E87 N43 118I 1 Series Engine Melt Down

[maxmbanks]

Hi Everyone,

My son's 1 series with just over 40,000 miles on the clock suffered engine seizure whilst on motorway. Cause was fragmentation of plastic timing chain guide which fell into sump and blocked oil pump intake. My guess is that the chain tensioner did not do its job and the slack chain thrashed the plastic guide to pieces. No warning lights, engine starved of oil despite being fully oiled up. It was instantly and easily diagnosed by independent specialist by looking in oil filler cap! He said he had seen several previous examples. So if you have this engine (also I believe used in 3 series and Mini ) do yourself a favour and have it checked out.

The engine is a write off and tab for a new one is £7000 plus and so this is a bit of disaster for my son, I feel guilty because having had three great BMWs of my own 323i E46, 530i E39 (the best), and 335i E92, all relatively trouble free, I recommended the 1 series to him. Doh!

If you want to read about (and have a laugh at) my attempts to get BMW to take some responsibility for this in my view unfit for purpose engine, please have a look at my blog

http://maxmbanks.wordpress.com/2014/10/13/hope-or-despair-in-bmw-1-series-horror-story/

I remain hopeful that by spreading the word of this issue BMW take notice and do something about it.

If you have a similar or connected experience please let me know.

[Guest DazH]

Hi Max,

Yes Yes we love to be kept in the loop about such issues. Honestly, I have not heard of this happening to your vehicle in particular but I am indeed familiar with such thing happening to... well.... other cars that use chains. I believe all engines that use chains need to use a special plastic apposed to metal due to direct contact with the moving chain but no way SHOULD it fail like that.

Keep us posted and once again, thanks for sharing. BEST OF LUCK

Daz

[BerylthePeril]

Just had the same happen to mine, apparently this is a common fault on the series 1, have just had to scrap it, only had it a year, my guess is it will end up with a replacement engine and be sold on to some other poor unsuspecting soul, worst of it is I still owe money from buying it & now have no car !!! BMW apparently know about this fault but unless you have bought it through them they will not deal with your complaint, don't think they should be sold, so beware when buying a used one.

[Estoril X5 D Sport]

Its a huge issue on all BMW 4 cylinder petrol and diesel engines from 2006 - 2010, BMW are trying to hide this issue but not managing, start doing your homework on the internet and you will see its a massive problem and BMW should man up and admit once these engine get miles on them that the chains are stretching on cars that have been diagnosed in time and that the chains and tensioners are breaking up ones that haven't.

Your car will have shown minor symptoms such as cold start rattle in the morning, slightly rough idle on tick over but its not easy to notice as its easy to miss.

Chains were for life once upon a time but because of money saving they are letting this great brand down badly, the recall is already out for all diesel engine 4 cylinder cars that were produced from September 2007, IE all the cars that had the stop start function and in time they will have to admit to the petrol 4 cylinder being made of the same garbage components!!!

My advice is to not let it drop, the only way this issue will be sorted is by customers complaining in numbers IE internet campaigns and petitions, the reason they are getting away with this just now is because many of these cars have passed to new owners and the new owner just thinks they have been unlucky but its happening to low miles 1 owner cars but because these cars now have a few years under there belts they fob people off, its not right and the chains and tensioners are indeed "unfit for purpose"!!!

I wish you well in your efforts and if its any help this issue has indeed been covered by the television program Watchdog.

Steve

[Cotswold BMW]

Depending on year, milage and service history can influence any Goodwill Claim from BMW.

Ask you local dealer with above information if anything can be done