VANOS warranty extension...great! ?

spiderspider · 08-20-2019, 05:29 PM

2011 328i N51 57K miles. Have a number of VANOS faults, replaced solenoids, cleaned and swapped camshaft position sensors. Okay, still get a 2A7A AND a pronounced rattle in the engine. Not a ticking, which is rhythmic. This is a rattle like something is loose. Research says the bolts for the VANOS gears are prone to breaking off. BMW has acknowledged this issue and has an extended warranty of 10 years. Here's the catch. Dealer wants to verify. Logical, okay. But $1600? If I'm right, no charge. If I'm wrong, out $1600. I thought all you had to do was remove the valve cover and inspect the VANOS gears. Am I missing something? I haven't performed this on the N51, but numerous times on my e46 and view it as a 2 hour job or so. Anyway, just ranting.

NinetyEight740 · 08-20-2019, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiderspider

2011 328i N51 57K miles. Have a number of VANOS faults, replaced solenoids, cleaned and swapped camshaft position sensors. Okay, still get a 2A7A AND a pronounced rattle in the engine. Not a ticking, which is rhythmic. This is a rattle like something is loose. Research says the bolts for the VANOS gears are prone to breaking off. BMW has acknowledged this issue and has an extended warranty of 10 years. Here's the catch. Dealer wants to verify. Logical, okay. But $1600? If I'm right, no charge. If I'm wrong, out $1600. I thought all you had to do was remove the valve cover and inspect the VANOS gears. Am I missing something? I haven't performed this on the N51, but numerous times on my e46 and view it as a 2 hour job or so. Anyway, just ranting.

M52/54 valve cover comes off in about 10 minutes, n51/52 is a whole different animal. If it’s so easy you can pull the cover yourself and check it and then tow the car into them if they are broken. $1600 I would assume is including a valve cover replacement? Then I would say that makes sense because the cover is expensive.

BluesDriver · 08-21-2019, 02:23 PM

I had this done on my 2011 and the dealer said I would only be responsible for the $225 diagnosis fee if it wasn't covered under the extended warranty. The day after I brought it in they said it was covered and I highly doubt they took off the valve cover first to inspect it.

spiderspider · 08-21-2019, 04:26 PM

I haven't worked much on this engine yet to know it that well, but how would you diagnose it without removing the valve cover? I mean, I did - but it was just an educated guess based on the symptoms, codes, and what I had done to that point. I just thought the $1,600 potential diagnostic fee was a bit (a lot!) high. But this is why I turn to trusted indy mechanics when I get in over my head. Anyway, turns out I "won" the gamble as I was just notified that 3 of the 4 VANOS bolts were broken.

Ozzie335i · 08-21-2019, 04:32 PM

spider squared, it is imperative that they drop the oil pan to fish out metallic material that likely ended up there. In the process you'll get a new oil pan gasket under the warranty. There can be no assurance that there is nothing down there unless they do pull it off. This is worth your bringing it up.

spiderspider · 08-21-2019, 06:53 PM

Per my wife, it doesn't sound like they are going to drop the oil pan. "Not necessary" says the service advisor. I'm a little confused how loose metal in the engine would not be necessary to retrieve. I may have to go talk to the technician.

NinetyEight740 · 08-21-2019, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiderspider

Per my wife, it doesn't sound like they are going to drop the oil pan. "Not necessary" says the service advisor. I'm a little confused how loose metal in the engine would not be necessary to retrieve. I may have to go talk to the technician.

ALl depends on if the heads of the bolts broke off, or the bolts were loose. It’s also possible the broken heads if there were any, remained retrievable from the top.

spiderspider · 08-23-2019, 11:08 AM

They did end up dropping the oil pan to retrieve the bolt heads. But...they put the old oil back in. Does that make sense?

NinetyEight740 · 08-24-2019, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiderspider

They did end up dropping the oil pan to retrieve the bolt heads. But...they put the old oil back in. Does that make sense?

Yes, bmw will not pay for the oil. It’s also your old filter. This is totally normal.

drtmvr · 08-26-2019, 09:42 PM

Have the same year N51 with 80K. Noticed a intermittent rattle coming from the front top of the valve cover the other day. Could actually feel something going on inside. No Vanos codes and its now quiet as a mouse. What the hell?

08-20-2019, 05:29 PM	#1
spiderspider Captain 312 Rep 657 Posts Drives: E90 M3 DCT, 991 C4S, E46 330i Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Danville, CA iTrader: (0)	VANOS warranty extension...great! ? 2011 328i N51 57K miles. Have a number of VANOS faults, replaced solenoids, cleaned and swapped camshaft position sensors. Okay, still get a 2A7A AND a pronounced rattle in the engine. Not a ticking, which is rhythmic. This is a rattle like something is loose. Research says the bolts for the VANOS gears are prone to breaking off. BMW has acknowledged this issue and has an extended warranty of 10 years. Here's the catch. Dealer wants to verify. Logical, okay. But $1600? If I'm right, no charge. If I'm wrong, out $1600. I thought all you had to do was remove the valve cover and inspect the VANOS gears. Am I missing something? I haven't performed this on the N51, but numerous times on my e46 and view it as a 2 hour job or so. Anyway, just ranting.
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08-21-2019, 02:23 PM	#3
BluesDriver Private 16 Rep 87 Posts Drives: 2011 328i Coupe Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	I had this done on my 2011 and the dealer said I would only be responsible for the $225 diagnosis fee if it wasn't covered under the extended warranty. The day after I brought it in they said it was covered and I highly doubt they took off the valve cover first to inspect it.
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08-21-2019, 04:26 PM	#4
spiderspider Captain 312 Rep 657 Posts Drives: E90 M3 DCT, 991 C4S, E46 330i Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Danville, CA iTrader: (0)	I haven't worked much on this engine yet to know it that well, but how would you diagnose it without removing the valve cover? I mean, I did - but it was just an educated guess based on the symptoms, codes, and what I had done to that point. I just thought the $1,600 potential diagnostic fee was a bit (a lot!) high. But this is why I turn to trusted indy mechanics when I get in over my head. Anyway, turns out I "won" the gamble as I was just notified that 3 of the 4 VANOS bolts were broken.
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08-21-2019, 04:32 PM	#5
Ozzie335i Lieutenant Colonel 659 Rep 1,525 Posts Drives: 2011 335i Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: DFW iTrader: (1)	spider squared, it is imperative that they drop the oil pan to fish out metallic material that likely ended up there. In the process you'll get a new oil pan gasket under the warranty. There can be no assurance that there is nothing down there unless they do pull it off. This is worth your bringing it up.
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08-21-2019, 06:53 PM	#6
spiderspider Captain 312 Rep 657 Posts Drives: E90 M3 DCT, 991 C4S, E46 330i Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Danville, CA iTrader: (0)	Per my wife, it doesn't sound like they are going to drop the oil pan. "Not necessary" says the service advisor. I'm a little confused how loose metal in the engine would not be necessary to retrieve. I may have to go talk to the technician.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-23-2019, 11:08 AM	#8
spiderspider Captain 312 Rep 657 Posts Drives: E90 M3 DCT, 991 C4S, E46 330i Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Danville, CA iTrader: (0)	They did end up dropping the oil pan to retrieve the bolt heads. But...they put the old oil back in. Does that make sense?
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08-26-2019, 09:42 PM	#10
drtmvr New Member 8 Rep 26 Posts Drives: 2011 328i SULEV Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (0)	Have the same year N51 with 80K. Noticed a intermittent rattle coming from the front top of the valve cover the other day. Could actually feel something going on inside. No Vanos codes and its now quiet as a mouse. What the hell?
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