BMW Recall 23V-707 - 2010-12 N52 VANOS bolts - Check your VIN

[Piper1]

Seeing this gave me hope, called my dealer on Tuesday and they gave me the sale ole no fix yet.

[William Turner]

I got my car back yesterday (Thursday May 30). The list of replaced items under the recall is amazing. They replaced both vanos adjusters, a long list of bolts, gaskets, etc. The removed the pan and found the heads of the broken bolts. I have driven the car about 50 miles and it runs great. The dealer (Rusnak in Westlake CA) was great about pointing out several items including the valve cover that could be replaced for just the cost of the parts while they performed the recall.

[sappersix]

I recently acquired a 2012 E82 128i. The car was originally delivered to a US service member in Germany and made its way to the US via duty station changes. The car has a Feb 2, 2012 production date.

This recall says it covers vehicles produced from Sep 2, 2009 thru July 12, 2012. When I check open recalls with my VIN, I see no open recalls.

Would anyone know if all N52s produced in the recall window are subject to the recall? Is it possible that my VIN was overlooked because it was originally purchased in Germany and therefore not registered with NHTSA?

I've submitted a customer service request to BMW USA and I'll contact my local dealer next week. I was just curious if others have any insight to whether the recall is for all N52 equipped vehicles or only some N52 equipped vehicles.

Thanks!

[William Turner]

Sapper six-- It is my understanding that this recall is only for some N52, not all produced during the time frame the recall covers. I would recommend calling BMW USA, Customer Service/recall hotline 800-525-7417 and talking to them about your concerns. I had some questions and they were very patient and very helpful. There is even the possibility that the recall service was already performed. It turns out there were a total of 4 outstanding recalls on my car (3 in addition to the vanos bolt issue) and had all 4 performed by my local dealer.

[jechristensen]

My check engine light is on with my 2011 128i. The dealer says it is because of the Vanos bolts recall issue. To get it fixed they said they have to make an argument in writing and send proof of it to BMW and that means my car could be in the shop for weeks since it could take weeks to get the parts and once they start the process they wouldn't let me go home with the car. Does this sound right? Is there any way to get this fixed faster or at least not get caught in this limbo?

[William Turner]

time wise, my experience is close to what your dealer told you. I went into the dealer on May 1 and got the car back May 30. To be fair, I was out of town when they finished and picked it up after the Memorial Day weekend, So it took more like 3 1/2 weeks to do the recall repairs. They did not mention having to "prove anything" but it took about 2 1/2 weeks to get the parts. I know they inspected and verified broken bolts before ordering the parts and that the car was "could not be started or driven" until repaired. Fortunately I have two cars so being without my 128i did not pose a problem for me.

[HappyDuck]

I had a similar issue and they needed to make the argument to BMW that my car needed to be done ahead of their schedule, and then they had the car for a month until the parts came in.
That being said, it was well worth it as the recall required BMW replace some expensive gaskets.

[hoki06]

Called my dealer this past week to check on parts availability. Still not available and expected in October.

[Bmw fan 580]

I'm in Canada. Had my recall done last week. No issues has I had no broken bolts. Car only has about 86000 km or 51000 miles.

[Metta121]

I dropped off my 2010 128i (N51, approximately 190,000 miles) at my local dealer last Thursday (Aug 8). I noticed the remedy for the 23V-707 recall was available, so I booked an appointment online. My car had not exhibited any performance issues; however, the SES light illuminated a few days prior, but my OBD2 scanner read P12BA. Based on my research, that’s a code for the map sensor. Anyway, the service advisor said the entire VANOS unit/assembly would be replaced in addition to checking to see if any bolts were broken or sheared. I requested a loaner/courtesy vehicle. To my surprise, I was issued an i7 (sticker price $140,845 USD). Needless to say, I don’t care how long it takes for them to complete the service. The i7 is an amazing ride. I can’t imagine the dealership letting me keep this car for 2 to 3 weeks.

[mkeiser]

just scheduled mine for Wednesday. let's see if they reimburse me...

[cerealwars]

Since my 128i has desperately needed a valve cover for some time now, I decided to give this a shot while I was in there.

Proceed at your own risk. This job honestly sucks. What should have been easy (not to mention shouldn't have been a problem in the first place), was made nearly impossible by atrocious fastener engineering. Thanks BMW!

The torx bolt heads strip out incredibly easy, since the bolts are made out of either aluminum, or possibly provolone. I couldn’t be certain. I modified my torx socket in two ways: I ground off the lead-in chamfer on the torx head to maximize engagement, and I ground the shoulder down so I could apply torque at the squarest angle possible.

Maximum effort applied, I still managed to mangle two of the bolt heads. They're still stuck in there. Kinda wish I just left it alone at this point. Whatever.

[mkeiser]

Originally Posted by cerealwars

Since my 128i has desperately needed a valve cover for some time now, I decided to give this a shot while I was in there.

Proceed at your own risk. This job honestly sucks. What should have been easy (not to mention shouldn't have been a problem in the first place), was made nearly impossible by atrocious fastener engineering. Thanks BMW!

The torx bolt heads strip out incredibly easy, since the bolts are made out of either aluminum, or possibly provolone. I couldn’t be certain. I modified my torx socket in two ways: I ground off the lead-in chamfer on the torx head to maximize engagement, and I ground the shoulder down so I could apply torque at the squarest angle possible.

Maximum effort applied, I still managed to mangle two of the bolt heads. They're still stuck in there. Kinda wish I just left it alone at this point. Whatever.

guessing your car wasn't part of the recall?

[cerealwars]

It is, but the parts are so backordered that I didn't think they'd help me before my car caught on fire from oil leaking onto my manifolds.

After waiting for nearly a year, I just decided to make it happen. Not a big fan of letting others work on my car either. Plus, I got some N52 experience out of it. And, how often do their techs see N52s these days?

Would the dealer techs have done a better job? For sure it's possible. But I know I'm hard to beat.

[mkeiser]

Originally Posted by cerealwars

It is, but the parts are so backordered that I didn't think they'd help me before my car caught on fire from oil leaking onto my manifolds.

After waiting for nearly a year, I just decided to make it happen. Not a big fan of letting others work on my car either. Plus, I got some N52 experience out of it. And, how often do their techs see N52s these days?

Would the dealer techs have done a better job? For sure it's possible. But I know I'm hard to beat.

I only bring it up because of the timing since it seems like the recall remedy is just now becoming widely available for our vehicles. https://my.bmwusa.com/safety-and-emission-recalls

[cerealwars]

BAHAHAHA

I checked on this weekly for ten months.

Those parts wouldn't be available now if I hadn't done my valve cover, so you're all welcome.

[mkeiser]

Originally Posted by cerealwars

BAHAHAHA

I checked on this weekly for ten months.

Those parts wouldn't be available now if I hadn't done my valve cover, so you're all welcome.

thank you, sir hahah! sorry for the unfortunate timing.

[mkeiser]

Denied reimbursement for two reasons; 1) work wasn't completed by a BMW Certified shop and 2) parts weren't ordered directly from BMW.

~~~~

However they did inspect my work and opened a "tsara" case with BMW and they concluded that I completed the recall to their standards. And I used Genuine BMW parts although I ordered through FCP Euro and ECS Tuning.

So a little disappointing but what can ya do...

[Piper1]

Keeping fingers crossed called and booked appointment for Wednesday told it’s taking 2-3 days.

[Donkeyshins]

Just had my recall performed by BMW Bellevue. Thankfully, no VANOS bolts were loose or broken (although one of the eccentric shaft motor bolts failed during removal and was replaced). Got a quick video from the shop during the free inspection - the only other issues noticed were that my rear pads and rotors were approaching the need to be replaced (already in my punch list for this fall) and that I probably needed an alignment due to some slight scrubbing on the inside of the tires.

Other than not having my car for a day and a half, probably the best outcome I could have hoped for. 👍

[Piper1]

Originally Posted by Donkeyshins

Just had my recall performed by BMW Bellevue. Thankfully, no VANOS bolts were loose or broken (although one of the eccentric shaft motor bolts failed during removal and was replaced). Got a quick video from the shop during the free inspection - the only other issues noticed were that my rear pads and rotors were approaching the need to be replaced (already in my punch list for this fall) and that I probably needed an alignment due to some slight scrubbing on the inside of the tires.

Other than not having my car for a day and a half, probably the best outcome I could have hoped for. 👍

I was surprised how fast they were as well picked mine up last night before they closed. Though I didn’t get any info on if anything was found during the recall just the video saying it was performed and a quote to replace front struts at the cost of mid end coilovers which is my plan anyway and get all 4 corners covered not just front stock struts.

[William Turner]

Originally Posted by Piper1

I was surprised how fast they were as well picked mine up last night before they closed. Though I didn’t get any info on if anything was found during the recall just the video saying it was performed and a quote to replace front struts at the cost of mid end coilovers which is my plan anyway and get all 4 corners covered not just front stock struts.

That is great, doing it that fast I would have to guess that none of the bolts were loose or broken (which would have required replacing the vanos unit(s) and if any were broken, removing the pan and finding the bolt head(s). You may be already doing it but I would think you would want to find out exactly what they found and did.