[E30M42]

Hi All... First time poster, long time looker with a forever E30 safely tucked away in the garage.

I am a Euro station wagon guy and I am in the market for a car to replace my Volvo V70. It's been years since I drove a BMW daily driver so I took the time to get up to speed on current BMW engines and educated myself about the N20 timing chain issue.

If I have the facts straight, the upgraded timing gear assembly fix hit the production line after February 2015. I am looking at a 2016 F31 wagon with 43,000 built April 2016 so I am certain it is upgraded but my question is, has the fix successfully cured the timing chain issue or are problems still lurking in engines built after the fix?

I am grappling with the decision to go with the '16 w/ N20 or wait until a 330 comes along with a B46. Big difference in price though.

Any advice is appreciated! Thanks.!

[sspade]

Its really tough to say definitively. That being said, Ive own two N20 powered vehicles (each acquired with less than 50k miles) and have not had a major issue to speak of. First one I lost in an accident at 95k and current one has 134k miles on it. I think if you can get one that has low miles and take care out it, your risk of catastrophic failure is extremely low- especially with a post 02-2015 build date.

Im religious with 5k mile oil changes and not revving the engine past 3-4k miles until the needle cracks off dead cold. Also run only top-tier 93 octane fuel, primarily Shell V Power.

Have driven cross country several times, has not missed a beat. Car has full bolt ons and flash tuned as well. Averages a legitimate 36 MPG highway in comfort mode ~75-80 MPH.

[Billfitz]

The chain was revised in early 2015, but the tensioner was also revised, a year later. They wouldn't have done that without a good reason. IMO the tensioner was at fault all along, as the chain and guide was the same as used in the N55, without major issues. The tensioners were different. For long term piece of mine I'd change the tensioner.

[E30M42]

Thanks billfitz and sspade for the replies.

I took a pass on another 328 wagon last month but I kept notes. At that time, (maybe on Bimmerpost) I found the date the tensioner was upgraded with a new p/n was August 2016. So if I take this car, a new tensioner is in order Thanks for the reminder.

Can I ask a bonus question? I am a diesel lover going way back but I decided against the 4 cylinder diesel in the F31 because the timing gear is rear mounted so out comes the engine. Can anyone explain why BMW did that?

Thanks again!

[Billfitz]

Probably because of the old cherry that diesels don't have the lubrication issues that gas engines do. It reminds me of first generation solid state electric guitar amps from Standell circa 1970. They believed the hype about transistors lasting for a hundred years, so they potted their pre-amps in epoxy for shock protection. Within five years those transistors started dropping like flies, and being potted they couldn't be replaced. I made a tidy amount building new pre-amps for them.

[Linc0909]

I had a ‘13 328 w/ the N20. Changed the oil when the car told me to. Had an AFE intake, GFB deverter up grade, FTP charge and boost pipe and a Burger Stage one. Unfortunately it was totaled about a month ago with 134,xxx on the odo with no problems and the original chain and guides. I, personally, think the chain issue was conflated by the Internet. Millions of these engines around the world with a few hundred reported issues. But to each their own ….

[f31s2k]

My car is a 2015 F31 and I just did my timing chain and guides at 132,000 miles using the FCP Euro Kit. Original timing chain and guides were still in good condition with no noticable stretch on the chain and no broken plastic. Previous owner said he did oil changes every 5k miles. I bought the car at 125,000 miles. I only did it as preventative maintenance being it my first BMW just for peace of mind. I'm sure I could have done easily another 50k miles on it but I didn't want to risk it and again for peace of mind since I plan on taking it to the occasional track day. Especially if you can wrench on it yourself, then I believe it's a no brainer. Although, if you need to take it a shop then might not be financially feasible depending on your situation and how much you care about the car.