Is the HVA fix covered under BMW's extended warranty?

[Creatine Phil]

Hi guys,

Started my Zed up the other day and was greted with what I subsequently found out [on here] to be the infamous N52 Hydralic Valve Adjusters ticking - sounds exactly like the video in the following post from Srhutch:

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10937&p=162001&hilit=+n52+engine+srhutch#p161535

I've got a fully comprehensive BMW extended manufacturer warranty, so my question is, does anyone know if this covers the above?

I've read conflicting views as to whether the HVA fault actually causes any damage to the car, but I drove it for the recommended fix of 2-3 miles and the ticking didn't stop! The car only gets driven occasionally during the week days and usually for short journeys (more of a weekender) and I understand that this sort of low usage is what brings the fault on in the first place, so I reckon I should probably get it fixed.

Also, can anyone recommend a dealer near WImbledon in South West London? I used Cooper in Croydon a few weeks ago and, whilst the showroom looked very nice, the service left a lot to be desired!

Cheers,

Phil

 

[srhutch]

Yes this should be covered under the warranty, the problems you will have are getting the dealer to recognise the problem. If I were you I would obtain the email address of the service advisor and email him links to here and the other forums I posted about. If you can get the car to a dealer with the noise still present that will also help.

From what I understand now they dont replace the heads anymore (to expensive at £3.5k a time at a guess) and replace the HVA's with modified ones which again from what I have read has mixed results.

Can't help with the dealer but if you need any other infor just drop me a PM.

Steve

 

[ksher]

I had no such problem before as I used it everyday (48-mile round trip). My poor old friend.

 

[Creatine Phil]

I had no such problem before as I used it everyday (48 miles round trip). My poor old friend.

Hey Kaki, good to hear from you! I reckon it must be from my low usage during the week. I kept up the extended warranty, so hopefully I'll be able to get it sorted.

Yes this should be covered under the warranty, the problems you will have are getting the dealer to recognise the problem. If I were you I would obtain the email address of the service advisor and email him links to here and the other forums I posted about. If you can get the car to a dealer with the noise still present that will also help.

From what I understand now they dont replace the heads anymore (to expensive at £3.5k a time at a guess) and replace the HVA's with modified ones which again from what I have read has mixed results.

Can't help with the dealer but if you need any other infor just drop me a PM.

Steve

Thanks for confirming re the extended warranty Srhutch - I saw that you got yours sorted under the original manufacturer's one, but didn't know if the extended one would also cover this sort of repair.

I also noticed it was quoted in your post that BMW say the HVA ticking doesn't cause any damage, so I'm presuming that I'll be alright driving the car occasionally until I can get a slot booked in with a dealer (probably not until next weekend now)?

Sounds like I'm going to have issues getting a dealer to recognise the fault, so I'm even more keen to find a garage that has come recommended if anyone knows of one nearby!

 

[srhutch]

it took me 2.5 years to get mine sorted although the noise was only apparent half a dozen times. Not driving it daily appears to be the main reason the problem comes to light.

Personally I would try and stop the ticking before driving the car as I do believe engine damage will occur, metal on metal contact like that has to cause damage.

I was quite lucky at the end of the day with my dealer being less than a mile away and the fact that whilst talking to the service advisor when collecting my car that the noise came back.

If you have BMW assist I would play dumb and call them out saying you dont's want to drive the car as it's making a horrible noise and may cause damage. By doing this you can get written proof of the problem when the tech give you his job sheet which you can take to the dealer.

 

[Creatine Phil]

A quick update on this one - ended up having to take the car out first thing Saturday morning and, after a couple of mies, the ticking eventually went away.

I'll keep a close eye on this starting up again, but, for now, my solution is to drive the car more regularly, or at least until I find a BMW garage that is willing to replace the HVAs without charging me for the pleasure of just looking at it when they 'can't' find a fault!

Thanks for the help .

 

[ksher]

Try to drive it 3 times a week, and cover 6 to 10 miles each time (until the temp. gauge reaches middle).

Or take it back to Cooper Chelmsford where the car originally came from. They should be happy to replace the HVA under insured warranty (any dealers should do it under warranty anyway).

 

[srhutch]

Try to drive it 3 times a week, and cover 6 to 10 miles each time (until the temp. gauge reaches middle).

Or take it back to Cooper Chelmsford where the car originally came from. They should be happy to replace the HVA under insured warranty (any dealers should do it under warranty anyway).

Mine was used every other day and never for short journeys. I believe over time it just got worse luckily most of the time it did it whenever I picked it up from the dealer for some reason or other so was easy to prove there was a problem.