2012 BMW 528I transmission problems

Filed Apr 18, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · CA

I had just purchased a car but a month ago I was driving to lunch and I was at a stop sign when the light turned green I started to go the car started shaking and smoke was coming out of the front under the hood I had just an oil change so I took it back to the oil change shop. They could not figure out why the engine blew and I had to take it to a different BMW shop where I have to purchase a rebuilt motor and pay for the repairs. I can request all records from the automotive shop if needed.

Filed Nov 8, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · FL · fire

While driving error message came up on screen saying add a quart of oil, car was smoking and engine block caught fire.

Filed Nov 8, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · FL · fire

Vehicle leaked oil to where it caused an engine fire.

Filed Oct 28, 2024 · Engine, Transmission · GA

The drivetrain disintegrated. Car started running really rough, and then just stopped completely. Would crank but would not move. Yes, it is available. Car would barely go, and then just stopped in the road. I had to have it towed to a mechanic. No, I had not received a warning of this possible hazard. No, it was not inspected by any of the above, but was inspected by numerous mechanics. Yes, drivetrain light/warning came on, as well as, drive at a slower rate when the car started to drive roughly. The turbo also went out on the car. May 28, 2024

Filed Apr 8, 2024 · Transmission · 87,000 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2012 BMW 528I. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the transmission warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 17V138000 (Power Train) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 87,000.

Filed May 17, 2022 · Engine, Transmission · 109,000 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2012 BMW 528i. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The drivetrain malfunction warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with a defective oil pump. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number 14V176000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 109,000.

Filed Feb 12, 2022 · Acceleration, Engine · CA

I own bmw 528i 2012. These engines are straight up bad. Timing chain failed at 149K miles with no signs of failure. Just driving down the road when suddenly the car just turns off and goes into neutral on its own. I simply pulled over restarted the car to cylinder misfires, car struggling to accelerate, smoke out the exhaust, and a loud rattling sound. I pulled over had the car towed. I had my car taken to a independent shop for repairs and diagnostics and what I got told was absolutley crazy. The timing chain guides broke off the timing chain, went down into the oil pump and those pieces settled into the pump restricting oil from going to the top of the motor causing the timing chain to start slacking and breaking from the top. He also said one of the Camshaft caps also has a crack in it.The car has been parked in my driveway for 6 months because repairing the motor would cost a ton, and putting in a remanafactured motor with labor cost would cost just as much as buying the same car again. BMW had a lawsuit about the N20/N26 but thats only covered upto 100K miles. Considering my car was running good I had no reason too change anything on this car. Oil changes were done almost every 3-5K miles and the car had no sounds no lights on the dash. I tried to claim the SULEV/PZEV Warranty which is covered upto 150K miles and the dealerships either never contacted me back or they just said no. I even contacted the HQ of BMW and they also refused any repair even with SULEV Warranty. BMW knows 100% these motors have a bad timing chain issue and that these timing chains can fail at any moment. What type of motor fails at 150K miles. Im a college student, my dad gave me this car for graduating high school. I maintained my car so much just for it to fail out of no where and the way it failed could have caused someone to crash into me. Im really upset that BMW isnt taking responsibility for whats wrong and wont recall these timing chains or motor no matter the mileage on the car.

Filed Aug 10, 2020 · Electrical, Fuel system · 107,000 miles · CA

I was driving on the road and I accelerated a lil bit faster to beat the traffic light and then my car loss power and stalled out and I got stuck in the middle of the bridge and I was causing traffic the power train malfunction and the fuel supply light cam on and the charge battery light came on I try starting it but it wouldn't start and the fuel supply light kept coming on and some wiring problem was going on when trying to start it my tv screen would turn orange and the speedometer where the MPH/gas/temperature/and RPM would twitch like some electrical problem

Filed Feb 17, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 54,497 miles · CA

My car was having a whining noise and during the diagnosis it was found that the plastic guides within the engine block that keep the timing chain intact is bad. The technician also found that the guibo (aka universal joint) was cracked. From my research on the matter, I read that the federal safety agency had issued a letter pertaining to other make and model on faulty or poorly designed guibo. I presume that the affected models be investigated and coverage be extended to other lines of bmw. This is the directive from the federal safety agency I am referring to: rcak-17v067-6564.pdf rcrit-17v067-9870.pdf my current mileage is only about 55,000 miles and maybe there were other owners who developed this fault within the standard or extended warranty for the product line that was outside this recall. Please investigate and take corrective action.

Filed Feb 8, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 93,915 miles · CA

When driving the car on the highway, a drive train malfunction warning would appear frequently on the display panel. I took the car to valley bmw in modesto, ca, on november 2018. After on extensive diagnostic evaluation, they found nothing wrong with the vehicle. The only suggestion was to replace the car's battery. I took the car to batteries plus bulbs for a second opinion. They determined that the battery was still in good condition and did not need to be replaced. The drive train malfunction continued to appear when driving on highway. In a subsequent visit to the dealer, I again mentioned the issue with the drivetrain malfunction warning still apearing on the display panel. Our customer service agents, said they couldnt find anything wrong with the car,therefor, there was nothing they could do. On a trip to san francisco, we experienced a major engine break down. The car had completely shut down. Fortunatly,we had just exited the highway. We then had the car towed to petter pan bmw dealership and they concluded that indeed the engine had experienced a major breakdown, in their evaluation, they also noted the battery was in good condition. This completely contradicts the claim by valley bmw that the battery was the issue. Since then, I have found out that there is a class action lawsuit against bmw for a defective n20 engine which is the engine in my car. I also went as far as contacting the ceo of bmw northamerica reganding this deffective motor. As expect bmw refused to accept any responsability for the deffective engine. Once I brought up the class action lawsuit, bmw cut off all communications with me. My family and I are asking for your support in investigating bmw on this deffective motor and holding then accountable for such poor and negligent behavior, please help all affected customers with this terrible and devestating situation.