Back to 1996 BMW M3

1996 BMW M3

3.2L I6 S52RWDAUTOMATICgas
1 active safety recall on this vehicle — view recalls
Repairs0Labor544Torque3958Fluid7DTC642Battery0Maintenance0Recalls1
P1396high severityPowertrain

Camshaft Position Sensor B Circuit Bank 1

on 1996 BMW M3 3.2L I6 S52 · 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 →