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 > Technical Forums > N20, N26, B46, B48 Turbo Engine / Drivetrain / Exhaust Modifications > My N20 died at 72k miles
Studio RSR
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      02-10-2015, 12:57 PM   #45
VMRWheels
BimmerPost Supporting Vendor
VMRWheels's Avatar
2037
Rep
25,989
Posts


Drives: BMW
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Anaheim, CA

iTrader: (4)

Garage List
2013 BMW M3  [10.00]
2015 BMW M4  [0.00]
2013 BMW F30  [0.00]
2014 BMW F22  [0.00]
2013 BMW F06  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ganxxta View Post
Kronk If you ever get to know the initial cause for your problem, please share
+ 1

Best of luck to you OP!
__________________
Appreciate 0
      02-11-2015, 02:03 AM   #46
bluesman
New Member
9
Rep
17
Posts

Drives: '13 328
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Northwest

iTrader: (0)

I had the same thing at 18000 miles! Engine oil pressure low and limp mode, then knocking engine. The dealership found metal shavings inside oil and so. They didn't figure out why, but getting a new engine under warranty was smooth.

What I guess is that the car somewhat lost engine oil and the sensor didn't catch/warn it when it was already below minimum. (of course I was driving with no warning of engine oil level low or whatever)
Appreciate 0
      02-11-2015, 08:35 AM   #47
S4NoMore
Major
S4NoMore's Avatar
United_States
252
Rep
1,003
Posts

Drives: 16 340i, 15 X3d, 91 318i
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Philly suburbs

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2016 BMW 340i  [0.00]
2015 BMW X3 28d  [0.00]
1991 BMW 318i  [8.66]
Quote:
Originally Posted by bluesman
I had the same thing at 18000 miles! Engine oil pressure low and limp mode, then knocking engine. The dealership found metal shavings inside oil and so. They didn't figure out why, but getting a new engine under warranty was smooth.

What I guess is that the car somewhat lost engine oil and the sensor didn't catch/warn it when it was already below minimum. (of course I was driving with no warning of engine oil level low or whatever)
So you got a warning for low oil pressure, but did not immediately turn off the engine, is that correct? I'm just wondering how these circumstances play out. I'd like to think I could shut the engine off right away but I don't know how possible that is.

I wonder if an oil pressure gauge is a good idea, if there are any warning signs like pressure below normal but above the warning threshold... This stuff has me a little scared.
Appreciate 0
      02-11-2015, 09:53 AM   #48
KGB_123_99
Captain
Canada
404
Rep
962
Posts

Drives: '17 330ix M-Sport, '09 528ix
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Montreal, QC

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by bluesman View Post
I had the same thing at 18000 miles! Engine oil pressure low and limp mode, then knocking engine. The dealership found metal shavings inside oil and so. They didn't figure out why, but getting a new engine under warranty was smooth.

What I guess is that the car somewhat lost engine oil and the sensor didn't catch/warn it when it was already below minimum. (of course I was driving with no warning of engine oil level low or whatever)
Sheeesh, how many broken N20s are out there?
Appreciate 0
      02-11-2015, 09:56 AM   #49
smithf80
Major General
smithf80's Avatar
United_States
2794
Rep
5,313
Posts

Drives: G80 M3 6MT
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Long Island, NY

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2022 G20 330i  [9.00]
2018 F80 M3  [9.75]
Any update Kronk??
__________________
Appreciate 0
      02-11-2015, 03:00 PM   #50
TurboM
Captain
TurboM's Avatar
United_States
252
Rep
674
Posts

Drives: 2018 F82 M4 ZCP
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Atlanta

iTrader: (1)

Hopefully it doesn't come down to you having to fund this out of pocket but if it does, and for what its worth, my motor was replaced under warranty by a local BMW dealer and the total bill would have been $16K, not $21k.
Appreciate 0
      02-11-2015, 03:10 PM   #51
f30luxline
e92 - 335i
United_States
179
Rep
743
Posts

Drives: thisonetimeatbandcamp
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Orlando

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by smithf32 View Post
Any update Kronk??
^^
Appreciate 0
      02-11-2015, 04:56 PM   #52
Kronk
Private First Class
34
Rep
103
Posts

Drives: None
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Seattle

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by S4NoMore View Post
So you got a warning for low oil pressure, but did not immediately turn off the engine, is that correct? I'm just wondering how these circumstances play out. I'd like to think I could shut the engine off right away but I don't know how possible that is.

I wonder if an oil pressure gauge is a good idea, if there are any warning signs like pressure below normal but above the warning threshold... This stuff has me a little scared.
Low oil pressure warning came on while I was on the highway going about 50-60mph. By the time I got it over to the side of the road it was already in limp mode and iDrive was showing a 'Drivetrain Malfunction' warning.

I was somewhat relieved that it went into limp mode as my hope was that would preserve the engine from catastrophic damage.

Quote:
Originally Posted by smithf32 View Post
Any update Kronk??
Longer update coming tonight. Waiting to speak with another BMW rep this afternoon.
Appreciate 0
      02-11-2015, 09:40 PM   #53
bluesman
New Member
9
Rep
17
Posts

Drives: '13 328
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Northwest

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by S4NoMore View Post
So you got a warning for low oil pressure, but did not immediately turn off the engine, is that correct? I'm just wondering how these circumstances play out. I'd like to think I could shut the engine off right away but I don't know how possible that is.

I wonder if an oil pressure gauge is a good idea, if there are any warning signs like pressure below normal but above the warning threshold... This stuff has me a little scared.
Unfortunately, when it went on limp mode, it was because something was already broken. I immediately added one bottle of engine oil, it didn't work of course, but I could figure out engine oil level was about 4.5L when it happened.

My advice would be measure your engine oil level often in a regular manner. The automatic warning "engine oil level at minimum, add 1 qt of engine oil" isn't really a safety net.
Appreciate 0
      02-11-2015, 09:54 PM   #54
f30luxline
e92 - 335i
United_States
179
Rep
743
Posts

Drives: thisonetimeatbandcamp
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Orlando

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by bluesman View Post
My advice would be measure your engine oil level often in a regular manner. The automatic warning "engine oil level at minimum, add 1 qt of engine oil" isn't really a safety net.
Ever since I added my BMS OCC I have been checking the level weekly as I am seeing collection of oil in the can.

I will be researching how to add an oil pressure gauge in the very near future. I may break down and buy the only gauge pod available for our cars


Appreciate 1
      02-12-2015, 09:49 AM   #55
S4NoMore
Major
S4NoMore's Avatar
United_States
252
Rep
1,003
Posts

Drives: 16 340i, 15 X3d, 91 318i
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Philly suburbs

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2016 BMW 340i  [0.00]
2015 BMW X3 28d  [0.00]
1991 BMW 318i  [8.66]
Quote:
Originally Posted by f30luxline
Ever since I added my BMS OCC I have been checking the level weekly as I am seeing collection of oil in the can.

I will be researching how to add an oil pressure gauge in the very near future. I may break down and buy the only gauge pod available for our cars
Are you seeing clean-ish oil or is it nasty junk you would expect to see? Has it prompted you to top off oil?

I briefly checked out the P3 gauge to see if it reads oil pressure. It isn't specifically listed, but the product page mentions "and more!" so it's a possibility. I'll be curious to learn what you find.
Appreciate 0
      02-12-2015, 10:17 AM   #56
f30luxline
e92 - 335i
United_States
179
Rep
743
Posts

Drives: thisonetimeatbandcamp
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Orlando

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by S4NoMore View Post
Are you seeing clean-ish oil or is it nasty junk you would expect to see? Has it prompted you to top off oil?

I briefly checked out the P3 gauge to see if it reads oil pressure. It isn't specifically listed, but the product page mentions "and more!" so it's a possibility. I'll be curious to learn what you find.
The can is catching clean-ish oil and condensation mix. Probably a 90% oil.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...=945608&page=2


I wasn't aware of the additional features of the P3. I will dig into it more
Appreciate 0
      02-12-2015, 07:46 PM   #57
Kronk
Private First Class
34
Rep
103
Posts

Drives: None
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Seattle

iTrader: (0)

UPDATE:

Some background info: I travel between the US and Canada frequently due to work. The breakdown happened in Canada. I originally bought the car when I was living in the US. BMW Canada is saying this is BMW USA's responsibility and BMW USA is pointing the finger at BMW Canada. Long story short: no one is doing anything.

BMW USA told me to have the car looked at by a stateside service center (I guess they don't trust the diagnostics done in Canada?). I'll be shipping the car back down to Seattle to have it looked at there. This has been confusing as heck.

As for what happened: I was told that the oil pump must have failed. I'm not sure why this took almost 7 hours to diagnose...but that's what I was told.
Appreciate 0
      02-13-2015, 09:48 AM   #58
Ganxxta
Second Lieutenant
Germany
85
Rep
280
Posts

Drives: F32 4er Coup
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Germany

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kronk View Post
I was told that the oil pump must have failed.
Isn't there a sensor for that? Like "oil pump is dead, stop immediately" and not wait until some oil pressure or whatever sensor notices it when its already to late.

Alarming...
Appreciate 0
      02-13-2015, 11:14 AM   #59
TurboM
Captain
TurboM's Avatar
United_States
252
Rep
674
Posts

Drives: 2018 F82 M4 ZCP
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Atlanta

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ganxxta View Post
Isn't there a sensor for that? Like "oil pump is dead, stop immediately" and not wait until some oil pressure or whatever sensor notices it when its already to late.

Alarming...
Haha. Thats the whole point of the oil pressure sensor. The only thing the oil pump does is pump oil and maintain oil pressure through the oil galleries in the motor. If it stops working you will have no oil pressure, thus tripping the sensor. This isn't a long process, all of this happens within just a couple seconds.

However, under normal driving conditions a motor will usually run for at least a few seconds to maybe a minute without oil pressure before incurring serious damage.

Who knows what happened here and what the actual root cause was. Some pretty detailed forensics would need to be done through a combination of physically inspecting the motor and looking through stored data to figure it out. Something the dealer is not going to do, maybe BMW will but you won't ever hear the outcome of their inspection.

Best of luck man.
Appreciate 0
      02-13-2015, 06:49 PM   #60
bluesman
New Member
9
Rep
17
Posts

Drives: '13 328
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Northwest

iTrader: (0)

Actually I can't be sure what was cause for my case. Although I know oil level was about 0.5 qt below minimum when it broke, it might have been just oil pump issue like ops. I was told the new motor costed $12k by the way.
Appreciate 0
      02-15-2015, 11:17 AM   #61
dreamspeed
Lieutenant Colonel
dreamspeed's Avatar
United_States
260
Rep
1,616
Posts

Drives: 6MT
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Los Angeles

iTrader: (0)

The real culprit here is the horrible e-dipstick. It doesn't seem to work all that great and it's hard for me to trust it.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      02-15-2015, 11:43 AM   #62
f30luxline
e92 - 335i
United_States
179
Rep
743
Posts

Drives: thisonetimeatbandcamp
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Orlando

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by dreamspeed View Post
The real culprit here is the horrible e-dipstick. It doesn't seem to work all that great and it's hard for me to trust it.
I'm an Engineer in the electronics industry and at one point in my career worked for Honda NA. If I would have known BMW went with this type of system I would have never bought the car. Overall electronics fail everyday and are manufactured without definitive life cycles. Good concept, horrible idea.
Appreciate 0
      02-15-2015, 11:49 AM   #63
MechWarrior
New Member
MechWarrior's Avatar
Netherlands
8
Rep
13
Posts

Drives: 540i 2020
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: .

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by f30luxline
Quote:
Originally Posted by bluesman View Post
My advice would be measure your engine oil level often in a regular manner. The automatic warning "engine oil level at minimum, add 1 qt of engine oil" isn't really a safety net.
Ever since I added my BMS OCC I have been checking the level weekly as I am seeing collection of oil in the can.

I will be researching how to add an oil pressure gauge in the very near future. I may break down and buy the only gauge pod available for our cars


Check out the Awron display. Just google it 😁 that display shows the pressure, temperatures and much more
__________________
G30 540i MY2020
Appreciate 0
      02-15-2015, 11:57 AM   #64
f30luxline
e92 - 335i
United_States
179
Rep
743
Posts

Drives: thisonetimeatbandcamp
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Orlando

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MechWarrior View Post
Check out the Awron display. Just google it 😁 that display shows the pressure, temperatures and much more
Not for 1k

http://ind-distribution.com/ind/cate...wron-dga-gauge
Appreciate 0
      02-15-2015, 12:20 PM   #65
jamoka3
Assassin
jamoka3's Avatar
United_States
144
Rep
156
Posts

Drives: 2013 F30 335i Xdrive M-SPORT
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: (Northern) New Jersey

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by f30luxline View Post
Seriously if it was like a few hundred bucks I would think about it! It is pretty cool looking tho mounted right in the center dash.
Appreciate 0
      02-15-2015, 03:10 PM   #66
bahasad
Major
bahasad's Avatar
United_States
327
Rep
1,491
Posts

Drives: F30, E90
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Somewhereinamerica

iTrader: (4)

Quote:
Originally Posted by f30luxline View Post
I'm an Engineer in the electronics industry and at one point in my career worked for Honda NA. If I would have known BMW went with this type of system I would have never bought the car. Overall electronics fail everyday and are manufactured without definitive life cycles. Good concept, horrible idea.
Although I do agree with you, I think BMW has been using electronic sensors since the E65 7 series back in 2003, I've been in a 5 series from 2006 that had it, and my E90. I have never heard of frequent failures of the oil level sensors on these cars.

It would be nice for them to include a redundant stick, but I am guessing they won't do it as a cost reduction measure.
__________________
Current: 17 Mustang GT no bmw
Gone but not forgotten: 07 E90 335I, 04 UA6, 95 E36, 04 EP3, 16 S550 EB, 14 F30 328I Stg 1, 08 E90 328I
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 04:05 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