BMW Recall: 2010-2012 1-Series for VANOS Bolts Issue (6 cylinder models)

[Olgeezer1]

Just got a letter from BMW Canada. Says my vehicle "may potentially be affected". From the list I saw above, my Nov.09 manufacture date makes me think not. Anyhow, no recall here. Instead Vanos system warranty is extended to 10 yrs. regardless of mileage. Note: Told BMW Canada I'm not impressed w/ what's essentially 5 yrs. of remaining warranty on this issue. It's a known problem- fix it. They said it's "not possible" to fix a problem prior to failure. So- for the cost of a few bolts they're willing to risk a potentially very expensive engine repair. Not confidence inspiring BMW.

[Sylon]

My car has stalled twice for no reason yesterday and today. No limp mode or anything like that, but today's I was moving and because the car shut off, I lost my steering. Thankfully I was going really slow at the time, but that could have been scary if I was moving quicker.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Sylon

My car has stalled twice for no reason yesterday and today. No limp mode or anything like that, but today's I was moving and because the car shut off, I lost my steering. Thankfully I was going really slow at the time, but that could have been scary if I was moving quicker.

Something like this happened to me in February. The car stalled twice while I was driving and I lost steering as well. Initially it wouldn't start after stalling. After waiting 5 min it started, but died again if I tried to drive normal. No service engine or check engine lights or anything. After waiting 5 min again it started and I drove slowly to the dealer.

At the dealer when operating the remote I noticed a clicking sound where i would normally notice the whirring sound associated with the fuel pump priming.

The dealer found the valvetronic actuator to be defective and replaced it under warranty. After that everything was fine.

[128Convertibleguy]

Anybody actually got their car fixed yet?

[Sylon]

Originally Posted by 128Convertibleguy

Anybody actually got their car fixed yet?

I sent a tweet to BMWUSA asking them why it's taking so long. They said that they are still waiting on parts to become available. Not sure why it is taking this damn long to provide some parts. Probably working on repair training for techs as well.

[potxoli]

I wish they'd get their act together. I'm itching to install a cobb+charge pipe, but don't want to do it until the recall is done.

[Esteban]

I will post instantly when I get my second letter saying that the parts are in.

[Unklejoe]

I think some people in Canada already got the fix but I could be wrong.

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by 128Convertibleguy

Anybody actually got their car fixed yet?

My May 2011 build 135i is having it done tomorrow. Car was booked in today for a the headlamp washers to be fixed, and they rang me up an hour or so after I'd dropped the car off to say there was a recall notice on my VIN for the VANOS bolts to be replaced, although I've yet to receive any letter yet. They couldn't get the new parts in until tomorrow though.

[Sylon]

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

Something like this happened to me in February. The car stalled twice while I was driving and I lost steering as well. Initially it wouldn't start after stalling. After waiting 5 min it started, but died again if I tried to drive normal. No service engine or check engine lights or anything. After waiting 5 min again it started and I drove slowly to the dealer.

At the dealer when operating the remote I noticed a clicking sound where i would normally notice the whirring sound associated with the fuel pump priming.

The dealer found the valvetronic actuator to be defective and replaced it under warranty. After that everything was fine.

I hope not, I don't have one of those warranty thingamabobs, lol.

It could also be something as simple as dirty injectors. Let's hope it's something simple.

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Sylon

I hope not, I don't have one of those warranty thingamabobs, lol.

It could also be something as simple as dirty injectors. Let's hope it's something simple.

Yeah, keep your fingers crossed.

At first I thought it was the HPFP going out because of the clicking sound it made when I was operating the remote where it normally makes that whirring sound that the HPFP makes when priming.

I got my car in Oct of 2010 so my warranty's up this Oct. Because these cars are very expensive when things go wrong I may get an extended warranty.

[Dcase2025]

2011 135i M Sports Pkg.....40k miles. Was surging at low RPMs. BMW had the car 2 weeks.
------------------------------------------------------------------
RESET CLUTCH ADAPTATIONS BUT RPMS WERE STILL SURGING. REPLACED MECHATRONICS UNIT. DRAINED AND FILLED ENTIRE TRANSMISSION & TOPPED OFF TRANSMISSION WITH 7 LITERS OF FLUID. TEST DROVE VEHICLE AND JOLT WAS NO LONGER FELT. WHEN RPM'S RAISE SLIGHTLY AT A STOP IS CONSIDERED NORMAL. PROGRAMMED AND CODED VEHICLE SOFTWARE VERSION 2.52.5.

MATERIAL FAILURE OF VANOS ADJUSTMENT UNIT ASSEMBLIE BOLTS. CONNECTED ISIS AND BATTERY CHARGER. INTERROGATED FAULT MEMORY F/C 2D61 VANOS EXHAUST CONTROL FAULT POSITION NOT REACHED. PER SIB 12-14-12 REMOVED VALVE COVER AND INSPECTED VANOS ADJUSTMENT UNITS. FOUND VANOS ASSEBLIE BOLTS HAVE BROKEN. PER SIB REPLACED BOTH VANOS ADJUSTMENT UNITS. INSPECTED HEAD FOR BROKEN BOLTS. BOLTS NOT PRESENT IN HEAD. R/I OIL PAN TO FIND BROKEN BOLTS. FOUND ALL BOLTS IN OIL PAN ASSEMBLED VEHICLE, CLEARED FAULT AND VERIFIED REPAIR. FILLED WITH 7 QTS OIL.












SUGGESTIONS????

[Esteban]

The BMW recall website is finally updated. It shows my car is being recalled for vanos housing bolts.
http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/conte...eoverride=true

[Sylon]

Originally Posted by EvenEsteban

The BMW recall website is finally updated. It shows my car is being recalled for vanos housing bolts.
http://www.bmwusa.com/standard/conte...eoverride=true

Yep, mine shows up in there too. BMW is taking their sweet time with this recall, but I guess you can call this progress.

[Unklejoe]

"Remedy not yet available"

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by Sylon

Yep, mine shows up in there too. BMW is taking their sweet time with this recall,

Mine has been done here in the UK, as have 3 others I know about.

None of us have had a letter from BMW as yet though, but the dealers are doing the work if you book the car in.

[Diver]

"there are no open recalls for your vehicle" whew...

[Qunadry]

Originally Posted by Diver

"there are no open recalls for your vehicle" whew...

I got the same when I ran my VIN, but who knows if the recall will be expanded like the GM ignition switch recall. I would feel better if BMW would tell us why our cars are not part of the recall.

[Rob Daman]

just took mine in for other work. no parts in yet to do the work.

[128Convertibleguy]

Originally Posted by Qunadry

I got the same when I ran my VIN, but who knows if the recall will be expanded like the GM ignition switch recall. I would feel better if BMW would tell us why our cars are not part of the recall.

+1 And who is getting the extended warranty, and what the details are.

And why some cars in the range of the initial press release are getting fixed, while others are getting the extended warranty, and some nothing at all. Even VIN number ranges on everything would be quite informative.

[Diver]

Originally Posted by Qunadry

I got the same when I ran my VIN, but who knows if the recall will be expanded like the GM ignition switch recall. I would feel better if BMW would tell us why our cars are not part of the recall.

As I recall the affected production dates were announced and my car had been built several months after the period ended. I just checked the link for conformation. Except for a a bit of noise from the dash, this car has been trouble free.

[dans135i]

I believe my build date was may 2010 (2011 135i) , checked website when first bought the car 8/1/2014 nothing on the recall website. Checked just now and it now indicates the recall for the bolts but says no remedy available yet. No letter received.

It also indicates cars not affected will get extended warranties for this issue anyway.

"DESCRIPTION OF REPAIR
Your BMW center will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for each of the two VANOS units (intake and exhaust). In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW models equipped with inline 6 cylinder engines not covered by this recall will receive an extended warranty to address this condition. "