Ayyyy something to check ik it’s two different vehicles but my 2012 Passat ended up doing the same thing and one mechanic told me a new engine but thankfully he send me to euro shop for a second opinion and wala what I thought the car was toasted it was a camshaft position sensor
Ah, the camshaft position sensor. A real grievance of mine, I had to replace it twice.
My symptoms were strange, my 320Ci with an automatic transmission would stall if I was too quick switching between Drive - Reverse, then Drive again (like when turning around in a drive way), I scanned and saw the code P0304, replaced the sensor, and the car seemed fine for a while. But I still did not get that VANOS power boost at lower RPMs. I was suspecting a worn-out VANOS unit at this point, but did further digging. I did a test drive car with an OBDII-scanner and revealed the sensor output was not what it should have been. The same P-code did not re-appear, but others did, BMW-specific ones such as "41 Signal, inlet-camshaft sensor" where 41 is hexadecimal for 65.
So I ponied up the $200 or whatever it was for a new Genuine BMW sensor, and the problems I had had the last two or so years all vanished.
I replaced the camshaft position sensor — the metal tabs inside were bent, and the diagnostic tool didn’t detect it. After replacing it, the car started building boost again, but the misfire was still there. Then I replaced all four ignition coils and spark plugs, and now everything runs fine.
Genuine BMW
Not to mention, we have a Genuine OEM Bosch camshaft position sensor here in a BOSCH box that says "Made in China" on it.
I've just bought a Valeo one, and it worked for about a week but then died.
I replaced it with a new Hitachi sensor, but I'm still getting the check engine light. I checked the codes again and it's the same. Don't know if using an aftermarket sensor was a bad idea.
Ive since gotten a replacement Vemo branded sensor however I am now getting Camshaft sensor faults via INPA and a massive loss of power and fuel economy (~15L to do 60kms).
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