[harendre7201]

Hey guys got a tough call from my SA today and wanted to get your input and hopefully you guys help me with my options. I am the only owner of 2011 328i with now 74k miles, ordered and bought here in SoCal. Religiously maintained with oil changes every 4k at the dealership and anything and everything she ever needed.

As I was driving last sunday I suddenly got a service engine soon light, but otherwise the car was driving fine, but later that afternoon I started hearing a new noise from the engine compartment. So I made an service appointment. This car has the awesome SULEV warranty so most things are covered straight from the dealer.


After a day at the dealer I get a call from my SA, stating that they did an initial inspection of the car for the noise and they found metal shavings in the oil filter and their best assumption is a spun rod. They asked if I want to authorize a full engine inspection which would be at full labor rates for a estimated 11 hours, which would come out to around 2000 dollars just to diagnose the problem, and if it was later found to be the engine it could be around 15k-20k for the complete replacement out of pocket.

The car is still operational so I paid the 189 diagnostic fee and brought her home.

So considering all the money I have into this car, with all my modifications over the years is probably close to 10k + the original purchase price.

KBB Trade In Value says 5-6k, for a car without any issues.


I was told my options are:

1: Dealership - 2k Diagnostic + 15-20K Engine Replacement
2: Indy Shop - Diagnostic + Used Engine + Labour = ?? Unknown
3: Sell the car to Carmax and just buy a new car.

So from you guys,
Has anyone ever been in this position? If so what did you do?
Any thoughts, ideas, or suggestions?

[OnlyDriveGerman]

Originally Posted by harendre7201

Hey guys got a tough call from my SA today and wanted to get your input and hopefully you guys help me with my options. I am the only owner of 2011 328i with now 74k miles, ordered and bought here in SoCal. Religiously maintained with oil changes every 4k at the dealership and anything and everything she ever needed.

As I was driving last sunday I suddenly got a service engine soon light, but otherwise the car was driving fine, but later that afternoon I started hearing a new noise from the engine compartment. So I made an service appointment. This car has the awesome SULEV warranty so most things are covered straight from the dealer.


After a day at the dealer I get a call from my SA, stating that they did an initial inspection of the car for the noise and they found metal shavings in the oil filter and their best assumption is a spun rod. They asked if I want to authorize a full engine inspection which would be at full labor rates for a estimated 11 hours, which would come out to around 2000 dollars just to diagnose the problem, and if it was later found to be the engine it could be around 15k-20k for the complete replacement out of pocket.

The car is still operational so I paid the 189 diagnostic fee and brought her home.

So considering all the money I have into this car, with all my modifications over the years is probably close to 10k + the original purchase price.

KBB Trade In Value says 5-6k, for a car without any issues.


I was told my options are:

1: Dealership - 2k Diagnostic + 15-20K Engine Replacement
2: Indy Shop - Diagnostic + Used Engine + Labour = ?? Unknown
3: Sell the car to Carmax and just buy a new car.

So from you guys,
Has anyone ever been in this position? If so what did you do?
Any thoughts, ideas, or suggestions?

Something like that should always have a second opinion just to make sure. Another thing to consider is how much, if anything, you owe. Good luck.

[Bmw_Crazy]

I would say option 2

[Phil325i]

IMHO there's no way an engine with only 74K should throw a bearing with 4K oil change intervals. I'd be very suspicious that some of those changes were never done. Have you condsiderd a Blackstone oil analysis?

[rjahl]

If true, Very Very Rare failure.

I'd start by getting more facts.

1. What is the specific engine warning fault? There is no "ROD bearing" code. Was it low oil pressure or something like a Vanos problem? The Dealer should have a print out available. Code only, don't let them BS some explanation. While you are there ask for all the codes stored in the history as well.

2. Get the oil analyzed.

Then start looking at your options.

A few of these motors have broken or loose vanos bolts with the loss of proper cam shaft operation.

[harendre7201]

Hey guys thanks for all the replies so I've decided to take the car over to my Indy shop. The dealership did not give me anymore information they said that I would have to authorize the complete teardown, which like I said would be around the 2000 dollar mark. I am going to have the Indy shop do a full oil analysis and proper inspection of the other components. I've been going to them for years for everything other than my SULEV warranty work. When I initially heard the weird noise I thought it was concerning my engine, that's why I took to the dealership in the first place for the SULEV warranty. For the person who asked this car is paid off, so its not costing me anything to just let it sit and I would be giving it away for peanuts if I got rid of it with this problem and everything I have in it I don't think I can get a equivalent car for the same same price as it would cost me to fix it.

The plan for now is too decide on a new car, while I get this one all sorted. If am actually gonna have to replace the engine, I'm gonna contact some off the more prominent engine builders and see what I can work out and do it right. It would be nice to have a completely overbuilt forged part engine built and put back in. Maybe even change a few things up.

I'll update this as I find more information.

[Langosta112]

Hey bro, idk how's your car handling but definitely reach out to BMW corporate with regards to utilizing your SULEV warranty. My SA helped me out filling out the paper work and it took like 1-2 months but I had a brand new N51 dropped into my car at ~71k. YMMV but definitely keep us posted

[LemansblueMsport]

Harendre and Langosta, Do you have more info as to what cause the thrown rod bearing??
I also have an N51 and would definitely want to know what caused it.

[hassmaschine]

4k oil changes are way, way too frequent anyway on an N51 or N52. Good luck solving your issue though!

[213e90n51]

Originally Posted by Langosta112

Hey bro, idk how's your car handling but definitely reach out to BMW corporate with regards to utilizing your SULEV warranty. My SA helped me out filling out the paper work and it took like 1-2 months but I had a brand new N51 dropped into my car at ~71k. YMMV but definitely keep us posted

How did that happen and what symptoms came to that?

[213e90n51]

Originally Posted by hassmaschine

4k oil changes are way, way too frequent anyway on an N51 or N52. Good luck solving your issue though!

What should be the oci then?

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by 213e90n51

What should be the oci then?

Using a BMW approved LL1 oil I would do 8-10k depending on how hard you are on the car. My car is driven very hard and I’ve been doing 8k intervals and had Blackstone test my last 2 changes. Blackstone said both times I should try going to 10k because the oil was still good and showing plenty of additives.

BMW used to push them out to 12k+ back when these cars came out.

[213e90n51]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

Using a BMW approved LL1 oil I would do 8-10k depending on how hard you are on the car. My car is driven very hard and I’ve been doing 8k intervals and had Blackstone test my last 2 changes. Blackstone said both times I should try going to 10k because the oil was still good and showing plenty of additives.

BMW used to push them out to 12k+ back when these cars came out.

I remember you for Utube! LOL, what mileage is your e92 at now and how lowered are you?

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by 213e90n51

I remember you for Utube! LOL, what mileage is your e92 at now and how lowered are you?

Ha! I’m at like 105k now I’ve been driving a lot less since that video came out. I think like most of us my work situation has changed a lot in the last year.

My car is probably lowered like 1/2” front and rear, really not a ton. I’m running the bmw performance suspension but with adding some 1/4” front drop perches. That kit isn’t about lowering the car as much as improving handling.

[hassmaschine]

Originally Posted by 213e90n51

What should be the oci then?

Just follow the CBS. it already takes into account environmental factors, how hard you drive it, plus actual measurements of the oil quality (basically capacitance changes as the oil degrades).

[213e90n51]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

Ha! I’m at like 105k now I’ve been driving a lot less since that video came out. I think like most of us my work situation has changed a lot in the last year.

My car is probably lowered like 1/2” front and rear, really not a ton. I’m running the bmw performance suspension but with adding some 1/4” front drop perches. That kit isn’t about lowering the car as much as improving handling.

How much was the kit? Does it scrape?

[Biginboca]

Originally Posted by 213e90n51

How much was the kit? Does it scrape?

It’s been discontinued but used to be like $1200 more or less. I have not had any issues scraping but I live in what has to be one of the flattest parts of the world lol