Ok I know you have seen this picture before of a N20 engine,,,,well here another N20 with a internal engine noise,,,,this time the noise was coming from the front of the engine,,,,,not like the lower end like the last one I did,,,,this time we took off the valve cover and checked out the timing chain and found the timing chain rails coming apart
I hope you can see the problem,,,,I took two differs pictures hoping you can see the problem,,,,,if you look right in the middle where the orange color plastic piece is,,,,right under the vanos unit,,,,you can see a little knob,,,the plastic piece should be around the knob,,,that would snap the two plastic timing rails snap together,,,,but since that little piece is broken,,,now that little knob is not locked in place,,,causing it to separate.
Here’s another picture,,,this one might be better
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Recent Comments
vic san on N20 vanos unit broken Mark on N55 intake camshaft beari… JC on F30 A/C noise Jordan on New B engine mechanical water… jmiddle204 on X3 4×4 transfer case
bmwtechnician 
How many miles on this engine and what model?
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Miles on the engine is about 32k,,,,,F30 328 2013
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Was it making a noise like this guy : https://youtu.be/cT6ToHc0Pgk
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Nope,,,,that noise is two things,,,,the rattle noise is the timing chain,,,,and that whine noise is from the oil pump and sprocket gear.
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So it really is my oil pump that’s doing that whine.
It seems that this thing is expensive to fix. What’s the urgency?
What’s whining exactly? Miles on my ’12 X1 N20 is 65k
I didn’t want to pollute this post, but couldn’t find how to contact you otherwise.
I couldn’t get answers from a BMW dealer near by, that didn’t know any better after 3 hours of investigation.
Thanks
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For the fix,,,,BMW had us replace the oil pump and oil pump chain also the timing chain cassette for safety reasons,,,,,I think the problem is the oil pump drive gear that starts to whine,,,feel free to post on this blog anytime.
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I also have a video audio clip of a N20 with rod bearings knocking while slightly revving engine,,,you my like to here
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Could you send me the video link so I can compare it to my problem?
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Sorry Lucas I don’t have the video file anymore that was a awhile ago
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Hi dAw, at the end, was it the oil pump? I have the same exact problem on my 2012 X1
Thx
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It’s a combination of both the timing chain and oil pump chain
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BMWtechnician, is this oil pump / timming chain problem usually under warranty? I bought the car with an aftermarket warranty. Thx
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Can you comment on this post from your experience?
Nice website btw…
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=912547
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I posted on bimmerfest
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have you seen this issue yet in a 2014?
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I can’t say that I have yet.
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Can you comment if this is still not an issue with the 2014?
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Yes I can still comment on this issue
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Questions:
1) how often do you see timing chain issues? You have an imression how many N20 are around you(coming for service, oil changes, sales, leases..), and how many of them had this problem. What procentage? approximately
2) when is starts to whine, any indication/estimate when it may completely fail?
3) what is the best strategy (in your opinion) on how to act if whining started?
4) any extended warranty company you know (besides BMW) that would reliably covered this problem?
Thanks
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I thinks it’s about 10 to 15 percent of the cars I see with N20 and N26 engines,,,,,about 50% of the cars I see have the N20 engine,,,,when it starts to whine it that start of the problem,,,,when it whines it doesn’t mean that it failed,,,,it just the start of a problem.
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If you are still cover under warranty or if you have CPO coverage,,,,just tell the dealer your engine has a abnormal engine whine,,,,we haven’t seen any extended warranty company deal with the timing chain noise yet.
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I read several cases about timing chain failures when oil turned to sludge . Did you see anything like that? Thanks
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No I have seen the oil turning to sludge due to the timing chain.,,,,,only seen it turn to sludge when coolant and oil mix,,,,or when some people never do a oil change.
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Just an observation: looks like the plastic chain cassette in you case broke in the place where 2 parts lock near under intake VANOS. If a flexible laparoscope is used thru oil neck, this could be discovered in literally 1 minute, without opening the engine.
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We do use a bore scope some times,,,when you remove the valve cover,,,,you can sometimes see the problem already
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My 2013 X3 just experienced seized engine due to plastic timing chain guide breaking apart and falling into oil pan and blocking oil pump pickup … Quoted $25 K to replace engine. BMW Canada / North America must step up and repair this. (N20 4 cyl 2 litre with 58000 km – out of warranty by 4 months!!)
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That really sucks,,,,I hate to hear stuff like that,,,,all I know right now is BMW has been talking about extending the warranty on the timing chains on N20 and N26 engines,,,,,BMW knows there is a problem,,,,good luck
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Hi, I have a 2013 X1 with the same engine. it has 87k miles and seems to be doing very well. I’ve inspected the chain and guides and that seems fine too. The car was driven all highway and I bought it for my wife for grocery getting….so I’m curious: what was your diving style? highway? stop/go? did you use start/stop often? or anything else you can share. Thanks!
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I have seen all kinds of scenarios with the timing chains,,,,it really doesn’t matter how you drive it,,,,it’s the luck of the draw on the timing chain
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I’ve got a BMW 320 from ’12 with a rough running engine, scanning revealed a fault code 118002 mixture bank 1 to rich. Checked the fuel trims and is was at -30.5%. After ivestigation I thought it was the Valve cover internal pcv system. When I removed the valve cover I saw the Chain Guides had the same problem as above. Now going to change the Chain and see if my mixture problem is also solved.
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Did you remove the spark plugs,,,,see if they are fuel soaked
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forgot to mention a already replaced four injectors.Spark plug look good. That didn’t change anything. Timed the engine today. Exhaust camshaft is out. Going to replace the chain en guides tommorow and see if it is also the solution for the rich running.
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Ok,,,,sounds good
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Changing the timing chain didn’t solve the problem. Replaced kat and oxygen sensor with a different working car. Made nog difference. Also changed LMM this also didn’t solve the problem. Car keeps running rich. The car is now at the BMW dealer to see if they can find the problem.
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I would really like to here what the dealer finds out.
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So after being at the bmw dealer for 3 times problem still wasn’t solved. I asked them to check the fuel pressures. Low fuel pressure doesn’t have a real sensor it is calculated by the ecu. So it was difficult to check. High fuel pressure was right according to the dealer. I still had my doubts if the fuel pressure regulator in the high fuel pressure pump was working correctly. Because the rich fuel mixture was the worst when the engine was iddeling. So I replaced the HPFP with one from a different car when I had the chance. And guess what car is running great again fuel trims are spot on and the car has more power.
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The dealer probably didn’t check the spark plugs,,,just checking the fuel pressure is not only the best way,,,,what happen is the fuel pressure changes a lot,,,,it’s not a steady fuel pressure,,,,so that’s why I like to remove the spark plugs and get a reading on them,,,,it is a old school trick,,,,you can tell if the car is running rich or lean,,,,I’m glad you figured it out
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I’m looking at buying this one, does it sound like the timing chain whine?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1q47SdG-PP9QzkxN2NhNEdEa0E/view?usp=sharing
By my ear, it does. Any indication on how long these have when they start whining, or is the preferred method to replace all timing chain components and oil pump asap to prevent a failure on the road?
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Yes that’s the timing chain whine,,,,that one is pretty loud,,,,it doesn’t have very much more time,,,,before you have to replace it
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Thanks for the reply. I’ll pass on the car as it’s out of warranty and I don’t want to handle the expense of replacing it.
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Good idea
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Which part is the timing chain whine? During the revving? With the idle portion being injector noise? (Thx, great page you have here)
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The whine noise during revving is the timing chain and timing chain rails making the whine noise
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It makes almost like a dental-drill sound or like a blender.
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The timing chain is like a high speed dental drill,,,,the noise gets louder when you rev the engine,,,,the noise changes with engine speed
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What about having a whining sound in the cabin during WOT or heavy loading. My car started developing this whine post 3k rpm after I swapped out to a new set of custom exhaust
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Was that noise there before the custom exhaust system.
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Hello, I have a very close problem with this one. My car started to make that noise, but after I raced hard the next day the noise changed a lot, to another like a tek tek tek. The impression it gives, is that it really is hitting valve or other engine component. But the car is normal, has not lost power and does not blame any mistakes. I have the car stopped in the workshop without a light, because I am very afraid that something in the engine has been compromised due to this strong acceleration I made.
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What has the workshop said about the noise
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Hi, I just had my timing and oil chains replaced, but the engine is still ticking like an old clock being cold or warm. I was connecting this noise to the chain prior to the repair, but now that it is brand new what would be the cause of this annoying noise? My N20 is ticking in a 2013 F30.
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All N20 engines are on the noisey side,,,,did you go back to the dealer and ask what that ticking noise is,,,i would go back to the dealer and have them check it out,,,,,it could be the drive belt tensioner making noise.
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Some people say the timing chain issue only happens on 2013-14 3 series. Is it true? Thinking to buy one, but the timing chain really sucks
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Yes those are the problem years,,,I would stay away from those years if you can
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I’m looking at buying this car, 228I with-100k miles, 12/19/14 build date. Doesn’t seem to have have the whining noise to my ear?
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Thanks for the video,,,,the engine sounds ok
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Thanks for the reply and confirmation, I feel a lot better about buying it now.
Is the color of the guides an indication of if they are the updated model, or is that just oil staining?
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It’s a little of both,,,,if they are lighter in color then they have been replaced
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Do you mind taking a listen to my car? 2014 320i.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0gLTu_T09SlG0QDJwjvVYernQ#Home
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Thanks for the video,,,,I hear a slight whine,,,I would have it checked out for timing chain
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timing chain loose; what is the dealer method of ck for the “loose” chain. i can physically lift mine one day and the next its tighter.. tensioner ?? 20k miles f30 4 cyl
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The test is running the engine and hooking it up to a diagnostic machine and it performs a timing chain test,,,which it checks the engine timing and see if the timing of the engine is incorrect.
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thanks, many videos and comments on line saying this “loose” is normal. SO, that means when the engine starts with the “loose” chain rollers are ridding high on the gear for some seconds until oil pressure comes on. been working on cars (airplanes for that matter too.) for over 40 yrs and this is odd im not going to look anymore and driveeee on lol.
just saying
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Yes this loose is normal due to tensioner looses pressure and get loose,,,the second you start to crank the engine it get pressure again and tightens up,,,,enjoy and drive
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Hi BMWtechnician, I’m looking at buying this car, 2014 X3 28i with 42k miles, 08/02/13 build date. Does this N20 engine sound normal to you? First one is cold start and second one is engine warmed up. Thank you very much for your help!
Cold start: https://youtu.be/deIIjsFMPPs
Warmed up: https://youtu.be/kfgYV548f34
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Thanks for the videos,,,,both cold and warm start up sound normal.
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Awesome! Thank you BMWtechnician!
Actually I have another video clip, could you please give a listen to it? In the first 10 seconds of this video, when the RPM is low(idle to 1000rpm range), there is a rattling like noise, the noise is not consistent (it sounds like the noise is gone after 10 seconds in this video). I couldn’t tell if this is normal. Thanks again!
Here is the video: https://youtu.be/Q54zUv9KrLw
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Thanks for the video,,,that’s a normal,,,,the N20 and N26 engines make a lot of noise during cold start
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Hi BMWtechnician, thanks for your reply on that rattle noise concern. You said the rattle is normal during cold start, but for the rattle in the first 10 seconds of this video, that was actually when the engine has warmed up. Does that still sound normal to you? Thanks a lot for your help.
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Yes that rattle for the first 10 seconds is normal
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Hi BMWtechnician, maybe this short video is a better one. So the engine is warmed up and you can hear that rattle I am talking about at 3s, 5s and 10s in this video. Thank you very much. Video: https://youtu.be/Bi7Cf22XUNY
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Does a 2015 328i manufactured in 02/2015 have the redesigned guide and chain?
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