BMW fault codes
39 distinct codes across 65 real diagnostics on BMW, including the BMW-specific ones no generic code list can decode.
BMW-specific codes
These are manufacturer-specific, which means the same code on another marque is a different fault. That is exactly why they have no page of their own here and no entry in any generic code list: a single description for one of these would be wrong more often than right. Below they are scoped to BMW, ranked by how often we have actually seen them, which is a claim we can stand behind.
| Code | Diagnostics on BMW |
|---|---|
| P16BC | 2 |
| C1241 | 1 |
| P1152 | 1 |
| P1634 | 1 |
| P16A1 | 1 |
| U1008 | 1 |
To turn one of these into a cause you need the marque, the model and the engine, which is what the tool does. A code on its own is a starting point, not an answer.
Standard codes we see most on BMW
These are standardised, so they mean the same thing on every vehicle and each one has a page of its own. The counts are what we see on BMW specifically.
| Code | What it is | On BMW |
|---|---|---|
| P0300 | Random or multiple cylinder misfire detected | 23 |
| P0171 | System too lean, bank 1 | 22 |
| P0128 | Coolant thermostat, coolant below regulating temperature | 21 |
| P0299 | Turbocharger underboost condition | 6 |
| P0011 | A camshaft position timing over-advanced or system performance, bank 1 | 5 |
| P0012 | A camshaft position timing over-retarded, bank 1 | 2 |
| P0045 | Turbocharger boost control solenoid circuit open | 2 |
| P0130 | O2 sensor circuit, bank 1 sensor 1 | 2 |
| P2002 | Diesel particulate filter efficiency below threshold, bank 1 | 2 |
| P20BD | Not individually documented | 2 |
| P242E | Not individually documented | 2 |
| B210A | Not individually documented | 1 |
| B210D | Not individually documented | 1 |
| P0002 | Fuel volume regulator control circuit range/performance | 1 |
| P0013 | B camshaft position actuator circuit, bank 1 | 1 |
| P0047 | Turbocharger boost control solenoid circuit low | 1 |
| P0069 | MAP to barometric pressure correlation | 1 |
| P0101 | Mass or volume air flow circuit range/performance | 1 |
| P0117 | Engine coolant temperature circuit low | 1 |
| P0170 | Fuel trim, bank 1 | 1 |
| P0341 | Camshaft position sensor A circuit range/performance, bank 1 | 1 |
| P0401 | Exhaust gas recirculation flow insufficient | 1 |
| P0471 | Exhaust pressure sensor range/performance | 1 |
| P0562 | System voltage low | 1 |
| P0741 | Torque converter clutch circuit performance or stuck off | 1 |
| P24C7 | Not individually documented | 1 |
| U0100 | Lost communication with ECM/PCM A | 1 |
| U0122 | Lost communication with vehicle dynamics control module | 1 |
| U0155 | Lost communication with instrument panel cluster | 1 |
| U0168 | Lost communication with vehicle security control module | 1 |
What tends to go wrong on BMW
By share of the codes we have seen on this marque. A description of our own caseload, not a reliability ranking.
- Misfire · 23
- Fuel trim: lean or rich · 23
- Cooling and thermostat · 22
- Turbo and boost control · 10
- Valve timing and camshaft · 9
- Powertrain, manufacturer-specific · 5
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I run a diagnosis?
Select the vehicle on Start, click the Diagnostic card and choose New diagnostic. Fill in the description, the error codes and the mileage, then click Analyze.
Learn more: Diagnostic (vehicle-first start), Diagnostic form: description, error codes and mileage
Do I have to type the codes from my scan tool?
No. Click the camera button next to Error codes and take or choose a photo (JPEG or PNG) of the scan tool's screen; WrenchLane reads the codes and their descriptions into the form. You can also speak them with the microphone.
Learn more: OBD reader photo scan (fault codes from a photo), Voice input for the problem description
Are the public fault code pages built from my diagnostics?
They are built from anonymised, aggregated diagnostics run in WrenchLane; no workshop, customer or vehicle can be identified. Each fault code page shows how often the code was seen across those diagnostics and in how many separate workshops.
Learn more: Fault code pages on wrenchlane.com (fault-code cluster)
Decode a BMW code against the actual car
Enter the code, the model and the symptoms and get ranked probable causes for that specific vehicle, with the checks in the order worth doing them. Free account, no card.
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