Faulty ignition coil on cylinder 9, which is a common failure on BMW engines with individual coil-on-plug setups; Worn or fouled spark plug on cylinder 9, often due to extended service intervals or oil contamination; Failed fuel injector for cylinder 9, causing a lean or rich condition that leads to misfire; Vacuum leak at the intake manifold runner or gasket near cylinder 9, upsetting the air-fuel mixture; Mechanical fault such as a burnt valve, worn camshaft lobe, or failed hydraulic lifter on cylinder 9; Low compression on cylinder 9 from worn piston rings or a damaged head gasket; Faulty engine control module software or wiring harness issue affecting the cylinder 9 ignition or injection circuit

DTC codes / BMW codes / P1359

P1359 · BMWMisfire Cylinder 9 With Fuel Cut-off

Q: What does code P1359 mean?

Misfire Cylinder 9 With Fuel Cut-off. P1359 on a BMW indicates that the engine control module has detected a misfire on cylinder 9 and has deliberately cut off fuel delivery to that cylinder to protect the catalytic converter from unburned fuel. The misfire counter for cylinder 9 exceeded the manufacturer's threshold, triggering the fuel cut-off strategy and storing this code.

P1359 on a BMW indicates that the engine control module has detected a misfire on cylinder 9 and has deliberately cut off fuel delivery to that cylinder to protect the catalytic converter from unburned fuel. The misfire counter for cylinder 9 exceeded the manufacturer's threshold, triggering the fuel cut-off strategy and storing this code.

SystemPowertrain

Code typeBMW specific

SeverityHigh

Fix difficultyProfessional

AreaIgnition system and misfire

Symptoms you may notice

Rough idle or shaking that is most noticeable when the engine is cold or under light load
A flashing or steady check engine light, sometimes accompanied by a message to drive to a workshop
Noticeable loss of power and reduced throttle response, especially during acceleration
Audible popping or backfiring from the exhaust due to unburned fuel entering the exhaust stream
Often no symptoms besides the warning light if the misfire is intermittent and the fuel cut-off has not yet caused a noticeable power loss

Common causes, most likely first

Faulty ignition coil on cylinder 9, which is a common failure on BMW engines with individual coil-on-plug setups
Worn or fouled spark plug on cylinder 9, often due to extended service intervals or oil contamination
Failed fuel injector for cylinder 9, causing a lean or rich condition that leads to misfire
Vacuum leak at the intake manifold runner or gasket near cylinder 9, upsetting the air-fuel mixture
Mechanical fault such as a burnt valve, worn camshaft lobe, or failed hydraulic lifter on cylinder 9
Low compression on cylinder 9 from worn piston rings or a damaged head gasket
Faulty engine control module software or wiring harness issue affecting the cylinder 9 ignition or injection circuit

How to diagnose and fix it

Scan all stored codes and freeze-frame data with a BMW-capable scan tool to confirm cylinder 9 misfire and check for related codes
Perform a visual inspection of the cylinder 9 ignition coil, spark plug, and injector connector for damage or oil contamination
Swap the ignition coil and spark plug from cylinder 9 to an adjacent cylinder and recheck misfire counters to see if the fault follows
Conduct a compression test and cylinder leak-down test on cylinder 9 to rule out mechanical failure
Check fuel injector operation with a noid light or injector balance test, and inspect the injector wiring for continuity
Smoke-test the intake system for vacuum leaks near cylinder 9 and verify intake manifold gasket integrity
If all electrical and mechanical checks pass, update the engine control module software and re-evaluate the misfire counters

Cylinder 9 Misfire Traps on BMW V8 Engines

Cylinder 9 is only present on BMW V8 and V12 engines, so this code will never appear on a four- or six-cylinder model and should prompt a check of the vehicle's engine configuration.
A misfire code with fuel cut-off does not always mean the ignition coil is at fault; a leaking injector or intake leak can cause the same counter to trip, so swapping parts without testing often leads to repeat repairs.
BMW's misfire detection is sensitive to crankshaft position sensor signal quality, and a failing sensor or reluctor ring can create phantom misfire counts on a specific cylinder.
After repairing the root cause, the fuel cut-off strategy may remain active until the misfire counters are cleared with a scan tool, so the engine may still run poorly until codes are reset.
Oil fouling from a failed valve cover gasket or spark plug tube seal is a frequent cause of cylinder 9 misfire on older BMW V8s, and the plug often appears wet with oil rather than worn.

Can I keep driving with P1359?

Do not continue driving with an active P1359 code because the fuel cut-off leaves cylinder 9 dead and unburned fuel can overheat and destroy the catalytic converter. Limit driving to moving the vehicle to a safe location or a short distance to a repair shop, and avoid heavy throttle or high speeds.

Tools that help

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Guidance is general and written for BMW vehicles. Exact tests and values vary by model, so confirm the fault before replacing parts.