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BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > Technical Forums > N20, N26, B46, B48 Turbo Engine / Drivetrain / Exhaust Modifications > N20 / N26 Timing Chain Failure Log
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View Poll Results: Did you experience timing chain failure on your N20 engine?
Yes, my timing chain failed or required replacement. 33 14.47%
No, I have not experienced timing chain failure. 187 82.02%
I replaced my timing chain as a preventative measure. 8 3.51%
Voters: 228. You may not vote on this poll

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      06-09-2019, 05:46 PM   #1
sspade
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2016 BMW 320i  [7.87]
2014 BMW 328i  [6.83]
N20 / N26 Timing Chain Failure Log

The goal is to get a more accurate picture of how just common the timing chain failure is on the BMW N20 engine.

Please only vote if you currently own or have previously owned a vehicle with this engine.

Based on the poll results... we can come up with a rough percentage of active forum members who experienced this failure.

We know these results will be skewed as the population of this forum is not necessarily representative of the entire population of N20 owners. That's okay as the results will still be interesting and provide some insight. Plus it will give us something else to argue over and bitch about

Last edited by sspade; 06-09-2019 at 05:52 PM..
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      06-09-2019, 05:52 PM   #2
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I’d recommend people post their build dates along with yay or nay on timing chain issue so not to skew results with builds after chain update.
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      06-09-2019, 05:55 PM   #3
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2016 BMW 320i  [7.87]
2014 BMW 328i  [6.83]
Model: 2014 328i
Build: Munich, 05.14.14
Mileage: 75k
Timing Chain Status: No problems
Oil Changes: Every 5k miles since 29k
Stop/Start Status: Coded off at 29k
Additional Details: Bootmod3 at 72k miles

Last edited by sspade; 06-09-2019 at 08:16 PM..
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      06-09-2019, 05:59 PM   #4
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2014 328 65k miles, August 2013 build date. Timing chain good so far. I check once a month for tightness and guide damage
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      06-09-2019, 06:04 PM   #5
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2014 BMW 328i  [6.83]
To be fair, I'll give all these guys a nudge.

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      06-09-2019, 07:03 PM   #6
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Model: MY 2013 328i xDrive. December 18th, 2012 build date. Regensburg Plant.
Mileage: 77k miles
Timing Chain Status: No problems
Oil Changes: Every 5k miles since 42k miles, not sure about PO
Stop/Start Coded Status: Not coded, but always turn it off
Additional Details: None

sspade great thread idea.
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Last edited by rjd_F30; 06-11-2019 at 10:27 AM..
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      06-09-2019, 08:31 PM   #7
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Model: MY 2016 328i xDrive. 08/2015 build date
Mileage: 50k miles and counting (43k by PO)
Timing Chain Status: No issues
Oil Changes: Unknown as PO was a leaser and this was a lease return
Start/Stop Coded Status: Not coded but always set to off
Additional Details: Purchased with 43k miles and did first change (since taking ownership of car) at 46k miles. Plan to do another one shortly at ~51k miles (5k intervals)
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Last edited by andino; 06-18-2019 at 09:39 PM..
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      06-09-2019, 09:06 PM   #8
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MY2013 25k miles, and no issues so far
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      06-09-2019, 09:32 PM   #9
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Build date June 08, 2013. 50000 miles. No issues.
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      06-09-2019, 10:12 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sspade View Post
The goal is to get a more accurate picture of how just common the timing chain failure is on the BMW N20 engine.

Please only vote if you currently own or have previously owned a vehicle with this engine.

Based on the poll results... we can come up with a rough percentage of active forum members who experienced this failure.

We know these results will be skewed as the population of this forum is not necessarily representative of the entire population of N20 owners. That's okay as the results will still be interesting and provide some insight. Plus it will give us something else to argue over and bitch about
Great idea. I'm not voting since I have a B58 engine, but I'm curious to see the results to learn a bit more more about the f30s. As a medical researcher, I'm always interested in disease risk and this is sort of a disease, a car disease. With that in mind do you think you will be able to come up with a potential risk per total cars sold with this engine? Anyway, good luck.
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      06-10-2019, 01:48 AM   #11
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Mine is n26 build date 5/14/2014.....54,000miles, no issues, no whine....so far...
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      06-10-2019, 02:12 AM   #12
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Model: 6/2014 F30 320i Sport RWD
Mileage: 96,000 miles
Timing Chain Status: No issues so far
Oil Changes: 18K miles by PO. After 50K miles oil changed in every 9K miles by me.
Stop/Start Coded Status: Coded off by me. Not sure about PO.

Last edited by kobluna; 06-12-2019 at 09:07 AM.. Reason: Use suggested pattern
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      06-10-2019, 05:06 AM   #13
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528i built 3/2013. 70000 km without whining sound. ASS is coded off since day 1. As I'm going to keep my car long term, I'll bring it in next 2 days to change the timing chain, chain guide and tensioner. Will also take a peek at intake valve if that need cleaning too.
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      06-10-2019, 05:40 AM   #14
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Model: 2014 F30 320i Sport AWD/xDrive (Stock car only cosmetic changes made so far)
Mileage: 40,300
Timing Chain Status: Seems to be fine at the moment. Looking through the oil filler cap the chain has very light 'shiny' marks on it which i think is normal wear and tear i hope. (will try upload a pic of the chain through the oil filler cap and add it here soon - might be useful if others do the same for comparison)
Oil Changes: Bought the car recently and car was following BMW maintenance schedules before i got it but now will be changing it every 5-6K Miles
Stop/Start Coded Status: Coded out, never use it and never will (personal preference etc), not sure if the previous owner used it though.

Additional notes:
Had the car for 6 weeks putting around 700~ miles on the car so far with varied conditions (currently at 40.3k). Had no problems and to me the engine is very quiet (some people say it is loud for a petrol when reading forums because of the injectors) but i just came from a e60 520d which was crazy loud even for a diesel (N47 engine with apparently a bigger timing chain problem than the N20 but i never encountered that before selling luckily - sold with 94k miles on it had it from 50k). I've listened to countless 'timing chain' noise videos and it seems to be a distinctive sound which may help with diagnosing the problem before it happens just depends how bad the problem is with your car and if you are unlucky? I changed the oil and filter myself 1 week ago and will be making sure this is done around every 5k miles.

From reading nearly every thread on this over the last 2 weeks and posts about this problem because i have this engine i wanted to do my research. Most people are having problems with build date 12/13 on the 328i so it seems and most with problem mentioned they are using ASS (i know could be a coincidence but its what i've seen while researching). Maybe more 12/13 328i's exist and a lot of people seem to say they are only following the iDrive for oil changes and people who seem to change their oil more regularly report less problems (again coincidence?).

Otherwise i can't see a real 'pattern' emerging and all the timing chain/oil pump chain and guides part numbers changes discussions don't seem very conclusive with no real definitive answer to that. Not seen many people try preventative changes to the parts so not sure how effective this is? I would love to hear more from people who have carried out the preventative maintenance for the chains and guides.

Good luck everyone and i hope all our N20/26 engines stay working perfectly!
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Last edited by Mike_BMW; 06-11-2019 at 10:08 AM.. Reason: Changed formatting for easier reading as suggested
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      06-10-2019, 09:40 AM   #15
Newman1
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N26 with a build date 12/2013 (2014 MY). Timing chain started the infamous whine, had it replaced at around ~45k miles. Currently at 60k.
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      06-10-2019, 12:14 PM   #16
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15 328i n26. Build date 2014-11-20. 69009 miles pretty much stock.

Feels like im driving a ticking time bomb, literally lol.
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      06-10-2019, 02:22 PM   #17
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2015 328i n26
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Munich
70k miles zero issues.
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      06-10-2019, 03:06 PM   #18
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I'm at 105k N20 and nothing yet but I think my alternator is going out that's about it lol. PWG and 2012 not sure what my build date is exactly I believe it was 11/12.
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      06-10-2019, 04:25 PM   #19
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02/2012 328i 61,000mi N20
No problem with chain.
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      06-11-2019, 09:40 AM   #20
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I will join in on the fun! sspade feel free to use the template below and re-post in the first thread so all users follow same format:


Model: 2012 F30 328i Sport RWD
Mileage: 107,000 miles
Timing Chain Status: Failed at 107,000
Oil Changes: started doing 1/2 intervals approx 2 years ago. (6K Miles)
Stop/Start Coded Status: I still has stop start enabled, but would frequently turn it off
Additional Details:
Purchased at Local BMW Dealer CPO with approx. 27k miles, BMW NA will nto provide assistance. Swapping motor with a used 2016 N20. 0 Issues with the car prior to this, absolutely loved it.
I also recommend anyone who had timing chain issues to report to NHTSA, as it will help the class action law suite: https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/

Last edited by MyEvo8u; 06-11-2019 at 10:03 AM..
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      06-11-2019, 08:25 PM   #21
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2013 328i N20. 89,560 miles. No timing chain issues or whine so far. 03/2013 build date. Oil changes every 10,000 miles.
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      06-12-2019, 07:12 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rjdnyy224 View Post
Model: MY 2013 328i xDrive. December 18th, 2012 build date. Regensburg Plant.
Mileage: 77k miles
Timing Chain Status: No problems
Oil Changes: Every 5k miles since 42k miles, not sure about PO
Stop/Start Coded Status: Not coded, but always turn it off
Additional Details: None

sspade great thread idea.
Nice template, I’m going to steal it. What is PO?

Last edited by IraHayes; 06-12-2019 at 07:18 AM..
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