2011 X5 35i E70--electrical weirdness.....

[greg328]

OK, so--I've been in a sort of tizzy over a recurring but rare/random Valvetronic error. I've owned this X5 for a 2.5 years, the Engine Malfunction/Reduced Power iDrive warning has occurred about 5-7 times in that period. I can go for months and 1000s of miles with no occurrences, then it can happen twice in a week. I used Carly iOS to pull codes and and they all relate to a Valvetronic error. Either the servo motor or the shaft. When I had the vehicle in to the dealer over the summer for an airbag recall, I had them check it out. They also pulled Valvetronic codes and recommended I replace all parts of the system for about $4K. I said no thanks.

The error will clear once the car is turned off and sits for 5 minutes. (I think the servo needs to reset)

Since acquisition, I've also experienced a couple other weird anomalies with this vehicle:

1) lift gate would not work under power for a week---then began to work. I checked the lower gate many times, was always shut properly.

2) recurring dash message indicating license plate lamp problem. The bulbs are fine, they are lit as normal.

3) Once, my iDrive screen started up totally RED, and then went dark. After I power-cycled the vehicle, it cleared and has never has returned since.


So--it seems to me--why couldn't my Valvetronic madness also be a related electrical fault? Why would the system work fine for months/many miles, then throw a code? More and more, I suspect it's a weird electrical error, responsible for ALL my weird random but recurring episodes. The servo is electric, so why not?

Can anybody shed some light on this theory? I'm aware BMWs are known for electrical quirks, but what would need servicing/replacing? The ECU? What would be the source of this weirdness? Where to start???

Any ideas/input welcome!

Greg in Austin TX

[racermp]

When was the last time you changed your battery or checked terminals

[greg328]

Good question. I renewed the battery maybe 8 months ago--registered it via Carly to the car. Terminals look new and are tight!

[greg328]

So---anybody have any other ideas regarding weird BMW electrical issues? These cars are known for this--surely some people have some info regarding tracing the issue.... ??

Maybe unplugging and reseating the ECU modules under hood? Or would that spell trouble?

[Poppyboy]

It may be a stretch, but maybe grounds need to be cleaned. Also, maybe a bad connection at the fuse panel? I too have an ‘11 with Carly coding, but haven’t experienced any of these issues (58k miles).