[MatthewAguilera]

2014 528i N20 should be "abused" as in giving it some power when driving?

[BMWisFRIEND]

Originally Posted by MatthewAguilera

Hi I wanted to ask if my 2014 528i N20 should be "abused" as in giving it some power when driving?

Abuse the hell outta it

[krautmeister]

There's a redline for a reason.....

[M6NIAC]

Abuse it, get super dirty with it

[snj1013]

[johnhva]

Dump a bottle of Techron in a full tank of gas and rev your way up some Ontario mountain roads!

[Stück]

N20's are a garbage engine. Gutless little buzz-bombs just waiting to eat the timing chain guides and trash the engine. Junk junk junk.

[BigKutta]

Originally Posted by Stück

N20's are a garbage engine. Gutless little buzz-bombs just waiting to eat the timing chain guides and trash the engine. Junk junk junk.

I suppose if you mod it and beat the crap out of it on the track, but then one wouldn't buy an N20 for that, right?

[STR8-6IX]

Originally Posted by Stück

N20's are a garbage engine. Gutless little buzz-bombs just waiting to eat the timing chain guides and trash the engine. Junk junk junk.

couldnt agree with you more. I bought the n52 5 series for a reason.

[Stück]

Originally Posted by BigKutta

I suppose if you mod it and beat the crap out of it on the track

No, I'm speaking strictly of stock engines driven by responsible adults. I've seen at least a half dozen of them that have all suffered very similar failures.

The engine is garbage, its abhorrent to work on and it exists if only to meet fleet CAFE standards.

[BigKutta]

Originally Posted by Stück

No, I'm speaking strictly of stock engines driven by responsible adults. I've seen at least a half dozen of them that have all suffered very similar failures.

The engine is garbage, its abhorrent to work on and it exists if only to meet fleet CAFE standards.

So I've heard this on this board, but when I google I get 2-3 examples of failures on the track. I guess I'll be worried when I see more evidence

[Stück]

The kind of people that buy N20 cars aren't typically forum users, much less track enthusiasts.

They are generally normal people that bought a BMW to have a BMW, and the base engine model suits that end fine unaware of the gross lack of refinement, quality as what they came from was likely just as bad.

It's not at all uncommon to see a perfectly unabused N20 need complete timing chain/tensioner/cassette replacement by 60k. Well outside warranty and murderously expensive if you are paying out of pocket. Most of the completely failed N20's I've seen were most likely a result of the owner ignoring/not noticing the chain racket they make as a precursor to failure. BMW has plenty of information out there via SIB's. Just because you can't find it on a casual Google search doesn't mean its not a real problem.

The oil pump drive chain and cassette are the first to go in many cases, although the upper cassette likes to break as well. The harmonics of this buzzy little 4cyl are terrible, and the balance shaft does little to mitigate these vibrations.

Longer oil service intervals also contribute to sure failures, along with cheap oil services done outside the dealer or professional independents. The N20 will bypass the oil filter if you put a cheap shit China one in there that quickly collapses and engines just love unfiltered oil. Every time I see a Jiffy Lube or some other cheap service outlet sticker on the window I cringe because I've seen the results of that "good deal" oil change.

[MatthewAguilera]

Originally Posted by Stück

The kind of people that buy N20 cars aren't typically forum users, much less track enthusiasts.

They are generally normal people that bought a BMW to have a BMW, and the base engine model suits that end fine unaware of the gross lack of refinement, quality as what they came from was likely just as bad.

It's not at all uncommon to see a perfectly unabused N20 need complete timing chain/tensioner/cassette replacement by 60k. Well outside warranty and murderously expensive if you are paying out of pocket. Most of the completely failed N20's I've seen were most likely a result of the owner ignoring/not noticing the chain racket they make as a precursor to failure. BMW has plenty of information out there via SIB's. Just because you can't find it on a casual Google search doesn't mean its not a real problem.

The oil pump drive chain and cassette are the first to go in many cases, although the upper cassette likes to break as well. The harmonics of this buzzy little 4cyl are terrible, and the balance shaft does little to mitigate these vibrations.

Longer oil service intervals also contribute to sure failures, along with cheap oil services done outside the dealer or professional independents. The N20 will bypass the oil filter if you put a cheap shit China one in there that quickly collapses and engines just love unfiltered oil. Every time I see a Jiffy Lube or some other cheap service outlet sticker on the window I cringe because I've seen the results of that "good deal" oil change.

thanks I was looking for an answer like that, and it's covered on warranty till 100k which should be a big help

[STR8-6IX]

Originally Posted by Stück

The kind of people that buy N20 cars aren't typically forum users, much less track enthusiasts.

They are generally normal people that bought a BMW to have a BMW, and the base engine model suits that end fine unaware of the gross lack of refinement, quality as what they came from was likely just as bad.

It's not at all uncommon to see a perfectly unabused N20 need complete timing chain/tensioner/cassette replacement by 60k. Well outside warranty and murderously expensive if you are paying out of pocket. Most of the completely failed N20's I've seen were most likely a result of the owner ignoring/not noticing the chain racket they make as a precursor to failure. BMW has plenty of information out there via SIB's. Just because you can't find it on a casual Google search doesn't mean its not a real problem.

The oil pump drive chain and cassette are the first to go in many cases, although the upper cassette likes to break as well. The harmonics of this buzzy little 4cyl are terrible, and the balance shaft does little to mitigate these vibrations.

Longer oil service intervals also contribute to sure failures, along with cheap oil services done outside the dealer or professional independents. The N20 will bypass the oil filter if you put a cheap shit China one in there that quickly collapses and engines just love unfiltered oil. Every time I see a Jiffy Lube or some other cheap service outlet sticker on the window I cringe because I've seen the results of that "good deal" oil change.

its seriously about time someone brought this issue to light. everyone seems to be dickriding the n20 and its honestly getting ridiculous.

[BigKutta]

Originally Posted by Stück

The kind of people that buy N20 cars aren't typically forum users, much less track enthusiasts.

They are generally normal people that bought a BMW to have a BMW, and the base engine model suits that end fine unaware of the gross lack of refinement, quality as what they came from was likely just as bad.

It's not at all uncommon to see a perfectly unabused N20 need complete timing chain/tensioner/cassette replacement by 60k. Well outside warranty and murderously expensive if you are paying out of pocket. Most of the completely failed N20's I've seen were most likely a result of the owner ignoring/not noticing the chain racket they make as a precursor to failure. BMW has plenty of information out there via SIB's. Just because you can't find it on a casual Google search doesn't mean its not a real problem.

The oil pump drive chain and cassette are the first to go in many cases, although the upper cassette likes to break as well. The harmonics of this buzzy little 4cyl are terrible, and the balance shaft does little to mitigate these vibrations.

Longer oil service intervals also contribute to sure failures, along with cheap oil services done outside the dealer or professional independents. The N20 will bypass the oil filter if you put a cheap shit China one in there that quickly collapses and engines just love unfiltered oil. Every time I see a Jiffy Lube or some other cheap service outlet sticker on the window I cringe because I've seen the results of that "good deal" oil change.

Lots of assumptions here, but sure, i'm a normal BMW owner I suppose. Yeah, I've owned German cars in the past so do have some understanding of quality. Its my daily driver and has enough power to suit my daily needs while it sits in a parking lot most of the day. I also dont go to Jiffy Lube to get my cars oil change. Will have to see how mine pans out.

[krautmeister]

Originally Posted by BigKutta

Lots of assumptions here, but sure, i'm a normal BMW owner I suppose. Yeah, I've owned German cars in the past so do have some understanding of quality. Its my daily driver and has enough power to suit my daily needs while it sits in a parking lot most of the day. I also dont go to Jiffy Lube to get my cars oil change. Will have to see how mine pans out.

I'll tell u that Stuck knows this car inside and out... I mean more than bling rims and vinyl wraps, search his threads. Also, he's had the benefit of witnessing a statistically viable amount of failures so I would say his comments are facts, not assumptions.

I don't mean to dog on your car, but a 4cyl 5er is a blasphemy and many people have been duped by BMW marketing in this case.

[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by krautmeister

I'll tell u that Stuck knows this car inside and out... I mean more than bling rims and vinyl wraps, search his threads. Also, he's had the benefit of witnessing a statistically viable amount of failures so I would say his comments are facts, not assumptions.

I don't mean to dog on your car, but a 4cyl 5er is a blasphemy and many people have been duped by BMW marketing in this case.

Originally Posted by BigKutta

Lots of assumptions here, but sure, i'm a normal BMW owner I suppose. Yeah, I've owned German cars in the past so do have some understanding of quality. Its my daily driver and has enough power to suit my daily needs while it sits in a parking lot most of the day. I also dont go to Jiffy Lube to get my cars oil change. Will have to see how mine pans out.

Ok bud but I for one has first hand experience that counter his "data" and that spans over years. In terms of being "duped", I would say all of us here are on the same boat. I've owned all sorts of BMWs and engines, all has and had its flaws and issues. Move on

[BigKutta]

So, now that I'm aware, what should I be looking out for (hearing for) in my N20?

[BigKutta]

I found this from 2013, and doesn't seem like my 2012 528i was impacted (Nov 2011 build). But not sure my BMW is not going to have a problem
http://www.bmwblog.com/2013/09/29/bm...20-n26-engine/