My friend's 528i just developed this problem. It only has 103k miles. I always joke that it's a ticking time bomb, now I feel bad. Looked like it probably skipped timing. He said BMW extended the warranty to 100k miles because it's a common issue now that he has looked into it.
He also said it has had some oil pressure issues lately.
Do the tensioners go bad or does the chain stretch?
Which engine? What are the specific codes? How often has the oil been changed?
In reply to 02Pilot :
N20 engine. P052b on torque pro. 5/30 Castrol 4k miles.
A few days before this happened, it had an oil pressure warning, rpms increased to @5k at @60 mph on the fwy & it went into limp mode.
I found two relevant TSBs, which suggest the warranty was extended to 7/70:
Either way, it's likely major. Don't trust P-codes - you want the BMW-specific fault code, but in this case the front of the engine is coming apart anyway, so it's not really necessary. If he had oil pressure issues and kept driving it, it should be no surprise that it failed. He might try for some sort of goodwill participation in the repair from BMW NA, but unless the warranty really has been extended to 100k I doubt he'll get much.
02Pilot said:Don't trust P-codes - you want the BMW-specific fault code, but in this case the front of the engine is coming apart anyway, so it's not really necessary.
This thisity this. BMW are horrible for malicious compliance with OBD-II. Generic codes are practically worthless.
The other fun is, service information available to the public is written with the mindset that the reader has already been to BMW training school, so there is a lot left out because it is assumed the reader is aware of it.
If he had oil pressure issues and kept driving it, it should be no surprise that it failed. He might try for some sort of goodwill participation in the repair from BMW NA, but unless the warranty really has been extended to 100k I doubt he'll get much.
This meshes with the observed mentality of "Your car is over four years old, it is irresponsible to repair it when you could be driving a new, more efficient/clean car". This isn't an argument for or against, more like it seems that most German makes assume ending is better than mending.
Not sure where he saw the 100k. Those all say 7/70. It's at 103k so I'm sure BMW would say "harte scheibe, der auto e very old & kuput, buy new BMW auto you cheap American."
So BMW thinks they are doing a favor by extending the timing chain to 7/70? What is it normally? The broken TSX's timing chain & tensioner we bought made it to 231k. Even then was just the tensioner teeth. Bought a low mileage K24A for $749 & on the road. Actually also got a transmission for $249 then on the road.
I've said it before but I'm so thankful for the JDM motors.
Not sure what the original powertrain warranty was on those. BMW engines are generally pretty good about basic mechanical components; it's the external stuff that tends to fail, and the seals. That said, this isn't the first time their timing components have caused problems. Their modern stuff has become more and more problematic as they try to squeeze more out of it. Ridiculously long maintenance intervals have also caused their share of problems. If it were me and I wanted to keep the car, I'd find a used engine, install the updated timing set while it's on the stand and drop it in.
He's going to fix it correctly then sell it. He's going back to Lexus's.
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