Living with an Old BMW (Early N20 Engines - Imminent Timing Chain Explosion?) | Bonus 0-60 Pull!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ค. 2024
- My 2013 BMW 328i X-Drive has 175K km (110K miles) on it.
00:00 Intro
00:45 N20 timing chain issues
01:58 N20 oil change interval
04:20 Keep it or sell it?
04:53 Upcoming maintenance
06:31 Test drive
07:38 0-60 Pull
08:10 Performance upgrades?
/ that__james__guy
/ that_jamesguy - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
I bought an October 2014 328i N20 Brand New in Late January 2015, I installed a Dinan Stage 1 Tune, Dinan Catback exhaust, MST TURBO INLET PIPE, Wagner Stage 3 Competition Intercooler, also Evolution in/out charge pipes, No Downpipe. All done at 3k miles. 8 years later today I am 402k , did preventative maintenance at 286k, changed Timing chain , guides, and Rod Bearing, nearly 2 years ago. Still runs Amazing 🤩. I changed oil every 6k miles, just recently 5k, original BMW oil till 200k, then Liquid Molly, in Florida. Only thing I have changed otherwise was High pressure fuel pump, around 80k , fan belt, and last year the pully wheel. Only a few times I used Sport + in earlier years, but more enjoyable in Comfort, 142 miles an hour 3 times a week at least in the early dark mornings driving 20 miles on the highway. Never ever push the car in Traffic, a huge no, no, you’ll burn up the transmission and engine. Always allowed the car to warm up for a few minutes drove very easy for the first 10-15 minutes before flooring it and only on open roads so I don’t heat up the transmission/ engine. Never changed the transmission oil since purchased at new, drove it through 4 weeks of extreme flooding to where my car was floating partially through these challenging weeks. Even found mud and dirt with grass in my battery box in the trunk. Thank God i didn’t destroy the ECU, and DME modules in the trunk. I had to keep my foot on the gas and use my handbrake to control stopping or slowing down, and keeping just above idle revs so I don’t go into Boost! Great 👍 car and keeping it an if I need to replace the engine or transmission I’ll do it because it’s paid off. Also I nearly forgot, I changed oil cooler housing 160k miles, also the valve cover gasket around 245k miles.
Wow this is insane i never heard of an n20 with over 400k miles 😮😮😮😮
I have a 2014 328i with 88k miles. I just preemptively did the timing chain and guides along with worn motor mounts and a new valve cover since I was in there anyway and we plan on keeping the car in the family for awhile. My oil notification usually warns at 7k miles max or 12 months whichever comes first . Other that the driver seats showing wear along with the p button on the shifter, it's holding up well. The door grabs I replaced myself a few years when they started disintegrate with aftermarket ones which match the interior.
Great video
Nice video!
I've got a 2013 328i xdrive as well, I change the oil every 8,000km and never use the auto start stop. Interesting watching what kind of issues you've had with your car since I got similar KM's on mine, I haven't had any of your issues, on mine I had a lowside A/C service port replaced, it had a slow leak and causing the A/C to act erratic, and a complete new drivers side mirror because the base the mirror folds on had completly rusted through, nothing else to note, its been a good car.
I've got the same exact car (2013 328i xdrive sport) and I love mine too. I bought it with 26,000 miles and it now has over 104,000...never had any issues, however I do maintain it well. 5,000 mile oil change, transmission at 65,000 and 97,000, shocks and struts along with all front end components at 97,000, oil filter/cooler housing gasket at 85,000. It has the original T chain and guides however the valve cover is just starting to leak, so that is going to be replaced in the near future. Continued luck with yours and happy driving to you!
Are you still running with the same timing chain and timing guide or did you change them ? If so how much miles are on it now
Yes. Down pipe + Tune + Intercooler :)
🤔
Definitely do it if you haven’t already. The throttle responsiveness under 2500 RPM (where you spend 90%+ of your time) is worth it alone. Do be prepared to change out your boost and charge pipes though, potentially dealing with boost leaks if you don’t get your gaskets on there properly (it can take some muscle to fit). Will 100% bring a new life into your aging car.
Great video and I am also in love with my 2014 328i Msport xdrive- it looks as beautiful as it drives (the only thing with room for improvement is the steering feel). I recommend you DON'T get the performance upgrades (as the car is clearly fast enough) aside from the suspension mods. I recommend K&W for the suspension. The timing chain design was upgraded in January 2015 but mine missed that by a few months...so maybe at 100K KM I'll proactively get it replaced, but in the meantime I'm doing responsible oil changes etc. Unfortunately in Germany the "recommended" oil change interval here is also once every 20 years etc. so every car I buy is like rescuing it from the previous owner and I need to buy with low mileage or it's already been abused too long....
These long oil changing intervals!! How many engines destructed by this habit !!! Why no manufacturer states officially that even the best oil after 10.000 kms becomes sludge closing all the oil channels and passages? There is no car without any problems , but most of them can be avoided with proper maintenance, as you say, and the best of them is the one you enjoy most. I recently bought an f10 520i with n20, 2015 with 75.000 kms, very well maintained and having red too much for the famous n20, my biggest fear is for the timing chain issue. Cracked valve cover repaired on 71.000 kms and I repaired oil filter gaskets ( well known problems). Seeing your video I taked too much courage from your experience. I wish you to enjoy yours.
Maintenance first just incase you never know and definitely try an e30 mix since it keeps temps down / timing or whatever. I can’t wait to get a manual 228i and get a high flow cat!
I love your video. A very honest review😊👍
Keep it original is the best😊
To me I think modifying it is like trying to create a problem with it 😅😅😅
All depends on the condition of your car and what mods you’re putting on, research intake, Catback, turbo inlet pipe, Intercooler and maybe 🤔 a catted downpipe. Tune is up to you but simple bolt on mods makes the car breathe better, and gives you an average of 30-45 horsepower. Now a tune pushes the engine and transmission
I replaced my timing chain on my f30 and the kit was about 100 bucks... the labor is what was more expensive, so idk how it is with you folks out there in the US but with a quick lookup of the partnumber you can get oem parts and kits for way cheaper.. 700 for just parts is crazy lol
Great decision to keep the car!
I have a 2013 F30 328 Sport.Daily driver
I've never done the chain with 207k but I've done tons for my customers just after 80/90K . Im going to see how much I can get..
F90 is my wknd car.
Mine is a 2013 with 217k mi and about 98,000 on second engine. Driving in late sept and boom drivetrain malf and horrid rattle. Yes timing chain failed, engine was fine believe it or not. But 19 hrs of labour later and $4k and voila! Engine is fine and my car is running great
Ok, so for the $4k I’m assuming that they also did the Rod bearing? Mine was done just over a year now and since the pull-down was by the Rod bearing they did that too for me with timing chain, guide etc.
Mime has 144k miles and tuned. Always use ceretec liquid moly additive. Still going strong
What year? No timing chain issues?
You would also want to upgrade your charge pipe and boost pipe to handle the extra pressure without bursting and leaving you on the side of the road. And also think about the brakes you have. More speed you have the more braking power you need as well. And lastly, and not trying to sound like an asshole, but I noticed your wheels spinning during your pull. If you are looking to increase power you may fully well need a new set of tires to put that power to the ground effectively
Do the down pipe install 😊
This is actually a really great video for new owners. I just bought a 84,000 KM 2014 328i, and I want it to last as long as possible. So you’d recommend I do oil changes every 5-6,000km? Any other tips?
- Spark plugs at 100
- Fluid at 120
- Brake fluid every 2 years
Should last forever!
Never rag the car in traffic only on open roads and Never in traffic, more preferably during the cool time, and don’t drive hard unless after 10-13 minutes of driving. Make your car warm up first and run through the gears smoothly
Do the tune
2013 x1 xdrive2.8i with MSport package. 46k and verifiable 6-7k oil change intervals. Still worried about the chain....
I would be too. They all fail eventually.
I just bought a 2012 528i with the N20, My timing chain and guides have been replaced fairly recent before I got it as looking at the guides they have no wear at all and are Bright white in color looking as new. I don't know the history unfortunately but it appears to be well cared for as it has new tires, new Neo Max coil overs, new brakes all around and the timing chain. Car has 167k miles on it and runs flawless no other issues at all on the car EVERYTHING works and no warnings in the message center. Will see how many miles I get out of the motor. I may do a carbon cleaning service.... will see. It runs so good I am not sure I need to yet
If they're white, it's been replaced. They all start white and slowly color immersed in the oil. Luck!
@@hangpilot1200 Yes, I agree.... I have since sold the car as I flip flop vehicles often. But the new owner is happy with it
Do you have to engine out or just lift the engine a bit?
Supposed to pull it out because the front differential is part of the oil pan and needs to be removed for lower (oil pump) chain access. But I think you could get away with unbolting the oil pan, letting it drop down a bit and lifting the engine up a bit with a hoist. 🤔
Do you still have this car with the same timing chain and guide ? If so how much miles are on it now
Yes, no issues yet.
187K KM/117K miles
How much do you pay for maintenance every year on this car?
the root cause of the failures is the weak tensioner on teh N20. Once it goes the chain is free to slap and beat the sh*t outta the guides, sprocket and itself. Oil interval? WTF would anyone listen to BMW's fluid interval recomendations...they're the ediot klowns that try tell owners that the gear oil and diff fluid are LIFETIME! lolol. That's physically impossible.
I have the same car with about 97k miles that I bought about 5 months ago and it's been trouble free so far. Yet, unlike you I am scared to death of timing chain failure! No engine lift or experience so I'm not sure what I'll do. If I would have known about the issue I would have bought at least a 2015. I didn't do my due diligence!🫤
Same here! I got scared and sold mine.