P0351 means the ECU saw an electrical fault in the primary or secondary circuit of ignition coil #1. Usually a failed coil, sometimes wiring, connector, or the ECU's ignition driver.
DTC/P0351·BMW
P0351 on BMW: Causes, Symptoms and Fix Cost
Quick Answer
Moderate SeverityNot safe to driveBMW
P0351 on a BMW means the ECU saw an electrical fault in the primary or secondary circuit of ignition coil #1. Usually a failed coil, sometimes wiring, connector, or the ECU's ignition driver.
Repair cost on BMW€72 - €2340
What does P0351 mean on a BMW?
BMW 3-Series
2007-2015N54 and N55 turbocharged sixes are hard on coils, average life 60,000 to 100,000 km. Use Bosch 0221504470 or Delphi OEM only. Replace NGK plugs (ILZKAR7B11) every second coil change.
What causes P0351 on a BMW?
Beyond the generic causes listed on the main P0351 page, these are the BMW-specific patterns we see most often:
BMW 3-SeriesOil in the spark plug tubes from a failed valve cover gasket (very common on N54/N55)
BMW 3-SeriesCheap aftermarket coils breaking down under boost pressure
How to diagnose P0351 on a BMW with OBD2
Follow these steps to pinpoint the root cause of P0351:
- Scan for all stored codes. A P0301 alongside P0351 confirms cylinder 1 is the misfiring cylinder, not just an electrical hiccup.
- Pull the coil #1 connector and inspect for green corrosion, bent pins, or oil from a leaking valve cover gasket.
- Swap coil #1 with coil #3 (or any other cylinder), clear codes, and drive. If P0353 now appears, the coil is dead. If P0351 stays, the fault is wiring or ECU side.
- Pull spark plug #1. Check for excessive gap, oil fouling, or a cracked insulator. Replace it regardless while you're in there.
- Measure coil primary resistance (typically 0.4 to 2 ohms) and secondary (5k to 15k ohms). Compare to your service manual spec, not a generic number.
- Key on, engine off: confirm 12V at the coil power pin. Then back-probe the trigger wire and check for a switching signal while cranking.
- Trace the trigger wire back toward the ECU looking for chafe points, especially where the harness crosses the valve cover or a metal bracket.
- If coil, plug, power, and trigger wire all pass, scope the ECU driver output. A flat line while cranking points to a failed driver inside the ECU.
How much does P0351 cost to fix on a BMW? (EUR)
Estimated repair costs on a BMW (BMW parts and labour typically run 30% above the average for this code).
Prices estimated as of May 2026. Costs vary by region, vehicle, and shop.
Related codes that often appear with P0351 on BMW
These codes commonly cluster with P0351 on BMW vehicles:
FAQ: P0351 on BMW
Can I just swap coil 1 with coil 2 to test it?
Yes, that's the fastest way. Move coil 1 to another cylinder, clear the code, and drive. If P0352, P0353, or P0354 pops up, the coil is bad. If P0351 comes right back, look at the connector, wiring, or ECU driver.
Will P0351 wreck my catalytic converter?
Yes if you keep driving on it. Unburned fuel from the dead cylinder ignites in the cat and melts the substrate. A drive home is fine, a week of commuting on a flashing CEL usually isn't.
How long does it take to swap an ignition coil?
On most 4-cylinder coil-on-plug engines, 10 to 20 minutes. Two bolts and a connector. V6 or V8 engines with coils buried under an intake plenum (BMW N63, Audi 4.2 FSI) can take 1 to 3 hours.
My new coil failed within a month. Why?
Almost always one of three things: a worn spark plug you didn't replace, oil in the plug well from a leaking valve cover gasket shorting the boot, or a cheap aftermarket coil. Fix the root cause, use OEM (Bosch, Denso, Delphi, NGK), and it'll last.
Should I replace all the coils at once?
Not required, but if the car has 150,000+ km on original coils and one just died, the rest are close behind. On engines where labor is significant (BMW N54, VW/Audi TSI), replacing the set once is cheaper than four separate visits.
Looking for the full P0351 reference (all makes, full diagnosis flow, complete repair cost matrix)?
See the main P0351 guideSkanyx · BMW
Diagnosing P0351 on your BMW?
Your car logged {code}. Skanyx reads it on any standard Bluetooth OBD2 adapter, tells you whether it is safe to keep driving, and shows the {costRange} repair range so you know the number before a shop quotes you.
Download Skanyx