[i-Reef]

Wanted to know if this is as common on this motor as it is on the n52 and n54 motors? Is the main cause lack of oil? or low oil pressure? Having an issue with the intake cam on my car being on the journals scored, I was told the saddles in on the head look okay but I maintained oil changes made sure fluids were never low. Let the car warm up properly before doing any spirited driving. I am the second owner and I've only had the car less than a year now kinda frustrating but not willing to give up on this car yet. Pics below

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I did purchase a warranty on the vehicle but it was an aftermarket one.(mistake one)

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

It's uncommon with the N55. The N54 has a problem with the cam journals, but that was resolved on the N55. I'm not sure what could have caused this in your situation, unless the original owner did not keep up on oil changes. With scoring like that, it doesn't look like anything that you could have done in under a year.

What indications did you have that made you check the intake cam?

[i-Reef]

Had a fault code for 28A0 for the throttle body, this is diagnos flow chart the show used to find the issue everything was okay until they went inside of the head. Didn't ask if the exhaust side was the same but I'm assuming it would be worn as well.

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[GMWNashville]

Ive seen that on early N55 before and had the same fault code as you did. Fix on both was head replacement.

[nynyny]

Originally Posted by GMWNashville

Ive seen that on early N55 before and had the same fault code as you did. Fix on both was head replacement.

Do you recall if the heads were badly damaged? Or just a hairline crack sort of thing?

Originally Posted by i-Reef

Had a fault code for 28A0 for the throttle body, this is diagnos flow chart the show used to find the issue everything was okay until they went inside of the head. Didn't ask if the exhaust side was the same but I'm assuming it would be worn as well.

View post on imgur.com

OP, Did you end up replacing the head?

[i-Reef]

Fighting with the warranty company as of right now to get it replaced. It was estimated that 10k for the repairs and if I have to spend that kinda money I feel like I might as well look for a used n54 at that point.

[Mean E92]

Man these N55s are trash.... my engine started knocking at 85k. Really disappointed BMW. Costed me 10K for a used motor and labor. Fucking ridiculous. Best of luck dude.

[bbnks2]

Originally Posted by Mad E92

Man these N55s are trash.... my engine started knocking at 85k. Really disappointed BMW. Costed me 10K for a used motor and labor. Fucking ridiculous. Best of luck dude.

Come on man... your engine failure was your own fault. Seems to me like you could've saved yourself $10k if you had just fixed that $10 OFHG leak (that takes 1-2 hours tops to change if you DIY).

This is you in another thread:

Honestly anything could've caused this engine to knock. It's not worth trying to figure it out but I think my belt that shredded and entered the front main seal is the cause of my engine failure. I sent it to an indy who dropped the pan to clean all the belt material and get a new gasket. The belt pieces made it's way up to the valve cover via the timing chain which still has debris in it sadly. What I've learned from this whole thing, never let your OFHG leak and to always service your belt. At the end of the day, a $500 job that I should've done sooner would've saved me $7.5k :\

[bbnks2]

There are entirely too many different reasons for this to of happened than for people on the internet to determine the cause. Could've been oiling, could've been play in the cam/crank, or could've been user error of the car...

You'll probably start hearing more about N55 failures since they are now in the hands of 2nd/3rd owners(enthusiasts at this point) and the factory warranty has expired.

[i-Reef]

I was just looking to find a general list of reasons why it would fail. Anything that could help me give the shop more info to go after

[bbnks2]

Originally Posted by i-Reef

I was just looking to find a general list of reasons why it would fail. Anything that could help me give the shop more info to go after

Short answer: shit happens

http://www.cranecams.com/pdf-tech-ti...failure811.pdf

[i-Reef]

starting to wish I just went and got a n54, 6300 bucks for a cylinder head is unsettling especially when I don't know if this caused problems in the block or if its going to do it again -_-.

[MacE90]

Any update on this issue?

[i-Reef]

Will be pulling the engine myself and sending the block and a used cylinders head in for inspection. Will see if I both can be used after some machine work, and I will install the engine myself. Supposedly there's a bulliten out from bmw for the n55 motors the intake camshaft will bend when taking it out. Just have to find another mode of transportation first and I will get to working on this car in about a month.

[bbnks2]

Originally Posted by i-Reef

Will be pulling the engine myself and sending the block and a used cylinders head in for inspection. Will see if I both can be used after some machine work, and I will install the engine myself. Supposedly there's a bulliten out from bmw for the n55 motors the intake camshaft will bend when taking it out. Just have to find another mode of transportation first and I will get to working on this car in about a month.

I've had my cylinder head and engine torn down a few times now since you first posted this.

I think two things are possible:
1) The engine could have seen a momentary loss of oiling (poor oil pickup on n54/n55) which would then cause the intake cam to be the first thing to lose oil pressure and cause scoring.

2) The new teflon "rectaring" seals used on on 2012+ cars prevent the "grinding" of the seal into the cylinder head causing loss of oil pressure loss to the intake cam, like seen on N54s and N52, but, the seal itself is probably just as likely to fail. meaning oil pressure leaks past the teflon o-ring and causes the intake cam to starve of oil... hence the VANOS code being thrown due to not enough oil pressure to drive the intake vanos unit as commanded?

[Pladi]

Originally Posted by bbnks2

I've had my cylinder head and engine torn down a few times now since you first posted this.

I think two things are possible:
1) The engine could have seen a momentary loss of oiling (poor oil pickup on n54/n55) which would then cause the intake cam to be the first thing to lose oil pressure and cause scoring.

2) The new teflon "rectaring" seals used on on 2012+ cars prevent the "grinding" of the seal into the cylinder head causing loss of oil pressure loss to the intake cam, like seen on N54s and N52, but, the seal itself is probably just as likely to fail. meaning oil pressure leaks past the teflon o-ring and causes the intake cam to starve of oil... hence the VANOS code being thrown due to not enough oil pressure to drive the intake vanos unit as commanded?

He probably sold his car. Not many people are willing to tear down their engines multiple times just so they can say they drive a 10 year old BMW

[bbnks2]

Originally Posted by Pladi

He probably sold his car. Not many people are willing to tear down their engines multiple times just so they can say they drive a 10 year old BMW

Use a car the way I do and you'll be tearing it down no matter what you drive. BMW is just a bit more expensive to do so, unfortunately.

I was just replying in the event that someone stumbles across this thread while googling codes. It's an oiling issue for sure. Question remains, is it the seals on the intake cam itself failing or was the car starved of oil for some other reason...