N20 Timing chain query

[Ozman]

Hi to All fellow BMW fanatics
As a new member to the forum, I am unfamiliar with the various topics covered to date but I do need advice please.
I have owned a used 328i sedan (F30, 2012MY) for two years now - its my pride and joy!!! I did a lot of research before buying the car as it's my first BMW and I absolutely love it.
The car is now just over 90,000kms (I got it with 87,000kms on the clock) and although I have had no mechanical problems, I am worried about the timing chain and guide which may or may not be a ticking time bomb on these N20 engines.
BMW SA says its not a service item so they can't recommend a replacement interval or period on this item - is it worth it to replace these parts as preventative maintenance or not?

 

[Kyle]

Hi there,

Firstly welcome to the forum. To address your question, there has been failures reported as early as 60k kms on these timing chains so the earlier the better, unfortunately there seems to be no guarantee on how long these usually last.

I would definitely advise getting it done ASAP in your case, as well as maintaining regular oil changes in 10k kms or 1 year intervals (forget about what the on board computer says).

Where are you based?

 

[Ozman]

Hi Kyle
Thanks for the feedback. I am based in Pretoria. The car is not a daily driver, more of a weekend warrior. Since I got the car,I have had the oil changed every 6 months which equates to about 1000km intervals. I also have the engine flushed at the same time to minimize any carbon build-up, another supposed problem with these engines... can u recommend someone to do the work on the timing chain please?

 

[Kyle]

These guys seem good..

https://www.tunetech.co.za/services/

 

[individj]

Hi Kyle
Thanks for the feedback. I am based in Pretoria. The car is not a daily driver, more of a weekend warrior. Since I got the car,I have had the oil changed every 6 months which equates to about 1000km intervals. I also have the engine flushed at the same time to minimize any carbon build-up, another supposed problem with these engines... can u recommend someone to do the work on the timing chain please?

how do you have the engine flushed?

 

[Ozman]

My Mechanic uses the following product to flush the engine as part of the oil change: https://shop.liqui-moly.co.za/engine-flush-435381.html?cat=39608

 

[Rotinaj]

My Mechanic uses the following product to flush the engine as part of the oil change: https://shop.liqui-moly.co.za/engine-flush-435381.html?cat=39608

That is honestly wasteful.  At such short oil change intervals there should be no need for it, for a car that does 25k oil change intervals sure not 10k. The Pajero's 340 000km engine is still clean bare mental with no varnish buildup at all due to 10k oil changes.

And the Carbon that kills these engines is where the oil does not flow, it's valves gumming up its a completely different product and process to remove that.

 

[SubLoaded]

What research did you do that lead you to still buy the N20? :biglol:

 

[Ozman]

Hi Subloaded
What research? How about this: https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/f30-328i-n20-twinpower-once-again-engine-of-the-year.700950/
Plus, most of the issues I found on the web were in the US market, there was very little that I could find locally...

---

My Mechanic uses the following product to flush the engine as part of the oil change: https://shop.liqui-moly.co.za/engine-flush-435381.html?cat=39608

That is honestly wasteful.  At such short oil change intervals there should be no need for it, for a car that does 25k oil change intervals sure not 10k. The Pajero's 340 000km engine is still clean bare mental with no varnish buildup at all due to 10k oil changes.

And the Carbon that kills these engines is where the oil does not flow, it's valves gumming up its a completely different product and process to remove that.

Hi Rotinaj - thanks for your feeback... What product/process helps to clean the valves?

 

[Dragon_ZA]

There has been a few posts regarding the timing chains on the N20 engines, but no estimated costs. Does anyone have any idea what we looking at?

 

[SubLoaded]

Hi Subloaded
What research? How about this: https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/f30-328i-n20-twinpower-once-again-engine-of-the-year.700950/
Plus, most of the issues I found on the web were in the US market, there was very little that I could find locally...

---

My Mechanic uses the following product to flush the engine as part of the oil change: https://shop.liqui-moly.co.za/engine-flush-435381.html?cat=39608

That is honestly wasteful.  At such short oil change intervals there should be no need for it, for a car that does 25k oil change intervals sure not 10k. The Pajero's 340 000km engine is still clean bare mental with no varnish buildup at all due to 10k oil changes.

And the Carbon that kills these engines is where the oil does not flow, it's valves gumming up its a completely different product and process to remove that.

Hi Rotinaj - thanks for your feeback... What product/process helps to clean the valves?

---

Research like this leads to threads like this https://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=94704 :biglol:

To answer your question, yes do the timing chain and guides. There's a few other common failure items, documented on the forum, that you will eventually get to however this is a critical maintenance item.

I think all N20s produced prior to 2015 were plagued with this issue. Stand to be corrected.

 

[Rotinaj]

Hi Subloaded
What research? How about this: https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/f30-328i-n20-twinpower-once-again-engine-of-the-year.700950/
Plus, most of the issues I found on the web were in the US market, there was very little that I could find locally...

---

My Mechanic uses the following product to flush the engine as part of the oil change: https://shop.liqui-moly.co.za/engine-flush-435381.html?cat=39608

That is honestly wasteful.  At such short oil change intervals there should be no need for it, for a car that does 25k oil change intervals sure not 10k. The Pajero's 340 000km engine is still clean bare mental with no varnish buildup at all due to 10k oil changes.

And the Carbon that kills these engines is where the oil does not flow, it's valves gumming up its a completely different product and process to remove that.

Hi Rotinaj - thanks for your feeback... What product/process helps to clean the valves?

---

https://www.motor1.com/news/452529/inside-lexus-is-f-engine/ 13:40 onwards.. that is what not using Castrol and not doing 25k oil change intervals does to a car's engine. Looks nice.

Valve gum buildup. 
- Carbon Doctor is probably the best bet.

 

[Ozman]

There has been a few posts regarding the timing chains on the N20 engines, but no estimated costs. Does anyone have any idea what we looking at?

The estimate I got from my mechanic was about R8k, (quoted about 6 months ago) including parts. Labour is the biggest expense as its quite a job to do, supposedly.
The stealership will charge you double that...

 

[kcmwinga]

There has been a few posts regarding the timing chains on the N20 engines, but no estimated costs. Does anyone have any idea what we looking at?

Got a quote from Tunetech for R27k odd incl VAT. They do oil pump as well. 

ABM quoted around R18k but no work on oil pump.

---

There has been a few posts regarding the timing chains on the N20 engines, but no estimated costs. Does anyone have any idea what we looking at?

Got a quote from Tunetech for R27k odd incl VAT. They do oil pump as well. 

ABM quoted around R18k but no work on oil pump.

 

[MiteshN]

I own an N20 320i and under extended warranty had the timing chain changed at around 90000km. Mine was due to a clinking noise. BMW will try not to do it under warranty as the cost is high. As advised by my BMW mechanic, the timing chain will last if properly cared for with more regular oil changes as opposed to the interval on the computer. I do my oil change every 10000km.


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