drive Train message diag. Not under warranty. $200 to diag and he just said maybe it is the EGR diesel? Not confident driving this car. Could have bought 2 Subarus.
My BMW x1 has 83000km on the clock, I recently experienced a drive train error that disappeared afterwards. I am now told that the error was caused by a failed battery. I’m finding this hard to believe, can anybody give some expert on this?
Hello, I recently installed a high flow catted down pipe (200 cell), a charge pipe, an intercooler, and a jb4 tune . Now every time I drive the car for more than 5 minutes I get the “Drivetrain malfunction: drive moderately. Maximum drivetrain output not available. Consult service centerâ€. I am wondering if this is most likely because of the downpipe installed or if I need to upgrade my spark plugs for the higher power the engine is now making?
Mine is a 2012 328i. The drivetrain malfunction message would usually appear when I am slowing down for less than 10 seconds and then disappear on its own. The car will function as normal and I am able to accelerate after the message disappear. No error codes detected! Strange indeed.
Hi, Mine is Active Hybrid 5 series. I am getting the Drive Train error. I am out of warranty. Any suggestions
Hi Mike, how did you fix the problem? Mine also have the same problem and I’m worried a lot so can you please assist on how your car was fixed .
Hey there- what was the fix for this? I have the same issue
I have a 428 I X Drive and the Drive train malfunction warning came on the car was shaking and now will not start. I waited a couple of hours. Try to star and work fine for a few seconds. My car only has 22000 miles on it.
I have a 2012 BMW 535i Xdrive with 81000 miles. Currently experiencing this problem too. No shaking (yet) but I’ve had about 10 instances over the past 10 days where the engine just cuts off while driving or idling. idrive reads “no restart after engine stop†and “drivetrain malfunctionâ€. Took her to the mechanic and they “allegedly†replaced my Valvetronic and valve cover gasket $1250. The problem remained. Brought it back to them, they cleared the codes and told me to come back if it happened again. IT DID. Went back for the third time now they’re saying it could be a sensor, timing chain or dme. A BMW with Honda reliability would be a dream car!
There should be a recall if this is happening to everyone!!
I have a suggestion before you bring to BMW Dealer. Bring it only to BMW dealer if its still under warranty if theres no more warranty. Have a personal check up by yourself or bring to a local mechanic first that knows the basic maintenance? They won’t fool you because they are a local mechanic that you can visit anytime. Problem solve!
My 320i msport 2013 showed that drive terrain error while I was driving and it kept reducing the speed especially when I drove on the steep hill but I managed to drive for over 200km and now the light is gone and it drives well, what could the problem
I just had this exact issue with my car.
I have a 2013 535i and the same message stone train malfunction just happened to me. The car had been sitting for a few days and was at an angle. Then started it up early one morning and didn’t let it have a second to w arm up. Car started out ok but within a minute it slowed down and almost felt like it was shutting off. I turned it off and waited 5 minutes then it started and ran fine. Drove it home a 2 hour drive. I’ve had no issues since.
I have a 2019 BMW230i and I got the Drive Train Message. When I took in the car to the BMW Dealership, they said that a rodent ate through the wires and now I have to pay $1900 in repairs since they now have to replace the wiring and it’s not in warranty. I just got this car in July – has anybody heard of this happening? Rodents eating through the wires sounds very suspicious to me.
Hello I have a BMW 2013 528i xdrive and drivetrain malfunction keeps coming up after I changed all spark plugs and coils. I also did an oil change and still the same . The same codes keep coming up
my bmw 640d had drivetrain problem went to first bmw dealer they told me it was a turbo problem so £1900 later got to car back 3 days later same thing again so back to the dealer they said the faulty turbo must have caused another problem they said it had damaged the auto gearbox £4600 later got the car back 4 days later same problem i am now taking strathstone to court over the car whats up with the BMW dealers in England dont they Know anything about BMW at all Useless T. Callan Leeds West Yorkshire
I’m driving from Arkansas to Texas and the drivetrain Malfunction went on. It’s telling me that I should drive Modertaley. Can I still travel for 700 miles? I’m really nervous about this. My car is a 750 LI
It has 100120
Miles. What should I do?? Help!!
Hello, i have a bnw 523i 3.0 gasoline, and i have this drive train problem, no one mechanic can tell me what is the problem exact, but on the diagnosis ita appear to be cylinder misfire on 5 and 6. I replaced the sprk plugs and the coils, but it still the same, the problem appear just when the engine is cold(morning). When heared car goes normal.
Anyone can help me ?
I hope mine is the Battery ( It’s six years old now )
Own a 2013 BMW 528i which has been having the Drivetrain Malfunction problem now for over 2 months. In the BMW Shop three times now replacing High Pressure Oil Pump Low Pressure Fuel Pump and just today and Eccentric Shaft Adjustment. Over $3500.00 so far with Mechanics telling me that the diagnostics are coming back different each time but cannot reassure me that the parts replaced were in fact faulty. This is my third BMW and may be my last given this experience.
At BMW they dont know exactly what is the cause of this problem or maybe the do but they wont tell cause it’s their fault.
What ended up happening? I’ve had the same shake for a few months now, but tonight it just threw the drivetrain malfunction iDrive code.
When the shake started I took it to a mechanic, he didn’t see any codes on his scanner and told me to wait until it gives me an iDrive code, which just happened moments ago (I am assuming it’s related to the shake).
I am wondering if there’s any updates to your situation, since we both have engine shake.
Hello guys… I’m driving 2012 320i f30. I went out to start my car this morning but it failed to start up display this message :drivetrain. Drivetrain moderately and other one battery discharging when stationary… I wanna know whats the real problem any help is greatly appreciated
Thanks
Wow it seems to me a lot of us are having the same issue . This drive train malfunction has been a total nightmare for me. Left me stranded and took the car to a bmw mechanic shop. Prior I change the spark plugs and ignition coils after it still gave me problems. Took it to a shop and they said it needed to be reset by a special scanner. Work ok for about two weeks (not great) then the drive train message came again. This time it wouldn’t let me accelerate and was shaking. Now the car is in a shop and will be changing the fuel pump, sensor and supposedly it needs the original ignition coils. Total cost $1700 😩, it’s a 2014 bmw 528i with 90,000 miles.
This happens to me when the gas in my car is not good. I always put premium but have learned to stay away from sketchy gas stations. Ince I refuel with quality gas the engine shaking stops.
This happened to me about a week ago. After reading comments I didn’t want to take my car to official BMW services as they may suggest change engine! which I already did once due to other problem, but my car was still under warranty, now it’s not.
Take my car to another BMW service and it was an injector problem. Change injector number 4 and fix the problem, $150 USD repair!.
Was accelerating my BMW 428xi in wet conditions to pass a car on the interstate and received this error. Car immediately went into limp mode a decelerated to 60mph.
Went to a gas station turned the car of for 10 minutes, restarted. Kept the rpm’s under 2,000 and mph under 70.
Made it to the shop and turns out it was a sensor error possibly due to driving in rain for 7 hours the mechanic said.
i have a Battery problem for so long, BMW 3 SERIES 2013. so i used to see those massages steering stabilization drive on moderate speed. but the confusion was this massage was only displayed more especially in the mornings when ma car refuses to start because of the Battery, sometimes when you start it will display battery charge reduced when stationary and the battery has powder acid smell like thing. i am due to service oil but still need to travel 3700km, i do check my oil levels all the time. today morning it was very cold but i did start well the engine when i am on my way it showed i must drive on moderate speed drivetrain not fully activated. switched off engine then restarted massage was gone. as the day continued and was raining it refused to start but started then showed a massage that must drive on moderate speed and avoid hard braking and must take the vehicle to BMW.
It once vribrated a little long time ago after i bought an oil from Total garage n i took it back same day thinking may be they put the wrong oil. am i on danger m starting to Panic now
Den, did you every get an answer to your issue. I had the same problem and BMW replaced my engine (said it was the timing belt issue) and now the same issue with the warning but now BMW says the turbo needs to be replaced – I have not had any performance issues (not even the first time the warning light came on). Any insight you can offer?
My drive train malfunction warning came on again after receiving a low oil warning. Do they have any correlation?
Expect trouble going forth. Nice to have but once it ages it’s dollars out the pocket all the way…. Off motor plan is a huge issue, then all hell breaks…..
I had the drive train malfunction would come and go. Finally I could not get the error to go away. BMW said I needed a new engine. I cant afford one so I took it to where I bought it originally. He said it only needed a new waste gate. $295.00 job. Two years later I just started to get the error again but the car runs fine. I did have the timing chain and oil pump chain replaced it was rattling. I will be going back to the good mechanic and hope its nothing.
I have had this message on and off for at least two years. I have had the car scanned and no faulty codes appear. I keep my 2012 528i now at 85k miles, on a regular maintenance schedule. I do no notice any performance issues when the Drive Train message appears and the warning light disappears when I restart my car. I’m at a loss. I put premium gas in it. I just had it serviced today and told my mechanic of issue, he could not find anything wrong.
Finally the myth is solved! I bought a brand new 330E M sport 2 weeks ago, the drivedrain malfunction happened just a few days after I collected the car. BMW service centre here never encounter this kind of problem before. They checked the error message and couldn’t find it. So they just brush it off without the initiative to identify the problem and dismiss me. After I make a complain again they are very reluctant to check throughly and still unable to Identify the problem. They insist the car is working perfectly and intend to dismiss me once again. Now I found this article and I will forward to them. Hopefully, they will read and get the idea how to fix my car. It is very disturbing and disappointed with the kind of attitude they served customer.
Is BMW workshop now adopt DIY troubleshooting ?!
i had exactly the same problem on my 2013 528i xdrive? did anybody solved this problem.
the car is driving fine
I test drove a 2012 550i xDrive and this error message popped up, accompanied by moderate shaking, engine stall on the freeway, smell of smoke, and grinding on the transmission. I’m lucky this happened when it did, otherwise I would’ve ended up with a maintenance nightmare driving a lemon with the BMW logo on it. Utterly disappointing!
Read somewhere that an old battery could be the culprit.
So can i drive the car even though its only changing on 2 gears? here in my country we cannot take it directly to the mechanic (bmw) we need to book the schedule. and sometimes it will take a while.
The BMW is known for electrical issues. Thats what I am thinking
I have had this come up on my car today but seems to only come on when the air con is on.
I have a 2012 528i – 60k miles. I was driving with no issue then took a turn and slid a little on some gravel on the road…the drivetrain message came up…thought it was due to the slight skid…stopped, turned the car off and let it set for 5 minutes… the message still up. I’ve had no previous issues – only thing different is that I got gas the night before. I have put in gas dryer as and the rough idle when sitting has smoothed out but still rough when I took a test drive and drivetrain message hasn’t cleared. The engine is not heating up…at all, no smoke, no oil light – oil is at an optimal level, new battery, not stuck in gear, timing belt looks good.
2013 328xi with 133K miles. Get the error often, usually after I run it for a short time and then restart I immediately re-start the engine and it runs fine. This has been going on for a few months. Changed the plugs didn’t help
So mine is a diesel. I had my car towed to the BMW dealer. It was the fuel pump malfunction. I only have 20k miles on the car so luckily it’s still under warranty. But they told me it’s likely a defective part but what happened is this malfunction caused metal pieces, whatever it was that malfunctioned, so the whole entire fuel line has to be replaced. It was a week today it was towed and I won’t have the car back until next week, end of the week. The service guy said it would cost about 10k to fix. They had to hook my car up to a computer in Germany to diagnose it. I am leasing so now thinking, not sure if I want to keep it as I was thinking about it because I love the car. Anyway, it’s kind of crazy. Wish I knew more details, I don’t, just telling my story.
I have a 2013 528i 179k miles that I bought from a friend. His wife was driving it and it stalled wouldn’t start back up, it displayed the drivetrain malfunction warning long story short I bought it from him not running and replaced the following. Oil change, camshaft position sensor, plugs, coils and it still wont start it cranks and about every 3 try to start it trys to bust off I know its getting fuel.
Hi did you take your car to BMW and did they repair under warranty.
I have a bmw 328i 2012 f30…I was having drivetrain malfunction issue so I changed my spark plugs, coils , low pressure fuel pump and also high pressure fuel pump but drive train malfunction still keeps showing.
I have a 2015 320i and have had the drivetrain malfunction light come on 3 times already within the passed 15 days. But every time I turn off the vehicle and turn it back on the light goes away and drives fine… no loss of power or anything. the first 2 times it happened, I was low on gas so thought that was the case since I filled up and hasn’t happened until just yesterday, which would be the 15th day since it last happened, but I was at half a tank this time. Car turned on after I cut it off a few seconds, car is driving fine again.. what could it be?
My BMW 330d has a hard start and is telling me the the drivetrain malfunction, so what could be the cause?
Actually yes I started experiencing problems after seeing a mechanic
I’ve noticed every time I use my start to stop function is when that same experience comes up, once it’s turned off doesn’t then it’s fine.
I have 7 series bmw 2011 milage 20000km. I had this message when i start the car some times and it starts shaking. I have to turn it off for 5 minutes and restart again. Some times it does not show the message but still can feel the shake in the engine. I send the car to bmw service and they changed the spark parts as it is the cause but i still have the same problem although they tested on the error codes scanner. What do you advise me to do and what do you think the problem cause??
I don’t think you need to change the whole Engine. That costs a lot and is probably not worth it. How old is your car and how much has your Engine driven? 60,000 km? that is not a lot to be honest
If the Cylinder has malfunctioned, they should be able to change it. Yes it will be costly but far less than your engine
Hi . My car bmw 520d 2010
Yesterday showed drivetrain fault.
what can i expect?
Thank
I found my answer here which I knew it had to be mechanics fault. I had oil changed and waited for it. Said I was good to go and car was running out front. The second I got into vehicle the Drivetrain Malfunction drive moderately was on. I always check my dash because this isn’t my first rodeo with a mechanic error. I immediately told the mechanic who claimed to be a foreign car specialist and he of courses wouldn’t except it was possibly something he did. When you take a vehicle in for simple maintenance and get it back with error codes it really hacks me off. My suspicion was he spilled oil on engine. A month ago I had new plugs put in. It wasn’t shaking or riding rough. He told me he didn’t have time to assess the problem and I would have to bring it back another day.
Drivetrain malfunction after an oil change
If you get BMW drivetrain malfunction after you change the engine oil, there is a very good chance that:
A sensor got unplugged by accident
You spilled engine oil on the engine
He didn’t even put the correct oil in it. There’s more to story but at least my assumption is correct. Thank you for posting the information
I have a 650. Took car initially because of engine oil needed. They checked it and told me the turno coolant hoses were leaking. I paid 3500 and picked it up saturday. Driving home today it started shaking badly and message said drivetrain malfunction. I had paid 200 for having a complete diagnostic and this never came up. I almost feel they sabotage the cars there. Every time i do it something else comes up at peter pan bmw service. Anyone has ideas ?
mine did the same thing two days ago:(:(..luckily my car is still under warranty…
I got a second hand vehicle from a BMW 1 series M sport just a few weeks ago ( late 2016 model) and I’ve just had this message pop up randomly this morning. Says I can continue to drive but should get it serviced. After reading the comments above it’s got me fearful of when my warranty runs out
Mine 2015 520xda wen’t to a limp mode with drivetrain error message. I checked the fail code with ista and it asked to check intake manifold pressure sensor. I took a one from my wifes x1 and tested it to my 520 and whole car runs fine. Then putting the old one back and the engine light turns on when starting. So it is worth to try this one…
I have the same message but the car has only done 7000 miles from new it’s a 2018 X1
Exact same problem happened to me, i was driving my friend on the highway when the message “Drivetrain Malfunction” popped up and the check engine light appeared, still drivable however with low output. Next day i take it to Baron BMW and they said “It looks like your timing belt broke, i could open it and see but I dont even know if it’s worth our time so ill go ahead and send you the details for a new engine, which is just under 14k”. Anyway fast forward a few days I took it to a mechanic shop, got it done just spending under 1k. Moral of the story….don’t listen to BMW they’re morons who will do anything for an extra dollar.
Is the timing chain. Is broken. Does not need a new engine, just a good mechanic to get the chain in and time it properly. Me engine rebuilds or anything.
i own 320d 2015, my car engine starts but cant engage gears, it says only DRIVETRAIN PROBLEM really cant able to error code also
Hello my M5 went into drive train malfunction while sitting in traffic. Took it to BMW they are saying cylinder 5 is malfunctioning and upon further inspection that they need to replace entire engine! Does this make any sense? The car has 60km on it and was purchased second hand from two owners who took good car of it. The first owner did install a performance chip and exhaust but from what I know didn’t beat on the car
I also have a 2013 BMW x3, nothing but problems i hate to say, i love the car, the service, the drive but since the warantee expired I had to pay for things “malfunctioning” very disappointing. 1. sensors to the ac/heat car was flashing on and off like crazy 1800 dollars, after that thermostat, BMW paid for that or should I say reimburse me. 2. another sensor broke , i dont recall something with the tires another $1800, but since I paid 1800 the time prior they took off $1000, how nice. I said so many malfunctions, why is this my fault? I hate the feel of insecurity the car brings, but now last week a “drivetrain” warning went on and I stopped, turned it on and off and has been good ever since. Scares me to read what you wrote about transmission, but really started to worry. The great drive it has nothing but issues that it should never have.
Hi, Almost same issue with my BMW X3 2013, 84k miles. I got “Drive moderately. Maximum drivetrain output not available. Consult service center” on 3/29/2019 night while I am out. It allowed me to drive to restaurant. After 15 minutes I tried to start car and showed up “Do not switch off engine, engine restart will not be possible. Consult nearest service center.”
I got it towed it to BMW service station. Next day they told that timing chain broke and its pieces spoiled the engine and need to replace entire engine.
My car warranty expired long back. My extended maintenance expired 4 months back. I was told that it costs around $14k (current price of car is almost same) and I have to pay it since there is no warranty.
My car is always serviced in BMW service station and no symptoms of this or any problems so far.
My car is giving me the drivetrain problem. At times, the car starts, then the engine is off and gives drive train message. It further says automatic start disactivated and the engine does not start even pressing and holding the start button.