Bought a cheap 2013 X3... you guessed it...

acarpenter86 · 02-15-2023, 09:40 PM

I bought a 2013 X3 with the N20 that of course has timing chain issues at 109k miles. The chain has not snapped nor jumped timing (doesn't run like it did anyway), however, it does have camshaft correlation codes. Is it a roll of the dice to start it to get it on a trailer? The person I bought it from had it at a German garage and the mechanic started it before I could say NEIN! hold your horsies... to my surprise, it didn't actually sound like anything was wrong with it. Minus the CEL and codes of course.

Obviously, I should minimize starting it (preferably not at all) before replacing the chain and guides, but am I risking the engine if I want to drive it onto a trailer? I suspect the shop drove it into the bay from outside and back, which leads me to believe they don't think it's going to just randomly break with a two minute drive cycle. Or they just don't give a crap. They seem like good folks though, so I hate to think that about them.

Just trying to make a game plan for picking this thing up tomorrow. Thanks!

Opie55 · 02-16-2023, 08:14 AM

It's snowing here in Denver so you can just slide it onto the trailer! Did somebody drive it to the shop or was it towed there? Is there a risk, sure, but probably small from just one start of it's not already bad. You can always have it towed onto a trailer. But if its' your own trailer, I'd probably risk it.

acarpenter86 · 02-16-2023, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Opie55

It's snowing here in Denver so you can just slide it onto the trailer! Did somebody drive it to the shop or was it towed there? Is there a risk, sure, but probably small from just one start of it's not already bad. You can always have it towed onto a trailer. But if its' your own trailer, I'd probably risk it.

It's not my trailer, but at $55, it's still decently cheaper than calling the flatbed (and since they would start it anyway to move it back out). I spoke to the guy at the shop again this morning, and he said if it were him he would probably just get a touch of momentum heading onto the trailer and it should be fine. Presumably to not have to rev the engine very high, which makes sense. I guess I will give it a shot. Hope it doesn't blow up now because that would really make for a bad day. Haha. I asked them if we can just start it the one time to move it out and onto the trailer, to hopefully be a bit safer. It feels a bit like a time bomb.

jd_perspective · 02-16-2023, 09:37 AM

can you find a winch and just put it in neutral?

acarpenter86 · 02-16-2023, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jd_perspective

can you find a winch and just put it in neutral?

I will see what I can find. The trick will be getting the winch setup with the trailer I am renting. Luckily it is very low to the ground and should not take much to get it up on there. Maybe I can even use the driveway to my advantage. I have done that before and rolled a 525xi down a slight hill onto a trailer. LOL.

383vett · 02-17-2023, 02:35 PM

If you can find neutral, 3 guys can easily roll it on the trailer. I have a winch on the trailer for my race car but have rolled the car up the trailer before with manpower.

acarpenter86 · 02-18-2023, 04:43 PM

Thanks all for the pointers. I ended up driving the thing onto the trailer (gently, barely any throttle just rolling momentum) and then barely started it only to get it into neutral (c'mon BMW, really) when I rolled it of the trailer.

I'm pretty confident by the codes that I pulled that I should just go ahead and order the timing chain tools and parts.

I have 'intake camshaft offset angle to crankshaft outside tolerance', 'combustion misfires, several cylinders', and the most concerning, 'engine oil pump, pressure too low'. Hopefully that last one didn't cause more damage than I bargained for. I guess we shall see once I tear into the oil filter, pan, valve cover, etc. I'm also wondering if maybe the oil pump chain snapped or perhaps the cog is jacked up. Hopefully it is still salvageable. Still turns over and runs (if you're bold enough to start it, I cringe every time)

Does anyone have a trick for getting the stupid thing into neutral besides the 5mm Allen below the car? I also read that you can pull the fuel pump fuse and crank for a second and put it into neutral, but like I said I kinda cringe every time I push that 'Start' button.

Wish me luck!

02-15-2023, 09:40 PM	#1
acarpenter86 Private 8 Rep 62 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi e92, 2011 335xi e90 Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Denver iTrader: (0)	Bought a cheap 2013 X3... you guessed it... I bought a 2013 X3 with the N20 that of course has timing chain issues at 109k miles. The chain has not snapped nor jumped timing (doesn't run like it did anyway), however, it does have camshaft correlation codes. Is it a roll of the dice to start it to get it on a trailer? The person I bought it from had it at a German garage and the mechanic started it before I could say NEIN! hold your horsies... to my surprise, it didn't actually sound like anything was wrong with it. Minus the CEL and codes of course. Obviously, I should minimize starting it (preferably not at all) before replacing the chain and guides, but am I risking the engine if I want to drive it onto a trailer? I suspect the shop drove it into the bay from outside and back, which leads me to believe they don't think it's going to just randomly break with a two minute drive cycle. Or they just don't give a crap. They seem like good folks though, so I hate to think that about them. Just trying to make a game plan for picking this thing up tomorrow. Thanks!
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02-16-2023, 08:14 AM	#2
Opie55 Colonel 1195 Rep 2,908 Posts Drives: '15 650i Convertible Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: US iTrader: (0)	It's snowing here in Denver so you can just slide it onto the trailer! Did somebody drive it to the shop or was it towed there? Is there a risk, sure, but probably small from just one start of it's not already bad. You can always have it towed onto a trailer. But if its' your own trailer, I'd probably risk it.
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02-16-2023, 09:37 AM	#4
jd_perspective Captain 344 Rep 906 Posts Drives: 2016 X3 35i M-Sport Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (0)	can you find a winch and just put it in neutral? __________________ 2016 X3 35i M-Sport 2019 440i Coupe M-Sport - Retired 2018 330i Sedan M-Sport - Retired 2015 428i Gran Coupe M-Sport - Retired
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02-17-2023, 02:35 PM	#6
383vett Major 626 Rep 1,044 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 M40i, 2012 X3 Xdrive35 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Moraga, California iTrader: (0)	If you can find neutral, 3 guys can easily roll it on the trailer. I have a winch on the trailer for my race car but have rolled the car up the trailer before with manpower. __________________ 2016 Z06 Vette, 10.53@132 1984 Vette, 406, 10.23@131 2021 SQ5
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02-18-2023, 04:43 PM	#7
acarpenter86 Private 8 Rep 62 Posts Drives: 2008 335xi e92, 2011 335xi e90 Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Denver iTrader: (0)	Thanks all for the pointers. I ended up driving the thing onto the trailer (gently, barely any throttle just rolling momentum) and then barely started it only to get it into neutral (c'mon BMW, really) when I rolled it of the trailer. I'm pretty confident by the codes that I pulled that I should just go ahead and order the timing chain tools and parts. I have 'intake camshaft offset angle to crankshaft outside tolerance', 'combustion misfires, several cylinders', and the most concerning, 'engine oil pump, pressure too low'. Hopefully that last one didn't cause more damage than I bargained for. I guess we shall see once I tear into the oil filter, pan, valve cover, etc. I'm also wondering if maybe the oil pump chain snapped or perhaps the cog is jacked up. Hopefully it is still salvageable. Still turns over and runs (if you're bold enough to start it, I cringe every time) Does anyone have a trick for getting the stupid thing into neutral besides the 5mm Allen below the car? I also read that you can pull the fuel pump fuse and crank for a second and put it into neutral, but like I said I kinda cringe every time I push that 'Start' button. Wish me luck!
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