2013 BMW 328I: engine failure

Filed Mar 26, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · MA

I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious safety issue with my [Your BMW Model & Year]. My vehicle was recalled due to an issue with the engine coolant pump, which could lead to a short circuit and, in rare cases, a fire. •The recall was issued over a month ago, but BMW has not provided a solution or a repair date. •On March 26th, 2025, I visited an authorized BMW service center for an oil change and to address the recall, but they informed me that the necessary parts were not available and gave no timeline for the repair. •For the past three weeks, white smoke has been coming from the hood, and there is a noticeable burning smell. •I have a video documenting this issue. •My vehicle is in active use, and the problem is getting worse daily, increasing the risk of engine failure or fire. BMW’s delay in addressing this recall is putting my safety and the safety of others at risk. I request immediate action to ensure that BMW prioritizes this repair and prevents further damage to my vehicle. I would appreciate your urgent attention to this matter. Please let me know how I can proceed with this complaint. Best regards, Name: [XXX] Phone: [XXX] Vin Number : [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 24, 2024 · Engine, Transmission · MN

Engine Timing Chain and Oil pump drive chain modules failed. I found this from BMW website that Defect Code: SI B11 03 17: For this vehicle the timing chain and the oil pump drive chain modules (N20, N26 engines) limited Warranty for in defects in materials or workmanship has been extended to 7 years / 70000 miles as determined from the original in-service date. This coverage is subject to the same vehicle eligibility requirements, limitations, and exclusions that apply to the BMW New vehicle limited warranty for passenger cars and light trucks. for eligible vehicles that are beyond this 7/70 coverage, please refer to SI B11 02 21 for additional coverage that may also apply. I filed a case directly with BMW of NA - they told me get it towed to BMW dealership and get it diagnosed, I followed the instructions and got it diagnosed. BMW dealership confirmed the main cause was the Timing chain broke and engine seized. but BMW declined to do anything about it. please see the link by BMW below: [XXX] $ INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 7, 2024 · Engine, Transmission · PA

I was driving and my car began to lose power and Drivetrain Malfunction appeared on the screen. I had to pull over to a side street and turn the car off. I turned it back on but it was very sluggish and moved very slow. Once I parked it I turned it off and tried to start it back up but it wouldn’t turn over. I contacted BMW and they said they couldn’t do anything. I need a new engine and timing chain, fuel pump and oil pan.

Filed Oct 6, 2024 · Engine · PA

Check engine light came on and car began to slow down on the expressway going 45 mph. My car now does not start and will not turn over. Before all of this happened my car was misfiring and a warning came up saying Engine Oil pressure Low. I just received an oil change a week prior. Now my car doesn't work and I cannot drive it at all. BMW said my timing Chain is broken and I have an oil leak. I will need a new engine. My mechanic said my entire engine needs to be replaced.

Filed Feb 19, 2024 · Engine · TX

Timing chain in engine failed while the vehicle was going 70 MPH on a busy highway. Vehicle had 96,054 miles. “Low oil pressure” warning came on and immediately the engine lost compression and car had to be pulled over to side of the highway. The spot the car stalled was in a dangerous curve of the highway making the towing process dangerous. Vehicle does not switch into neutral when the engine isn’t on. Vehicle had to be dragged onto tow truck ruining the tires. Quoted the repairs at 6 different shops and they were all very familiar with this issue. All estimates for engine repair exceeded the value of the vehicle. Additional costs may have also been incurred as oil pump may have been damaged from timing chain failure. BMW never notified me of the timing chain issues and no dealership I had prior work at ever mentioned the issue.

Filed Jul 12, 2023 · Engine · MI

Timing chain tensioner failed clogging the oil pump with plastic which in turn starved the engine for oil. We got a low oil pressure light in the Interstate at 70MPH. 10 seconds later trying to pull across 3 lanes of traffic the engine seized. Luckily we were able to coast across the 3rd lane onto the side of the Interstate. With traffic flying by I had to get my family into an uber. I realize the class action suit ended but my car barely has 70k miles on it. I don't see how bmw could get away with this. There are many of their cars that are past the 10 year class action suit but under or at the 70k mile cut off like mine. The car is still at the dealership. It has been inspected and I have been informed that I'm not eligible for the repairs to be covered. The dealer wants 15 thousand dollars for a new engine to be installed on a 12 thousand dollar car. They have offered to sell me a USED engine with 135000 miles on it for 12,000 installed. Imagine the story this would be if one of my family members or myself had been hit on the Interstate trying to get into another vehicle.

Filed Jun 23, 2022 · Engine · 75,000 miles · NJ

The contact owns a 2013 BMW 328i. The contact stated that while the daughter was driving approximately 60 mph the vehicle suddenly began to lose automotive power and stalled. During the incident, the warning message "battery discharge and start engine had displayed. After replacing the battery the engine eventually was restarted but the next day the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was then towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The cause of the engine failure was not explained. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 75,000.

Filed Jun 15, 2022 · Engine · MD

2013 BMW 328I X Drive. A drive train warning light came on at approx 11300 miles. After dealer inspection the timing chain guides may have caused/or the chain my be loose and is now dropping metal into the engine oil. Repair requires a new engine. Inspection also revealed a waste gate control malfunction on the turbo. Repair new turbo.

Filed Dec 17, 2020 · Engine · 10 miles · WA

The low oil pressure warning came on while driving on a highway asking me to pull over and don't drive the car anymore. Took car to independent bmw repair shop that recently changed my oil who found oil pressure faults but no definite failures but suspect an oil pump timing chain issue that is common with bmw 4 cylinder turbo engines that leads to engine failure. The mechanic told me he recently repaired 4 cars that suffered engine failure due to this issue. I took the car to the dealer next door to further diagnose the issue. He made further tests at my expense and verified there is slack in the timing chain. Dealer service advisor told me not to drive the car as it may lead to engine failure. I was quoted $871 to further diagnose the issue and if the timing chain needed replacement the repair would cost an addition $5400 . My car is worth between 7.5k and 9k there's a class action lawsuit about this problem (see www.timingchainmodulesettlement.com) bmw knows there's an issue with the timing belt in this models that may lead to engine failure but the settlement limits the mileage to 100k. Unfortunately my car has greater than 100k miles so I cannot participate on this class action lawsuit. But why should I bear the cost of fixing something I have no control of that leads to engine failure because I am out of warranty? This is poor design on the part of the manufacturer that leads to engine failure and needs to be part of a recall.

Filed Jul 4, 2020 · Engine · 75,000 miles · CA

After about 75k miles, the engine has started to make a "whining" noise at around 3-4 thousand RPM. Diagnosed as a timing chain tension issue that many similar cars with this engine (n20) have. This apparent defect seems to be quite common among owners of cars with this engine. Current course of action is to spend $4k in labor and parts to proactive replace the timing chain and plastic guides, or not do anything. The latter would surely result in engine failure and require replacement (roughly $20k).

Filed Mar 31, 2020 · Engine · 108,000 miles · MA

Was driving my bmw 328i on a highway when a 'check oil' light came on. A few minutes later, a 'drivetrain failure' light came on. I took the next exit and within 3 minutes the engine failed. I was able to coast over to the breakdown lane. I had the car towed to the nearest bmw dealership. They checked out the vehicle and said there were 'metal fragments' in the oil, but could not explain what caused that without disassembling the engine. They said the only way to repair the car would be to spend $15,000 to have the engine replaced. I did a google search and discovered that hundreds of bmw owners have had similar experiences, and the cause was a timing chain failure. I had my car serviced just 5 weeks earlier at my local bmw dealership, and they either didn't check the timing chain or didn't notice it was close to failure. I was lucky that I was able to get off the highway before my engine stalled, or I could have been injured or killed in high-speed traffic. Since this is a known problem, bmw should repair the defective timing chain in all the affected vehicles, and immediately notify owners about the danger.

Filed Mar 12, 2020 · Engine · 83,000 miles · PA

Last feb, my engine light came on mid-drive, I lost power, engine began making a strange noise high-pitched noise, etc. I get it towed to p&w bmw in n. Oakland (pittsburgh, pa). All that week, 2 or 3 tests & inspections to troubleshoot each costing about $160/ea and I was told there was a recalled part that was replaced free of charge. Later, I learned that the total estimate is about $6300. The timing chain guide broke inside the engine which damaged the timing chain, guides, oil pump and oil pump module. I'm sticker shocked primarily bc it's a bmw with 84k miles (2013 328i xdrive) and I keep the oil changes on point. Upon receiving a summary from the service tech via text, I see the recall is on a turbocharger oil supply line (car has a turbo engine). I google it and in abt 10mins, I learn that when it fails, the timing chain guide fails inside the engine which damages the .... (see above). In addition, there are complaints galore with a class action lawsuit in tow over this issue as hundreds have come forward over having to fork to out anywhere from $4500-$15000 to replace engines (or engine parts) with less than 90k miles on them (in most cases I've read and I've read about 50) since 2012 (source: https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/826357-bmw-class-action-seeks-fix-engine-chain-defect/comment-page-2). A federal judge made a partial ruling as early as oct 2018 as I'm sure you are aware. I spoke to the manager and this is all news to him.