Broken VANOS survey = all cars built 2/10-12/10

[128Convertibleguy]

The VANOS thing makes waterpumps look like very small potatoes. It was happening to BMWs long before this - why wasn't the issue put to bed?

Anyway, let's get some idea of the extent of the problem. That means we have to get a good response of people with build dates between 2/10 and 12/10 who DON"T have the problem. But other build dates shouldn't respond, please.

[128Convertibleguy]

bump

[rsr552]

Small sample size so far :/

[Dackelone]

This ought to be interesting...

Good Luck with the pole.

[Stohlen]

Originally Posted by rsr552

Small sample size so far :/

small year range

[dcaron9999]

Havent had the issue yet on my May 2010 production date N55. My 2011 135i is still under warranty. I FAXed a complaint letter to BMW Canada...
(see this post: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...&postcount=112 ...

I got a call back 2 days later from a polite lady.

Cant say I was impressed by the response though. It went something like this ...

BMW Customer Service Rep: "We understand your concern with the safety of your vehicle, we have verified your VIN number against our database, and your car is not affected by this, so your vehicle is safe ..."

Me: "...but the SIB clearly indicates that all N55 engines produced between Feb 2010 and Dec 2010 date are affected ..."

BMW Customer Service Rep: " ... we have specifically verified your VIN number and even though you engine Production date falls within this range, not all N55 are affected, and there are no other outstanding recalls for you VIN at this point ..."

Me: " ... pause ... sigh ... OK then. Thank you for your call ..."

[boostaddict305]

My cars production date was 09/10 have had it for about a year no issues knock on wood

[ONDEMAND]

Im a 10/10 build and have about 54k miles. No issue yet (knocks on wood)

[CRuben09]

I'm a 10/10 build date and happened to my car last July.

[128GP]

7/10 Build date, 22k miles to date, no issues thus far. Just had a service 2 weeks ago

[bozola]

I don't buy this "this date to this date" recall. I had the airbag issue and my car was one month out of the recall notice. BMW would not honor it until I wrote a complaint letter. In fact my independent couldn't believe that they wouldn't even try it. If I was one/two months out of this recall, I'd be all over it.

[128Convertibleguy]

Originally Posted by bozola

I don't buy this "this date to this date" recall. I had the airbag issue and my car was one month out of the recall notice. BMW would not honor it until I wrote a complaint letter. In fact my independent couldn't believe that they wouldn't even try it. If I was one/two months out of this recall, I'd be all over it.

Judging from the number BMW says will be recalled it's likely to be far more limited than all VANOS cars from this date to that date.

Good luck on getting a dealer to go outside BMW's formal recall list. They're unlikely to get paid by BMW, who won't want to open the floodgates. If they had to do the work on every VANOS car, the cost would be huge. You might be able to get a "good will" exemption, but I wouldn't bet on it.

If you're not on the official list, that is some cause for worrying less.

[Jockey]

It's interesting. What is BMW using to figure out what N55s are needed to be recalled?

Is it a part issue or an inspector/installer issue?

[Silenus]

Every single N55 produced in that date range will shear its VANOS bolts. It depends on how you maintain and drive your car as to when it happens. I'm a BMW Tech and we usually see it after 40k miles.

Glad to see BMW stepping up and doing the right thing.

[128Convertibleguy]

Originally Posted by Jockey

It's interesting. What is BMW using to figure out what N55s are needed to be recalled?

Is it a part issue or an inspector/installer issue?

Originally Posted by Silenus

Every single N55 produced in that date range will shear its VANOS bolts. It depends on how you maintain and drive your car as to when it happens. I'm a BMW Tech and we usually see it after 40k miles.

Glad to see BMW stepping up and doing the right thing.

So, it may be only N55s. Or it may be some other cars specified. Without the actual recall, we can't know for sure what cars are being recalled.

The service bulletin called out other engines:

SUBJECT
N51, N52K, N52T and N55 Engine: Various Faults Stored in DME Related to VANOS and Camshaft
Position

Maybe Silenus can speak to those?

[Silenus]

Originally Posted by 128Convertibleguy

So, it may be only N55s. Or it may be some other cars specified. Without the actual recall, we can't know for sure what cars are being recalled.

The service bulletin called out other engines:

SUBJECT
N51, N52K, N52T and N55 Engine: Various Faults Stored in DME Related to VANOS and Camshaft
Position

Maybe Silenus can speak to those?

It will be the other engines as well. They are much much less common than the N55, likely because they are under less stress (lower performance category). We do see them though. 02/10-12/10 N55s are constantly in rotation at the shop. It's as simple as someone deciding to put 8 bolts on the car that are the wrong tensile strength. Million dollar mistake.

[Nugget]

Originally Posted by Silenus

Every single N55 produced in that date range will shear its VANOS bolts. It depends on how you maintain and drive your car as to when it happens. I'm a BMW Tech and we usually see it after 40k miles.

Glad to see BMW stepping up and doing the right thing.

So my car was built in December 2010 so I assume this will be a problem at some point.
When you say how you drive and maintain it matters, what makes the most difference? My car is modified and driven hard, but I also change the oil very 5000kms.
Also is it possible to replace just the bolts or do you have to replace the whole Vanos unit?

[ONDEMAND]

Originally Posted by CRuben09

I'm a 10/10 build date and happened to my car last July.

Originally Posted by ONDEMAND

Im a 10/10 build and have about 54k miles. No issue yet (knocks on wood)

Well Shit! Now I'm knocking on wood again!

[T1T2GRE]

Not sure I'm effected. 2011 128i built 4/10. So far okay. Asked my SA this morning and he said he won't know until recalls are rolled put. I am assuming I have the N52....

[Silenus]

Originally Posted by Nugget

So my car was built in December 2010 so I assume this will be a problem at some point.
When you say how you drive and maintain it matters, what makes the most difference? My car is modified and driven hard, but I also change the oil very 5000kms.
Also is it possible to replace just the bolts or do you have to replace the whole Vanos unit?

I can't say for sure, but I'd say the heat and increased actuation from hard driving would do it faster.

I could see BMW going 2 ways with the recall. For the cars that we open up that have no damage, just replace the bolts on the actuators. If we open up the car and find any of the bolts of sheared, time to drop the subframe, oil pan, and go hunting for the missing pieces . Those cars will get entirely new VANOS actuators.

[rking117]

Small sample size for sure. The recall that was announced the other day affected many more model years than this.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/11/au...ines.html?_r=0

6 cylinder BMW's affected by the recall -
2010-12 1 Series
2010-12 3 Series
2010-2012 5 Series
2010-12 5 Series Gran Turismo
2012 6 Series
2010-2012 X3
2010-12 X5
2010-12 X6
2010-12 Z4

Looks like am in the mix of it with my 1 but my Z might be ok if they dotn expand this recall.

On another note tried to crank the car this mornng and got the service engine light and ran very rough for a few seconds. I hope this isnt the gremlins coming out in the vanos. Already scheduled a tow to BMW just to make sure.

UGGG!!!

[128Convertibleguy]

Bump to see if there's any more info. So far, no failures on normally aspirated, even though the BMW recall announcement covers them.