Coil pack for cylinder 5 has a circuit fault.
P0355 — also written PO355, P 0355, 0355 — is the OBD-II code for ignition coil e primary/secondary circuit. Same code, same fix: this page covers every spelling of it.
This is a hard fault on the ignition circuit for cylinder number 5, meaning the spark plug isn't firing. You'll usually see this on V6 Jaguars, BMW straight-sixes, or Mercedes engines where heat soak has cooked the wiring.
P0355 is a ignition fault code, typically costing £40–£260 to put right in a UK garage.
What P0355 actually feels like to drive
- Severe engine shaking at idle (feels like a washing machine on spin cycle)
- The 'Check Engine' light is flashing amber while accelerating
- Noticeable loss of power when trying to join a dual carriageway
- Strong smell of unburnt petrol from the exhaust pipe
- Car 'kangaroos' or jerks violently under load or going up hills
What causes P0355?
- Failed coil pack
- Wiring or plug fault
- Loose connector
UK vehicles that throw P0355 most often
- BMW 330i / 530i (N52/N53 engines) 2005-2013
- Jaguar XF 3.0 V6 Petrol 2008-2015
- Mercedes-Benz E350 (M272 engine) 2006-2011
- Vauxhall Insignia 2.8 V6 Turbo 2009-2013
- Audi A6 3.0 TFSI 2008-2016
How P0355 is fixed
- Swap coil to prove, then replace
- Repair wiring
The P0355 misdiagnosis that wastes money
I see folks rushing to Euro Car Parts to buy a cheap unbranded coil pack the second they see this code. They fit it, the light stays on, and then they assume the ECU is fried. Half the time, the issue isn't the coil at all; it's the wiring loom being stretched or chaffed, especially on the BMW N52 engines where the plastic covers turn brittle. I’ve also seen people replace all six plugs thinking it’s a 'service' issue, only to find the pins in the connector are backed out or corroded. Check the plug first, always.
What a UK garage should charge for P0355
A decent diagnostic scan to confirm the circuit fault usually runs you £50 to £80 at an indie garage. A quality Bosch or Delphi coil pack will cost between £40 and £90 depending on the brand. Labour is usually quick on a BMW (maybe 0.5 hours), but on a Jaguar V6 where the coil is under the inlet manifold, you could be looking at 2 hours and £150 in labour. If you go to a main dealer, expect to pay double—they'll charge £180 just to plug the laptop in.
P0355 repair cost in the UK
Most P0355 repairs land between £40–£260 including parts and labour. The spread is wide because the cheap fix (a sensor, a hose, a leak) and the expensive fix (a major component) throw the same code — which is why a proper diagnosis before parts are bought saves the most money.
Bob's tip on P0355
If your car has individual pencil coils, ask the garage to 'swap-test' before they bill you for parts. I always move the coil from cylinder 5 to cylinder 1. If the fault code follows the coil and becomes P0351, you know 100% the coil is the culprit. If the code stays P0355, the coil is fine and you've got a wiring or ECU driver fault. Don't let them just 'guess' with your wallet. Also, if one coil has gone and the car is over 80k miles, expect the others to follow suit shortly—but don't feel pressured to do all six unless you've got the spare cash.
Can you drive with P0355?
Misfire — reduce load.
Urgency: high.