Calling all N20 BMW Experts

"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani) 08/13/2016 at 13:29 • Filed to: BMW, F30

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So I picked her up today! After a short Italian tuneup on my drive home, she drives excellent, throttle response seemed to have got better than my first 2 drives.

Just to calm my nerves about that N20 timing chain, can the Oppo resident BMW experts comment if this is just VANOS working and not the timing chain? I could only record idling, couldn’t rev it since nobody was around...

Idling F30

petebmwm > 404 - User No Longer Available 08/13/2016 at 13:41

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I just went outside and started a new one, sounds the same, they all sound like diesels.

N51fanatic > 404 - User No Longer Available 08/13/2016 at 13:51

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I just got an n20 Msport a few weeks ago. A few weeks ago I started it without the radio and heard the awful startup. It goes away a few seconds into idle or knee you tap the gas. I too was alarmed, but quick check on Google says the direct injection does sound like an 80s diesel on cold starts

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > 404 - User No Longer Available 08/13/2016 at 14:13

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I have honestly mistaken several gas 3 and 4-series in the target parking lot to be diesel. They just sound that way.

404 - User No Longer Available > N51fanatic 08/13/2016 at 14:41

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Yeah mine did that too, sales guy almost freaked out and immediately explained “yeah they all do that” in fear that I don’t want to pick up the car today. I explained it’s the piezoelectric lifters.

404 - User No Longer Available > petebmwm 08/13/2016 at 14:45

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Glad mine sounds like it’s new :)

I would be pretty worried if it didn’t, after all it only has 42k kms (yes, 26k miles).

404 - User No Longer Available > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 08/13/2016 at 14:46

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Yeah, which is why I want to baseline it, so I can notice deviations and spot problems early on. I do have a case of OCD there. The only time I was told what a failing timing chain sounds like was for the water pumps in the ECOTECs, if someone screwed up the job and not use the holder tool, it’ll mess up the tensioner and slowly kill the engine all while making it sound like it has a supercharger.

AM3R shamefully returns > 404 - User No Longer Available 08/13/2016 at 15:26

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Normal stuff. How's the car so far?

petebmwm > 404 - User No Longer Available 08/13/2016 at 15:29

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I’m not saying the new ones sound good, but yours sounds just like em!

petebmwm > AM3R shamefully returns 08/13/2016 at 15:30

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it’s amazing, that the motor sounds like shit is “normal” for a company that literally has motor as a middle name.....

AM3R shamefully returns > petebmwm 08/13/2016 at 15:37

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I have an n52 328i and an n54 335i. Both sound pretty shitty at idle, but I love both once you start driving. The 335i really sounds like a diesel.

petebmwm > AM3R shamefully returns 08/13/2016 at 15:43

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both of those sound infinitely better than the n20

AM3R shamefully returns > petebmwm 08/13/2016 at 15:44

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Does BMW offer a performance exhaust for the N20? The PE for both the n52 and n54 are my favorite sounding exhausts for both. Could be a little louder.

petebmwm > AM3R shamefully returns 08/13/2016 at 16:28

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http://www.shopbmwusa.com/PRODUCT/4163/B…

404 - User No Longer Available > AM3R shamefully returns 08/13/2016 at 17:10

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Oh it’s great. Drove her out of town back home on the highway in 3rd/4th, really helped with carbon cleaning. Still getting used to the 6MT though, much more used to the 5MT pattern in my Solstice so have been accidentally going into reverse occasionally. The key fob roundel was mad scratched up, so picked up a new one at the dealer down the street. Guy had one, and was nice enough to give it to me for half off list $7 Canuck bucks. Trying to put it on now but seems like for some reason the new emblem is a bit thicker than the old one. Part number matches up and I double checked on Bimmerpost though.

404 - User No Longer Available > AM3R shamefully returns 08/13/2016 at 17:14

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One more thing... TIL that BMW dealers in Canada do not have access to the central service records, unlike the GM dealers. So I guess it’s a call to BMW Canada next week to try to pull all the service records. Hopefully the 4th year service is already done, but I highly doubt it.

404 - User No Longer Available > petebmwm 08/13/2016 at 17:15

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Well now we know why they had to spend all the R&D on those fake engine noises...

petebmwm > 404 - User No Longer Available 08/13/2016 at 20:20

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the m cars sound brilliant on the outside too, no idea why they would do that either....

AM3R shamefully returns > 404 - User No Longer Available 08/13/2016 at 21:29

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Strange, even my Indy shop was able to run my VIN to get all service records for my car. I learned my car is on its 5th HPFP when it was at 62k haha.

finn's arm > 404 - User No Longer Available 08/15/2016 at 10:50

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I thought the B48 uses Piezoelectric and the N20's didn’t.

404 - User No Longer Available > finn's arm 08/15/2016 at 11:12

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Actually you’re right, they didn’t implement the piezo on the N55, and N20 reused the same system.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthr…

finn's arm > 404 - User No Longer Available 08/15/2016 at 11:36

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Those things are... pricey.

The B48/B58 are gems according to bimmerpost’s technical write ups. I’m curious about long term durability and how people cope w/ the timing parts being next to the firewall. Seems like it would require engine out to do a vcg w/o it eventually leaking back there due to tight tight clearances.

404 - User No Longer Available > finn's arm 08/15/2016 at 11:40

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Oh yeah, if the B engines have timing chain issues like the N20s then let the fun begin.

TylerJ > 404 - User No Longer Available 09/01/2016 at 13:21

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Can confirm. ‘12 328i sounds absolutely dreadful at idle. Tis normal.