Collection: Throttle Actuators FAQ

The service in the UK is a rebuild service—you can’t buy a complete actuator unit directly from them. With Rebuild UK, you must ship your faulty unit to the UK, then wait for your rebuilt unit to be returned along with your core, incurring shipping costs between $150.00 and $240.00. There’s also the risk of delays due to customs (which could add anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks and additional customs fees up to $60) and a lengthy turnaround time (often two weeks or more) while your car sits idle.

Buying from Euro Power Motorsports is not a luxury—it’s a no-brainer!

We send you our re-manufactured unit(s) upfront via priority mail with tracking information, so you can expect delivery within 3-4 business days in the United States. Once you receive our actuators, simply return your faulty units to us. The core deposit is 100% refunded upon receipt of your returned units.

Our service is more of a “service” for the Euro Auto Family rather than a traditional profit-driven business. We’re always brainstorming ideas to make your experience more affordable. Despite suggestions to charge more, we refuse to increase prices unless our costs unexpectedly rise—allowing you to save money on every purchase.

A new set of OEM actuators costs between $1,100.00 and $1,500.00, more than double the price of our re-manufactured units. With Euro Power Motorsports actuators, you can save a minimum of $400.00 (or even more), letting you use your extra savings on other modifications for your BMW.

Since Euro Power Motorsports is located in Michigan, we have the advantage of stocking actuators in Windsor, Canada. Canadian customers benefit from fast shipping—your actuator will be shipped within 24 hours after payment is received, with no customs hassles or extra fees.

The chance of our unit failing is less than 1%. In the unlikely event that you experience a failure, please follow our warranty replacement process to get a replacement quickly.

Yes, we do! We are interested in purchasing used units from you. If you’d like to sell us your units, please use the link provided on our website to send us your information.

A throttle actuator is an electronic component that controls the throttle valve, regulating the engine’s air intake. In BMW M models with the S65 engine (E92 M3) and S85 engine (E60 M5, E63/E64 M6), throttle actuator failure is one of the most common issues. When an actuator fails, your car enters limp mode, reducing power and triggering warning lights (such as DSC and EML). Proper functioning is essential for maintaining performance and drivability.

OEM throttle actuators have a 100% failure rate due to inherent design flaws. They use cheap plastic gears that wear down over time, and their electronic components (MOSFETs, capacitors, and voltage regulators) aren’t rated for the high temperatures encountered in normal operation. This results in throttle malfunctions, limp mode activation, and diagnostic fault codes such as:

• 2B15 – Throttle Valve Actuator Bank 1
• 2B16 – Throttle Valve Actuator Bank 2
  Replacing a failing OEM unit with another OEM unit only postpones the inevitable failure.

If you own an E92 M3, E60 M5, or E63/E64 M6, look out for the following symptoms:

• Sudden limp mode activation while driving
• DSC and EML warning lights appearing on the dashboard
• Loss of throttle response and reduced power

Error codes 2B15 and 2B16 during diagnosticsThese issues often occur during spirited driving, track days, or even on routine road trips.

If your BMW suddenly enters limp mode, or you notice a significant loss in throttle response—especially when paired with fault codes 2B15 or 2B16—your throttle actuator is likely failing. Every OEM throttle actuator is prone to this inevitable failure, and replacing it with another stock unit will only delay the problem.

Our upgraded throttle actuators for the E92 M3 (S65), E60 M5 (S85), and E6X M6 (S85) address all the flaws of the OEM design by:

• Replacing cheap plastic gears with high-quality, durable materials
• Installing new MOSFETs, transistors, capacitors, voltage regulators, microprocessors, and serial EPROMs
• Rebuilding the actuator completely, retaining only the outer shell. This results in an actuator that is built to outlast your car and permanently eliminates limp mode issues.

OEM throttle actuators for the E92 M3, E60 M5, and E6X M6 typically cost between $1,400 and $1,700 USD—and considering they fail inevitably, multiple replacements may be required over time. In contrast, our upgraded throttle actuator is priced at only $360 per unit, providing a far superior, cost-effective solution backed by an unlimited miles lifetime warranty.

Our rebuild process eliminates the weaknesses of the OEM unit by:

• Stripping the OEM unit down to its shell
• Upgrading the gears with premium materials
• Replacing all critical electronic components (MOSFETs, capacitors, voltage regulators, microprocessors, and EPROMs)
• Reassembling and testing each unit to ensure flawless performance. This thorough OEM+ process is why our upgraded actuators are trusted by BMW enthusiasts worldwide.

Our OEM+ upgraded throttle actuators are direct replacements for the following BMW M models:

• E92 M3 (S65 engine) – 2007 to 2013
• E60 M5 (S85 engine) – 2005 to 2010
• E63/E64 M6 (S85 engine) – 2005 to 2010

If you own an E92 M3, E60 M5, or E6X M6 and are experiencing limp mode, reduced throttle response, or error codes 2B15 and 2B16, our actuator is the permanent solution you need.

While some experienced BMW owners might install the actuator themselves, we strongly recommend professional installation. This ensures that all electrical and mechanical connections are secure and that the system is correctly calibrated for your specific BMW model. Improper installation can lead to issues, even with a high-quality actuator.