Back to 2004 BMW 325i

2004 BMW 325I

2.5L I6 M54RWDAUTOMATICgas
5 active safety recalls on this vehicle — view recalls
Repairs0Labor593Torque3642Fluid7DTC739Battery0Maintenance0Recalls5
P1396high severityPowertrain

Camshaft Position Sensor B Circuit Bank 1

on 2004 BMW 325i 2.5L I6 M54 · RWD

What this code means

The DME detected a malfunction in the exhaust camshaft position sensor (Sensor B) circuit on Bank 1. This sensor provides critical timing feedback to the DME for fuel injection and ignition timing.

Symptoms

  • Check Engine Light
  • Rough running
  • Loss of power
  • Engine may not start
  • VANOS malfunction

Common causes

  • Faulty camshaft position sensor Bank 1 exhaust
  • Damaged sensor wiring or connector
  • Sensor mounting bolt loose or missing
  • Tone wheel damage or contamination
  • DME internal circuit fault

Diagnostic steps

  1. Test camshaft position sensor signal with oscilloscope
  2. Inspect wiring and connector for damage
  3. Check sensor air gap and mounting
  4. Inspect tone wheel for debris or damage
  5. Compare sensor readings Bank 1 vs Bank 2

Repair notes

Replace the exhaust camshaft position sensor on Bank 1.

Other Powertrain codes on this vehicle

Building an app?
Free API access to all this data — 50 requests/day, no card required.
Get an API key →
Run a shop?
Manage repairs, estimates, and customers with ShopBase — $249/mo, all features included.
Try ShopBase →