F30POST
F30POST
2012-2015 BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > 2012-2019 BMW 3 and 4-Series Forums > General F30 Sedan / F32 Coupe / F36 Gran Coupe Forum > N20 timing chain issues?
ARMA SPEED
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      01-16-2020, 06:32 AM   #1
jyle099
New Member
1
Rep
19
Posts

Drives: none
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Melbourne

iTrader: (0)

N20 timing chain issues?

Im going to be buying an F30 328i 2012 model soon hopefully and heard a lot of issues with the timing chain. The car has 90,000KM and from what ive heard the timing chain gets a bit dodgy around the 100K mark? If i can get the F30 for a reasonable price ill go for it but is it worth preemptively getting a new timing chain? How much money would would I have to fork out in order to fix the timing chain issues the N20 has and whats a list of things that will need to be done? Is it even possible to fix the issue or will there always be the timing chain troubles even with a newer/improved one?
Appreciate 0
      01-16-2020, 09:38 AM   #2
PhizzurpF
Second Lieutenant
PhizzurpF's Avatar
108
Rep
276
Posts

Drives: BMW 328i x drive
Join Date: May 2019
Location: MN

iTrader: (0)

People have had success with dealers replacing under warranty after stating they hear a whining noise, even if the noise isn't there.

Would avoid anything prior to feb of 2015 tbh
Appreciate 0
      01-16-2020, 09:45 AM   #3
jyle099
New Member
1
Rep
19
Posts

Drives: none
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Melbourne

iTrader: (0)

Anything over 2014 is way to expensive and out of the budget thats all. They are almost double the price here in AUS

Last edited by jyle099; 01-16-2020 at 10:40 AM..
Appreciate 0
      01-16-2020, 09:54 AM   #4
eddymerckx3
Private First Class
60
Rep
147
Posts

Drives: 2015 328i xdrive sport line
Join Date: May 2018
Location: NY, NY

iTrader: (0)

...simply scroll down and engage some reading of existing MULTIPLE threads on this specific issue.

For example....https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1614899
Appreciate 0
      01-16-2020, 10:38 AM   #5
JoeyF30
Private First Class
20
Rep
162
Posts

Drives: BMW 2013 328i xDrive N26
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Iselin , NJ

iTrader: (0)

It's a gamble. My N26 2013 is at 128k miles running strong, I also don't use eco mode or auto start stop. Which I think strongly stressed this issue. Someone on the forums is almost to 200k with original chain and guides. My advice. Most fail under 100k. Get one with higher miles or if the chain was replaced , not all N20/26s will fail. I don't think mine will.
Appreciate 0
      01-17-2020, 11:21 AM   #6
backpackerx
New Member
4
Rep
19
Posts

Drives: 2013 BMW 328ix
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NC

iTrader: (0)

Mine went last week and was 5 days out of warranty. 2013 328ix with 68,500 miles. Whine was very loud outside the car (harder to hear on road). Thankfully BMW NA extended goodwill to cover it due to being so close to warranty. Lots of threads with issues on this engine for affected models.

Also from what I researched fixing it on your own at dealership is $4k-$5k if out of warranty and that assumes the chain didn't actually break and grenade your engine ($15k-18k) or that the plastic guides didn't break off, clog the oil pickup, and starve your engine where you get low oil pressure and might have metal shavings (new engine.)

Last edited by backpackerx; 01-17-2020 at 11:24 AM.. Reason: Added costs I researched.
Appreciate 0
      01-18-2020, 02:47 AM   #7
jyle099
New Member
1
Rep
19
Posts

Drives: none
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Melbourne

iTrader: (0)

Yeah im planning on getting a 2012 328i and just getting a proper timing chain installed as soon as possible before anything goes bad. I would get a newer year model as it would make more sense but in Australia they are almost double the price because we dont have 328i base model but only Msport, luxury line and sports line so and they increase the value by a decent amount. Just a shame they had to be so unreliable
Appreciate 0
      01-28-2020, 09:04 AM   #8
MPSdriver
Private First Class
MPSdriver's Avatar
Belgium
192
Rep
125
Posts

Drives: F30 328i xDrive
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Europe

iTrader: (0)

Just got my 2013 328xi (130k km) back after being at the dealer for far too long.

I had both chains (timing & oil pump) replaced about 2k km after I started to hear whining and an orange CEL showed up. Dealer said that the CEL wasn't related to the chains but to a leak on the exhaust side of the turbo. Turbo got replaced also.

I got the car back and three days later I got a low engine pressure warning(red CEL). Car got towed to the dealer and diagnosed. Apparantly in those three days the thrust bearing had failed and my crankshaft was grinding itself into the engine block. I saw the damage it had done, it wasn't pretty. I had a new short block installed and pray the car holds togheter now.

For the record I also had to replace the transmission (at 117k km) and the xdrive transfercase (at 119k km) so basically this car has been the least reliable car I've ever driven.

Hopefully you'll have more luck with the F30 / N20 than I
Appreciate 0
      01-28-2020, 01:59 PM   #9
les anderson
Second Lieutenant
146
Rep
201
Posts

Drives: 340i
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Miami

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by jyle099 View Post
Yeah im planning on getting a 2012 328i and just getting a proper timing chain installed as soon as possible before anything goes bad. I would get a newer year model as it would make more sense but in Australia they are almost double the price because we dont have 328i base model but only Msport, luxury line and sports line so and they increase the value by a decent amount. Just a shame they had to be so unreliable
Just keep in mind this is not a quick, easy or inexpensive service.
Appreciate 0
      03-11-2021, 09:40 AM   #10
zeak
New Member
0
Rep
7
Posts

Drives: 2013 328xi
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: md

iTrader: (0)

Was just told that my 328xi has a timing chain problem. Car has 79k miles on it and just missed the extended warranty window. Doubt it's worth putting 1-2k to repair at this point given the car is probably worth 10k. My question is the risk of driving with a deteriorating timing chain. Is it something that will cause an immediate breakdown or will i first get a check engine light and then be able to drive for a little before it conks out. Just trying to decide should buy another car asap or can ride this out for a bit.

I see conflicting report online about the risk of driving with this. Thanks.
Appreciate 0
      03-11-2021, 01:37 PM   #11
MHF30
Private First Class
122
Rep
150
Posts

Drives: 2013 328i xDrive Sedan
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Canada

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by zeak View Post
Was just told that my 328xi has a timing chain problem. Car has 79k miles on it and just missed the extended warranty window. Doubt it's worth putting 1-2k to repair at this point given the car is probably worth 10k. My question is the risk of driving with a deteriorating timing chain. Is it something that will cause an immediate breakdown or will i first get a check engine light and then be able to drive for a little before it conks out. Just trying to decide should buy another car asap or can ride this out for a bit.

I see conflicting report online about the risk of driving with this. Thanks.
If you're not going to do the work, I'd advise selling the car. The last thing you want to end up with is a pretty paper weight lol.
Appreciate 0
      03-11-2021, 01:39 PM   #12
MHF30
Private First Class
122
Rep
150
Posts

Drives: 2013 328i xDrive Sedan
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Canada

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by jyle099 View Post
Im going to be buying an F30 328i 2012 model soon hopefully and heard a lot of issues with the timing chain. The car has 90,000KM and from what ive heard the timing chain gets a bit dodgy around the 100K mark? If i can get the F30 for a reasonable price ill go for it but is it worth preemptively getting a new timing chain? How much money would would I have to fork out in order to fix the timing chain issues the N20 has and whats a list of things that will need to be done? Is it even possible to fix the issue or will there always be the timing chain troubles even with a newer/improved one?
If you haven't already bought it, I'd suggest saving a bit more and picking up an F30 with the B48 motor. Might as well avoid any headache altogether.
Appreciate 0
      03-11-2021, 03:23 PM   #13
F30lolz
I can haz cheezburger?
F30lolz's Avatar
6799
Rep
3,677
Posts

Drives: 14 Sahara/08 335xi/22 Maverick
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Miami, FL/Shelbyville, IN

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeyF30 View Post
It's a gamble. My N26 2013 is at 128k miles running strong, I also don't use eco mode or auto start stop. Which I think strongly stressed this issue. Someone on the forums is almost to 200k with original chain and guides. My advice. Most fail under 100k. Get one with higher miles or if the chain was replaced , not all N20/26s will fail. I don't think mine will.
My n20 has 178k (car 168k) but not sure the built date of my n20 (was told it came from a 2015 model). Assuming the worst case, it was probably built before March 2015 when the new parts were implemented. However, no whine/symptoms.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by RaptorKTM View Post
Also our E90 330 and 325 will soon have some sort of boost. So there is actually more of a chance to get more hp out of a 330 then a 335 in my opinion
Appreciate 1
      03-11-2021, 05:09 PM   #14
Billfitz
Lieutenant General
Billfitz's Avatar
United_States
8170
Rep
15,966
Posts

Drives: '15 328iX GT
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: New Hampshire

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by zeak View Post
Was just told that my 328xi has a timing chain problem. Car has 79k miles on it and just missed the extended warranty window. Doubt it's worth putting 1-2k to repair at this point given the car is probably worth 10k. My question is the risk of driving with a deteriorating timing chain.
Most of the time when it fails it does so without warning while driving, causing catastrophic engine failure. I wouldn't drive it out of town.
Appreciate 0
      03-12-2021, 09:24 PM   #15
zeak
New Member
0
Rep
7
Posts

Drives: 2013 328xi
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: md

iTrader: (0)

Thanks for the input. Waiting to hear from the dealer re diagnostic and repair cost. Per the Gelis settlement, i'm on the hook for 25% of the cost. If it's more than $500, probably better off selling since who knows what damage has already been done.
Appreciate 0
      04-03-2021, 09:26 PM   #16
zeak
New Member
0
Rep
7
Posts

Drives: 2013 328xi
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: md

iTrader: (0)

Dealer told me it would cost 7k to replace the timing chain. I took it to an indy shop with a lot of timing chain experience that i heard about on this thread. They said it was the alternator, replaced it and the noise is gone.
Strange experience but glad it's over and i don't have to buy a new car now. Pays to find someone who really knows what they're doing.
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:26 AM.




f30post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST