[Polo08816]

Well, folks, I have now experienced the dreaded charge pipe failure...

The car in question is my 2014 335i M Sport RWD with SAT. It has approximately 78,500 miles on it and I did purchase the BMW Extended Warranty Platinum for 5years/100,000 miles. The only modifications are M Performance Suspension Kit, M Performance Limited Slip Differential, F8X M3/M4 brake pads, and APEX ARC-8 + Michelin PSS 255/40/18 all around. The powertrain has remained completely bone stock for the entire life of the car. No tunes, piggybacks, downpipes, intakes, etc.

It failed around ~7:30 in the video below which was taken at Summit Point, WV during an HPDE:

Here's a picture of the cracked charge pipe:




I'm thinking that because the charge pipe is plastic, it will withstand stock boost pressures initially. But after age and repetitive heat cycles, the plastic becomes brittle and is prone to failure right where it connects to the throttle body.



I was able to duct tape it and drive it to a BMW dealership in Eco Pro mode after that failure.

The Service Advisor said that because the powertrain is stock, this failure would be covered under my extended warranty.

Here's what it looks like after the repair work:






The service advisor said that this was the 3rd stock N55 to come in this week with a cracked charge pipe. The other two vehicles had cracked charge pipes around 35,000 miles and 50,000 miles.

I'm curious if we're going to be headed to recall...


I've attached a ISTA ISTAD Charge Pipe PDF as a reference in case you may want to upgrade to an aftermarket charge pipe. My plan is to run the original plastic BMW charge pipe until the extended warranty has run out.

[Zel335]

Most likely not, being these cars have been out since 2012. It's more limited to the people that drive the cars hard, and if you look whom buys these that doesn't happen that often.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by Polo08816

Well, folks, I have now experienced the dreaded charge pipe failure...

No tunes, piggybacks, downpipes, intakes, etc.

Because tracking. Time for: tunes, piggybacks, downpipes, intakes, etc.

I think you said you were against that stuff a while ago, but time to go to the dark side and get a metal pipe.

Nice vid by the way--looks like fun.

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by jgoens

Because tracking. Time for: tunes, piggybacks, downpipes, intakes, etc.

I think you said you were against that stuff a while ago, but time to go to the dark side and get a metal pipe.

Nice vid by the way--looks like fun.

I'm going to stay away from tunes, downpipes, intakes, etc. while I'm under warranty. Tracking the car is one of the most stressful conditions for the car and once you start adding powertrain modifications, other weak points start to show rather quickly. If I need that much power, I need to just bite the bullet and buy an M2 or M3.

I may consider the metal pipe post warranty period unless BMW revises the charge pipe and starts selling an improved OEM version.

[F32Fleet]

Well, think of it like this. You'll never own the car when itbreaches 150k miles so you'll probably never replace it again.

Water pumps and hoses on the other hand.

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

Well, think of it like this. You'll never own the car when itbreaches 150k miles so you'll probably never replace it again.

Water pumps and hoses on the other hand.

I'm confident that BMW has calibrated everything in the car to fail spectacularly at 101,000 miles - just outside my extended warranty coverage.

[50shadesofhockenheim]

My stock chargepipe cracked with no mods at 35k miles

[mike@x-ph.com]

Glad your car is under warranty

[Polo08816]

Originally Posted by mike@x-ph.com

Glad your car is under warranty

Me as well.

I used to drive it Monday to Friday but now I have a work car. The remaining 21,000 miles on the warranty are going to be some hard miles at the track.

[zinner]

congrats on going solo!!!

[trohde78]

It's pretty sad that they will crack on a stock vehicle. They could at least reinforce that connection point since they had plenty of experience with this issue on the N54 as well.

[Muwiee]

Had same issue in Sunday. My car is totally stock. I got aftermarket pipe and waiting to see if the warranty will cover the price of the pipe. I went with the FTP from Bavauto. Broke in two spots. Right around connection to throttle body and also where vacuum line connects.

[BMW DIY Guy]

I have a spare OEM pipe in good condition if anyone is interested.. *grin* (the Active Autowerke upgrade is installed!)

[LiquidMercury]

Originally Posted by Muwiee

Had same issue in Sunday. My car is totally stock. I got aftermarket pipe and waiting to see if the warranty will cover the price of the pipe. I went with the FTP from Bavauto. Broke in two spots. Right around connection to throttle body and also where vacuum line connects.

Not so sure your warranty would cover you going out and buying a better part and them reimbursing you for it. unless it's exactly the same cost as stock?

[Muwiee]

Originally Posted by LiquidMercury

Not so sure your warranty would cover you going out and buying a better part and them reimbursing you for it. unless it's exactly the same cost as stock?

I called them and they said unless a BMW dealership did work thy won't cover it. Even if I had bought the crappy OEM plenum.

[aps]

My stock charge pipe blew up on Wednesday. Never had a tune, no aftermarket mods other than suspension and muffler swap.

United BMW Roswell wants $755 to replace it because my factory warranty expired (I'm at 50,700 miles) and CPO "does not cover it"....

Going to make a fuss if the manager doesn't end up covering this. This is total bullshit.

[yoandry]

Originally Posted by BOOT335

My stock charge pipe blew up on Wednesday. Never had a tune, no aftermarket mods other than suspension and muffler swap.

United BMW Roswell wants $755 to replace it because my factory warranty expired (I'm at 50,700 miles) and CPO "does not cover it"....

Going to make a fuss if the manager doesn't end up covering this. This is total bullshit.

CPO should cover that, otherwise tell them to show you in writing where does CPO warranty says it doesn't cover.
If not get the VRSF for $225 i think and do it yourself.

[aps]

Originally Posted by yoandry

CPO should cover that, otherwise tell them to show you in writing where does CPO warranty says it doesn't cover.
If not get the VRSF for $225 i think and do it yourself.

There saying that its a normal wear and tear item and I said its part of the turbo induction system and the manager blew it off basically.

Think I'm going to just go aftermarket at this point. Does the VRSF still have fitment issues?

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by BOOT335

There saying that its a normal wear and tear item and I said its part of the turbo induction system and the manager blew it off basically.

Think I'm going to just go aftermarket at this point. Does the VRSF still have fitment issues?

And then put a tune and DP on and your good to go.

[ronanz]

Originally Posted by BOOT335

There saying that its a normal wear and tear item and I said its part of the turbo induction system and the manager blew it off basically.

Think I'm going to just go aftermarket at this point. Does the VRSF still have fitment issues?

ER is another option...OEM fitment

.

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by BOOT335

Think I'm going to just go aftermarket at this point. Does the VRSF still have fitment issues?

Sadly, welcome to the 'club'. Yeah, the CP blew on the 2014 435i earlier this year and she had around 28k miles on her. To be fair, the car had Dinan Stage 2 at the time so nothing crazy yet a nice improvement over stock. Frankly, get the ER CP and be done with it. JMHO YMMV

[BMW DIY Guy]

No doubt super frustrating, but yeah, welcome to the improved CP club! I am a big fan of the Active Autowerke CP, and my DIY video can help you through the install. (Or probably any other brand as well)

Sorry for the crappy experience but thankfully you are a relatively easy fix.

I on the other hand wont be driving my car for a week.. literally. I have roughly 600 miles left on my warranty and after a full inspection by my independent shop, have a laundry list of little things for the dealer to fix. The earliest date possible? A week out... no driving for me! *laugh*