[hybris]

Interesting to read how BMW NA seem to be completely different in both warranty terms and service mindedness compared to Europe.

In Norway a new BMW is under warranty for 5 years / 125,000 miles.
In Germany it's 3 years with no limit on miles driven.

[RMachuca3d]

Originally Posted by natesi

This problem is not related to oil changes.

There is good evidence it is definitively a factor. The channels for the oil to lubricate the guides\chain are incredibly small, long OCI will lead to sludge which can invariably block these channels, leading to higher friction which leads to kabloom!

[kobluna]

Originally Posted by hybris

Interesting to read how BMW NA seem to be completely different in both warranty terms and service mindedness compared to Europe.

In Norway a new BMW is under warranty for 5 years / 125,000 miles.
In Germany it's 3 years with no limit on miles driven.

And in Finland warranty is only 2 years with no limit on miles driven. So it seems there are different warranty for every country. Also OCI is 30000km (18500mi) /2 years which is quite high considering hot(ish) summers and cold winters.

That being said, usually BMW is offering goodwill even if warranty period is over. But of course that's not always the case so longer warranty would be nice.

[natesi]

Originally Posted by RMachuca3d

There is good evidence it is definitively a factor. The channels for the oil to lubricate the guides\chain are incredibly small, long OCI will lead to sludge which can invariably block these channels, leading to higher friction which leads to kabloom!

There's been no evidence of sludge at the recommended OCI.

[cbsturge]

Originally Posted by magas

My N20 BMW X3 28i just died.
See my story here..
http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...in+malfunction

Basically they "think" the timing chain guide failed and there was plastic and metal shaving found.. Also getting a 17k estimate. Car was 53,000 miles 2013 BMW X3.

I am going to contact BMW and demand they step up and cover it..

Was wondering if anyone else has experience with this.?

Yup, same thing JUST happened to me. I drive a 2012 328i F30 Series (Prod. date 4/21/2012 / 59K miles) and Saturday I got a "Drivetrain malfunction" error followed shortly after by an "Engine oil pressure too low" error. I pulled immediately onto a neighborhood street and my engine died soon after and towed to BMW. The Service advisor told me yesterday they are blaming it on being overdue for an oil chain and not the faulty timing chain or oil pump. My car showed no signs or indication of needing an oil chain and went from running perfectly to literally blowing up. How is that possible? I also ran my oil diagnostic on the car several times in the last month and it told me levels were okay. I'm at a loss and don't know what to do. They told me it will be $17k to fix which is more expensive than the car is worth at this point. It was a fully loaded F30 Sport. Seems like a terrible waste for such a nice car if it never runs again.

[cbsturge]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

To the unfortunate owners who have encountered timing chain failures, was a check-engine-light and/or fault code triggered before the catastrophic failure?

NOT FOR ME!!!

[dallenr2]

My N20 engine blew on 1/25/19. Can't say more yet because the vehicle is still at the dealership.

[natesi]

It's been at the dealership for nearly two months? Damn.

[BettyFkinCrocker]

Originally Posted by natesi

It's been at the dealership for nearly two months? Damn.

That's often what happens when the culprit is likely the timing chain and they want to investigate the warranty claim. They'll send and engineer/auditor to look over the vehicle.

[madmortar]

mileage when it blew?

[ajrulez]

What really reading all this scares me ... I am at 60k 2014 F30 sport... Warranty just expired..is it worth getting extended warranty for 4k?

[rjd_F30]

Originally Posted by ajrulez

What really reading all this scares me ... I am at 60k 2014 F30 sport... Warranty just expired..is it worth getting extended warranty for 4k?

Depends on how the car's treated you so far. Just know the dealer prices it in a way that will most likely make them money.

I'm at 75k, my CPO just expired, and I just passed on renewing the warranty.

[Zanity]

Originally Posted by focal

threads like this that make me hesitant to even get the Dinan. I want my N20 car to last. I usually keep my cars 7-12 years depending on reliability. Most make it to 10.

same here, I plan to keep my current F32 for a good 10 years, hearing things like this is scary. A well maintained, unmolested N20 can just blow up at such low mileage... If this happens I guess I will part out the car and get whatever I can back

[CalCarNut]

A friend of mine just had his N26 blow. "Drivetrain malfunction" flashed on screen telling them to take it to dealer. Gas was found in the cylinder and a wet/fouled plug. #1 Cylinder wasn't holding compression. Engine is done. Seems the excess fuel wipes out the oil lubrication factors in the cylinder and just kills it based on preliminary word-blaming a stuck fuel injector it seems.

[sspade]

Originally Posted by CalCarNut

A friend of mine just had his N26 blow. "Drivetrain malfunction" flashed on screen telling them to take it to dealer. Gas was found in the cylinder and a wet/fouled plug. #1 Cylinder wasn't holding compression. Engine is done. Seems the excess fuel wipes out the oil lubrication factors in the cylinder and just kills it based on preliminary word-blaming a stuck fuel injector it seems.

Wow. Thats a new one...

Other than the TC issue, there does not appear to be a pattern with other major failures.

[natesi]

Yeah; if I had a pre-2015 build I think I'd be shitting my pants. Not sure what I would do. Hopefully the timing chain revision fixed this issue, but we don't know for sure if that's even the "golden ticket" -- although the consensus seems to be that it is. But only more time will tell.

$$4K for pre-preemptive repair, on what is now a heavily depreciated BMW, is a lot of coin for a car that isn't worth a whole lot. On the other hand, it's a lot cheaper than a new car, if the engine takes a dump (or a new engine). I guess $4K to keep it going another 3-5 years, or more, is not too bad, in the grand scheme of things. But that would sting -- big time.

The problem is that BMW is not taking accountability for this -- they should warranty the timing chain a lot longer, but they probably know they will all break if they extend things too much.

[jangkrikboz]

my n20 just died 3 weeks ago.

F30 328i N20
~ 95000 KM - ~ 300hp/420nm ~ 1.35bar boost ~ oct93
Mods: Catless Downpipe, All the pipes use FTP, FMIC Wagner Stage 2.
Map: Manic Stage 2

No warning, no nothing. suddenly the engine just blown on the 2nd gear high rev. no idea why.

[Troy27]

Originally Posted by jangkrikboz

my n20 just died 3 weeks ago.

F30 328i N20
~ 95000 KM - ~ 300hp/420nm ~ 1.35bar boost ~ oct93
Mods: Catless Downpipe, All the pipes use FTP, FMIC Wagner Stage 2.
Map: Manic Stage 2

No warning, no nothing. suddenly the engine just blown on the 2nd gear high rev. no idea why.

What is that a picture of?

[CandyRedRC46]

Originally Posted by Troy27

What is that a picture of?

THE BLOCK...

[Troy27]

Originally Posted by CandyRedRC46

THE BLOCK...

Is that the cylinder head and rod in pieces?

[jangkrikboz]

Originally Posted by Troy27

Is that the cylinder head and rod in pieces?

yes, the engine block also broke but didn't get a good picture.

now the car already running ~ 100KM with another rebuilt n20 engine with new piston, rods, oil pump, both timing chain, etc.

Still using the same map as before.

Tomorrow I will go to the indie shop that remapped my ECU and ask them lower the map into oct91 fuel and decrease the ignition timing. I don't want to spend another $12k for rebuilding n20 engine again.

[Troy27]

Originally Posted by jangkrikboz

yes, the engine block also broke but didn't get a good picture.

now the car already running ~ 100KM with another rebuilt n20 engine with new piston, rods, oil pump, both timing chain, etc.

Still using the same map as before.

Tomorrow I will go to the indie shop that remapped my ECU and ask them lower the map into oct91 fuel and decrease the ignition timing. I don't want to spend another $12k for rebuilding n20 engine again.

Damn that sucks....makes me wish I got the n55 engine when I bought mine. Don't get me wrong I love my n20 and it's been super smooth so far (knock on wood) but I keep reading all these horror stories about the n20 engine. It makes me feel like I'm driving a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. Hope everything works out on your end.