N51 Camshaft issue?

CTinline-six · 03-04-2021, 10:37 AM

2009 328i N51 just hit 76k miles. Always use MANN filters and Castrol 0w40, let car warm up for the first few miles before driving it spiritedly, etc.

Was doing an oil change and happened to look inside the fill hole and noticed one of the cam lobes looked different. It feels smooth with my finger but hard to tell. The one next to it looks fine. Car runs great, drive it 100 miles a day without any issues so far. It's never been run low on oil. I bought it at 32k and have owned it 4 years. Did 2 Blackstone analysis over that time that came back excellent.

Thoughts?

rjahl · 03-04-2021, 12:13 PM

Are you looking at the eccentric cam? that only rotates about 175 degrees.

E92William · 03-04-2021, 05:25 PM

Pretty sure if you can't feel a difference between the silver and gold part with your nail you're okay

CTinline-six · 03-05-2021, 01:59 PM

It's the intake cam. It's really hard to tell as I'm trying to stick my fingers in through the oil fill to reach it. Probably going to pull the valve cover.

E92William · 03-05-2021, 02:07 PM

Idk if i would pull the valve cover for that man. If you want to sure. You can probably get some tweezers to stick down there and feel the surface with

CTinline-six · 03-11-2021, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E92William

Idk if i would pull the valve cover for that man. If you want to sure. You can probably get some tweezers to stick down there and feel the surface with

I can definitely feel a bit of pitting.

03-04-2021, 10:37 AM	#1
CTinline-six Hoonigan 6947 Rep 3,017 Posts Drives: '09 328i, '98 Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 328i N51 [0.00]	N51 Camshaft issue? 2009 328i N51 just hit 76k miles. Always use MANN filters and Castrol 0w40, let car warm up for the first few miles before driving it spiritedly, etc. Was doing an oil change and happened to look inside the fill hole and noticed one of the cam lobes looked different. It feels smooth with my finger but hard to tell. The one next to it looks fine. Car runs great, drive it 100 miles a day without any issues so far. It's never been run low on oil. I bought it at 32k and have owned it 4 years. Did 2 Blackstone analysis over that time that came back excellent. Thoughts? Attached Images __________________ "Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." -Dr. Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park
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03-04-2021, 12:13 PM	#2
rjahl Colonel 1003 Rep 2,293 Posts Drives: Z4 35is Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Tampa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2012 Z4 35is [0.00]	Are you looking at the eccentric cam? that only rotates about 175 degrees.
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03-04-2021, 05:25 PM	#3
E92William Banned 2033 Rep 2,025 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 328xi Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Miami iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 328xi [0.00]	Pretty sure if you can't feel a difference between the silver and gold part with your nail you're okay
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03-05-2021, 01:59 PM	#4
CTinline-six Hoonigan 6947 Rep 3,017 Posts Drives: '09 328i, '98 Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 328i N51 [0.00]	It's the intake cam. It's really hard to tell as I'm trying to stick my fingers in through the oil fill to reach it. Probably going to pull the valve cover. __________________ "Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." -Dr. Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park
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03-05-2021, 02:07 PM	#5
E92William Banned 2033 Rep 2,025 Posts Drives: 2008 E92 328xi Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Miami iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 328xi [0.00]	Idk if i would pull the valve cover for that man. If you want to sure. You can probably get some tweezers to stick down there and feel the surface with Attached Images
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