michigander
New member
TLDR
On my 2019 R1250RT I had DTC P2614 (3A1B62) -camshaft sensor detects incorrect amount of signals. This lights the MIL and limits torque output (I believe by limiting use of the higher lift cam position).
The fix was changing the bolt and spacer that holds the cam sprocket and reluctor wheel to the LH exh camshaft.
Part numbers from work order:
Bolt 11311540654
Spacer 11318394092
Shout out to Boxflyer for answering my cry for help early on with this.
Long version
I'm writing this to document my experience in case someone else runs into this issue because I found no reference to this anywhere on the internet.
I was performing my valve lash and cam timing check at about 13,000 miles. Valve lash was fine. Cam timing was slightly off. I adjusted (using BMW tools).
After buttoning it up, when I started the bike, it immediately set the check engine light (MIL). The only DTC present was P2614.
This is the description (from https://bmwfault.codes )
"The Digital Motor Electronics detects an incorrect amount of signals from the camshaft sensor.
Too many or too few camshaft signals are present within several camshaft rotations.
The number or sequence of the camshaft signals is implausible."
Below are the steps that website lists for this DTC:
Remove camshaft sensor and check for contamination (metal abrasion).
Check sensor gap to camshaft.
Check if the sensor wheel on the camshaft is twisted.
Check timing.
Check camshaft sensor.
Check increment wheel of crankshaft for tight fit.
Check wiring, wiring harness and plug connector to camshaft sensor.
Check wiring harness plug connector to DME
I rechecked everything, and eventually tried a new camshaft sensor, but still had the issue.
I decided to take it to my local dealer. They eventually tried the following (with direction from BMW tech hotline):
New cam sensor
New crank sensor
New wiring between cam sensor and ecu
New ecu
Finally (after my repeated prompting) they scoped the output of the sensor at the ecu and noticed that it was only seeing 2 out if the 3 teeth that it was supposed to see.
After consulting with the hotline, they were instructed to change the bolt and spacer used to hold the cam sprocket to the end of the camshaft. (See picture below).
This seems to have fixed the issue. There was some difference in the new bolt and new spacer. The old bolt was threaded the full length, and the spacer fit somewhat loosely on the bolt. The new bolt has a shank for the spacer to slide over. The new spacer had no slop (slip-fit).
I assume what happened is that by loosening the bolt to align the camshaft, the spacer shifted in one direction and after reinstalling the reluctor wheel this offset caused one of the teeth not to read properly.
I assume that this new bolt and spacer went into production at some point after my bike was built, so this may only affect early shiftcam engines. The problem does not seem to be rampant as the BMW tech hotline didn't recommend this until after weeks of trying other things. In fact, there are no bolts/spacers here in the States. My dealer pulled them from another bike in order to try this.
I was told that there was a "memo" related to this issue (not a TSB), but it was so well hidden that they didn't find it while researching this. I think it's interesting that the Tech hotline didn't even know about it.
I hope this never happens to anyone, but this may help save someone from the difficulty/downtime that I have been through.
On my 2019 R1250RT I had DTC P2614 (3A1B62) -camshaft sensor detects incorrect amount of signals. This lights the MIL and limits torque output (I believe by limiting use of the higher lift cam position).
The fix was changing the bolt and spacer that holds the cam sprocket and reluctor wheel to the LH exh camshaft.
Part numbers from work order:
Bolt 11311540654
Spacer 11318394092
Shout out to Boxflyer for answering my cry for help early on with this.
Long version
I'm writing this to document my experience in case someone else runs into this issue because I found no reference to this anywhere on the internet.
I was performing my valve lash and cam timing check at about 13,000 miles. Valve lash was fine. Cam timing was slightly off. I adjusted (using BMW tools).
After buttoning it up, when I started the bike, it immediately set the check engine light (MIL). The only DTC present was P2614.
This is the description (from https://bmwfault.codes )
"The Digital Motor Electronics detects an incorrect amount of signals from the camshaft sensor.
Too many or too few camshaft signals are present within several camshaft rotations.
The number or sequence of the camshaft signals is implausible."
Below are the steps that website lists for this DTC:
Remove camshaft sensor and check for contamination (metal abrasion).
Check sensor gap to camshaft.
Check if the sensor wheel on the camshaft is twisted.
Check timing.
Check camshaft sensor.
Check increment wheel of crankshaft for tight fit.
Check wiring, wiring harness and plug connector to camshaft sensor.
Check wiring harness plug connector to DME
I rechecked everything, and eventually tried a new camshaft sensor, but still had the issue.
I decided to take it to my local dealer. They eventually tried the following (with direction from BMW tech hotline):
New cam sensor
New crank sensor
New wiring between cam sensor and ecu
New ecu
Finally (after my repeated prompting) they scoped the output of the sensor at the ecu and noticed that it was only seeing 2 out if the 3 teeth that it was supposed to see.
After consulting with the hotline, they were instructed to change the bolt and spacer used to hold the cam sprocket to the end of the camshaft. (See picture below).
This seems to have fixed the issue. There was some difference in the new bolt and new spacer. The old bolt was threaded the full length, and the spacer fit somewhat loosely on the bolt. The new bolt has a shank for the spacer to slide over. The new spacer had no slop (slip-fit).
I assume what happened is that by loosening the bolt to align the camshaft, the spacer shifted in one direction and after reinstalling the reluctor wheel this offset caused one of the teeth not to read properly.
I assume that this new bolt and spacer went into production at some point after my bike was built, so this may only affect early shiftcam engines. The problem does not seem to be rampant as the BMW tech hotline didn't recommend this until after weeks of trying other things. In fact, there are no bolts/spacers here in the States. My dealer pulled them from another bike in order to try this.
I was told that there was a "memo" related to this issue (not a TSB), but it was so well hidden that they didn't find it while researching this. I think it's interesting that the Tech hotline didn't even know about it.
I hope this never happens to anyone, but this may help save someone from the difficulty/downtime that I have been through.
Wonder what awaits the 1st year 1300 owners
