N20 Timing Chain Poll

[z4lincs]

As an owner of a non-updated N20 Z4 and weighing up the option of getting the newer part fitted, and with everyone having a different experience with them, I thought it might be useful to compile a tally and which of us have actually replaced, who hasn't, and who have had problems!

[DonDon]

It was done before I bought the car. I wasn't prepared to risk buying one that hadn't had it done already.

I don't know if it was precautionary or as a result of problems.

[True-Blue]

There are quite a few E89’s for sale with lunched N20 engines currently (not on the forum), the only E89 with a dead N52 I’ve ever seen advertised was a 30i that had been in a flood and suffered hydro-lock.

One of the failed N20’s is only on circa 40k miles.

Unless I was buying a very low mileage, annually serviced, car I’d be budgeting to have the revised parts fitted sooner rather than later.

The only problem I see with your poll is that a relatively small proportion of worldwide E89 owners are active forum members.

[B21]

I think most of those N20 bad experience folks were never on the forum and/or left after they off loaded the car…aware of 3 peeps who off loaded their cars knowing that the system was on its way out..

[Nizzy]

Got my 64 plate done at 65k to be on the safe side as I don’t want to change car anytime soon.

[Silverstar]

There are quite a few E89’s for sale with lunched N20 engines currently (not on the forum), the only E89 with a dead N52 I’ve ever seen advertised was a 30i that had been in a flood and suffered hydro-lock.

One of the failed N20’s is only on circa 40k miles.

Unless I was buying a very low mileage, annually serviced, car I’d be budgeting to have the revised parts fitted sooner rather than later.

The only problem I see with your poll is that a relatively small proportion of worldwide E89 owners are active forum members.

Not to mention the thousands of N20s fitted to other BMW models. If I recall correctly BMW USA had a class action or recall for this engine. BMW traditionally never has had much luck with their 4 or 8 pots, both seem to always be problematic except perhaps the new generation like the B48.

[flybobbie]

But are the problems due to the long oil changes.

When i bought my N52 car, first recorded service was 21k miles at about 2 years old..
Seems bonkers if that was it's first oil change.

Has a similar time period been used for N20's?

[enuff_zed]

I refuse to answer in case it tempts fate.

[B21]

But are the problems due to the long oil changes.

When i bought my N52 car, first recorded service was 21k miles at about 2 years old..
Seems bonkers if that was it's first oil change.

Has a similar time period been used for N20's?

Cited causal factors are long oil change intervals, over extended service , poor quality oil and extensive use of stop/start..

There was one with over 500k miles going well just fresh oil regularly…

[z4lincs]

The only problem I see with your poll is that a relatively small proportion of worldwide E89 owners are active forum members.

Agreed, a very small sample size but still interesting I think when the cost of the work is so high and opinion does seem to vary.

I think I’m still set on getting the work done don’t get me wrong, but still a useful exercise.

[Pondrew]

BMW traditionally never has had much luck with their 4 or 8 pots, both seem to always be problematic except perhaps the new generation like the B48.

The B48 has it's own issues. Coolant leaks are rife and pistons going 'pop' are the main two, apparently.

The B48 is a very similar engine to the N20. Whether that is a good thing or not is under debate. I am a masochist, so have both. And the lovely Peugeot Prince engine in the daughter's Mini. The only good engine I have (so they say) is a free litre M54 but that hasn't turned it's crank in over six months.

[Pondrew]

I think I’m still set on getting the work done don’t get me wrong, but still a useful exercise.

How will you feel if you pay your £2,000 and the mechanic says "the old one was just fine with no sign of wear, don't know why you bothered, but thanks for the business"?

There have to be millions of N20 engines running around the world. Millions. I would love to know how many have had camchains snap and lunched the engine. It can't be that many, or it would be headline news, surely?

The American class action could be a red herring....they will sue anybody for anything. Famous for it.

I do wonder whether forums like this (and others TBH) don't unwittingly scaremonger the problem. There is another BMW forum where if you mention the N20 they will laugh and tell you to avoid at all costs. I am sure 99% of them have never owned an N20.

[Silverstar]

I think I’m still set on getting the work done don’t get me wrong, but still a useful exercise.

The American class action could be a red herring....they will sue anybody for anything. Famous for it.

Turns out it was an extension of the warranty, there has to be something there for BMW to issue this. No smoke without fire as they say:

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2017/ ... 3-9999.pdf

[Silverstar]

BMW traditionally never has had much luck with their 4 or 8 pots, both seem to always be problematic except perhaps the new generation like the B48.

The B48 has it's own issues. Coolant leaks are rife and pistons going 'pop' are the main two, apparently.

The B48 is a very similar engine to the N20. Whether that is a good thing or not is under debate. I am a masochist, so have both. And the lovely Peugeot Prince engine in the daughter's Mini. The only good engine I have (so they say) is a free litre M54 but that hasn't turned it's crank in over six months.

Not heard of pistons going pop, still the most reliable 4 pot BMW makes:

https://bimmerly.com/b48-reliability/

[Pondrew]

still the most reliable 4 pot BMW makes:

And the ONLY 4 pot petrol they have made for years.