BMW B38 ENGINE BACKGROUND.
The B38 engine is a significant member of BMW’s modular engine family, specifically designed for compact and subcompact vehicles. This three-cylinder, 1.5-liter inline engine showcases BMW’s commitment to efficiency and performance. Utilizing a turbocharger, the B38 engine generates a robust power output, typically around 120 to 150 horsepower, depending on the specific tuning and application. Its lightweight design contributes to improved fuel economy and reduced emissions, aligning with contemporary automotive standards and consumer demands for sustainability.
The engine features advanced technologies such as direct fuel injection and variable valve timing, enhancing both responsiveness and efficiency. The B38 is commonly found in models like the BMW 1 Series and Mini Cooper, delivering a spirited driving experience that doesn’t compromise on comfort or practicality. As part of BMW’s drive towards electrification, the B38 is also compatible with hybrid systems, showcasing its versatility in modern automotive engineering.
COMMON PROBLEMS WITH B38 ENGINE.
Error codes – 130108 VANOS, inlet control error , position not reached.
130104 VANOS, inlet control error, camshaft jammed.
130308 VANOS, outlet control error, position not reached or jammed.
Also these faults are associated with engine misfires and general running issues which then triggers the drive trian light. We have had numerous vehicles with this fault and there are several items to check, there is also a BMW puma measure as this is a know fault with BMW inwhich they recommend replacment of both camshafts, vanos hubs, and filter bolts this can result in expensive repairs.
We recommend first checking the filter bolt in the front vanos.
Pic no 1 shows that the filter bolt has internally failed causing the gause to get stuck in the valve causing a lack of oil pressure within the vanos hub which the dme / ecu interprets this a a vanos jammed fault.
The next problem is the pick up on the back side of the camshaft inlet and exhaust move.
The inlet and exhaust camshaft have a pickup on the rear of the camshaft there are several different variants to the b38 engine some have a solid pickup and some variants have a bolt on pick up the problem occurs on the “sweated” on pick up- as shown in the pics, this is a bad design for this engine as increased engine temps cause the pickup to become loose and spin causing multiple fault codes. Just to not there are 3 different vanos bolt types if your bolt is the long type check weather the internal sleeve is not coveringvthe oil ways we have had several of these recently pics will follow.
There are pictures to show the correct installation with a metal ruler the exhuast camshaft pick needs to be flat with the cylinder head where as the inlet has a dot which needs to be above the ruler when flat to the head, this picture was taken when we had knocked the pickup in question back round to where it should be and ran the vehicle to check weather the problem was resolved. If you are trying this yourself you can spot weld the pick up back on saving you 650£ but we would recommend new for warranty purposes.
Note- The picture with red lines shows the incorrect / faulty camshaft pick up.
Please message for more information or if you would like us to look into a fault for you.
