Camshaft Chain has gone bang

[henryjames]

Hi Guys
After some advise here, have had a serious repair done and need some advdice on cost. (2012 e89 28i 60k miles only! )
Was driving along fine then the dreaded red pull over sign comes up, I pull over and turn off. Try to restart engine and nothing just a fast whiring. Out comes Mr AA man, not good, he reckons the chain has gone and this may have damaged the engine....

Off to the shop and sure enough chain gone and in part been sucked up in to the engine, but thank good ness all the shrapnel and plastic rubbish was held back from damaging the engine by a small oil filter/gauze apparently so no damage to engine. Chain was worn so far down and the sprockets were horribly worn. Speaking to the garage they say the fault is with BMWs terrible chains (they have since updated the design apparently to stop this)

Anyway I’m being hit with a pretty monster bill, they say it was lucky it wasn’t a total new engine required.

I’m getting a full parts breakdown but initially looking like this:

Replace Camshaft Chains
Replace Tensioners and Sprockets Replace Headgasket
Headbolts
Oil and Filter Change
Coolant Change

Any idea why this should cost, roughly I know it won’t be cheap?

Ps let this be a warning to all Zed owners this can happen to you on a car with only 60k miles. bmw claim the chain will go without correct oil filling etc, which is complete nonsense as was serviced by them regularly it’s just yet another bmw quality issue, watch out!

[mr wilks]

Bad news indeed. Not uncommon with bmw 4pot turbos at all.
Out of interest over its 60k at what intervals did your car have the oil changed?

[Smartbear]

Hi, was the car not making any odd noises before the warning light appeared?
Rob

[firebobby]

It must have sounded like a bag of nails if the chain was that worn.
That sounds iffy for a timing chain to go at 60K, most belts will do 100K+ now days and the chains should last more than that.

[Marlon]

As firebobby says, I thought chains lasted forever and that's why they replaced belts on premium cars?

[mr wilks]

As firebobby says, I thought chains lasted forever and that's why they replaced belts on premium cars?

Get a brew, select a comfy chair then Google "BMW N20 timing chain failure"

Happened from day 1 & not necessarily to high milers.

[z4pilot]

As firebobby says, I thought chains lasted forever and that's why they replaced belts on premium cars?

Get a brew, select a comfy chair then Google "BMW N20 timing chain failure"

Happened from day 1 & not necessarily to high milers.

Or Mini Death Rattle...

[Smartbear]

As firebobby says, I thought chains lasted forever and that's why they replaced belts on premium cars?

Get a brew, select a comfy chair then Google "BMW N20 timing chain failure"

Happened from day 1 & not necessarily to high milers.

I’ve read of a few instances on here, still seems to be a rare occurrence.
I’ve read of more M cars with ruined engine shells especially considering the lower amount of M cars sold.
A worn chain should give plenty of warning with the noise it would make
I’d get any engine inspected if odd noises developed, it’s best to catch these things before they let go!
Rob

[Mr Tidy]

Slightly off-topic, but BMW cam-chains don't seem to be up to scratch on their later engines.

Back in 2014 I had a 57 plate 123d with the N47 4 cylinder diesel engine, but when I kept reading stories of chain failures I ended up selling it while it still worked!

Still it did me a favour - that's when I got my 1st E86.

Anyway I hope the OP can get his car fixed without too much financial pain.

[obelix54]

I suffered the well known chain failure with my 118d that had an N47 engine and the quote from BMW was outrageous, They wanted to drop a new engine in it. I tracked down an engine re-builder in Peterborough who was used by BBC Watchdog who were doing a report on the issue. All the company in Peterborough were doing at the time was chain rebuilds using newer BMW re-designed parts so the car was better than before. They picked up the car (for a fee), rebuilt it and I hopped on the train to pick it up for a fraction of what BMW was charging.

[philbo909]

I suffered the well known chain failure with my 118d that had an N47 engine and the quote from BMW was outrageous, They wanted to drop a new engine in it. I tracked down an engine re-builder in Peterborough who was used by BBC Watchdog who were doing a report on the issue. All the company in Peterborough were doing at the time was chain rebuilds using newer BMW re-designed parts so the car was better than before. They picked up the car (for a fee), rebuilt it and I hopped on the train to pick it up for a fraction of what BMW was charging.

reading up on four pot 1 series put me off them, the 1er forum is full of chain failures

[henryjames]

Ok so update,

Full works undertaken:


Full Head strip and rebuild, Labour times for this with the chains book time are around 29 hours

Naturally this is based on a brand new car and took a little longer than book times


Work carried out

Cylinder head removed crack tested and skimmed, valves replaced

New cylinder head gasket new cylinder head bolts inlet and exhaust manifold gaskets changed

New Genuine BMW timing chains with tensioners and VVT Pulleys

New oil pick up in sump, additionally retrieved a lot of the broken down timing cover from the sump and intake

Engine has been flushed

New coolant and oil, additionally considerable road test and re changed the oil

Second hand cam shaft have been fitted as the camshaft new seemed unreasonable but they are as good as new again the original had some indication of damage from original failure

All is covered with a 12 months parts and labour warranty



So how much do you reckon for all the above, needless to say a LOT of work....

[henryjames]

Oh also and in response to bad engine noises there were none,
All was as normal.... so that’s fun
Won’t be buying another Z4 put it that way....

[Smartbear]

Ok so update,

Full works undertaken:


Full Head strip and rebuild, Labour times for this with the chains book time are around 29 hours

Naturally this is based on a brand new car and took a little longer than book times


Work carried out

Cylinder head removed crack tested and skimmed, valves replaced

New cylinder head gasket new cylinder head bolts inlet and exhaust manifold gaskets changed

New Genuine BMW timing chains with tensioners and VVT Pulleys

New oil pick up in sump, additionally retrieved a lot of the broken down timing cover from the sump and intake

Engine has been flushed

New coolant and oil, additionally considerable road test and re changed the oil

Second hand cam shaft have been fitted as the camshaft new seemed unreasonable but they are as good as new again the original had some indication of damage from original failure

All is covered with a 12 months parts and labour warranty



So how much do you reckon for all the above, needless to say a LOT of work....

Hi, so did the valves get replaced because they collided with the pistons?
I’m wondering why the pistons weren’t changed in that case?
What was the total bill in the end?
Rob

[R.E92]

Oh also and in response to bad engine noises there were none,
All was as normal.... so that’s fun
Won’t be buying another Z4 put it that way....

Any engine can fail. Z4 timing chain failures are not exactly commonplace.