Factory defective timing gear on BMW 3 F30 and other F line models

BMW driver question

In June 2016 I bought a BMW F30 320i with a mileage of 55 thousand km. The car in great technical condition. Yesterday, 27.02.17, I learned at the BMW service center that the timing gear is to be replaced. I should add that the car currently has driven 65 thousand km. I have blown and huffed on it, driven only in the city, that the average speed of 50 km / h. I have never lived it, because I know how expensive BMW parts are. Is it normal for the timing gear at this mileage to be replaced?

The problem was with a BMW 320i F30, but it happens in other BMW F series.

Response from BM Cars service

Unfortunately, the engine model installed in BMW’s F line of cars is burdened with a design flaw in the timing drive. The problem mainly affects the N20 engine. After low mileage of about 30-50 thousand kilometers, there is a whistling noise coming from the oil pump area and a throwing noise from the timing area.

During this very short operation, the main timing chain is stretched and the chain links driving the oil pump become blocked. The necessary repair involves the replacement of both slipper chains and tensioners. The repair is very often done within the warranty period, that is, within the first two years of the vehicle’s first registration. Unfortunately, just as often, vehicles imported from abroad especially from the US are not serviced by ASO on a warranty basis.

The only thing left then is an urgent repair for a fee.

In your case, we suggest first a full computer diagnosis and confirmation of whether we are dealing with the case described above.

List of F line models that may be affected by this fault

• F01 5th generation BMW 7 vintages 2008 and newer
• F02 5th generation BMW 7 LWB vintages 2008 and newer
• F03 5th generation BMW 7 armoured vintages 2008 and newer
• F10 6th generation BMW 5 saloon vintages 2010 and newer
• F11 6th generation BMW 5 Touring vintages 2010 and newer
• F12 3rd generation BMW 6 convertible vintages 2011 and newer
• F13 3rd generation BMW 6 coupe vintages 2011 and newer
• F15 3rd generation BMW X5 vintages 2014 and newer
• F16 2nd generation BMW X6 vintages 2014 and newer
• F20 2nd generation BMW 1 5-door vintages 2011 and newer
• F21 2nd generation BMW 1 3-door vintages 2011 and newer
• F22 2nd generation BMW 1 coupe (so-called 2 series) 2013 and newer vintages
• F23 2nd generation BMW 1 convertible (so-called 2 series) 2014 and newer vintages
• F25 2nd generation BMW X3 vintages 2011 and newer
• F30 6th generation BMW 3 saloon vintages 2011 and newer
• F31 6th generation BMW 3 Touring vintages 2012 and newer
• F32 BMW 3 coupe (designated as 4 Series) 2013 and newer vintages
• F33 BMW 3 Convertible (designated as 4 Series) 2014 and newer vintages
• F34 BMW 3 Gran Turismo yearbooks 2013 – newer
• F35 BMW 4 4-door coupe yearbooks 2015 and newer
• F44 BMW 1 Gran Turismo yearbooks 2014 and newer
• F45 BMW 1 Touring vintages 2014 and newer
• F46 BMW 1 City vintages 2015 and newer

Other BMW tips related to the topic at hand

• Replacing the timing chain – after what mileage?
• Metallic sound from the valve train in BMW – how to fix it?
• Metallic sound from the timing chain in BMW 5

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