E89 timing chain issues

[pmf2uk]

Hi All,

Newbie here, first post after lurking to research for my 2015 28i purchase. Car was bought from a BMW dealer as a BMW approved used with 12 months warranty. After 5 weeks of ownership, car has gone back to dealer for random roof alarms and a rattle/ scraping noise from the engine on acceleration. Neither of these were evident at test drive. They recognise there is a roof fault but have not diagnosed yet after 2 days in the workshop. They suspect rattle is timing chain and want to do a full strip down to fully diagnose. Car has done 34k with full BMW service history. Anyone had timing chain issues on a 2015 Z4? I thought the guide issue was resolved in 2015? Love the car but this has taken the shine off with only 34k on the clock and 5 weeks of ownership. It’s being left with BMW for as long as it takes to resolve and to be fair, they have been pretty good to this point. Will wait for full diagnosis before deciding next steps but a timing chain issue at only 34k is a bit of a concern. Anyone had a similar experience?

 

[Ed.Straker]

Sorry to hear your tale of woe
Seems unusual
What was the actual build date?

 

[ori]

The good news is that whatever it is, it is covered under warranty.
Hold tight. These things happen. Whatever they need to do they will do.

Keep us informed.

 

[DonDon]

Just to clarify for anyone reading this in the future. Ori is referring to the OP's dealer warranty. As far as I am aware, the cam chain work isn't automatically covered by BMW. I believe there was a class action in the USA that got it fixed, but in other countries, if there was no current warranty on your specific car, tough luck. I have seen it said that an indy can do it for around £1,000.

 

[ori]

Just to clarify for anyone reading this in the future. Ori is referring to the OP's dealer warranty. As far as I am aware, the work isn't automatically covered by BMW. I believe there was a class action in the USA that got it fixed, but in other countries, if there was no current warranty on your specific car, tough luck. I have seen it said that an indy can do it for around £1,000.

Correct. OP purchased the car from bmw with a used car bmw warranty.
It’s actually sad that you need one for this issue as it’s a manufacturer known defect and should be fixed free of charge at any time…..better still…..a recall.

 

[RobbiZ4]

They recognise there is a roof fault but have not diagnosed yet after 2 days in the workshop.

Even a 2015 Z4 may have a broken wire in the rear roof shell. I'd not expect a faulty sensor, even if there are similiiar fault codes on OBD.

 

[pmf2uk]

Thanks for the replies guys. Will find out more from the dealer tomorrow evening. Will update on the outcome.

 

[pmf2uk]

Update for info:

Roof issue diagnosed as faulty microswitch.

Timing chain has stretched and will be replaced. They cannot offer any root cause for the timing chain stretching at 34k miles other than “it just does on some of these cars, and it’s unlucky it’s happened given the low mileage”. Bit disappointed with the explanation to be honest.

All confirmed as covered under warranty so all good and should have it back in a week.

 

[ori]

Update for info:

Roof issue diagnosed as faulty microswitch.

Timing chain has stretched and will be replaced. They cannot offer any root cause for the timing chain stretching at 34k miles other than “it just does on some of these cars, and it’s unlucky it’s happened given the low mileage”. Bit disappointed with the explanation to be honest.

All confirmed as covered under warranty so all good and should have it back in a week.

Result. Car will be running like new in no time.

 

[2k35is]

Makes it worth buying car from a BMW dealer and just remember that you can take the BMW warranty out insured when dealer one is about to run out-gives continues cover. About £44 per month with £250excess cheaper still if you pay annually upto 60k miles. It includes breakdown cover but not at home. Having said that they have come out to my home when roof has stopped working in my garage- both engineers responded well to what,s the point of me driving it 1/2mille then opening roof to find that the roof doesn't work and the car cant be driven with a roof half open/shut.

 

[RobbiZ4]

Update for info:

Roof issue diagnosed as faulty microswitch.

Well, that is the mostly misinterpreted fault code named "microswitch', if a wire is broken.
As said, microswitches hardly ever fail in the rear roof shell, but always wires and hydraulic hoses.
That's pretty sure a wrong diagnosys result.

But who cares...

 

[Chippie]

Update for info:

Roof issue diagnosed as faulty microswitch.

Well, that is the mostly misinterpreted fault code named "microswitch', if a wire is broken.
As said, microswitches hardly ever fail in the rear roof shell, but always wires and hydraulic hoses.
That's pretty sure a wrong diagnosys result.

But who cares...

The OP won’t as their not paying

 

[pmf2uk]

So the car is still at the dealers. Timing chain was on a 3 to 5 day lead time. Fair enough. The dealer then called last week to say car will be ready to collect on Tuesday. Call on Monday from dealer to say actually we don’t have the locking tool required to lock timing while we fit chain - 3 to 5 day lead time. Call today - they can’t get the tool, it’s off stock with no delivery date! They are currently ringing round partner dealers to try borrow one. So they have had car 4 weeks now and cannot give me a date for the repair. Maybe a bit naive on my part to expect a BMW dealer workshop would have the tools for the job?

Starting to regret the buy, sadly. Had I not had the approved used warranty, the BMW specialist indie down the road would have had it done by now, albeit at a considerable cost, but at least I’d have had me car back!

 

[Silverstar]

So the car is still at the dealers. Timing chain was on a 3 to 5 day lead time. Fair enough. The dealer then called last week to say car will be ready to collect on Tuesday. Call on Monday from dealer to say actually we don’t have the locking tool required to lock timing while we fit chain - 3 to 5 day lead time. Call today - they can’t get the tool, it’s off stock with no delivery date! They are currently ringing round partner dealers to try borrow one. So they have had car 4 weeks now and cannot give me a date for the repair. Maybe a bit naive on my part to expect a BMW dealer workshop would have the tools for the job?

Starting to regret the buy, sadly. Had I not had the approved used warranty, the BMW specialist indie down the road would have had it done by now, albeit at a considerable cost, but at least I’d have had me car back!

It does seem odd that they don't have the tool, you would expect a main dealer to have it especially since more than likely they do many of these N20 timing chains. Maybe they lost it, have they given you a courtesy car whilst they fix it? Hopefully they will fix it soon and you can start to enjoy it.

 

[2k35is]

That's really poor service-I'd ask for a loan car equivalent to z4that they deliver to you. You may not get it but just be polite and firm. Had similar problems with my 35i. Didn't need a loan car but car was due a 4 year service not long after. Got £200 + 2 free new salmon relays fitted( original ones 10 years old). Keep a note of conversations dates. who with etc. Easier to get services etc done free at less cost. Decide what you think is reasonable and stick to your guns-and include for extending the warranty from them foe period has been off the road.

 

[pmf2uk]

They gave me a loan car after initially telling me there was a month waiting list - fair play to them for that but it’s a 218i, and without wanting to sound ungrateful, not the same. Guess I’d feel less aggrieved if I’d had the car longer than 5 weeks!

Spoke to manager today about handing car back. Appreciate they have to have a chance to put things right but for me, that chance can’t be open ended and I’d consider a month reasonable time to fix. He said leave it with him for a day or 2 so be interesting to see what comes back…..

 

[B21]

Sad case..the problem with BMW is there are so many special tools and typically so infrequently needed so its not surprising that they disn't hold the tool.

Was chatting over our Sunday Z4 run out lunch with one chap..he's had two N20 timing chains go..one in his 2016 Z4 and one in his 2018 X5..so much for the upgraded cam chain..although that's the only upgraded cam chains I heard fail..

 

[pmf2uk]

So the saga continues…..BMW still can’t find a timing lock tool despite escalating to BMW UK. A chat with the workshop manager revealed it not timing chain stretch as initially communicated, it’s s stiff / seized link that’s damaged the oil pump sprocket and it’s this which is causing the noise on acceleration. They have offered a rejection today - deposit back, car back to BMW, deal closed off based on the fact they can’t fix it. Only option they are left with is to make a timing lock tool in the workshop.

Absolutely gobsmacked and so disappointed. It’s one of them - heart says let them make a tool and fix it, head says give the car back. Based on this experience, doubt I’d buy from BMW again.

 

[enuff_zed]

So the car is still at the dealers. Timing chain was on a 3 to 5 day lead time. Fair enough. The dealer then called last week to say car will be ready to collect on Tuesday. Call on Monday from dealer to say actually we don’t have the locking tool required to lock timing while we fit chain - 3 to 5 day lead time. Call today - they can’t get the tool, it’s off stock with no delivery date! They are currently ringing round partner dealers to try borrow one. So they have had car 4 weeks now and cannot give me a date for the repair. Maybe a bit naive on my part to expect a BMW dealer workshop would have the tools for the job?

Starting to regret the buy, sadly. Had I not had the approved used warranty, the BMW specialist indie down the road would have had it done by now, albeit at a considerable cost, but at least I’d have had me car back!

So why can't the 'specialist down the road' loan them the tool?

 

[pmf2uk]

I have no idea! I have also found several non BMW tools for sale online for the N20 engine some of which quote the OEM tool number which they replace. They say they have looked but cannot find one. I’m starting to get a bit paranoid about all of this and wondering if there is something else at play. I can’t believe there isn’t a timing lock tool for a N20 engine at any BMW dealer workshop in the UK! The whole thing is plain odd.