N20 timing chain

T

True-Blue

Veteran
 Bristol/Bath
Site Supporter
Howdy,

Very close to making a decision on my next Z4, but slightly concerned about N20 timing chain failure.

Car is a 2013, 20i, (under 50k miles) which I believe is prior to the revised chain update.

Should I be factoring in the cost of revising the timing chain for a pre-2015 Z4, or do the majority not bother?

I realise any car can have issues, but after a string of N52’s I’m feeling a little nervous about the N20 :?
 
Hmm, so 50 views and no comments.

I’m guessing that most owners are not taking precautionary action action then?..... or are, but aren’t saying?

Fairly certain I’m going to go with the 20i car anyway :driving:
 
True-Blue, all cars have their weak spots and if you want peace of mind you could spend about £1200 for a specialist to upgrade the timing chain guide etc. I personally I will just make sure my Z4 N20 has regular oil changes using the correct spec and keep an eye on things. I used to own a Hawkeye Subaru Impreza and on their forum it was said the piston rings always fail on these cars and you should never buy one but mine was regularly serviced and maintained and I never had any problems. So no doubt there will be people on here who will advise you not to have an N20. As you know if it has T*ts or tyres it will give you grief😩
 
Boltz said:
True-Blue, all cars have their weak spots and if you want peace of mind you could spend about £1200 for a specialist to upgrade the timing chain guide etc. I personally I will just make sure my Z4 N20 has regular oil changes using the correct spec and keep an eye on things. I used to own a Hawkeye Subaru Impreza and on their forum it was said the piston rings always fail on these cars and you should never buy one but mine was regularly serviced and maintained and I never had any problems. So no doubt there will be people on here who will advise you not to have an N20. As you know if it has T*ts or tyres it will give you grief😩
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Yes, I know, and I do realise it’s a relatively low % of engines that fail.

Also, don’t want to start another ‘N52 vs N20’ thread, as there are enough of them already... but I do love the torque of a good turbocharged engine.

I’m 95% decided :thumbsup:
 
Probably more to do with the silly long mileage before oil changes. To think a first owner might never have had the oil changed. When i bought my 23i at 3 years old one owner and 29k miles it had only one oil change at 22k miles. Now i change at 5-6 k miles, what i have always done.

The fact that hardly anyone has mentioned problems on the N20 on these threads would suggest a good engine.
In fact hardly any problems with any "engine". Bits screwed on is another matter.
Look and listen;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FxiBsenLIk
 
Coding the stop/start function to remember it’s last state is supposed to subject the chain to less trauma :thumbsup:
Rob
 
Smartbear said:
Coding the stop/start function to remember it’s last state is supposed to subject the chain to less trauma :thumbsup:
Rob
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Does the 2013 model (post LCI) have this and can it be switched off? My old Golf GTD had this but there was an on/off switch for it.

I appreciate there are environmental benefits to stop/start but this will be a weekend car that will only see circa 4-5k miles per year
 
True-Blue said:
Smartbear said:
Coding the stop/start function to remember it’s last state is supposed to subject the chain to less trauma :thumbsup:
Rob
Click to expand...

Does the 2013 model (post LCI) have this and can it be switched off? My old Golf GTD had this but there was an on/off switch for it.

I appreciate there are environmental benefits to stop/start but this will be a weekend car that will only see circa 4-5k miles per year
Click to expand...

Yes it does & yes it can, unfortunately every time the cars started it defaults to “active” but Carly can fix that :thumbsup:
Rob
 
Leek78 said:
I had mine changed for the peace of mind, especially as i was remapping.
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I don’t think remapping puts the cam chain under any more strain, after all it’s still spinning the same camshaft around & the cars not revving any higher-it’s more likely to be revving at lower rpm due to the enhanced torque at low revs.
Rob
 
Thank for all the input gents, I’m very close to pulling the trigger now.

After 4 E85’s and an E86 I think I think it’s now time for an E89...

Only other thing I’ve read/heard is that the direct injection on these can make them sound a little rougher than the N52... would that be fair?
 
True-Blue said:
Thank for all the input gents, I’m very close to pulling the trigger now.

After 4 E85’s and an E86 I think I think it’s now time for an E89...

Only other thing I’ve read/heard is that the direct injection on these can make them sound a little rougher than the N52... would that be fair?
Click to expand...

I’ll be very interested to hear how you get on and what your view is against all the first generation Zeds you’ve owned :thumbsup:
 
True-Blue said:
Thank for all the input gents, I’m very close to pulling the trigger now.

After 4 E85’s and an E86 I think I think it’s now time for an E89...

Only other thing I’ve read/heard is that the direct injection on these can make them sound a little rougher than the N52... would that be fair?
Click to expand...

The n20 is a noisier engine, I’ve read the acoustic engine cover was redesigned after a couple of years to quieten them down.
Rob
 
Smartbear said:
True-Blue said:
Thank for all the input gents, I’m very close to pulling the trigger now.

After 4 E85’s and an E86 I think I think it’s now time for an E89...

Only other thing I’ve read/heard is that the direct injection on these can make them sound a little rougher than the N52... would that be fair?
Click to expand...

The n20 is a noisier engine, I’ve read the acoustic engine cover was redesigned after a couple of years to quieten them down.
Rob
Click to expand...

Great Thanks :thumbsup:

I’m pulling the trigger, but the Bullet will take a while to leave the barrel due to the cars location and Covid!
 
Smartbear said:
True-Blue said:
Done, Deposit down :thumbsup:

Excited now, but it’s going to take a little while :tumbleweed: :rofl:
Click to expand...

I’m assuming a remap will be on the cards after a short while? :?
Rob
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Well, the car is already mapped but to a fairly conservative 240bhp... might have a custom rolling road map at some point though :D
 
Well, the car is already mapped but to a fairly conservative 240bhp... might have a custom rolling road map at some point though :D
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Giving too much info away now - I think my guess in the other thread is correct :poke:
 
Ole gits rule said:
Well, the car is already mapped but to a fairly conservative 240bhp... might have a custom rolling road map at some point though :D
Click to expand...

Giving too much info away now - I think my guess in the other thread is correct :poke:
[/quote]

Well, it’s not a secret and my Mrs like to name our cars.... she wants to call the incoming car ‘Clementine’ :rofl:
 
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