[TekkaMaki]

Originally Posted by TekkaMaki

Time to contact the NHTSA Administrator?

"If your BMW center is unable to remedy the defect without charge or within a reasonable period of time, you may notify the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Washington, DC 20590, call the toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236"

I submitted a complaint to the NHTSA with the phone number above, this took 5 minutes. Clearly, BMW is not taking care of this in a reasonable amount of time. This was easy & hopefully more owners do this.

[lordnikon]

Originally Posted by lordnikon

The original letter from BMW stated that they are aware of the problem and a fix is not in place. They will send a follow up letter when the parts are available. I have received no further correspondence to date. What other facts do you want?

Correction as I was going from memory. Now I have it in front of me, this is verbatim of the letter I received from BMW Canada in Dec 2023:

What will BMW do?

When the remedy is available, the VANOS attachment bolts will be replaced for free which should take about four hours. We will contact you with a follow-up letter when the remedy is available.

[Mike K]

These replacement Vanos bolts must be coming by oxcart!

[jacco]

Has anyone been able to inspect the exhaust side bolts with an endoscope? I just spent maybe 2 hours trying to do this (through the oil filler cap). Intake side was a breeze, high quality video (all 4 bolts present and not obviously backed out), but I was unable to get the bolts on the exhaust side in view with either the front or side camera. I someone managed I would love to know from which angle / path along which the endoscope was inserted.

[gbalthrop]

Originally Posted by jacco

Has anyone been able to inspect the exhaust side bolts with an endoscope?...

I have NOT, but if you look at Mike's Video at Post #4, you can SEE that the scope has to be bent to fit between Plug Tube #1 & the ESS, to go "down" to see the rear of Exhaust Cam Sprocket. It is my understanding that someone has actually DONE this, although without providing DETAILS.

Success ANYONE?
George

[Mike K]

I have not. I pulled the VC to find them. But, at minimum, the scope should indicate the presence of the faulty Vanos bolts with the e-torx with a center security pin. Same bolts on intake and exhaust sides.

[jacco]

Originally Posted by Mike K

I have not. I pulled the VC to find them. But, at minimum, the scope should indicate the presence of the faulty Vanos bolts with the e-torx with a center security pin. Same bolts on intake and exhaust sides.

Thanks guys. Yes, my car has the faulty bolts. And occasionally started throwing VANOS codes a 2-3 months ago. I replaced the VANOS solenoids, but still get a 2A87 code every few weeks. I tried to have the local dealer perform the recall, which they would not, and emailed BMW customer service, whom gave me a 'you will get a letter when available' non-answer. So I was hoping to get evidence of bolts backing out (or missing) to nudge them into action. Now I have to decide if I want to risk still driving it, or if I should do the work myself. I've done the VC 3x now, not looking forward to #4, and especially would not be willing to drop the oil pan if bolt heads are missing. That seems DIY-able, especially since this E91 is RWD, but does not seem like a fun job to do in your driveway.

[Mike K]

Unfortunately, you’ll need to pull the VC to know the exact condition of the bolts. Mine let go at 90k. It wasn’t a bad job, just time consuming. but the rub is nobody has the replacement bolts. Before the recall, they were about $1 each and available. Now nada..

This is the only recall that I can think of that the net effect creates a bigger headache than if there was no recall at all!

If I was in your position I think I would park it until you know for sure about your bolts. We need a class action suit!

[robertKK]

I took my car in to the dealership and just got the car back after 5 weeks being in the shop, they said this is what will be change for the recall, I hope this helps anyone.

Thanks

Robert

[StradaRedlands]

THANKS for posting robertKK!!! So you brought car in for the CEL, and they kept it five weeks till they determined it was due to VANOS parts? Did they give you a rental for that time?

[robertKK]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

THANKS for posting robertKK!!! So you brought car in for the CEL, and they kept it five weeks till they determined it was due to VANOS parts? Did they give you a rental for that time?

So the back story is I knew the check engine lights was due to the bolts, my emission was due on the car, but could not renew it, so I told the dealership what was wrong, so at first they did not believe me, and they said they are going to run a diagnosis on the car and they will charge me the fee for doing that, two days later they sent me a picture with the broken bolts.

I waited for a status update and none came so I went to the dealership to find out what was going on with my car and they said they are still waiting for a remedy from BMW, so I called bmw last week and complained to them and I also called the NHTSA to put in a complaint, and this afternoon got a text to advise the car was ready to be pickup.

The service advisor said the tech was in contact with BMW and this is what was done to fix it and he said this will be the remedy going forward.

[robertKK]

pic of bolts

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by robertKK

So the back story is I knew the check engine lights was due to the bolts, my emission was due on the car, but could not renew it, so I told the dealership what was wrong, so at first they did not believe me, and they said they are going to run a diagnosis on the car and they will charge me the fee for doing that, two days later they sent me a picture with the broken bolts.

I waited for a status update and none came so I went to the dealership to find out what was going on with my car and they said they are still waiting for a remedy from BMW, so I called bmw last week and complained to them and I also called the NHTSA to put in a complaint, and this afternoon got a text to advise the car was ready to be pickup.

The service advisor said the tech was in contact with BMW and this is what was done to fix it and he said this will be the remedy going forward.

Sheesh, amazing story! Sounds like crap communication from them throughout the process which is only typical it seems. I wonder what got them moving, the BMW NA call or the NHTSA complaint? Either way, glad you got it fixed! I'm still hanging out in the wind on mine... I think/hope my bolts are okay, but just don't know!

[gbalthrop]

And the search for 'Intelligent Life' goes on.

NOT an attack on anyone on this Forum, just a general expression of Frustration. Recent SCOTUS "Opinions" contribute "BIGLY" to that.

Robert, what is build Mo/Yr. of your 328i?
Did anyone at Dealer tell you what parts were "Back-Ordered"?
George

[jacco]

Originally Posted by robertKK

pic of bolts

Now that's a clean looking engine!

[robertKK]

Took the car out today, and it drives beautifully, car feels agile in sports mode, I have the B14 coilovers and 15mm back and 12mm front spacers on stock wheels.

[lizbit]

So I tore into it and attempted a fix myself instead of waiting for the dealer to be able to handle the recall.

I could not source the M7x21 bolts in aluminum so I took a chance on 8.8 steel hex head bolts. I replaced the missing 4 on the exhaust side after extracting remnants from the phaser, as well as the 4 intact but loose ones on the intake. Delicately torqued; I was a bit uncomfortable introducing steel where there once was aluminum.

Reassembled the VANOS and retimed with the jig that holds the cams. All cylinders passed a leak down test.

While I had it apart, I replaced the entire valve cover w pcv, spark plugs, radiator+ all coolant hoses (did the water pump 30k ago), OFHG, both DISAs (one of which was completely broken), intake gaskets, underbody shield, power steering drain/fill. Changed the oil twice. And did a Griot's headlight restoration ^_^

Started up rough but smoothed out to idle solid at 550. Power is back like I haven't felt in a while.

I'm inclined to think whatever remnants of the aluminum bolts that are now in my oil pan will be caught by the screen in front of the pump? Debating whether it's worth spending for dropping the pan.

I may open it back up in an oil change or two to check on things or replace with more suitable bolts.

Now just to chase down a pesky EVAP leak so I don't have to see the SES!

[TGTIW]

Just playing devil's advocate, what would happen should one of the steel bolts back out? Would the heads politely shear off like the aluminum ones?

[Mike K]

Creative solution Lizbit. Let's hope it holds up!

What value did you torque the replacement bolts to btw?

[lizbit]

Originally Posted by Mike K

Creative solution Lizbit. Let's hope it holds up!

What value did you torque the replacement bolts to btw?

Thanks Mike 👍 and same!

I torqued them to 20 Nm + 90°.

[American Woodchopper]

I bought my 1st bmw 2/25/24. A beautiful 2012 328I E93. I had the car 2 days until it sounded like a bolt came loose in the timing chain area. This fore mentioned Vanos Bolts. It was rattling around intermittent and I parked the car. I found the recall on the Vanos bolts 23V-707. I contacted every dealer in the Atlanta area and they told me my car was not yet eligible for this recall. I reached out to BMWNA and was told the same thing, that yes this included my 2012 328I but my vin was not showing up for the recall work. I had the car towed to shop near my work, they told me they suspected a bolt had come loose and for me to park the car until my vin made me eligible
I contacted the NHTSA and filed a report. I contacted BMWAG in Munich and they were a bit more receptive but told me to be patient and someone would be in touch soon. In the recall it says you may drive the car even though noisey. I drove it 4 miles to a bmw mechanic closest to my home. He heard the noise and said yes a vanos bolt or bolt head had sheared off and was rattling around in my engine. I drove the car at a forced 1500 rpm to within a half mile of my home. Then all the lights went of on my dash, the engine stalled and would not restart. I now believe the engine is seized. I put a socket on the crank and it will not turn. This has been 5 months now. I reach out to BMWAG every 2 weeks, I get the same reply that they are aware of my problem and that someone will be in touch soon.
Is there anything I am missing here folks? Is there anything else I can do?
It was such a lovely car for 2 days. I wish I knew more of these cars but sadly I don't

[firen180]

No remedy in my area of LI,NY. All 4 shreaded on my exhaust cam and the exhaust cam won’t move when cranked now . Anyone else having similar problems?