Engine code P1338

[ItsHarveyLike]

Hey guys so I’m getting this P1338 code every day now , I used to clear the code and it would go away for a few weeks but now it comes on every time I drive....when I google the problem it says crank shaft position sensors , so I took my car to the garage and got them to change the sensors for me... 2 days later I’m getting the error code again ? Any help would be super appreciate x

Car = BMW 1 series F20 2012 116i

[jclausen]

When I google it I come up with camshaft position sensor bank 1

[ForeverEndeavor]

Currently having the same issue with my 2013 X3. P1338 and subsequent limp mode occur when the engine is warm, never on start-up, and usually at low speeds. Codes were at one point intermittent but have since returned on each drive cycle. I replaced my intake camshaft position sensor with a new one to no avail (light came back); also just recently swapped the VANOS actuators to see if that was causing the issue. No dice. Having read some other forum posts online it would appear that the issue is related to either timing, VANOS, or a cracked valve cover, which are all obviously less ideal than a simple sensor replacement. Don't want to have to go to a shop (I enjoy doing DIY work) but fear I might have to if I can't diagnose what is actually causing it.

Did you ever figure out what your issue was, and more importantly, did you ever get it fixed?

[MauiM3Mania]

Moved discussion to the model specific sub-forum.

[ForeverEndeavor]

Figured I would come back and update this post since I got the issue identified and fixed. Unsurprisingly, the issue was not with the intake camshaft position sensor, although my intuition about VANOS was correct.

The intake and exhaust camshaft adjuster sprocket had both failed, which led to the engine getting out of time. Thankfully, in the time between the DTC/limp mode first appearing and me taking the car in to an indy shop, no engine damage was done and the timing chain itself was okay (had been replaced on this care previously). The shop replaced both camshaft sprockets, put in a new valve cover gasket, and got her back in time and now she is running like a dream. I am moderately handy with car repair stuff, but this one is out of my lexicon, requiring ICOM software in order to read all of the faults that will actually tell you the relevant information.

TL;DR if you have P1338 in an N20 engine and either verify that the sensor itself is functioning/replace it with a known good sensor, the issue is not with your sensor.