BMW Timing Chain Issues
BMW Timing Chain Issues
Author
Discussion

RobMarshall

Original Poster:

11 posts

83 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019
quotequote all
Hi all
I how many of you have had a problem with their BMW.
I bought a 318i and after 1 year at just over 3 years old it developed a timing issue.
Turns out it's the timing chain guide had broken.
BMW will not even look at it unless I pay.
I've learnt that it's a common fault and a while ago they offered to fix them but not this time.

Anybody else had this experience?

rob

Elliot2000

786 posts

206 months

Wednesday 13th November 2019
quotequote all
It’s quite normal to charge an investigation fee before submitting any goodwill claims- it covers the mechanics time just in case bmw don’t contribute to repairs.

If it’s only just out of warranty I would be very surprised if they don’t pay for all or most of the repair as long as it’s been kept serviced

DailyHack

4,475 posts

141 months

Wednesday 13th November 2019
quotequote all
It is a common fault on cars not serviced enough imo...ie. long service intervals (20k+ miles between oil chages) Do not care what others say its is mainly down to this, or this exacerbating the problem, same with the diesels aswell.

This is not good for a timing chains or its tensioners, unlucky OP you have bought a car that this has happened, how many miles, and how many services has it had up to now? If its just out of warranty you usually pay a little then goodwill comes into play - many people double up oil changes when they know.

Edited by DailyHack on Wednesday 13th November 13:15

RobMarshall

Original Poster:

11 posts

83 months

Wednesday 13th November 2019
quotequote all
Full service history. Last one at 55000 miles. Bought it a year before.
The fault occurred at exactly 60,000 miles.
Independent report states the guide broke. It’s incredible that a car with such a reputation can develop such a fault so early. It cost £1900 to fix. Luckily no extra damage.

RobMarshall

Original Poster:

11 posts

83 months

Wednesday 13th November 2019
quotequote all
Full service history. Last one at 55000 miles. Bought it a year before.
The fault occurred at exactly 60,000 miles.
Independent report states the guide broke. It’s incredible that a car with such a reputation can develop such a fault so early. It cost £1900 to fix. Luckily no extra damage.

RUSSELLM

6,003 posts

277 months

Wednesday 13th November 2019
quotequote all
RobMarshall said:
It cost £1900 to fix.
When did you have it repaired ?

Touring442

3,096 posts

239 months

Wednesday 13th November 2019
quotequote all
It's a very common problem, seen it at as little 30'000 miles. That's just one of many maladies the N43 engine suffers from.

dasbimmerowner

366 posts

171 months

Wednesday 13th November 2019
quotequote all
Touring442 said:
It's a very common problem, seen it at as little 30'000 miles. That's just one of many maladies the N43 engine suffers from.
Wouldn't it be a B38 (3cyl) jobbie at that age?

aquarianone

502 posts

207 months

Wednesday 13th November 2019
quotequote all
2k seems a bit lumpy for just a timing chain, is that from BMW..?

I'm sure a local specialist would have done that for a lot less than 1K...(not sure what other work you had done)


Touring442

3,096 posts

239 months

Wednesday 13th November 2019
quotequote all
dasbimmerowner said:
Wouldn't it be a B38 (3cyl) jobbie at that age?
Whoops, indeed it is.

Rubbish petrol engines seem part of BMW's heritage now. The previous N20 is maturing nicely into another timing chain disaster area as well.

Opel-GT

590 posts

208 months

Wednesday 13th November 2019
quotequote all
Mine went at 31000 miles with full dealer service.

RobMarshall

Original Poster:

11 posts

83 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
quotequote all
RUSSELLM said:
When did you have it repaired ?
13.25 hours labour, 3 chains and the guide

I think BMW would have charged £3,000

The chains are at the back of the engine. The engine has to come apart to get to them.

RobMarshall

Original Poster:

11 posts

83 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
quotequote all
Touring442 said:
Whoops, indeed it is.

Rubbish petrol engines seem part of BMW's heritage now. The previous N20 is maturing nicely into another timing chain disaster area as well.
Ha, just my luck, I get a dodgy engine. I'm stunned BMW will do nothing to help.

RobMarshall

Original Poster:

11 posts

83 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
quotequote all
Opel-GT said:
Mine went at 31000 miles with full dealer service.
Did BMW offer to help?

RobMarshall

Original Poster:

11 posts

83 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
quotequote all
Elliot2000 said:
It’s quite normal to charge an investigation fee before submitting any goodwill claims- it covers the mechanics time just in case bmw don’t contribute to repairs.

If it’s only just out of warranty I would be very surprised if they don’t pay for all or most of the repair as long as it’s been kept serviced
Just got another email from BMW, they have refused to help at all. They site the fact I have a warranty with another party. The RAC warranty are reneging on their contract as they say it's were and tear.

I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.


4rephill

5,171 posts

208 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
quotequote all
RobMarshall said:
Touring442 said:
Whoops, indeed it is.

Rubbish petrol engines seem part of BMW's heritage now. The previous N20 is maturing nicely into another timing chain disaster area as well.
Ha, just my luck, I get a dodgy engine. I'm stunned BMW will do nothing to help.
It sounds as though you didn't have the work carried out by BMW:

RobMarshall said:
13.25 hours labour, 3 chains and the guide

I think BMW would have charged £3,000

The chains are at the back of the engine. The engine has to come apart to get to them.
BMW are NEVER going to make any contribution to a repair bill from a non-franchised garage/dealership (And it's not just BMW - No manufacturer will).

If the car is out of warranty, but has always been serviced by BMW main dealers, exactly on schedule, then chances are, BMW will offer a goodwill payment (chances are it won't cover the full cost of the repairs, but it should cover a good portion of the costs ).

If the car is out of warranty, and hasn't been serviced by BMW main dealers, they aren't going to offer any goodwill payment, because they will have no record of any work carried out on the car, that may have had an affect on the reported fault.


_Hoppers

1,722 posts

95 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
quotequote all
RobMarshall said:
The RAC warranty are reneging on their contract as they say it's were and tear.
Wear and tear!!!.......Cam chains are supposed to last the life of the engine, not just 60k


Edited by _Hoppers on Thursday 14th November 15:03

RobMarshall

Original Poster:

11 posts

83 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
quotequote all
_Hoppers said:
Wear and tear!!!.......Cam chains are supposed to last the life of the engine, not just 60k


Edited by _Hoppers on Thursday 14th November 15:03
I know! I'm fighting them, they're crooks.

rowley birkin

513 posts

130 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
quotequote all
RobMarshall said:
I know! I'm fighting them, they're crooks.
It isn't actually an RAC warranty, it is another (cowboy) warranty company who are allowed to use the RAC name.

Opel-GT

590 posts

208 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
quotequote all
RobMarshall said:
Opel-GT said:
Mine went at 31000 miles with full dealer service.
Did BMW offer to help?
Goodwill, engine replaced for new one only charged labour, still ended up costing me a couple of grand.

Car came back in a lot worse condition than it went in though. (Barring the new engine). But that’s a different complaint.


Edited by Opel-GT on Thursday 14th November 16:16