[sspade]

Originally Posted by BunkerJ

Normal. That's just the oil. And are you sure? Maybe it's just the photo but looks like some on the center of the links.

Phew. Thanks. Positive on the slack but I'll check for scoring again in a bit and try to get a better pic...

[BunkerJ]

Originally Posted by sspade

Phew. Thanks. Positive on the slack but I'll check for scoring again in a bit and try to get a better pic...

If you really don't have any, I'd be kinda curious to some more background on the car. Like what mileage did you get it at, do you use Auto Stop/Start (Or have used it in the past as normal), etc.? Based on a lot of owners, it seems the scoring is pretty normal regardless but I'm wondering if most of us had it from previous owners using the AS/S feature.

[sspade]

Checked again when I got home this evening and got a better pic. This is after another drive cycle so the chain is presumably in a different position than the previous pic.

I do see some scoring now!

Still tight as a drum with absolutely zero play side to side or up and down.

Bought this vehicle used with 29k on it. Have not allowed ASS to engage, except by accident on very few occasions. No idea what original lessee did... vehicle originally delivered by BMW of San Francisco.

[loggin]

Originally Posted by sspade

Checked again when I got home this evening and got a better pic. This is after another drive cycle so the chain is presumably in a different position than the previous pic.

I do see some scoring now!

Still tight as a drum with absolutely zero play side to side or up and down.

Bought this vehicle used with 29k on it. Have not allowed ASS to engage, except by accident on very few occasions. No idea what original lessee did... vehicle originally delivered by BMW of San Francisco.

Thanks for posting a couple of pics of your chain!!.. It is hard to tell but I don't see any scoring or shiny parts on it either..??

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, I have the shiny bits and the play but no whining noise at this point.. Also wanted to mention that I bought the car with 28,000 km. on it.. Always turn the start/stop off but don't know what the previous owner did.. Also do oil changes about every 6 or 7 thousand km.. Currently have 52,000 km. on the clock..

Just thought I'd add some more info to the database here..

[Billfitz]

I haven't seen it posted anywhere but I imagine one of these should be useful to examine the condition of the guides:


https://www.amazon.com/Depstech-Semi...era+with+light

[rjd_F30]

Appreciate all the insight and pics guys Lots of good info in this thread

[BettyFkinCrocker]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

I haven't seen it posted anywhere but I imagine one of these should be useful to examine the condition of the guides:


https://www.amazon.com/Depstech-Semi...era+with+light

I actually have one and was trying to check things out with it. It's a difficult angle (even with the angled mirror attachment). I'm going to give it another shot and will post pics if I get a good shot.

My hope is that I can show BMW the broken guide (assuming it is) and get it warrantied before I end up with the whine and inevitable failure.

[rjd_F30]

Originally Posted by BettyFkinCrocker

I actually have one and was trying to check things out with it. It's a difficult angle (even with the angled mirror attachment). I'm going to give it another shot and will post pics if I get a good shot.

My hope is that I can show BMW the broken guide (assuming it is) and get it warrantied before I end up with the whine and inevitable failure.

Would be awesome to get some video/pics of how your assembly looks. Include your mileage as well please

[kikoc10]

Hey,

I am having a similar issue, I can actually move a bit the chain guide and I hear a sound such as the one in the video someone posted of another car. Is it possible that I can move the guide with my finger or it must be solid? I do have the whining sound.

[rjd_F30]

Originally Posted by kikoc10

Hey,

I am having a similar issue, I can actually move a bit the chain guide and I hear a sound such as the one in the video someone posted of another car. Is it possible that I can move the guide with my finger or it must be solid? I do have the whining sound.

If you have the whining sound stop driving it and get it to a shop ASAP.

[j.f.leonard]

Any update on the lawsuit against bmw? Just got my timing chain assembly replaced about a month ago and would love to get reimbursed a little.

[streetcommander]

Can anyone tell me if it's possible to change the chain guides only, by removal of the valve cover? Upper timing chain guides, I'm talking about. I read a post that said it is, however I can find no other posts about this possibility.

[Ajax915]

Originally Posted by rjd_F30

Hey everyone,

I wanted to post this in the hopes in getting some opinions on whether or not this is normal. With all the timing chain threads going on right now, I decided to take a look at mine and noticed some fairly substantial scoring on the surface of the chain. I also noticed that it did have some slack both side to side and both up and down. The side to side movement is easy to see, the up and down not so much in the video. The up and down movement is less than or equal to 1 cm in movement. I realize that the amount of slack can depend on where the chain happened to stop when the engine was turned off, but I figured it was worth mentioning anyway. I have attached a bunch of pictures and videos of the chain. Also attached a pic of the underside of the oil cap FWIW, looks good to me. The other thing I wanted to get some opinions on was the engine whine I've been hearing. I honestly don't know how long it has been whining like this, as I've only started listening for it after the popularity of timing chain threads has risen. I've also attached both in car and under hood videos. The whine is not present in any situation when driving at all, or when revving the car normally i.e. quick throttle inputs. The only time I hear it is when I rev the engine slowly. I tried to demonstrate this in the videos by including both sorts of revving. It's difficult to hear in the video from inside the car, but is there if you listen closely. The under hood video shows it clearly and even kind of exaggerates it. I think it may be just the sound the engine makes naturally, as lots of cars naturally have this whirring sound. I'm thinking with the sound I might just be paranoid, or maybe it's an issue. Please take a listen and let me know what you all think.

Also before anyone tells me to STF, I've read both this thread: http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1333666
And this blog post: https://bmwtechnician.com/2016/08/07...g-chain-issue/

The blog would have me believe the scoring on my chain is abnormal, but the thread would lead me to believe that it is normal. Not sure what to believe, which is one of the reasons I'm posting this thread.

I'd love to hear any opinions on whether or not I should be worried about the noise or the scoring on the chain. Any and all thoughts are appreciated!

P.S. The car has 68,900 miles.

Pics and Videos:

So was the slack normal?

[rjd_F30]

Originally Posted by Ajax915

So was the slack normal?

Well the car never blew up so I guess so!

[Ajax915]

Originally Posted by rjd_F30

Well the car never blew up so I guess so!

Haha this is reassuring. I posted a video like yours (with the slack play) on Reddit and there's a mix of people saying it's good and it's bad, but most of the technicians are saying it's nothing to worry about! Do you currently still own the vehicle ?

[rjd_F30]

Originally Posted by Ajax915

Haha this is reassuring. I posted a video like yours (with the slack play) on Reddit and there's a mix of people saying it's good and it's bad, but most of the technicians are saying it's nothing to worry about! Do you currently still own the vehicle ?

Yeah, I got 20k trouble free miles out of the car after I took that video. I sold the car about a year and a half ago. I keep in touch with the current owner every now and then, and to my knowledge the car is still doing well. I would imagine it's well above 100k miles by now.

So in my experience, that slack is not troublesome. As long as it's not crazy loose to the point where you can pick the chain up off the guide, and the car isn't making that terrible whining noise, I wouldn't worry about it.

[klepic]

Hey guys, do you hear timing chain noice all the time when engine is start or only in D of R?

When I move shift from N to D or R I got engine louder and I fear it may be some rattling, however in N or P I do not hear anything, everything works perfectly when engine is on.

Any thoughts?

[MidMoF30]

Originally Posted by klepic

Hey guys, do you hear timing chain noice all the time when engine is start or only in D of R?

When I move shift from N to D or R I got engine louder and I fear it may be some rattling, however in N or P I do not hear anything, everything works perfectly when engine is on.

Any thoughts?

You'd typically only hear the high pitch whine at higher RPMs or revving on the engine. The transmission gear selection shouldn't play a factor.

For timing chain rattle, you'd hear that upon startup or during revs.

[klepic]

Originally Posted by MidMoF30

You'd typically only hear the high pitch whine at higher RPMs or revving on the engine. The transmission gear selection shouldn't play a factor.

For timing chain rattle, you'd hear that upon startup or during revs.

Thanks for the answer!

Nah, have none of that. I may be just feared. Car does not produce any weird sound on start, if rev, drive, reverse, being in N or P. It sound a bit louder in D or R when its statioary. Maybe its just me tho.