This Has been a big subject with everyone on my blog,,,,some of you guys have been asking about the bulletin about this repair,,,,so this is the BMW bulletin that us technicians work with,,,,I hope this helps some of you guys.
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bmwtechnician 
I have a 2012 X1, I had heard the timing chain whine get worse over the winter, so I parked the vehicle the end of May, and slowly ordered the parts and the timing chain lock out kit for my mechanic. It was a good thing I did, I was talking to him the other day and he said the the top right timing chain guide had failed and was just kind of floating around. I was lucky I didn’t lose the engine. He said there were bits of plastic in the bottom of the oil pan. It was thanks to this blog that I was able to save my X1, hopefully I won’t have anymore issues with this!
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I’m glad I can help
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I have a 2013 328i with 85k miles, mostly highway if that makes any difference. At 77k miles, I got a low oil pressure warning light, towed 100 miles to the dealership and they couldn’t find anything wrong. Eventually replaced some kind of oil flow/distribution sensor of some kind as a starting point.
Serviced at 80k as usual, with nothing appearing. Also took it in at 84k for a $150 diag fee because I could hear a whine, but since I was reading all of these threads, I wasn’t sure if it was just me worrying. Sure enough, 85k lead to another Low Oil Pressure warning light. Towed to BMW dealership, and 4.5 hours of labor to find out that the Timing Chain guide was broken.
Dealer originally quoted $4700 for repair, which included some BMWNA assistance apparently. I called BMWNA directly to escalate and hit a brick wall for 10+ minutes, no help whatsoever. Apparently, extended warranty is their ‘sorry’ and any other issues after this is just wear and tear. Eventually the dealer lowered to $3700 because of my loyalty in giving them too much money, (Taken the car there since I got it 2 years ago at 45k miles)
The question I have, is what questions to ask? I have researched as much as I can, but want to know what else to ask to be replaced whilst they are in there. Oil Pump? Oil Pump Chain? Anything else?
The notion that these problems are isolated isn’t true – the SA spoke about the frequency of these (mainly X3’s).
I understand the risks of owning a BMW compared to a generic car, but to think that another four-figure repair bill could pop up is nerve wracking to say the least. Unfortunately, I put way too many miles into the car which had lead to me being upside down in it anyway compared to my loan. Stuck.
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No I really can’t think of anything else they should replace,,,,they should replace the timing chain and guide rails and oil pump chain and guide,,,,,it’s up to you if you want the oil pump replace at the same time,,,,they will be inside the oil pan when they do the other work, it would only be a couple more bolts to replace at that point
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Hello – I stumbled upon this page and am so appreciative. I started getting this whine and saw your post and the SIB you posted. Took the car to BMW as I am almost at 7yrs and at 65k miles, and they said I will get the SIB 11 03 17 as outlined above. Car has been in the shop for a day, and tech said they’ll let me know if they see anything else, while they have the engine open. I understand they will replace the timing chain and guide rails and oil pump chain and guide. But I want to be smart when they call me and try to hit me up with other non-warranty issues. What else could they possibly find that may not be covered due to this issue? I suppose they could suggest I change the oil pump? What would be a reasonable cost while they are in there, and is there any reason to change it? I suppose I want to be smart and not let the dealer fleece me while they are at it. Any advice is appreciated and thank you for your good work.
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You could replace the oil pump if they find pieces of plastic inside the the oil pump screen
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Thank you. What would be a reasonable price to pay BMW for that, given they are already in there?
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The price of the oil pump and maybe another 2 hours labor
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Thank you BMWtechnician. I received my car back after over a week and the repair went went well, no more whining There was no additional repair required beyond what was needed in the SIB. I really appreciate BMW for stepping up, that’s why I drive the brand. Thanks for the good work that you do here. You are helping many people out with your time. Cheers!
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I’m glad everything worked out.👍
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Driving bmw 2013 x3 i28 to work. Stopped at traffic light and car indicated “drivetrain malfunction, with low oil pressure warning. I immediately stopped and had car towed to bmw dealer. The SA drove the car into BMW repair shop and promised calling the next day. Bmw called and told me the engine needs to be replaced. They said the timing chain guide had broken and pieces of plastic found in bottom oil pan. I bought the car at 72,000 miles from another dealer and currently at 100,000 miles. I have always changed the oil as recommended. I am thinking of taking it to a mechanic. The engine still runs and car starts but I don’t want to drive it. Any advise will help. Why does the dealer want to change the engine at $13,000? Am still financing the car and it still looks like new. Besides I can’t afford a new engine.
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I think the dealer want to replace the whole engine because they are worried about anymore possible damage that was done to engine when it loss oil pressure,,,,BMW doesn’t want to take the liability if they only replace the timing chain and something else is wrong,,,,,it’s easier to replace the whole engine,,,ok if the engine still runs I would then have it towed to a good known independent BMW mechanic who has done this repair before and that can lead you in the right direction
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Thought as much. Thank you for your quick response and feedback.
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I had timing chain issue and dealer replaced the timing chain drive and oil chain drive module where 50% of cost was covered by BMW Canada. Car was out of warranty but had only 55000 KM on it. Now that timing chain drive and oil chain drive has been changed, do I need to worry about it failing again or the new part fixes the issue?
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No you should be good to go,,,you now have the updated parts 👍
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Please confirm which models falls in this recall from BMW
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Please confirm which models fall within this recall from BMW and year model. Just happened to my car.
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Let me find the list,,,,BMW can also read your key and tell you if you are covered for the 7/70 timing chain extension
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I just posted the list on my blog,,,,hope this helps
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Hello. I hope you will respond to this. I have a 420i N20 build date summer of 2014. I’m very worried it’s a second hand car I do hear some rattle at cold start but I’ve come to understand it’s “normal” until the oil pressure is there to support the chain tensioner. I have read around the net and my research seems to confirm that the tensioner works under pressure so at cold start you can hear a little rattle. I called my dealer about this too and he said that as long as it at cold start and only lasts a 10 to 20 seconds there’s no real worry, I should be hearing it when its warm. So uhm, just to be sure I’m asking you too… Should I get my chain tensioner / guides replaced ? my car has 50k KM on it. I drive it around in the netherlands area.
Thanks.
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The cold start rattle is normal,,,,it should only last about 10 to 20 seconds like the dealer said,,,,getting the chain tensioner and guides replaced is up to you,,,,if you do replace them I would also replace the timing chain and oil pump chain
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quick question, I just did an oil chain to my 2014 F30 N26 xdrive and was checking the timing chain, I used a pliers and was able to pull the chain up to about 2~3mm. Read on other forums that it is normal while the engine is off, please correct me if I’m wrong, N26 have 50k miles.
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Yes that is normal,,,the chain tensioner is oil feed and will loose some tension when the engine is shut off.
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Yesterday (my 39th birthday) I was driving home from being out of town at a company event. 77mph in a 70mph zone, low oil pressure warning came up. Stopped as soon as I could and had it flatbed towed to the nearest indy shop – who just called and confirmed it’s the timing chain guide issue. The engine did re-start, didn’t sound bad at all (didn’t drive it at all) and I didn’t get the “drivetrain malfunction” warning.
Called BMW NA to learn what they can do. In short, I have to pay to get it towed to the nearest dealer, where they’ll “diagnose” the problem. I’m praying it’s not a total engine swap. Thanks to this thread, I learned about the 7/70 extended warranty. Problem is, I’m at 70,800 miles….
Anyone ever hear of BMW helping people just outside the extended warranty period? (fingers crossed!)
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Yes BMW does help out they call it Goodwell
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Thank you for your reply! I’m hopeful this gets resolved with little issues. I really do love the car…
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Just heard from the BMW tech at the dealership – he’s advocating that this gets covered under the warranty since I’m only 800 miles outside of the 70k and well within the 7 years. My timing chain is loose, but they don’t know why that would cause oil pressure drop. No evidence of engine failure, but they said I’ll need an oil change, alignment, and oil pump (well over $5-7k). I contacted BMW North America and left a message with the case manager (Jason). Any idea on whether they’ll cover it??? Any idea on how a loose timing chain would cause oil pressure drop? It’s not showing an oil pressure warning anymore, oddly….
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I don’t know if they will cover it,,,,I don’t think a loose timing chain would cause low oil pressure,,,I have seen the oil pressure switch cause problem,,,,question so let me get this straight they are going to cover the timing chain and oil pump chain repairs under the extended warranty which is great,,,,but oil change,alignment and oil pump does not cost 5k to 7k,,,,I don’t understand the $5k to 7k,,,,the oil change,alignment and oil pump should be under $1k
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Thank you again for your reply! Sorry I wasn’t clear. I still need to talk to BMWNA to see if they’ll cover any of it as a goodwill. The tech said all of the services would be around $5 – 7k (everything).
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Steve…any resolution from BMWNA on this? Our X3 got diagnosed at 70,892 miles. Curious if they approved a “Goodwill” repair for your situation.
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Hello BMWTechnician, Last week I just bought a nice X1 28I XDrive (produced in December 2013) and imported from Canada to Poland last year.
The mileage is 33 000 Kilometers and the car looks and drives as new!
Question:
Will BMW Poland have to carry out the warranty procedure if I ask them to?
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If I remember correctly I think BMW Poland will have to get permission from BMW Canada
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Would that be a problem…? I guess this is a worldwide warranty service right?
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No it’s not a worldwide warranty.
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Frankly speaking I think it would make good sense making a corrective action at this early stage (33 000 km) instead of waiting for an engine breakdown…I hope BMW Poland share my point of view…
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Let’s hope BMW of Poland helps out
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Just visited my local BMW dealership this morning and they will take the car for service the 7th of May. Then they will also take a closer look at the potential issue with the timing chain and oil pump.
Looks like the timing chain issue is related to all N20 engines produced BEFORE 1st of March 2013 and my car is produced the 18th of April 2013 so it looks like we are 6-7 weeks on the safe side…Anyway I will come back as soon as I have more news to share,
Thanks alot for your fast reply and support
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Followed this blog for a while. Currently at 60k miles on my 2014 320i. What’s the likelihood my dealer would replace these parts under the 7yr/70k service bulletin preventatively? I assume it’s mainly based on dealer discretion; just didn’t know if there were preventative cases out there?
Thanks
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The dealer will only replace it if there is a problem or the typical timing chain whine noise
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Hello. Can you please tell me what you think about the sound of my engine?
It’s a 2012 528i with 7 years coming up in June, currently around 65K miles on the odometer. I’m not sure if I should push the dealer to change the timing chain guide rails…
Thank you in advance!
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Thanks for the video,,,there is a slight whine noise but it’s not that bad,,,,your best thing is to try and push to have the dealer take care of it if you can.
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What does the X1 whine sound like so that we can replicate and look for it? Thanks @bmwtechnician.
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The x1 sounds just like all the other cars with the N20,,,there should be plenty of videos on my blog
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Hi, thank for this blog and information related on it.
I have a question, i buy N26B20A bmw 428i, year 02/2014 USA; is that car subjected to timing chain or timing components failures.
The car has 75.000 Km/47000 miles.
Thanks
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According to the bmw bulletin list of cars ,,,your car is not on that list
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Thanks a lot.
Asking to BMW they tell me I will control my car on BMW with phonometer, do you have an idea of the limit of the measured sound level that my car should have if it is ok?
I ask you that beacuse i hear some metallic noise in the first 1 minute after i turn on my car when it starts in the morning.
Thank you.
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No I don’t have a limit of measured sound for the timing chain,,,,if you also have a metallic noise during the first minute of start up I would be worried and get my car to the dealership
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Have bmw x3, and had the timing belt fail one and a half years ago. Bmw corporate approved aid. Just had another issue with the timing chain slipping. The dealership is asking me to pay to find that out. I had a malfunction light come on and previously nothing else . They just checked the car back in October and topped of fluids. Wanting to know if this is reasonable. I have followed an oil change maintenance schedule recommended by the computer as it comes up.
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Is this reasonable,,,that hard for me to answer,,,what every dealer want to do is have you ok it the tear down and see what the problem could be,,,and if the problem is not the timing chain issue then the repairs will be on you to fix it,,,,now why did the the timing chain slip I don’t know,,,,but I can tell you that the dealership is hoping that the problem is not related to the work that they performed and that the repairs will come out of your pocket.
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The car now has 100k it was 28k since the work was done and the dealer is saying that the oil pressure change caused the timing chain slip
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Why did the oil pressure change,,,there has to be a reason,,,,and if the oil pressure changed then it should have caused other problems internally inside the engine,,,see the dealer doesn’t want to think they caused the problem and lose money.
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I 100% have the wine but my car is out of warranty. What should I expect BMW dealer to charge for doing the work outlined in this bulletin? I looked around but it seems most people covered under warranty. Thank you.
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I don’t know what the parts are going to cost,,,,but I can tell you expect about 10 hour labor charge
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Hi – I purchased a 2014 X1 sdrive28i, in California from a BMW. I’m the 2nd owner and the X1 has 41,000 miles and it was produced on 4/2013. Do I need to be worried about this issue? or is mine ok because it was produced 1 month after the bulletin date of 3/2013.
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You should be ok,,,,but I would talk to your BMW dealership about this issue and see what repair coverage you have if this problem does occur.
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Hi, bmwtechnician. I have a 2013 BMW 320i manufactured in South Africa in October 2013. The vehicle has 74 000km. Is my vehicle at risk of the Timing Chain issue? Is it one of the units that has the old timing chain parts?
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Yes ,,,your vehicle is at risk.
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Thank you…bad news for me then. The car runs fine thus far. I mentioned that the vehicle has 74 000km, its actually 74 000MILES. Besides forking our for an expensive preventative change in the timing chain parts, is there any other way to manage this situation in order that the vehicle is reasonably saved from the timing chain problem? Iv always changed the oil at around 7000miles, I mostly drive in eco-pro but immediately de-activate the ASS and also drive sedately – I don’t think Iv ever red-lined the vehicle. Is there anything else that I can do to manage this situation?
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Not all 2013 timing chains are bad,,,,a lot of people don’t have any problems,,,and no there are no preventive things you can do to stop this problem,,,,either you will have a issue with the timing chain or you won’t it hard to tell.
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Thanks for the response, we appreciate your valued inputs. I suppose its the luck of the draw. Iv gone 74 000 miles with no issues…I suppose my luck is holding out. If one has a bad timing chain due to this issue, is there any rough statistical mileage range when most of the timing chains are breaking down?
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No,,,I have seen 30k and 50k
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Hi, I am interested in buying a X3 xDrive28i built in 11/2012 which currently has 76K Miles on. The following parts were replaced:
In 7/2017: Serpentine belt
In 11/2017: Central valve (2), timing chain, slide rail, tensioner guide rail, valve cover gasket set, oil pan gasket, chain drive, front crank seal, axle bolt (2), hose, sprocket, o-ring (2), bolts, oil housing gasket
In 4/2018: Alternator Rebuild and battery
In 4/2019: AIr intake hose & breather hose
In 3/2019: Drive belt(s) replaced
In 6/2019: Found & secured Vac line for charge pipe
In 7/2019: Engine/powertrain computer/module checked, Drive belt tensioner replaced, Drive Belt(s) replaced.
1) It looks like the timing chain was replaced in 11/2017, apparently from the owners pocket (why?), but I am not sure if other recommended replacements were done. For example I cannot see the replacement of oil pump chain and guide in any records. Anything left to worry about?
2) Looks like they had some issues since the beginning of 2019. Looking at the replaced parts, can you tell what might have been the problem? Drive Belt(s) was replaced twice in 4 months for some reason (first by a local repair shop, second by BMW dealership). Do you think these repairs in 2019 indicate more potential problems?
3) The car seems to be in a great shape, however do you think I should be concerned about this purchase -based on the above information? What would you recommend?
Thanks in advance.
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Everything looks good ,,,except why wasn’t the oil pump chain replaced,,,,also why was the drive belt and tensioner replaced twice in 3 months,,,,that’s kind of strange and I wonder what is going on,,,that could be a red flag
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Thanks, much appreciated.
– I’ve gotten the actual service record for July 2019. They repaired the damaged VAC line & performed boost pressure, replaced leaking oil filter housing gaskets (2). It also says “removed and replaced belt tensioner and belt that soaked in oil”. This is the reason for the second replacement. Does it make sense?
– If so, is it OK that oil pump chain has not been replaced yet or should I forget about this car?
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Ok the belt tensioner makes sense,,,I would walk away because of the oil pump chain,,,because BMW told us that should be replaced at the same time as the timing chain,,,,sorry
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Thanks, I’ve walked away. However the owner requested me to ask you the following questions:
1) Are all of the oil pump chains (opc) -in the engines with tc issue- bad? The owner had the tc replaced as per Their mechanic’s recommendation who didn’t say anything about the opc (the owner paid for the replacement but then was reimbursed by BMW).
2) Should it be expected that the current situation (replaced tc but not replaced opc) might have already caused some problems that are yet to be surfaced?
3) Under the current circumstances, can the replacement of the opc wait until a problem occurs (maybe it will never occur??) or should it be done as soon as possible?
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What happen was BMW told us that we should replace both the timing chain and oil pump chain at the same time,,,,due to the tension on the chain and the same brand of chain we used,,,the newer chain is stronger and better material,,,,will there ever be a problem with the oil pump chain I don’t know,,,,,was every N20,N26 have bad timing chains no,,,it was just the luck of the draw which ones were bad.
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I am following this Blog with interest from Germany. I drive the N20 engine in a X1.
The N20 is a very common engine also in Germany but here it has no noticable problems with the timing chain and the oil pump chain issue occurs sporadically. Here this engine is regarded as one of the most solid gasoline engines at the moment.
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Where was the N20 engine manufactured? I am in South Africa and I know a material number of F30 units around the world were made here in South Africa but I’m not sure where the engine was assembled.
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I believe all the engine are made in the same place,,,I know I have heard from other countries and they don’t have the same problem as the United States does,,,I don’t know what the problem is,,,did United States get different engines? Or is it a software and fuel issue causing problems?
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We can all guess why the USA issued a recall while other countries didn’t. Could it be the ethanol fuel in the US? The ASS adding regularconstant tension in a routine trip? Could it be the prevalent chipping of vehicles in USA causing stressed engines? Could it be the somewhat preference to high RPMs in the USA? My 2013 F30 320 was checked by a dealer and he said there are no signs of the timing issue. I drive like a granny and 90% I EcoPro mode as I like to save fuel and where I reside, only 95 octane pure unleaded is available. Touch wood The issue does not knock on my door as I want to keep the car till maybe the G20 lCI arrives then trade it in.
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Turned on the X3 one evening to a MASSIVE rough idle. Not a cute rough idle, but one that can throw your back out and jarring-to-the-joints rough. Took it to an independent shop who saw multiple misfire fault codes: on every individual cylinder as well as simultaneous, plus VANOS. Suggested the car “jumped time” and could need an engine swap. He noted BMW NA is providing engine swaps for $2500-3000 through a “betterment” for customers. Any validity to this? Based on the comments on this thread, I think he’s off by $10K or so.
Further recommended I take to a dealer. Dealer provided its diagnosis which ended with “Refer to SIB 11-03-17” which I have found and read on your website. My concern is that the engine is shot, and this repair will not suffice. Is there any validity to this concern? Dealer quoted $7400, but offered me a “discounted warranty rate” of $4800. Is this my best option?
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Is the $4800 for a complete engine swap,,,if it is then that your best deal
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No, it is for the SIB 11-03-17 scope, including replacing the oil pump drive chain assembly, but not the oil pump itself.
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Ok,,,we don’t replace the oil pump during that repair,,,my question is does the deal know this will fix your car,,,,not that they say the engine is bad after the timing chain replacement repair
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Are there other tests they can run to ensure this is the proper fix? Is there a way to find out if the engine is shot before trying SIB 11-03-17?
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Maybe a compression test or leak down test if they can,,,,they might not be able to due to timing chain damage
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Hi BMW Technician – a shop has informed me I need a new engine ($14,500) resulting from the timing chain issue. There are small (tiny) metal flecks in the oil (I have photos), and the following fault codes. Do you agree that my engine is shot?
131501 VANOS, intake, cold start: not controllable
140010 Combustion misfires, several cylinders: detected
140110 Combustion misfire, cylinder 1: detected
140210 Combustion misfire, cylinder 2: detected
140310 Combustion misfire, cylinder 3: detected
140410 Combustion misfire, cylinder 4: detected
140004 Misfire, several cylinders: damaging exhaust gas
140102 Misfire, Cylinder 1: Damaging exhaust gas after starting up
140202 Misfire, Cylinder 2: Damaging exhaust gas after starting up
140302 Misfire, Cylinder 3: Damaging exhaust gas after starting up
140402 Misfire, Cylinder 4: Damaging exhaust gas after starting up
140104 Misfire, cylinder 1: damaging exhaust gas
140204 Misfire, cylinder 2: damaging exhaust gas
140304 Misfire, cylinder 3: damaging exhaust gas
140404 Misfire, cylinder 4: damaging exhaust gas
131908 Variable camshaft timing control (VANOS), Intake, cold start: Position not reached
130104 VANOS, intake: control fault, camshaft jammed
120408 Charging pressure control: Switch-off as consequence
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It doesn’t look good,,,what pictures do you have
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Images of what the shop calls small metal shavings in the oil. Would share if I knew how.
Is this the sign of death?
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I’m sorry to say yes metal shavings in the oil is the sign of death
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Hey bmwtech, question I’m 4 months out of warranty but at 96k and the engine never locked up. I just had my 2012 bmw 328i f30 n20 diagnosed at my expense at the dealership while getting an oil change. They recommended I replace the rod bearings without opening it just by the sound of the engine. They did recommend I replace the battery which they said was part of the problem. I took it to a second shop that is a bmw repair shop that works on bmws and minis. They found oil pump chain guides in the bottom of my oil pan. The shop is quoting me 6k for used engine and 10k for a new. Do you think BMWNA will have any goodwill if I go after them to help replace the engine? What would you do?
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I have a problem here the dealer said the battery was part of the problem,,,I don’t know if I would trust that dealer,,,,now that being said it never hurts to ask the dealer what they would do for you since you are out of warranty by 4 months,,,I don’t think they will do much for you because of the miles on the engine.,,,I would not go with a used engine because you don’t know what you are getting the previous owner could have not taken care of the engine or abused the engine.
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I just wanted to thank you for posting this information. I am learning a very hard lesson with a Porsche Cayenne 957 I purchased at auction without first researching the model. I’ve now learned those cars are basically garbage. Fortunately, I’m handy with a wrench and have been able to remedy a lot of problems (cleaned carbon cake from intake valves by hand, fixed leaking cooling system and replaced thermostat, replaced coil packs, and et cetera). There are two outstanding problems I can’t fix on my own without a shop – replacing front differential and rear main seal. I’m figuring those will be spendy fixes.
Anyway, I came across a good condition 2013 328i Xdrive at auction. If I understand BMW paralance, that’s a 2013 F30 with an N20 engine. I’ve been researching known problems with the model and was reading up on concerns regarding reliability with the timing chain and related appurtenances. The vehicle I was looking at was manufactured on October 2012, so it would fall under the above TSB. I think I will save myself the potential hassle and simply steer clear of this model.
Many thanks!
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Good idea,,,,I’m glad my blog saved you a lot of headaches,,,,,lol
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Hi Andreas, same here I was delighted by a mint 2013 X3 73k miles with good service records, selling at a reasonable price, I took some videos of how the chain looks and how the engine sounds, I did not hear a wizzing sound but I may be wrong. I did stuck my finger trying to feel any slack in the chain but it appears to be normal, i could hardly move it from side to side. I have also read that there is a low percentage of these engines that fail, however, there is no actual data. What do you recommend in this case ?
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I would walk away from this car,,,you don’t need the headache and worrying about a timing chain that might break and cause major engine failure.
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Hi Bmw tech!
I’m in canada looking at the 428i. I have an option of 2015 and 2016. Both have eveything same! Mileage, colors, features, but the price is a big difference. About 6k more for the 2016.
My question is, should i go for the 2015 model and buy 3rd part warranty? Because that 2015 model was manufactured in 2014 do it might have the timing chain issue for sure. Awaiting your response!
Thanks
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How much would a 3rd party warranty cost you,,,,myself I would go with the 2016 if I could afford it just for piece of mind.
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I’m not sure, but about 3000 cad, and covers everything! I’ve seen on another post which shows how to check timing chain play and tension. I might check that first.
But i think you’re right. Just to have that peace of mind… why is this not a proper recall!!! This is a design/mechanical flaw. Why do the buyers suffer.
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Because BMW is taking a big chance that a lot of them don’t fail,,,because it would also be very costly paying us 9hr labor plus parts,,,,it not like the airbag recall which only pays us .5hr labor.
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thank you bmwtechnician for all you are doing!!! I really appreciate you! I took in my car to get diagnosed,
these codes were pulled by my brother in laws friend who is a mechanic, not on bmw’s though.
I have a 2013 328i manufactured in 2012 sold in 2013
131501 vanos inlet, cold start not controllable
131401 vanos outlet, cold start not controllable
120408 boost pressure control, cut off pressure rise blocked
I took it to bmw dealer ship and they told me
they need to replace my serpentine belt and tensioner
they are removing and replacing engine oil filter housing and gasket…
so i called them a lil while ago to check in and also to mention
sa 111315 to see if i would be covered for the engine oil filter housing and gasket.
she took the info and looked up the service action and said she would bring it up to the tech. so hopefully i don’t have to pay for that.
she told me that they will be keeping my till Monday because they are still diagnosing and they are going to replace my timing chain under the sulev warranty
they haven’t mentioned anything about the vanos codes nor boost pressure code. should i be lookin at anything else?
thank you in advance!
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Ok the vanos faults are causing the boost pressure control faults,,,,so don’t worry about the boost pressure faults,,,they need to look into the vanos faults could be because of the timing chain issue,,,,or there might be a problem with the vanos units or solenoids for the vanos units,,,,have them look into the vanos unit.
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Do you know if they will cover the vanose issue under sulev? Again many thanks! I have learned so much from reading as much as I can from all the comments and other things you have posted. Stay blessed my friend!
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just had my bow 3x timing belt replaced,how long due i have ti wait before in have the car inspected that due this month
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I don’t really understand your question,,,a timing belt is different then a timing chain,,,,timing belt only came on some BMW from the 80’s,,,,timing belts also had to be replaced every 60k miles
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Hello. I have a 2012 528i x drive with about 85,000 miles on it which just gave a “Drive Train Malfunction and Oil Pressure Too Low. I stopped driving immediately and had it towed to BMW. They are saying i need a new engine at the cost of $13,000. I always take it to BMW to be serviced If there was a 7 year/70,000 warranty shouldn’t they have advised that this needed to be done?
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They should,,,but BMW won’t because it will cost them money,,,,and BMW would have only replaced the timing chain if it was making a noise,,,,if it wasn’t making a noise then BMW thinks if it isn’t making any noise at 7/70 then the customer is good and there won’t be any problems,,,,the problem is that we are seeing the timing chain fail at higher miles.
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purchased a 2013 x3 from dealer late sept. of this year car has 104,000 had transmission error and low oil pressure message come on stopped car had it flat bedded back to dealer they are replacing timing chain, guide, oil pump chain and all other parts that come with kit. they are covering to total cost of the repair. this new timing chain will this one be better quality than the old one? or will I have the same problem with it down the road? thanks mike s.
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You should be fine,,,,BMW said this is a updated timing chain kit
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Hi, I have just bought a UK 2014 (first registered September 2014) 420i convertible. It has full BMW service history, and 17000 miles. It has the darker coloured plastic timing chain guides. Is this car likely to suffer from the TC issues later in life? Or should it be ok? It came with 12 months BMW warranty, which i am able to renew at 12 month intervals, but its likely to be expensive.
Many thanks for any info.
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It’s hard to say you might have problems later on,,,not all 2013,2014 N20 have problem,,,,I would see what happens after the first 12 month warranty,,,,and maybe talk to your dealership about this issue and if you are going to have problem later on.
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I bought a 2013 X1 E84 X20D A engine N47T in August 2019 . There was no sign of a whining sound, I was reversing down a small sloped driveway and the car put itself into neutral. No codes showing. Got it towed to an Indy dealer and they stated the timing chain has gone and it’s going to cost $5,000 AUD. Really not impressed that Australia is not included in the extended warranty.
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This is a first for me,,,,I didn’t know the diesels also have the same problem,,,also it’s ashamed that other countries don’t have the same extended warranty as other countries
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I hope you and your family are doing ok with the fires.
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Yeah N47 is the poster child of BMW timing chain issue, and worse yet, N47 timing chain is at the rear, so any repair is open hear surgery!@#$!
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Lol,,,thanks for the video
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I have a 2012 BMW 528i. It developed the whining noise that slowly manifested into louder screaming noise.
Two weeks ago, the car stalled when I slowed down at an intersection for traffic signal. I was in the center lane and there were cars behind me. My immediate reaction was to turn in the hazard lights. The display screen showed either “Drivetrain Malfunction” or “Transmission Malfunction” very briefly.
Being I was in the middle of the road, my second action was to maneuver the car and steer it away from the road. When I looked around and when it was safe to do so, I happened to see the warning go away.
Presumed that the “Drivetrain Malfunction ” error would be logged. But, no, the system had different system error codes (checked on the speedometer), but no check engine light or other vehicle status warnings.
When I took it to a authorized service center, I was told it is a very common problem and BMW is well aware of the issue, but never told there were some vehicles with voluntary recalls, issued by NHTSA. I believe there is also a class action lawsuit.
In order to proceed with my daily livelyhood I agreed to service the car at about $5000 plus another $650 for other fixes.
Had only I had been warned by BMWusa, of this known defect, court order and the voluntary recall, I would have done everything to address the matter within the stipulated time frame.
The whining noise did exist for about six months, but no warnings of any kind.
I wish to kno what can I do to recover the repair costs?
I am not talking of failed batteries, a light bulb, even cracked disc brakes, or things of the nature that nobody can predict the reason for failure. But the timing-chain issue is well known and not providing me the necessary recall information shows unethical business practices.
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I understand ,,,you are not the only person this has happened too,,,BMW should have solved this problem in a different way.
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Can I be paper of the Class Action lawsuit, or anyone starting a new case of negligence by BMW on properly communicating? We have all sorts of ways to be reached out. I have serviced at authorized BMW service center and they have all the information on how to reach me.
I have proactively checked recalls on my car by entering the VIN number on their website, which said all the warranty has expired three years ago.
Not only it is breach of trust, but also a case of withholding of information that could have led to serious accident. I read on few other forums, European ones, where a person was killed in Ireland.
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I had same issues with my 2013 X3 1009,000 miles same errors on dash car still ran plus I got low oil pressure error I immediately pulled over and turned car off. Had it flat bedded to the dealership I had purchased it from less than 3 months ago only had a 2 month warranty. Much to my surprise they replaced timing chain and all components and only charged me $500.00 for the repair. I noticed the whining noise was gone from the engine. shame on BMW for not recalling these vehicles!
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Please help others by lodging a complaint at http://www.nhtsa.com. NHTSA is requesting that we complain so they can have this addressed appropriately. N63 and N47 engines have been recalled, N20 and N26 are in two lawsuits, pending court order, but NHTSA needs to know so they can act.
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All,
Reach out to the attorneys who have filed a Class Action Lawsuit (CALs). File a complaint at NHTSA with all the relevant information. It does not matter if BMW extended the warranty to 7y/70k and has expired on your car when there are open CALs specific to the timing-chain malfunction.
NHTSA has issued a bulletin pertaining to N63 engines, so it was a voluntary recall. NHTSA will revise the recall to cover for N20 and N26 engines if they get more complaints and incidents from users like us. Our cases are not frivolous, but a genuine case of withholding of information by BMWUSA. I did neither receive the letter of the warranty extension or any recalls nor see the extension on MyGarage page on my account. Recalls for N20 are inapplicable yet until court directive, but if it is N63 BMW has to have sent the notice.
Reference:
https://www.santolilaw.com/
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6683655/parties/gelis-v-bayerische-motoren-werke-aktiengesellschaft/
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/
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To those that filed a complaint with the NHTSA, what was there response? I have the N20 motor also on the X1 prior to 2015. I’ve exceeded the 70k extended warranty for the timing chain. Dealer quoted $4800 if I want to replace as a preventative measure. Can I file a complaint even if the failure hasn’t happened yet? The more I read into it and see the the difference in the revision, the more I am concerned.
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It takes a lot of people to turn heads, there are lawsuits awaiting hearing, and we have to do our part for NHTSA to act. We cannot have a chance to win the lottery if we don’t buy the ticket.
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If you hear a whining high pitch noise, it has started to tick. Anytime soon, the the drivetrain malfunction warning will show and then it is better. Get it serviced before $4800 timing chain or $13000 engine seizure.
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I have neither receive the 7year/70k notification, nor is it showing up on the MyGarage page on www dor bmwusa dot com.
That shows BMW is playing coy with whom they notify and whom they don’t.
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I am thinking about buying a used 2013 X3 28i with 98k miles. The N20 is on the 7/70 warranty list but the N26 is not. Can I assume if the N26 engine is not on the list that I am probably safe or the very fact that N26 of other models are on the list so probably best NOT to purchase the vehicle? Look forward to your thoughts.
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Left this earlier. Though it posted but now do not see it. Will try again – Are engines that are not on the BMW 70/70,000 warranty list okay? I see the N20 engine for the X3 is on the list but not the N26 engine. Does that mean the X3 N26 engine is solid and not need to over worry?
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I would stay away from that car,,,,if you can afford it get a newer X3 2015
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Thanks Andreas for the advice. I will heed it and look elsewhere.
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I learn that BMW started off making aircrafts. Since it would fall out of the sky anyway, the decided to make cars instead.
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i have a 2013 x3 2.0l turbo is there any kits available to swap out factory injectors that are quieter than the factory installed ones
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I called NHTSA today and so far they only have a couple of complaints pertaining to the timing-chain problem. There are 68 other complaints related to power-braking and an investigation is launched for only that.
Most of you know by now that BMW extended the warranty on timing-chain only to 7 year/ 70k, but failed to have sent letters to all the owners.
This timing-chain is a universal problem and I seriously insist that a complaint be filed so an investigation can begin.
Can you take a moment and go to http://www.nhtsa.gov and write up a complaint of when your issue occurred and what you have done about it.
It takes less than 5 minutes and is very very straight forward – enter VIN number (it is available online on your insurance declaration page), select “Engine & Powertrain” as the affected components and type in the incident.
Also contact KKG Law office and talk to the paralegal about your issue.
:party0030: :drink::cool!:
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Threw a code yesterday, P052B ” Camshaft Position Timing Over-Retarded” Car went into limp mode but was overall fine. (In the past it did randomly throw the Drivetrain Malfunction warning but would go away away on its own, not sure if related)
Dealer today said the timing chain and some pumps needed to be replaced? and once they do that they will see how engine looks and whether that needs to be replaced as well. I was blown away before I started reading that this is a common issue.
I’m out of warranty so I said I’ll be taking it to Indy shop for a 2nd opinion.
My question, could this code have been early signs that the chain was about to break and is best case scenario just replacement of the belt?
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Yes this could have been early signs of timing chain issue,,,,and yes the best case scenario would be to just replace the timing chain and pump.
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X1 35i are not affected by this issue with timing chain
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What build dates are fine with the timing chain?
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Correct the 35i are not affected
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With the. X1 28i’s?
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The best thing is any N20,N26 engine from 2016 and newer are ok,,,,anything 2015 and older might have a problem
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The official bulletin says that the problem is in cars produced before 03/2013.
So why Some people say that problem was up to 2015?
I have 328i produced late 2014 and im really wondering if i should replace timing chain or not.
I have really slight marks on chain and no whinig noise. I only hear some whining when i put pedal to the floor but i thought it is a turbo noise?
Also very noisy rattle on a cold start for around 20sec.
So should i replace timing chain or leave it?
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We are say up to 2015 because 2015 got the newer updated chain and rails,,,,to be on the safe side you could replace the timing chain and rails and oil pump chain
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How do you know that cars post 2013 doesnt have diffrent chain from the factory? Did someone confirm that?
Do you know any cases of cars produced post 2013 with major engine failure because of bad timing chain? All I can find concerns cars from 2011-2013…
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Yes BMW confirmed it when I went to school,,,also I have replaced 2 timing chains on 2014 vehicles
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Have a 2014 August 320i South Africa built…am on 76k miles, change oil every 6500miles (I ignore CBS) and vehicle has never used ASS for about 90% of its life and I don’t drive the vehicle unnecessarily hard esp before engine is hot…have no sound of timing chain and BMW dealer says they don’t hear any whining sign or any rattling from engine. I am now starting to believe that a bad combination of ASS, long oil changes and hard driving may lead to premature timing chain issues. Hoping for more trouble free miles going forward.
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Sounds good,,,👍
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Greetings,
I have a BMW 125i F20,. It has 120000kms mileage and recently started whining. Should i be worried about the timing chain? Your advice will highly be appreciated
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Yes I would be worried about the timing chain
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Aren’t the 2014 M228i (N20) affected? Why are they not indicated in the bulletin?
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I would think they are affected,,,I don’t know why they are not on the bulletin,,,there are a lot of cars not listed on that bulletin,,,,I don’t have a answer for you.
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I have a 2014 BMW 220i N20 in the UK. Do the 20i engines, or UK models, seem to be less affected? BMW UK gave no response, this vehicle is not listed on the bulletin and have not been notified of any extended warranty.
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Yes for some reason the European vehicle do not get affected by this timing chain issue,,,there are not to many cases of timing chain issue in Europe,,,,BMW will not say why that’s the case,,,,could be because of the the different fuel quality from different countries
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I got my timing chain fixed a two months ago and as it appears, now several other things show up, since the whining noise was masking other sounds. How do I go about posting or requesting your help or guidance on those issues? The BMW ASC said the AC blower motor issue is $300 fix, and the PCV valve cover is $1700 fix. Can you help me with that?
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Ok,,,,why are the reasons for the AC blower replacement and the valve cover replacement,,,,what did the ASC tell you.
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ASC said some debris has entered into the blower motor assembly and it would take to removing the gutters and few other components that are in the way to access the blower motor.
With respect to the PCV valve cover, I believe the membrane could be ripped. ASC said whole valve cover needs to be replaced and it takes a whole day as sometimes the problem could be with the intake manifold, which would be automatically be covered within the 2year/20k extended warranty on this issue. I really don’t trust them, since they didn’t tell me these issues were present during the inspection and diagnosis when I took it for the N20 chain issue. I do know there is no way to say all that is wrong with this car, but it upsets me that after spending $5000 I have another $2000 repair pending.
Some YouTube videos show the cap of the valve can be sawed off and replaced. I wonder if there is a glue remover solvent, can we just try to do that rather than sawing off the cap? Also, I don’t want to go about this route to know that in six months something else happens.
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Ok first things first,,,is the AC blower still working without any strange noises or problems,,,,if it is working fine then no repairs are needed ok,,,,now the valve cover with the PCV built in to it, is there a check engine light on,is there any lean mixture faults, or is there a whistle noise from the engine at idle,,,,if none of those problems are happening then no need to replace the valve cover,,,,,what has me pissed off is that the valve cover was already off for the timing chain repair and why didn’t they say something then so all you had to do was pay for the part,,,,not parts and labor twice,,,,,I hate shit like that.
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Yes, horrible business. I asked them to take two days if needed and do a thorough inspection and let me know what all needs fix. The advisor joked saying, I need a new car and he is willing to make an offer on a trade-in. Who can say anything about ethics and honesty, they will pay differently for their actions, I will just pay money I earned honestly.
Emotions apart, a whistling noise when the car switches to the auto-engine cutoff when coming to a halt. When I took it back they could not find it when the engine was cold, but it begins after about 10 minutes of running, which I had to go back after a few days to show to the mechanic.
The AC blower is loud and seems like all the air is coming from one vent on the front-right.
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Oh sorry I have not sawed off the cap and glued it.
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I am responding to a different topic here. I had my car in at the ASC for the timing chain issue which cost me $5600. After this, the car developed other issues which they either goofed up or is my misfortune and repairs for the same would cost another $3000: driver seat back panel dislodged, AC blower fan loud, PCV valve whistling noise at start/stop. I took it back and these guys said whole seat back panel, AC blower fan, PCV valve cover needs replacing. The technician could not find the whistling noise even after a week of diagnosis and repeated attempts. They didn’t even turn the engine on or take the car out for a week. They had me come over, take it out for a 10 minute drive with the technician and show the problem. I even had sent a sound recording of it previously. They kept the car for another week and said the whole valve cover/lid and pressure hoses need replacing.
I checked a few videos online about the PCV valve cap, not entire cover/lid replacing. Incidentally, on my car just the cap will easily come off. These guys wanted to con me for $1700, for a $17 + $5 shipping. This cap need not be sawed off on my car, as BMW has changed the design and only requires cap replacing. My 10 year old did it for me.
I caution all owners to first open the engine cover and then go about getting it fixed or fixing it yourself. Don’t trust the ASC as they have no ethics. I can share images of what I did and part I replaced if anyone needs.
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I’m sorry for what happened to your car and your experience with a ASC,,,,just because someone is ASC doesn’t mean shit,,,,,I always said find yourself a good BMW independent repairs shop that has been around for awhile and that other people recommend.
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I wanted to convey that the fix for the PCV valve diaphragm is a lot easy fix.
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I’m sure it is a easier fix and a lot cheaper
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Sorry to piss on your chips, but there are plenty of timing chain issues reported on the N20 engines in the UK.
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Don’t worry your not pissing on my chips,,,lol,,,,we don’t here what’s going on in Europe or other countries,,,,,I just here what people post on my blog why there are no issues in there county,,,,now the question is why isn’t BMW of the UK taking care of this issue.
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Very good question. Are BMW replacing the chains/guides as a good will gesture where you are? Surely it should be the same worldwide?
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Hi, I have 2 questions:
1) My car has a production date 03/2015. It’s not eligible anymore? I have a pre-LCI car with N20, 320i. I think maybe the engine production date matters, not the whole car?
2) My car from the US, but shipped to Europe. Can I ask a local dealer for this warranty? or not?
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It goes from the production date of the car,,,now the repairs on a car bought in the US and now in Europe you would have to get permission from BMW of Europe or what country you are living in now.
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