E89 18i 20i 28i

[B21]

So yes for the facelift I dont actually like the swoosh but it was more of an identifier to know a facelift from a non facelift

They are easy to change, so some pre-facelifts will have the newer side indicators. Basically, anything registered on a '13' plate or newer should be a facelift.

Am I right in thinking another way to tell is if the headlight halos are yellow or white?

Er no…lots of folks have now fitted LEDs to the DRLs so they are all bright white too…

[B21]

Sorry had a manic yesterday...but thanks for all the feedback, really good to have owner experiences on there too.

So yes for the facelift I dont actually like the swoosh but it was more of an identifier to know a facelift from a non facelift and if the facelift had a more reliable engine (in the same way you have a 987 and a 987.2 Cayman for instance). The chain guides I read are by design going to fail, so when rather than if, so was wondering if its a worthwhile bit of maintenance as I will be spending up to around 10k on a car which will probably have around 50-80k miles on it.

Note: I do have a dad and brother who are both car mechanics who have tens of thousands of pounds worth of tools who do all my big jobs on my cars such as clutch changes etc. so was wondering if that would help, was it really that specialist a job.

I definitely will remap it, seems mad not to given the 28i output. In terms of my location I am in SW London near Twickenham right by the M3 so easy exit route from London.

I was thinking Auto because I am sick and tired of London driving in a manual, they just put in a shed load of roadworks on the A316 near me for the next 8 months and that was the last straw for me for manuals

The issue is the specfic special tools which are quite pricey..not the competence of the engineers…


Here you go..

https://www.fcpeuro.com/blog/how-to-rep ... -1-removal


https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-n2 ... 18648732kt

[coldel]

Sorry had a manic yesterday...but thanks for all the feedback, really good to have owner experiences on there too.

So yes for the facelift I dont actually like the swoosh but it was more of an identifier to know a facelift from a non facelift and if the facelift had a more reliable engine (in the same way you have a 987 and a 987.2 Cayman for instance). The chain guides I read are by design going to fail, so when rather than if, so was wondering if its a worthwhile bit of maintenance as I will be spending up to around 10k on a car which will probably have around 50-80k miles on it.

Note: I do have a dad and brother who are both car mechanics who have tens of thousands of pounds worth of tools who do all my big jobs on my cars such as clutch changes etc. so was wondering if that would help, was it really that specialist a job.

I definitely will remap it, seems mad not to given the 28i output. In terms of my location I am in SW London near Twickenham right by the M3 so easy exit route from London.

I was thinking Auto because I am sick and tired of London driving in a manual, they just put in a shed load of roadworks on the A316 near me for the next 8 months and that was the last straw for me for manuals

The issue is the specfic special tools which are quite pricey..not the competence of the engineers…


Here you go..

https://www.fcpeuro.com/blog/how-to-rep ... -1-removal


https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-n2 ... 18648732kt

Cheers. My guys should be able to get hold of the specific tools from BMW guys they know no problem for the job. But wow 800 'bucks' for a timing chain kit

[B21]

Sorry had a manic yesterday...but thanks for all the feedback, really good to have owner experiences on there too.

So yes for the facelift I dont actually like the swoosh but it was more of an identifier to know a facelift from a non facelift and if the facelift had a more reliable engine (in the same way you have a 987 and a 987.2 Cayman for instance). The chain guides I read are by design going to fail, so when rather than if, so was wondering if its a worthwhile bit of maintenance as I will be spending up to around 10k on a car which will probably have around 50-80k miles on it.

Note: I do have a dad and brother who are both car mechanics who have tens of thousands of pounds worth of tools who do all my big jobs on my cars such as clutch changes etc. so was wondering if that would help, was it really that specialist a job.

I definitely will remap it, seems mad not to given the 28i output. In terms of my location I am in SW London near Twickenham right by the M3 so easy exit route from London.

I was thinking Auto because I am sick and tired of London driving in a manual, they just put in a shed load of roadworks on the A316 near me for the next 8 months and that was the last straw for me for manuals

The issue is the specfic special tools which are quite pricey..not the competence of the engineers…


Here you go..

https://www.fcpeuro.com/blog/how-to-rep ... -1-removal


https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-n2 ... 18648732kt

Cheers. My guys should be able to get hold of the specific tools from BMW guys they know no problem for the job. But wow 800 'bucks' for a timing chain kit

You should be able to source it cheaper..major part here for £250

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/spares-search ... 1312457622

If you can find it the Febi Bilstein version IS the BMW OE version with BMW logos ground off..

Theres the oil pump drive, cam chain tensioner and crank sprocket as part of the 'final solution'!

[coldel]

How many of you have actually done the chain guide as a preventative measure?
Is there a typical mileage they tend to start to show signs of failing at?

Thanks for all the responses by the way ... it is really appreciated.

[coldel]

And just to confirm, the M Sport version of the car is literally the front and rear bumpers? Ive seen m sport style seats in non m sport cars so presume they could have been specced from the factory. There is a premium on m sport cars it seems, and if its just the bumpers...

[matsmith749]

I thought m-sport cars had different front / rear bumpers, seats (optional for other models), firmer lower suspension (optional for other models), bigger wheels (again optional on others), obviously the all important M badges.

And as you say - this cost a couple of grand more at purchase time - seems to carry through to the used market.

[coldel]

Thanks Mat, does sound like then that bumpers aside the rest can be options. Good to know

[B21]

And just to confirm, the M Sport version of the car is literally the front and rear bumpers? Ive seen m sport style seats in non m sport cars so presume they could have been specced from the factory. There is a premium on m sport cars it seems, and if its just the bumpers...

Door cill trim..MSport steering wheel, 326M wheels in UK, front and rear bumpers, sports seats, lower springs, dampers changed to suit..not sure they are any better damped..

[B21]

How many of you have actually done the chain guide as a preventative measure?
Is there a typical mileage they tend to start to show signs of failing at?

Thanks for all the responses by the way ... it is really appreciated.

I did mine at 50k ..the guides were fine..the chain did have some stretch on it..

There’s a very strong causal link with lack of oil changes/extended changes and use of stop start..

Problem now is all the N20s have had the horrendous 15k/20k oil change for their first few years of ownership..

Ironically a garage queen sat with old oil may be worse.

The failure rate seems to accelerate past 80k but like all these things no specific start point.

[coldel]

Thank you again, I guess its a case of getting something circa 50k miles (maybe even a 18i) and just keeping an eye on the engine, listening out for any tell tail signs, and when necessary making the upgrade.

[B21]

Thank you again, I guess its a case of getting something circa 50k miles (maybe even a 18i) and just keeping an eye on the engine, listening out for any tell tail signs, and when necessary making the upgrade.

Its a tricky one..Russian Roulette..there was a 28i in the US that did over 500k miles on that dodgy camchain..he was changing the oil every 5k miles..which is de facto what you should do on any BMW for max engine life..

Inspecting the oil filter carefully for swarf..initially plastic stuff..listening for an obvious whine, doing an initial then 5k ish oil changes with a decent oil all help..

[Pondrew]

Thank you again, I guess its a case of getting something circa 50k miles (maybe even a 18i) and just keeping an eye on the engine, listening out for any tell tail signs, and when necessary making the upgrade.

It's worth remembering BMW made millions of N20 engines. They were in every 4 cylinder petrol model for at least 5 years. If every one had gone pop by 80k miles, I think it would have been on the news before now. Also, chances are 90% of those engines had minimum oil change intervals at 2 years, many probably at a lot longer.

[coldel]

Thanks both, regular oil changes are order of the day then

[rafcom]

I'm looking at doing the chain and guides soon, but one of the independent places I got a quote from also added a new oil pump, which is rather damn expensive. I've not read anything that suggests these should be changed at any point, or did I miss something somewhere?