BMW Valvetronic and boost faults: mechanical versus software. See the manufacturer document, vehicle conditions, exclusions and questions for a qualified shop before assuming a repair.
This is a research summary of a manufacturer communication, not a diagnosis for your car, a DIY repair procedure or confirmation of warranty or recall eligibility. No qualified technician has approved a repair for your individual vehicle here.
This historical communication is conditional. The current revision, VIN/build eligibility, measured diagnosis and any warranty or recall decision are not established here. Ask the manufacturer or a qualified shop to check the complete current document.
Read the BMW original: N20/N26/N55 Valvetronic, air-mass and boost faults · Check open recalls by VIN at NHTSA Source date: 2015-11; research checked: 2026-11-01.
What prompted this manufacturer document
- Intermittent low power/Drivetrain Malfunction can accompany Valvetronic, low-air-mass and low-boost codes.
- Both a mechanical Valvetronic fault and a software condition are considered.
Which vehicle conditions must be checked
Each row below retains its own conditions. Do not combine engines, years or models across rows to create new applications. A listed model is not proof that a particular VIN is affected.
- BMW N20/N26/N55 applications · year not established · N20 / N26 / N55; Produced through November 2015; confirm actual chassis and US-market model
- Production cutoff and engine group apply.
- E-series and F-series code formats are separate DME namespaces/architectures, not generic OBD definitions.
Codes recorded in this document
A root listed only as an appearance has no separately verified meaning here. Preserve every suffix and module name; a shared root does not transfer a repair branch to another vehicle.
| Root | Raw form | Meaning in this source, if established |
|---|---|---|
| 2775 | 2775 | Low-air-mass plausibility indication in the E-series group. |
| 2C57 | 2C57 | Low-boost plausibility indication in the E-series group. |
| 2DCE | 2DCE | Valvetronic cannot complete the requested adjustment, E-series group. |
| 102002 | 102002 | Low-air-mass plausibility indication in the F-series group. |
| 120308 | 120308 | Low-boost plausibility indication in the F-series group. |
| 133B04 | 133B04 | Valvetronic cannot complete the requested adjustment, F-series group. |
What an owner can record safely
- Record the exact OEM codes and whether the complaint is intermittent.
What the source does not prove
- Do not buy a Valvetronic motor from the message alone or attempt unauthorized flashing.
- A code or message alone does not establish a failed part, a safe-to-drive decision or an approved repair for this VIN.
- A service bulletin is not automatically a recall or free warranty repair. Confirm current eligibility directly.
Questions for the repair shop
- Did the test plan demonstrate a mechanical defect or support the software branch?
- Does a later revision or a current recall change the source's original advice?
- What measurement or inspection confirms the cause, and how will the repair be verified?
Open source-review issue
- Q2-009: The source names an engine or chassis family without a complete US make/model-year matrix. Do not extend it to another model from brand familiarity.
The uncertain field is not used here to claim a current fitment, repair or market-wide failure.
Read the original record
The linked communication may be revised after the research date. Compare its document number, exact vehicle table, diagnostic preconditions and exclusions with a qualified technician. This page paraphrases selected facts and does not reproduce the manufacturer procedure.
Sources and scope
- BMW — N20/N26/N55 Valvetronic, air-mass and boost faults (SI B12 36 15) Document: 2015-11 · Research checked: 2026-11-01
Research snapshot: 2026-11-01. Source documents may have newer revisions. Verify current instructions and VIN eligibility with the manufacturer.