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      04-06-2020, 08:30 PM   #67
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bimmer67 View Post
Thank you...

Agree.... I just replaced oil pan gasket on 2009 128i MT with 75K miles.
My e46 didn't have any seepage when it was 10 yo and about 70K on it.

And here I'm with 2014 53K miles...

Pics are not great since I wasn't planning to post them.
I have the exact same issues with my 2013 X3 xDrive 78K, oil pan leak, excess oil covering transfer case. Do you have any more info on these leaks? Also, my Start/Stop doesnt work most of the time for me. I am guessing somewhat it's related to the transfer case leak as car delays shifting from cold start to go.
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      04-25-2020, 10:11 PM   #68
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It's interesting BMW approves the use of "plastic" parts in their engines. They pay engineers to calculate the MTBF on every part. In this case, a 3rd party company that manufactured the chain tensioner is possible the blame for a weak chain tensioner. Weak chain tensioner allowed chain to oscillate causing vibrations in the chain, which resulted in the likelyhood slip on the gear teeth, faster wear, and additionally caused micro cracks in the plastic guide leading to total failure of timing chain assembly and worse destroyed engine.
There are owners of older BMWs with the M54 engine with over 180K miles and they have no timing chain issues.

Placing plastics parts in their engines, is like planning for failure? I would call that = "Extreme capitalism!" A longer lasting vehicle would mean less continued maintenance, and fewer sales on new vehicles. One of BMW sales tactics is to steer the consumer from the high cost of repair/s into a new vehicle.

Perhaps BMW documentation will show they approved a design change request in the chain tensioner from the 3rd party company. Perhaps different spring material was suggested, perhaps mass/size of spring coils, perhaps they didn't account for heat weakening the new spring degrading it's performance causing malfunction to the chain tensioner, directly affecting the timing chains function which can lead to total loss of engine.

There are many models affected by this issues, a recall would place a big dent in BMW profits.

Last edited by marktwain54321; 04-25-2020 at 10:53 PM..
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      05-08-2020, 09:55 PM   #69
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marktwain54321 View Post
<…> a recall would place a big dent in BMW profits.
I hope that is exactly what is going to happen... And maybe they'll learn something from it.
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      05-10-2020, 06:30 AM   #70
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Currently in the market for a CPO X3 and stumbled across this thread which has me a bit worried.

I have been looking at a 2017 X3 xDrive28i with 30k already on it. Would the same issues plaguing the 2013 N20s on this thread still be common on a 2017?

Last thing I want is to purchase a car only to break down and have to replace the engine in the not too distant future.
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      05-10-2020, 07:14 AM   #71
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bsaez4 View Post
Currently in the market for a CPO X3 and stumbled across this thread which has me a bit worried.

I have been looking at a 2017 X3 xDrive28i with 30k already on it. Would the same issues plaguing the 2013 N20s on this thread still be common on a 2017?

Last thing I want is to purchase a car only to break down and have to replace the engine in the not too distant future.
Cars manufactured after 1/15 have the updated timing components.
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Last edited by shoman24v; 05-11-2020 at 04:53 PM..
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      05-10-2020, 07:16 AM   #72
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The timing chain guide assembly was redesigned around 2015, you should be ok with later model car.
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      05-29-2020, 02:49 AM   #73
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What happened to the lawsuit with KGG law firm?
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      05-30-2020, 09:44 PM   #74
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dealpapa View Post
BMW N20 AND N26 ENGINE LAWSUIT BLAMES TIMING CHAINS
BMW owners file timing chain lawsuit alleging N20 and N26 engines fail prematurely.
By David A. Wood, CarComplaints.com Posted in News
BMW N20 and N26 Engine Lawsuit Blames Timing Chains
December 4, 2017 — A BMW N20 and N26 engine lawsuit alleges the timing chains cause total failure of the engines that can only be repaired by replacing the direct injection turbocharged engines that can cost up to $22,000.

The proposed BMW class-action lawsuit includes consumers who own or lease, or formally owned or leased 2012-2015 BMW E84 (X1), E89 (Z4), F10 (5 Series), F25 (X3) and F30 (3 Series) vehicles equipped with N20 and N26 engines.

According to the lawsuit, the vehicles are built with defective primary and secondary chain assemblies that cause acceleration problems and catastrophic engine failure.

All the named plaintiffs tell stories of problems with their BMW vehicles, with one saying he purchased a used 2013 BMW X3 28i from a New Jersey dealership for about $27,000. On October 12, 2017, when the vehicle had 83,000 miles, the plaintiff says he heard a knocking noise coming from the engine and then couldn't get the vehicle re-started.

The plaintiff says he saw marks on the loose timing chain, causing him to pay $7,000 to have a used engine put in the vehicle.

The plaintiffs describe the primary chain as the timing chain that is used to connect the camshafts and crankshaft, causing the valves in the engine’s combustion chambers to open and close. But when the primary chain assembly fails, the teeth on the chain sprocket skips and the camshafts and crankshaft aren't synchronized.

The lawsuit alleges the plastic guide for the timing chain is made with a defective polycarbonate composition that causes the guide to break apart and lodge in the crankshaft drive sprocket, causing the chain to damage the engine.

As for the secondary chain, the lawsuit says it connects the oil pump and balance shaft assemblies to the crankshaft, but due to allegedly defective materials, the chain elongates and damages the sprocket.

According to the plaintiffs, the owner's manuals don't contain requirements to inspect or maintain the primary and secondary chain assemblies even though the manuals include maintenance schedules for the vehicles up to 150,000 miles. The lawsuit alleges this indicates BMW didn't expect the timing chain problems or the engines that prematurely fail.

The automaker allegedly concealed the timing chain problems even though BMW allegedly knew about the defects in 2012, something that would have prevented the plaintiffs from buying the vehicles.

The BMW N20 and N26 engine lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey - Chris Williams, et al., v. BMW of North America, LLC, et al.
Anyone have an update of what's going on with the timing chain lawsuit for N20 engines??
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      06-15-2020, 03:00 PM   #75
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As I understand there is a settlement in the works which will possibly be agreed to on 7/13/2020. Stay tuned I guess. This started in 2018. Crazy how long they can drag it out.
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      06-19-2020, 09:24 AM   #76
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will be very interesting
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      06-30-2020, 09:36 PM   #77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marktwain54321 View Post
It's interesting BMW approves the use of "plastic" parts in their engines. They pay engineers to calculate the MTBF on every part. In this case, a 3rd party company that manufactured the chain tensioner is possible the blame for a weak chain tensioner. Weak chain tensioner allowed chain to oscillate causing vibrations in the chain, which resulted in the likelyhood slip on the gear teeth, faster wear, and additionally caused micro cracks in the plastic guide leading to total failure of timing chain assembly and worse destroyed engine.
There are owners of older BMWs with the M54 engine with over 180K miles and they have no timing chain issues.

Placing plastics parts in their engines, is like planning for failure? I would call that = "Extreme capitalism!" A longer lasting vehicle would mean less continued maintenance, and fewer sales on new vehicles. One of BMW sales tactics is to steer the consumer from the high cost of repair/s into a new vehicle.

Perhaps BMW documentation will show they approved a design change request in the chain tensioner from the 3rd party company. Perhaps different spring material was suggested, perhaps mass/size of spring coils, perhaps they didn't account for heat weakening the new spring degrading it's performance causing malfunction to the chain tensioner, directly affecting the timing chains function which can lead to total loss of engine.

There are many models affected by this issues, a recall would place a big dent in BMW profits.
German manufacturers have been using plastics in engine parts for well, forever now. If you can identify the poor quality plastic parts and replace them immediately your car should last twice as long. In this case, there is no metal timing chain guide available but you can have one custom machined for a big price. It's probably worth it. They replaced the plastic timing chain guide with a new plastic timing chain guide of a different color. HA!
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      06-30-2020, 10:02 PM   #78
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RadRacerX View Post
German manufacturers have been using plastics in engine parts for well, forever now. If you can identify the poor quality plastic parts and replace them immediately your car should last twice as long. In this case, there is no metal timing chain guide available but you can have one custom machined for a big price. It's probably worth it. They replaced the plastic timing chain guide with a new plastic timing chain guide of a different color. HA!
There are plastics that are much better for this particular application then metal Think a metal chain sliding across a low friction(slippery), wear resistant plastic. If the guides were made from metal, as it wore, you be depositing metal dust into the oiling system and all through the engine, which is a bad thing
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      07-07-2020, 11:53 AM   #79
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aL_bmwf30 View Post
Anyone have an update of what's going on with the timing chain lawsuit for N20 engines??
A letter was filed on 7/6/2020 in NJ Federal Court asking for a two-week extension of time for the hearing on the Settlement in this case. The new date (which may change) is 7/27/2020.
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      07-08-2020, 12:55 PM   #80
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Full docket text for document 69:
TEXT ORDER: At the parties request, the July 13, 2020 hearing to approve the settlement is adjourned to 8/3/20 at 1:30pm.. So Ordered by Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor on 7/8/20. (tjg, )
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      07-08-2020, 08:25 PM   #81
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sjbender View Post
Full docket text for document 69:
TEXT ORDER: At the parties request, the July 13, 2020 hearing to approve the settlement is adjourned to 8/3/20 at 1:30pm.. So Ordered by Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor on 7/8/20. (tjg, )
We'll see what kind of settlement this turns out to be. Obvious that BMW did NOT want it going to trial so lets see what it looks like in a month I guess.
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      07-08-2020, 11:36 PM   #82
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Eagerly awaiting the results- my engine just blew but I have an F25 X3, 73k miles
I'm about to buy an engine and replace it myself, i'm wondering what my chances are of getting reimbursed if I document everything- can anyone chime in as to DIY reimbursements?
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      07-09-2020, 07:22 AM   #83
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Volkom View Post
Eagerly awaiting the results- my engine just blew but I have an F25 X3, 73k miles
I'm about to buy an engine and replace it myself, i'm wondering what my chances are of getting reimbursed if I document everything- can anyone chime in as to DIY reimbursements?
The usual language used by BMW when a warranty is extended for a part or system is that if it's repaired at a BMW Center, it's fully covered, but if repaired elsewhere, labor involved is not covered.
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      07-11-2020, 11:48 AM   #84
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I have a piece of bad news as well

Looks like my 2013 (118k) X3's N20 engine just blew and my friend's shop just confirmed it has a missing/broken timing chain guide ... my wife was driving it and it stalled with low oil pressure warning and stopped in the middle of the highway... don't know the overall damage but it doesn't look good since I'm still trying to pay it off.

The car is now sitting in my friend's shop and I need some advice about what to do with it?

- Looks like the settlement is scheduled on 8/3 per sjbender and wondering if this is going to be THE date we will know the verdict? Not sure how this works at class actions.

- Should I bring the car to BMW service to confirm/document the reason for engine damage caused by a broken time chain guide? I took some photos at my friend's shop and it's clearly visible (shared) and wondering if it'll be enough if I wait until the settlement date? Just trying to cover all my basis in case the verdict is on our favor.

- Should I replace/fix the engine or wait until what comes out of the lawsuit?

- Anything else you guys can suggest me to do? Should I reach out to BMW USA?

Thanks in advance for any advice!
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      07-11-2020, 07:40 PM   #85
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You're past the 7 year warranty extension for the timing chain guide issue and you're way past the 70k miles extension. BMW NA will likely tell you to pound sand, but it's worth a shot, you might get a sympathetic caseworker who offers you something.

If you're lucky, you didn't run it without oil pressure too long and might be able to get away with just replacing the chain guides and oil pump. If you continued to run the engine with the oil pressure warning you're probably going to have to replace the engine. Document everything well and keep track of the class action process.
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      07-18-2020, 11:56 AM   #86
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Volkom View Post
Eagerly awaiting the results- my engine just blew but I have an F25 X3, 73k miles
I'm about to buy an engine and replace it myself, i'm wondering what my chances are of getting reimbursed if I document everything- can anyone chime in as to DIY reimbursements?
Unlucky me I have had 2 major issues w/N20. First: timing chain guide/oil pump (luckily caught issue prior to failure)...at ~72k. Second: Crankshaft bearing failure at ~90k last year. This failure on local road with engine shutdown. Fortunately I was driving, not my wife. My wife has lost faith in this vehicle...and in our minds the tarnish on the brand (for being both safe and reliable) is substantial.
Lucky me: In both situations, BMW NA supported repairs, financially, working w/local dealer.
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      07-22-2020, 10:37 AM   #87
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Here is the latest docket entry in the US District Court of NJ regarding the small claims case involving the N20 and N26 engines:

"TEXT ORDER: At the parties request, the July 13, 2020 hearing to approve the settlement is adjourned to 8/3/20 at 1:30pm.. So Ordered by Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor on 7/8/20. (tjg, ) (Entered: 07/08/2020)"
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      08-01-2020, 11:24 AM   #88
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In the N20/N26 Timing Chain Class Action, the settlement date has now been extended to September 2, 2020 by order of the court. Here's the text of the order:


"TEXT ORDER: At the parties request, the hearing scheduled for August 3, 2020 is adjourned to 9/2/20 at 11:30am. So Ordered by Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor on 7/31/20. (tjg, )"
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