[JingChai]

Dropped mine off last Friday and turns out the entire VANOS unit needed to be replaced. i got a 230i as a loaner.

[StradaRedlands]

Hey JingChai, a 230i looks like the go-to loaner! Ours is pretty nice 2024 with a M Sport package. Honestly, kind of impressed with it. Although steering is numb like the F10, it sure gets up to speed without any drama!

[doBBs340i]

Picked my 2011 328i up at the dealership last night after they completed the Vanos bolt recall work. The tech noted there were no broken bolts and all bolts were tight, he replaced the 8 bolts and gaskets. See photos for the as-found condition of the bolts. Car is running great.

[BOB_GNARLEY]

Called for an update and they still haven’t even checked the car to see what they messed up. Running out of patience.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by doBBs340i

Picked my 2011 328i up at the dealership last night after they completed the Vanos bolt recall work. The tech noted there were no broken bolts and all bolts were tight, he replaced the 8 bolts and gaskets. See photos for the as-found condition of the bolts. Car is running great.

Those are the bad bolts, so great that they didn't cause any problems! I'm pretty sure I have the updated ones, but will be nice to find out.

They just texted me a video showing I have an oil leak and are recommending a new VC while they're there. Have yet to find out what the part quote is. No additional labor, so I'll probably get it, but know it's going to be spendy.

Edit for fun story time: The dealer just called and said my bolts were already done on 4/15/19! Of course they didn't figure that out till they had the car there for three full days! Also got a quote on the valve cover... $2,600 now that labor isn't covered via the recall!!!
Yeah, no!
Got a loaner out of it at least...

[zhent]

Got mine in to the dealer this morning and out this evening with new bolts and gaskets. No issues with the old ones as they were tight and unbroken, but still good to have it done.

And yes, they quoted me $1200+ to replace the oil filter housing gasket that has a light seep of oil, describing it as a leak was being overly generous.

I didn't get a loaner, but i did get two Uber rides, the 2nd of which the driver rear ended a pickup truck at a stop light...

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by zhent

Got mine in to the dealer this morning and out this evening with new bolts and gaskets. No issues with the old ones as they were tight and unbroken, but still good to have it done.

And yes, they quoted me $1200+ to replace the oil filter housing gasket that has a light seep of oil, describing it as a leak was being overly generous.

I didn't get a loaner, but i did get two Uber rides, the 2nd of which the driver rear ended a pickup truck at a stop light...

Five Stars, would recommend again!

[BOB_GNARLEY]

Finally got them to send me pics of the new bolts in after the incident. Can anyone tell me if this all looks normal? 2011 328i. This is less than 10 miles of driving after having the recall work done btw

[Mike K]

Those look like the correct replacement bolts without the center security pins. What’s the issue now? Codes or SES lights?


And were the faulty bolts actually broken? If so, were the broken faulty bolt remnants all found and fished out of the head and the oil pan? The recall calls for all new Vanos units if the bolts were loose or broken.

[BOB_GNARLEY]

Originally Posted by Mike K

Those look like the correct replacement bolts without the center security pins. What’s the issue now? Codes or SES lights?


And were the faulty bolts actually broken? If so, were the broken faulty bolt remnants all found and fished out of the head and the oil pan? The recall calls for all new Vanos units if the bolts were loose or broken.

No codes. When I picked the car up I drove 2-3 miles down the road and while I was driving I heard metal clinking sounds like something bouncing around my engine and the car started jolting and there a was a big white cloud coming from my exhaust.

[Cpet]

Picked mine up yesterday. No bolts were broken and no recommended additional services; all good news to me. Got an i5 as a loaner.

[BOB_GNARLEY]

I finally figured out what BMW did to my car after I got the service manager to go back and inspect all of their work. I studied the pics of my engine compared to pics of the same engine from the internet and you can see where my timing chain guide or slide rail is broken off. I’m not positive on the name of the part.

In the pic where it is circled is from the internet and the other is of my engine.

[arciga18]

Well The Recall has not gone as expected.

I was wishing/ hopeful for broken bolts to sneak as much repairs on BMW's dime as possible.

Instead, my FRM croaked out and that has to be replaced now. Dealer is covering the labor/ coding (?) and i am stuck with the part at invoice cost. I am 3 years past the extension.

I also decided to just get value service front brakes down while it was there. Even with the parts on the cheap from BMW parts world wide it isn't worth to do on my own.

I knew the front brakes would be due soon so not mad at all about that.

[Hoody007]

Originally Posted by arciga18

Well The Recall has not gone as expected.

I was wishing/ hopeful for broken bolts to sneak as much repairs on BMW's dime as possible.

Instead, my FRM croaked out and that has to be replaced now. Dealer is covering the labor/ coding (?) and i am stuck with the part at invoice cost. I am 3 years past the extension.

I also decided to just get value service front brakes down while it was there. Even with the parts on the cheap from BMW parts world wide it isn't worth to do on my own.

I knew the front brakes would be do soon so not mad at all about that.

How did the FRM die? If it was because they were scanning the car with ISTA, it should be entirely on their dime - it’s a known issue and can easily be avoided by interrogating individual modules…

On the plus side your car will get an integration update with the latest software for all modules.

The BMW value service for brakes is a GREAT deal - in my area easily the cheapest quote around. You also get the updated pads which still bite very well but which leave almost no brake dust residue.

[arciga18]

Originally Posted by Hoody007

How did the FRM die? If it was because they were scanning the car with ISTA, it should be entirely on their dime - it’s a known issue and can easily be avoided by interrogating individual modules…

On the plus side your car will get an integration update with the latest software for all modules.

The BMW value service for brakes is a GREAT deal - in my area easily the cheapest quote around. You also get the updated pads which still bite very well but which leave almost no brake dust residue.

I didn't really ask when it croaked. It's one of those things that we all know it was bound to die. So I'm glad it happened while it was on the rack. Saves me getting stranded and a tow.

I also have a great relationship with the service manager so don't want to ruin that over $430 bucks. I have a 328i with upgraded F Series brakes. He is giving me the value service on brakes for the M235 donor car on my car.

Just chalking it up to maintenance.

[lordnikon]

Originally Posted by arciga18

I didn't really ask when it croaked. It's one of those things that we all know it was bound to die. So I'm glad it happened while it was on the rack. Saves me getting stranded and a tow.

I also have a great relationship with the service manager so don't want to ruin that over $430 bucks. I have a 328i with upgraded F Series brakes. He is giving me the value service on brakes for the M235 donor car on my car.

Just chalking it up to maintenance.

Did you change it to F30 m sport brakes? The read the standard brakes on the F30 are crap and a downgrade from the E90.

[TGTIW]

Originally Posted by BOB_GNARLEY

I finally figured out what BMW did to my car after I got the service manager to go back and inspect all of their work. I studied the pics of my engine compared to pics of the same engine from the internet and you can see where my timing chain guide or slide rail is broken off. I’m not positive on the name of the part.

In the pic where it is circled is from the internet and the other is of my engine.

So, where in your engine did the broken guide go, and what are they going to do for you?

[arciga18]

Originally Posted by lordnikon

Did you change it to F30 m sport brakes? The read the standard brakes on the F30 are crap and a downgrade from the E90.

Technically have M235i brakes. But yes they are F Series Msport brakes

[BOB_GNARLEY]

Originally Posted by TGTIW

So, where in your engine did the broken guide go, and what are they going to do for you?

Not sure where it went. I’ve been arguing back and forth with the service manager about it. He’s the one who took the valve cover off and sent me the pics trying to show they didn’t mess anything up and ended up showing me proof that they did. I believe in the pic of my engine if you zoom in you can actually see part of the piece that broke off laying right below where it’s supposed to be but I’m not positive if that’s what I see.

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by TekkaMaki

Any other work I should get done while the dealership has the valve cover off?
2011 328xi
39k miles

I'm going to ask how much to change the spark plugs while they are in there.

My car is not QUITE as low miles as yours, but it's still only 54K. On the other hand, they have been in there 13 years already, and at the rate I am going I will die before the car gets to the 100K change interval, so it seems like a no brainer to just change them before they become one with the head.

[Cal122]

Originally Posted by krhodes1

I'm going to ask how much to change the spark plugs while they are in there.

See if they're offering Value Service for replacement at your dealer. When I was in for SULEV work recently they had an offer under value service for $252.

[lordnikon]

Recall done. The old bolts were intact. Got new valve cover gaskets, valvetronic shaft sensor gasket, eccentric shaft actuator seals. New CCV hose as it broke.

Cost: $0