Worn or fouled spark plug on cylinder 11; Faulty ignition coil or coil boot for cylinder 11; Leaking or clogged fuel injector on cylinder 11; Intake manifold gasket leak near cylinder 11 runner; Low compression due to valve seat wear or piston ring issues on cylinder 11; Damaged wiring or connector at the cylinder 11 coil or injector; Carbon buildup on intake valves causing poor cold-start mixture

DTC codes / BMW codes / P1362

P1362 · BMWMisfire During Start Cylinder 11

Q: What does code P1362 mean?

Misfire During Start Cylinder 11. P1362 on a BMW indicates that the engine control module detected a misfire specifically on cylinder 11 during the engine start sequence, based on crankshaft speed fluctuations. The fault is logged when the cylinder fails to contribute power consistently in the first few firing cycles after cranking.

P1362 on a BMW indicates that the engine control module detected a misfire specifically on cylinder 11 during the engine start sequence, based on crankshaft speed fluctuations. The fault is logged when the cylinder fails to contribute power consistently in the first few firing cycles after cranking.

SystemPowertrain

Code typeBMW specific

SeverityMedium

Fix difficultyIntermediate

AreaIgnition system and misfire

Symptoms you may notice

Rough idle or shaking immediately after startup, especially when cold
Extended cranking time before the engine catches
Noticeable vibration or hesitation under light acceleration from a stop
Intermittent check engine light with no other drivability complaints
Often no symptoms besides the warning light, particularly in warm weather

Common causes, most likely first

Worn or fouled spark plug on cylinder 11
Faulty ignition coil or coil boot for cylinder 11
Leaking or clogged fuel injector on cylinder 11
Intake manifold gasket leak near cylinder 11 runner
Low compression due to valve seat wear or piston ring issues on cylinder 11
Damaged wiring or connector at the cylinder 11 coil or injector
Carbon buildup on intake valves causing poor cold-start mixture

How to diagnose and fix it

Scan all modules and record freeze-frame data to confirm the misfire counter for cylinder 11
Swap the ignition coil from cylinder 11 with a neighbouring cylinder and recheck misfire counts
Remove and inspect the spark plug for cylinder 11; replace if fouled or worn
Perform a compression test and cylinder leak-down test on cylinder 11
Check fuel injector resistance and listen for injector pulse with a noid light
Smoke-test the intake manifold for vacuum leaks around cylinder 11
If mechanical faults are ruled out, perform a crank sensor relearn or software update per BMW service information

Why cylinder 11 misfires only at startup

A misfire that appears only during the first few seconds of cranking often points to a weak ignition coil that fails under cold, rich conditions rather than a dead coil.
BMW cylinder numbering on V12 engines places cylinder 11 on the passenger side rear bank, so access requires removing the engine cover and often the microfilter housing.
A leaking injector can flood cylinder 11 overnight, causing a startup misfire that clears once the excess fuel burns off; this often leaves no stored fault after the engine warms up.
Carbon buildup on direct-injected BMW engines restricts cold-start airflow and can trigger P1362 even when ignition and fuel delivery test normal.
The code does not always mean the cylinder is mechanically damaged; a loose spark plug or a cracked coil boot can set the same fault.

Can I keep driving with P1362?

You can drive the car short distances to a workshop, but avoid hard acceleration and prolonged idling until the misfire is diagnosed. Continued driving with a persistent misfire can overheat the catalytic converter and cause costly damage.

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.