N55 Turbo Failure

ryanakata · 12-15-2014, 02:03 PM

So I got the call back from my dealer that the car needs a new turbo. I took it in for what sounded like a bad alternator or A/C compressor making a continuous loud bearing grinding noise.

This thankfully will be covered under CPO but has anyone else had a turbo failure at 58,000 miles or so?

1cleann55 · 12-15-2014, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanakata

So I got the call back from my dealer that the car needs a new turbo. I took it in for what sounded like a bad alternator or A/C compressor making a continuous loud bearing grinding noise.

This thankfully will be covered under CPO but has anyone else had a turbo failure at 58,000 miles or so?

Ask them what part of the turbo failed? Wheels break? Wastegate?

ryanakata · 12-15-2014, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1cleann55

Ask them what part of the turbo failed? Wheels break? Wastegate?

They are saying 100% wastegate. Which is odd as the car even makes the terrible noise sitting idling, I don't see how it could be, but if I get a new turbo for $50, I am happy to take it, it's just swapping the downpipe tonight and getting the jb4 and chargepipe off that I'm not looking forward to.

1cleann55 · 12-15-2014, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanakata

They are saying 100% wastegate. Which is odd as the car even makes the terrible noise sitting idling, I don't see how it could be, but if I get a new turbo for $50, I am happy to take it, it's just swapping the downpipe tonight and getting the jb4 and chargepipe off that I'm not looking forward to.

It's funny that bmw doesn't sell the wastegate as a part on its own. It's not hard to replace the wastegate on n55. Did you feel a loss of power or it not holding boost properly?

melloww22 · 12-15-2014, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanakata

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1cleann55

Ask them what part of the turbo failed? Wheels break? Wastegate?

They are saying 100% wastegate. Which is odd as the car even makes the terrible noise sitting idling, I don't see how it could be, but if I get a new turbo for $50, I am happy to take it, it's just swapping the downpipe tonight and getting the jb4 and chargepipe off that I'm not looking forward to.

It's better than leaving it in and having your warranty voided

Johnny Boost · 12-15-2014, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melloww22

It's better than leaving it in and having your warranty voided

Why would they void his warranty? They've obviously already inspected the car with the mods on it.

melloww22 · 12-15-2014, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Boost

Quote:

Originally Posted by melloww22

It's better than leaving it in and having your warranty voided

Why would they void his warranty? They've obviously already inspected the car with the mods on it.

Interesting, if his dealership is great with his JB4 that's a keeper SA

ryanakata · 12-15-2014, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1cleann55

It's funny that bmw doesn't sell the wastegate as a part on its own. It's not hard to replace the wastegate on n55. Did you feel a loss of power or it not holding boost properly?

Boost holds fine, and I honestly never thought it was going to be that. I expected alternator, something similar.

Jeff@TopGearSolutions · 12-15-2014, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Boost

Why would they void his warranty? They've obviously already inspected the car with the mods on it.

Some dealers will look past the mods and approve the warranty work on their end but under the notion that the modifications are removed. They do this because sometimes a BMW higher up needs to inspect the vehicle before the warranty claim is approved in full.

Jsoboti · 12-15-2014, 04:04 PM

What did it sound like? How loud? Audible at cruising speeds?

ryanakata · 12-15-2014, 07:56 PM

Cruising speed I couldn't hear it due to road noise. But in the city or in a parking lot it would turn heads. Sounded just like a bad bearing in the idler pulley or something.

Dark_Knight_335 · 12-15-2014, 08:24 PM

Strange...wastegate issues were all but eliminated on the N55...or so I was told.

SUPAN · 12-15-2014, 10:01 PM

could it be the crank shaft pulley ?

I changed mine since my local dealer is trying to ignore me. BMW is a great car but local dealer sucks with their attitude so next car is definitely not a bmw.

ryanakata · 12-16-2014, 07:08 AM

Same here. Sucks being stuck to one terrible dealer.

olivojoe · 12-16-2014, 07:33 AM

I have a grinding type noist that I can only hear when my BMS intake is installed and it is only audible at low speed and low load acceleration. I thought it was "normal", but now maybe not.

Does this sound like a similar issue to the OP's?

JETmn · 12-16-2014, 09:45 AM

OP had a loud clanking, like someone tapping a hammer on a table.

Infamy · 12-19-2014, 01:03 PM

N55 probs

e36addict · 12-19-2014, 03:02 PM

I've seen a few N55 wastegate issues. My turbo failed at 72k, wasn't wastegate though. Just blew the exhaust turbine to pieces..

ryanakata · 12-19-2014, 08:58 PM

Hope you had a warranty...lol

12-15-2014, 02:03 PM	#1
ryanakata Private First Class 6 Rep 132 Posts Drives: '11 e92 335i AT Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: West Monroe, Louisiana iTrader: (1)	N55 Turbo Failure So I got the call back from my dealer that the car needs a new turbo. I took it in for what sounded like a bad alternator or A/C compressor making a continuous loud bearing grinding noise. This thankfully will be covered under CPO but has anyone else had a turbo failure at 58,000 miles or so? __________________ 2011 335i Coupe M Sport: Alpine White
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12-15-2014, 04:04 PM	#10
Jsoboti Lieutenant 28 Rep 583 Posts Drives: 2011 335i E92 M-Sport 6MT Join Date: May 2014 Location: Mississippi iTrader: (0)	What did it sound like? How loud? Audible at cruising speeds? __________________ JB4 G5 ISO FF \| BMS Performance Intake \| BMS Wheel Spacers \| VRSF Catless DP \| Red CYBA Scoops \| Supreme Power Lowering Perches \| VRSF Charge Pipe \| VMR 810 19x8.5 ET35 19x9.5 ET33 \| Michelin PSS 235/265 \| BMS CDV \| BMS Clutch Stop \| 4'' Tips
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12-15-2014, 07:56 PM	#11
ryanakata Private First Class 6 Rep 132 Posts Drives: '11 e92 335i AT Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: West Monroe, Louisiana iTrader: (1)	Cruising speed I couldn't hear it due to road noise. But in the city or in a parking lot it would turn heads. Sounded just like a bad bearing in the idler pulley or something.
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12-15-2014, 08:24 PM	#12
Dark_Knight_335 Came to the N55 Darkside 1112 Rep 12,740 Posts Drives: 2011 335 E93 M-Sport Join Date: May 2010 Location: NY/NJ iTrader: (28)	Strange...wastegate issues were all but eliminated on the N55...or so I was told.
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12-15-2014, 10:01 PM	#13
SUPAN Private First Class 6 Rep 157 Posts Drives: E92 n55 335 2011 dct Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Malaysia, KL iTrader: (0)	could it be the crank shaft pulley ? I changed mine since my local dealer is trying to ignore me. BMW is a great car but local dealer sucks with their attitude so next car is definitely not a bmw.
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12-16-2014, 07:08 AM	#14
ryanakata Private First Class 6 Rep 132 Posts Drives: '11 e92 335i AT Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: West Monroe, Louisiana iTrader: (1)	Same here. Sucks being stuck to one terrible dealer.
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12-16-2014, 07:33 AM	#15
olivojoe Second Lieutenant 93 Rep 213 Posts Drives: 2011 335i xDrive Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Mims, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 335i xDrive [0.00]	I have a grinding type noist that I can only hear when my BMS intake is installed and it is only audible at low speed and low load acceleration. I thought it was "normal", but now maybe not. Does this sound like a similar issue to the OP's?
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12-16-2014, 09:45 AM	#16
JETmn Lieutenant Colonel 245 Rep 1,595 Posts Drives: 2011 335i xDrive Msport Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Orlando iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 335Xi [0.00]	OP had a loud clanking, like someone tapping a hammer on a table.
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12-19-2014, 01:03 PM	#17
Infamy underground 63 Rep 331 Posts Drives: alpine white 335 E92 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: central Jersey iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 BMW 335i [9.66]	N55 probs __________________
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12-19-2014, 03:02 PM	#18
e36addict Captain 137 Rep 952 Posts Drives: 2013 X1 35iX Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Tim @ BMW of Dallas iTrader: (5)	I've seen a few N55 wastegate issues. My turbo failed at 72k, wasn't wastegate though. Just blew the exhaust turbine to pieces.. __________________ 13 X1 35iX, 98 Z3 2.8, 01 M Coupe, 96 Z3 1.9 DASC, 95 318ti, 13 smart fortwo
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12-19-2014, 08:58 PM	#19
ryanakata Private First Class 6 Rep 132 Posts Drives: '11 e92 335i AT Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: West Monroe, Louisiana iTrader: (1)	Hope you had a warranty...lol __________________ 2011 335i Coupe M Sport: Alpine White
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