[Jojomosgo]

I have and 2013 F25 N20 and had my timing chain guide fail this week at approximately 60K miles. BMW have kindly stepped up and are fixing everything under the extended warranty. Thank you BMW NA. They did not question anything, just advised me they would not be charging me anything to replace the timing chain, guide and oil pump. I have a friend with a 2016 F25 N20, they are wondering if they are in the same boat or is there vehicle after the design change. Any idea?

And thanks for all the good info on this thread! It at least let me go into the dealer knowing what I was talking about.

[Bruce24]

Originally Posted by Jojomosgo

I have a friend with a 2016 F25 N20, they are wondering if they are in the same boat or is there vehicle after the design change. Any idea?

BMW redesigned the timing chain guide for the N20 engine in early 2015, so your Friends 2016 should not have the issue.

[Bimar]

Originally Posted by Bruce24

BMW redesigned the timing chain guide for the N20 engine in early 2015, so your Friends 2016 should not have the issue.

Wasn’t the redesign in 2014?

[Bilbofraggins]

Ours is a 15 built 8/14... ours has the affected parts.

[Wgosma]

Originally Posted by Bilbofraggins

Ours is a 15 built 8/14... ours has the affected parts.

How does one determine if their car has the "affected parts"? (I presume the parts must be the plastic chain guide assembly or ???)
Thanks/Bill

[Bilbofraggins]

Originally Posted by Wgosma

How does one determine if their car has the "affected parts"? (I presume the parts must be the plastic chain guide assembly or ???)
Thanks/Bill

Bill....I contacted my service advisor (SA) at the dealership...with whom I have a v-good relationship about this issue.

This was his reply "That vehicle seems to be affected they have added extended warranty until oct 27th 2021 or 112000kms"

My CPO warranty runs out Oct 27th 2020.

When I go there next, I will get something printed out. I have yet to call BMW Canada or for that matter, look at "My BMW" online.

I have no reason to not believe my SA.

[Wgosma]

Thanks-keep us posted after you get more details. It appears from the SA statement and his use of the term "seems to be affected" that he may have simply looked up warranty status of your car in their system and found the warranty has been 'extended', so possible he is presuming it's related to defective (older) plastic chain guide design?- makes sense it is but confirmation on that fact would be of interest/useful.

The guides I believe were redesigned after issues began to arise- the SA I would think should be able to find out at what car production/build date the factory motors fitted with the redesigned parts began to flow off production line. There may also be a part number change to the guide assembly when the redesign was done by the engineers.
Bill

[Bruce24]

Originally Posted by Wgosma

How does one determine if their car has the "affected parts"?
Thanks/Bill

One way you can do quickly is verify if your X3 is eligible for the extended warranty using this web site:

http://bmw-rp.com/production/bmw/rei...bmw_portal.nsf

on the right side of the page you enter the last 7 digits of your VIN and then on the next page you will see a pull down with what is available for your car.

You are looking for "BMW N20 AND N26 Engine Timing Chain and Oil Pump Drive"

I have a MY'13 2.8 which has 4 extended warranties:
- BMW ELW N20/N26 Turbo Oil Feed Lines
- BMW N20 Pressure Switch - Leak Diagnosis Module (NVLD)
- BMW N20 Engine Coolant Thermostat
- BMW N20 AND N26 Engine Timing Chain and Oil Pump Drive

[Wgosma]

[QUOTE=Bruce24;24446981]One way you can do quickly is verify if your X3 is eligible for the extended warranty using this web site:

http://bmw-rp.com/production/bmw/rei...bmw_portal.nsf

Thanks, but that link won't open for me; can you double-check the URL?
Bill

[Bruce24]

Originally Posted by Wgosma

can you double-check the URL?
Bill

sorry, I cut/pasted from another post and didn't realize the forum doesn't always show the full text of URLs. This one should work. I also updated my original post.

http://bmw-rp.com/production/bmw/rei...bmw_portal.nsf

[Wgosma]

Thanks, that works!
Take care/Bill

[Bilbofraggins]

[QUOTE=Wgosma;24447032]

Originally Posted by Bruce24

One way you can do quickly is verify if your X3 is eligible for the extended warranty using this web site:

http://bmw-rp.com/production/bmw/rei...bmw_portal.nsf

Thanks, but that link won't open for me; can you double-check the URL?
Bill

Does nothing for my vehicle either flogged by BMW Kanader...

[Bruce24]

Originally Posted by Bilbofraggins

Does nothing for my vehicle either flogged by BMW Kanader...

Sorry, it only works for vehicles purchased in the U.S.; not sure if there is a version for Canada.

[Bilbofraggins]

Originally Posted by Bruce24

Sorry, it only works for vehicles purchased in the U.S.; not sure if there is a version for Canada.

Good try...thanks.

[ubviswanath]

I called NHTSA today and so far they only have a couple of complaints pertaining to the timing-chain problem. There are 68 other complaints related to power-braking and an investigation is launched for only that.

This timing-chain is a universal problem and I seriously insist that a complaint be filed so an investigation can begin.

Can you take a moment and go to www.nhtsa.gov and write up a complaint of when your issue occurred and what you have done about it.

It takes less than 5 minutes and is very very straight forward - enter VIN number (it is available online on your insurance declaration page), select "Engine & Powertrain" as the affected components and type in the incident.

[Billfitz]

Reviving this zombie thread, all evidence indicates that the guides aren't the problem, nor is the chain, as they're the same guides and chain used in the N55 without an unusual failure rate. What's different in the N20 is the tensioner, which BMW replaced in 08/2016. That's after they replaced the chain, and IMO they wouldn't have done so unless they came to the same conclusion as myself and others have. Guys who've made the swap have found the new tensioner is very different from the old. I recommend you follow DBU's advice back in Post #21 and replace the tensioner.

[Marsplay]

mine has 117600 miles and still going strong. Except for some minor electrical issues

[Fodaski55]

For those of us with the affected n20 tensioners,once the decision is made to keep the vehicle,Munich Motorsports in East Windsor,Ct.replaces these on a weekly basis.On average,they were 40% less than the New England BMW dealership quotes including Tulley in southern NH. A planned expense rather than a catastrophic one was all worth it .Great Web site also

[mike_MAN]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

Reviving this zombie thread, all evidence indicates that the guides aren't the problem, nor is the chain, as they're the same guides and chain used in the N55 without an unusual failure rate. What's different in the N20 is the tensioner, which BMW replaced in 08/2016. That's after they replaced the chain, and IMO they wouldn't have done so unless they came to the same conclusion as myself and others have. Guys who've made the swap have found the new tensioner is very different from the old. I recommend you follow DBU's advice back in Post #21 and replace the tensioner.

Thanks for sharing your findings on this topic.
I have a low mileage X3 that's within the warranty period.
Whenever I go to the dealer for an oil change, I always ask for them to check on the TC and they'll always tell me the same thing, which is that they'll have to open up the engine to check it, so unless I want to pay them to do that, they can't check it otherwise.
A part that's under $100 and relatively easy replacement is a small gamble compared to getting the chain, guides, and tensioner replaced.
I wonder how far they'll go after replacing the tensioner. A true test of time...

[Fodaski55]

If I was in your situation with a low mileage 2015 X3 28i ,then I would check out the results of the Lawsuit coverage,based on model year and time in service.you might be surprised how much is covered.The longer you wait the less is covered.If you google n20 timing Chain law suit there is some information

[mike_MAN]

Originally Posted by Fodaski55

If I was in your situation with a low mileage 2015 X3 28i ,then I would check out the results of the Lawsuit coverage,based on model year and time in service.you might be surprised how much is covered.The longer you wait the less is covered.If you google n20 timing Chain law suit there is some information

I've been following the case and it only helps out if there is engine failure, but nothing preventative. So it doesn't benefit folks like me who have low mileage and don't drive it very much. It also extended the warranty out an extra year.

[Fodaski55]

Incorrect,the court settlement this past spring requires BMW to share or in some cases,pay for the tensioner replacement,BEFORE, engine failure as discussed on multiple threads on this forum.If you don’t plan on keeping it,this is a non issue.Good Luck see attached settlement. There phone number is 866-411-6985 or www.timingchainmodulesettlement.com this settlement has a reimbursement part as well as sliding scale for people who have there vehicles in service and coverage based on age/ mileage before damage happens .