Complete Timing Chain Failure

[just2talented]

Sorry for your nightmare. Bmw agreed to give me $1000 for the engine problems. Plus the dealer has been advised to compensate me for down time, rentals, pain and suffering, etc. Well see what they end up doing. They said the car is worth 24k. I might lease a 1 series and just trade it in.

[O-cha]

Originally Posted by Thisisdudewhoru

And on page 3 it says intake cam is not turning. WTF causes that to happen unless it isn't even hooked to the timing chain? Sounds like they don't know what the hell is going on.

No, that is correct. The bolts that bolt the vanos straight gears to the camshaft sheered. This is the only thing that turns the camshaft, the chain is still in place, but rotating freely around the cam.

Originally Posted by just2talented

Sorry for your nightmare. Bmw agreed to give me $1000 for the engine problems. Plus the dealer has been advised to compensate me for down time, rentals, pain and suffering, etc. Well see what they end up doing. They said the car is worth 24k. I might lease a 1 series and just trade it in.

I wouldn't take it. Definitely do NOT sign anything. Go get a leakdown and compression test from a GOOD shop that knows what they are doing.

If the valve seats or piston are messed up it will cost a whole lot more then 1k$ to fix it, a whole lot more. The fact they are trying to "pay" you for the problem indicates the obviously want to wash their hands of it which is quite upsetting.

While trading it is is one thing, think about the person that gets it after you, and if you get a 135, be prepared for even bigger fuel pump and misfire headaches, those cars are horribly filled with problems that are nightmares to diagnose.

[onebluemcm]

OP - it's time to seek legal council on the matter - seriously.

It's as crystal clear to me as it is to O-cha that now they are trying to get rid of you so they don't have to deal with a problem that they have now created. If you care at all about getting the S54 fixed, you need to get organized, get numbers together for estimates to repair it correctly, and find out if or how the law may be able to help you.

If you take $1000 and keep the car, you have to realize that it is going to be I don't know, probably anywhere from 3-5x that amount to get it right out of your pocket, and if you don't fix it good luck selling it.

Maybe they are giving you an out with the $24k on trade, but that number will very likely dwindle once you go down that road. The S54 in your car can be made right, and possibly better than before, but it will take know-how that few dealers have and money - and an owner that is persistent and won't take their shit. As much as I avoid lawyers at all costs, this is a situation where I might get some advice....

[just2talented]

OK this is my plan of action for now. Im getting the compression test done on friday by my mechanic. Hes charging me $60 i dunno if thats a good price or not but whatever, i trust him. Im also going to give him the copies of the service statements and have him give me his entire diagnosis on the car. If anything is a miss i will be taking the car right back to the dealer. I really want to keep the car so im hoping it works out to my advantage. I picked up the car today from my auto-body specialist with a freshly new front bumper paid for by bmw. I beat the shit out of the car the entire way home trying to make it do something and to no avail. I have to say that honestly the car feels fine now for some odd reason. I have it parked on a clean spot of cement to look for any oil leaks.

[O-cha]

Originally Posted by just2talented

OK this is my plan of action for now. Im getting the compression test done on friday by my mechanic. Hes charging me $60 i dunno if thats a good price or not but whatever, i trust him. Im also going to give him the copies of the service statements and have him give me his entire diagnosis on the car. If anything is a miss i will be taking the car right back to the dealer. I really want to keep the car so im hoping it works out to my advantage. I picked up the car today from my auto-body specialist with a freshly new front bumper paid for by bmw. I beat the shit out of the car the entire way home trying to make it do something and to no avail. I have to say that honestly the car feels fine now for some odd reason. I have it parked on a clean spot of cement to look for any oil leaks.

compression AND leak down, leak down is important, it's a better sign of bad valve seats. You should get two srts of numbers one in PSI (compression) and the other in % (leakdown).

If those turn out ok the at least you know nothing serious is messed up.

[onebluemcm]

^+1
Leak down very important in your case because of the potential for valve or valve seat damage. Almost no point in getting this done w/o leakdown assessment.

[just2talented]

I spoke with my independent mechanic. He himself has a s54 m3. He told me that since theres no problem at the moment he wants me to drive it for 1200 miles then bring it back for an early oil change since most of the head is now new. He said a compression test is only necessary if im losing power which im not right now. The car is at the moment running well so until i notice something goes awry im going to postpone the tests for now.

[Mike Clark]

You indicated car was still under warranty. Is it the normal 4yr 50,000 mile one when sold new or a CPO 6 yr 100,000 warranty when sold used. If it's the 4 yr warranty, I would presume it is almost used up and you need to take action soon. If it's the CPO warranty, you have time left.

[O-cha]

Originally Posted by just2talented

I spoke with my independent mechanic. He himself has a s54 m3. He told me that since theres no problem at the moment he wants me to drive it for 1200 miles then bring it back for an early oil change since most of the head is now new. He said a compression test is only necessary if im losing power which im not right now. The car is at the moment running well so until i notice something goes awry im going to postpone the tests for now.

Your mechanic friend is an idiot to put it plainly, changing the valves (the only new part of this supposed "mostly new head") introduces no "wear in" metals like new bearings and piston rings do.

Find another mechanic and get the tests done.

Also, I doubt they decked the head when they took it off....

[inTgr8r]

^I definitely agree

[RBull]

Have to agree here too. Sounds like your mechanic doesn't want anything to do with it and is giving some advice that doesn't make much sense.

[Z4-VILLA]

dude Call me I have a number for you.....I got my entire car de-bugged...granted my issues were things like electronics but any way text me or whatever i have the number of the head honcho in jersey whos the service exec manager for the dam region.

[ANILE8]

Looking at what has happened to you I would be pushing for a new motor and I wouldn't stop until I got one from BMW.

[Z4-VILLA]

fuck bmw service

[xbar]

Classy... while getting all this advice from you all, he tried to dump the car to someone else on the board (note post dates).

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=454065

[just2talented]

Originally Posted by xbar

Classy... while getting all this advice you all, he tried to dump the car to someone else on the board (note post dates).

http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=454065

You know what man u should really mind your own business. I explained myself on that thread as i will do on this one. Maybe u should read posts before u put your two cents in which believe me isnt warranted in any way in this matter. On every offer i recieved they were informed of the cars total history. You really think i would be that stupid to try to hide the problems as per this post? I did it on purpose. I dont need somebody knocking on my door 6 months down the line complaining of a blown head or seeing this post in regards to a possible sale. Just worry about your own car, advice not needed thank you anyway.

[ANILE8]

Forum members are just commenting on how your For Sale thread now looks.

When you posted your asking price of $30K+ many eyebrows were sure to be raised considering your vehicles history.

Especially even more so when your posts in that same For Sale thread are now shown to be 'edited', it is not exactly confidence inspiring.

This would be a circumstance where you certainly would not want to 'edit' your own posts.

[just2talented]

Originally Posted by ANILE8

Forum members are just commenting on how your For Sale thread now looks.

When you posted your asking price of $30K many eyebrows were sure to be raised considering your vehicles history.

Especially even more so when your posts in that same For Sale thread are now shown to be 'edited', it is not exactly confidence inspiring.

This would be a circumstance where you certainly would not want to 'edit' your own posts.

Its edited because im keeping the vehicle. Hence not for sale. I cant delete the thread.

On another note i had the tests done today. Leakdown test all cylinders 100% no leakage.

Compression test
Cyl 1. 160psi
Cyl 2. 150 psi
Cyl 3. 155 psi
Cyl 4. 150 psi
Cyl 5. 150 psi
Cyl 6. 150 psi

Ocha im not sure what stock psi is supposed to be and neither did my technician. Any info would be appreciated. Oh and does anybody know what bmw uses for stock spark plugs. I assumed bosch but the plugs i have are ngc.

[Z4-VILLA]

looks a little low...im gonna do some searching.

[ANILE8]

Originally Posted by just2talented

Its edited because im keeping the vehicle. Hence not for sale. I cant delete the thread.

On another note i had the tests done today. Leakdown test all cylinders 100% no leakage.

The usual practise is to post 'SOLD' or 'NOT FOR SALE' at the end of your For Sale thread instead of editing the original post.

Especially when in your particular case the topic of engine failure was such a contentious and on going issue.

If you did this I am sure you would have found you would not have receive nearly as many personal attacks and insulting name calling.

A little forward thinking can sometimes go a long way.

[Ron Stygar]

Originally Posted by Z4-Villalona

looks a little low...im gonna do some searching.

min. bar 11 - 12

psi 159.5 - 174

[HOG4DNR]

This thread is starting to read like a soap opera, not that I watch soap opera's.