01-16-2020, 06:32 AM | #1 |
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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?
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01-16-2020, 09:38 AM | #2 |
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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 |
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01-16-2020, 09:54 AM | #4 |
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...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 |
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01-16-2020, 10:38 AM | #5 |
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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.
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01-17-2020, 11:21 AM | #6 |
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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. |
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01-18-2020, 02:47 AM | #7 |
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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
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01-28-2020, 09:04 AM | #8 |
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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 |
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01-28-2020, 01:59 PM | #9 | |
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03-11-2021, 09:40 AM | #10 |
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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. |
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03-11-2021, 01:37 PM | #11 | |
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03-11-2021, 01:39 PM | #12 | |
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03-11-2021, 03:23 PM | #13 | |
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03-11-2021, 05:09 PM | #14 | |
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03-12-2021, 09:24 PM | #15 |
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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.
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04-03-2021, 09:26 PM | #16 |
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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. |
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