Timing and crank/cam sensorsGeneric OBD-II codeUrgency: Garage soon

P0015 on BMW: causes and affected engines

P0015 means: camshaft "B" (exhaust) position, bank 1: timing over-retarded.^[1][2] BMW has 10 documented faults that can trigger it, across 9 engines, including BMW N47, BMW N43/N46, BMW N13 and BMW N20. Only a diagnosis can confirm the cause on your car.

Documented faults

that can trigger it

Engines

used by BMW, with at least one of them

BMW models

with at least one of these faults

Urgency

Garage soon

Reviewed on 29 October 20262 sources How we work

Documented faults in BMW engines that can trigger P0015

Grouped by engine or model, from most to least important. These are faults with the variable valve timing actuator, with the timing chain and with the timing belt: not all of them will necessarily set the code, and only a diagnosis confirms the cause on your car.

BMW N47

In Serie 1 E87, Serie 1 F20, Serie 3 E90, Serie 3 F30, Serie 5 E60, Serie 5 F10 and 3 more models

- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequentTimingRear timing chain stretch and breakageYes: the N47 has its timing chain at the rear of the engine, next to the gearbox, and on a very high proportion of units, especially those built between 2007 and 2009, it stretches or breaks prematurely because of an inadequate tensioner, with a risk of destroying the engine.Repair (garage): €1,590–€3,000Appears at around 50,000 km

BMW N43/N46

In Serie 1 E87, Serie 3 E90, Serie 5 E60, X1 E84 and Z4 E85/E86

BMW N13

In Serie 1 F20 and Serie 3 F30

- Critical severityFrequency: CommonTimingTiming chain and tensioner wearYes: in 2013 BMW issued a technical bulletin on timing chain and tensioner wear on the N13, an engine related to PSA's 1.6 THP. The chain proved more durable than on the N43 it replaces, but the German workshops we consulted still point to it as a weak point.

BMW N20

In Serie 1 F20, Serie 2 F22, Serie 3 F30, Serie 4 F32, Serie 5 F10, X1 E84 and 2 more models

- Critical severityFrequency: CommonTimingTiming chain guide and tensioner wear (2011-2015)Yes: on BMW N20s built mainly between 2011 and 2015, the timing chain guides and tensioner wear out early; if the chain jumps teeth it can put pistons and valves out of sync and cause catastrophic damage. BMW revised the design in 2015, without a formal recall.Appears at around 129,000 km

BMW N57

In Serie 3 E90, Serie 3 F30, Serie 5 F10, Serie 7 F01, X3 F25, X4 F26 and 4 more models

- Critical severityFrequency: CommonTimingRear timing chain wearThe N57 inherits from the N47 the timing chain at the rear of the block, next to the gearbox, which complicates any repair. Unlike the N47, there is no documented campaign or wave of mass claims, and cases of serious wear appear mainly above 200,000 km.

BMW N62 / N63

In Serie 5 F10, Serie 5 Gran Turismo F07, Serie 6 F12/F13, Serie 7 F01, X5 E70 and X6 E71

- Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalTimingN63 timing chain stretch and guide breakageOn the N63 the timing chain can stretch and the sliding guide can break, leaving plastic debris in the sump and risking serious engine damage. We have found no European recall for this reason.

BMW B47

In Serie 1 F20, Serie 1 F40, Serie 2 F22, Serie 2 Active Tourer F45, Serie 2 Active Tourer U06, Serie 3 F30 and 10 more models

- High severityFrequency: OccasionalTimingTiming chain wear (improved, but is it really at the front?)BMW improved the chain's tensioner, guides and oil supply compared with the N47, and failures take much longer to appear. But a specialist workshop insists the chain is still at the rear of the block, not at the front as is often claimed, so repairing it still means removing the engine or the gearbox.

BMW B48 / B38

In Serie 1 F20, Serie 2 F22, Serie 2 Active Tourer F45, Serie 3 F30, Serie 5 F10, Serie 5 G30 and 4 more models

- High severityFrequency: RareTimingTiming chain on the early units (2014-2018), redesigned in the B48TUWe have found no documented cases of timing chain breakage on the B48. The one concrete fact that does exist is that BMW redesigned the chain as a single piece in the 2018 B48TU update, which points to an area for improvement in engines built before that date.

BMW B57

In Serie 3 G20, Serie 5 G30, Serie 7 G11, X3 G01, X4 G02, X5 G05 and 2 more models

- High severityFrequency: RareTimingTiming chain wear on the gearbox sideDasercars states that the B57 does not repeat the N47's premature chain wear, but that the chain is still on the gearbox side, so any work on it is expensive. A brief rattle when cold should be checked soon.

Common causes of P0015 on any make

From most to least likely, according to the sources.

1Dirty oil or lack of maintenance, which harms the phaser, because the timing is moved by oil pressure.^[1][2]
2Faulty or dirty phaser control solenoid (and its filter).^[1][2]
3Stretched or jumped timing chain or belt.^[1][2]
4Faulty camshaft position sensor or wiring.^[1][2]

What to check first

The first diagnostic steps, from the most likely and cheapest to check to the most expensive.

1Check when the oil was last changed and what it looks like; if it is dirty or due, change it using the grade the manufacturer specifies and see whether the code returns.^[1]
2Inspect the camshaft sensor, its connector and the wiring, which runs next to the rocker cover.^[1][2]
3Check the phaser solenoid (resistance, dirt in the filter) following the values in the model's manual.^[1][2]

Full guide to P0015: symptoms, diagnosis and whether you can drive

Frequently asked questions

Which BMW engines have faults that can trigger P0015?

BMW N47 (1 fault), BMW N43/N46 (2 faults), BMW N13 (1 fault), BMW N20 (1 fault), BMW N57 (1 fault) and BMW N62 / N63 (1 fault). Each fault has its own page with the affected years and versions, the symptoms and the repair cost.

What does code P0015 mean on a BMW?

Camshaft "B" (exhaust) position, bank 1: timing over-retarded. The ECU compares the position of the bank 1 exhaust camshaft with that of the crankshaft and detects that it is lagging behind what the variable valve timing system is commanding. It is the opposite case to P0014, where the camshaft is too far advanced. It is a generic OBD-II code: it means the same on a BMW as on any other make.^[1][2]

Can I keep driving with P0015?

Garage soon. Out-of-step timing hurts performance and, if the cause is a stretched chain or belt, carrying on using the car can increase wear and end up damaging the engine.^[2]

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

P0015 – Camshaft position (CMP) exhaust/right/rear, bank 1 – timing over-retardedTroubleCodes.net · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026
P0015 Code Symptoms, Causes, Diagnostic Steps & Cost GuideFlagship One (FS1 Inc.) · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026