VANOS Failure = Extended Warranty

jhbjrpdx · 02-25-2018, 05:29 PM

Well I had the first real problem in almost 4 years of ownership. Got the dredded "Drivetrain Malfunction" message. Amber Alert! Called the dealership and they pulled out a loaner. Nice. Drove it like a baby to the dealer, hoping it would make it there. They stacked fixing my new problem with the 4 Year maintenance. Seems my VANOS valve failed. They had to keep the car over the weekend as they didn't have the part and wanted to do a cold start test.

Here's the funny part. This is the first year I said WTF and got different wheels and snow tires from Tire Rack. It has been a warm winter but of course, it snowed with my wonderful car stuck in the shop. Are you kidding me?

Glad it happened before the warranty expired and since it is low mileage, i am going to keep it a couple more years and do the 3rd-party comprehensive warranty extension. I don't even want to think what that VANOS would have cost me retail. It doesn't take much on a BMW to drain a credit card.

Kolyan2k · 02-25-2018, 06:04 PM

Let us known how much was the repair. How many miles you have?

jhbjrpdx · 02-25-2018, 06:35 PM

16K. Never saw the price as it was 0 on the bill.

Kolyan2k · 02-25-2018, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhbjrpdx

16K. Never saw the price as it was 0 on the bill.

I see. Well quick Google says it's about $5k

Kolyan2k · 02-25-2018, 07:55 PM

Do u know exactly what broke? I know BMW issued a recall for all previous n55s for broken Vanos bolt

aerobod · 02-25-2018, 09:04 PM

The VANOS solenoid valve is just over US$150, should be about an hour of labour to change, for a total bill of $300 or so. Not an uncommon failure on the N55 (and N54) engines.

Kolyan2k · 02-25-2018, 09:27 PM

Got it now. Didn't see op said valve. I just know there was a recall on VANOS that resulted in some expensive repairs

p912guy · 02-26-2018, 08:32 AM

Only 16K miles in almost 4 years? Guess you don't drive it much. Also, looks like OP's ride is a 228 so an N20 and not N55 issue.

jhbjrpdx · 02-26-2018, 02:30 PM

It's my retired guy fun driver so it doesn't commute. We like to take the dogs on trips so that means my wife's Hybrid Rav4. No muddy paws on my seats allowed.

Seems a VANOS valve replacement is not simple. It involves a cylinder head gasket kit and shaft seal.

Anyone had experience with third party extended warranty from a company called First Extended Service Corp?

XutvJet · 02-26-2018, 03:01 PM

The Vanos valves are mounted to the front of the motor. They have two o ring seals. That's it. They're removed by simply removing one bolt, a bracket, and pulling them out. They're in a tight spot and usually requires removal of the radiator fan assembly.

02-25-2018, 05:29 PM	#1
jhbjrpdx Private 11 Rep 55 Posts Drives: 228i Sportline Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Portland OR iTrader: (0)	VANOS Failure = Extended Warranty Well I had the first real problem in almost 4 years of ownership. Got the dredded "Drivetrain Malfunction" message. Amber Alert! Called the dealership and they pulled out a loaner. Nice. Drove it like a baby to the dealer, hoping it would make it there. They stacked fixing my new problem with the 4 Year maintenance. Seems my VANOS valve failed. They had to keep the car over the weekend as they didn't have the part and wanted to do a cold start test. Here's the funny part. This is the first year I said WTF and got different wheels and snow tires from Tire Rack. It has been a warm winter but of course, it snowed with my wonderful car stuck in the shop. Are you kidding me? Glad it happened before the warranty expired and since it is low mileage, i am going to keep it a couple more years and do the 3rd-party comprehensive warranty extension. I don't even want to think what that VANOS would have cost me retail. It doesn't take much on a BMW to drain a credit card.
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02-25-2018, 06:04 PM	#2
Kolyan2k Major General 928 Rep 5,538 Posts Drives: 2006 S2000 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boston iTrader: (1)	Let us known how much was the repair. How many miles you have?
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02-25-2018, 06:35 PM	#3
jhbjrpdx Private 11 Rep 55 Posts Drives: 228i Sportline Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Portland OR iTrader: (0)	16K. Never saw the price as it was 0 on the bill.
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02-25-2018, 07:55 PM	#5
Kolyan2k Major General 928 Rep 5,538 Posts Drives: 2006 S2000 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boston iTrader: (1)	Do u know exactly what broke? I know BMW issued a recall for all previous n55s for broken Vanos bolt
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02-25-2018, 09:04 PM	#6
aerobod Car Geek 3626 Rep 3,594 Posts Drives: Caterham R500, M2-G87, Macan S Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	The VANOS solenoid valve is just over US$150, should be about an hour of labour to change, for a total bill of $300 or so. Not an uncommon failure on the N55 (and N54) engines.
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02-25-2018, 09:27 PM	#7
Kolyan2k Major General 928 Rep 5,538 Posts Drives: 2006 S2000 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boston iTrader: (1)	Got it now. Didn't see op said valve. I just know there was a recall on VANOS that resulted in some expensive repairs
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02-26-2018, 08:32 AM	#8
p912guy Captain 373 Rep 702 Posts Drives: 2016 M235i Convertible Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: The Ville iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW M235i Conv ... [0.00]	Only 16K miles in almost 4 years? Guess you don't drive it much. Also, looks like OP's ride is a 228 so an N20 and not N55 issue. __________________ 16 BMW M235i Alpine White Convertible / MT (Daily Driver) 16 Audi Q5 3.0T (Wife's Daily Driver) 66 Porsche 912 (Project) 17 GMC Canyon Denali Long Bed 4x4 (Tailgatin, Haulin & Towin) various 'one design' sailboats / stinky hockey gear
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02-26-2018, 02:30 PM	#9
jhbjrpdx Private 11 Rep 55 Posts Drives: 228i Sportline Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Portland OR iTrader: (0)	It's my retired guy fun driver so it doesn't commute. We like to take the dogs on trips so that means my wife's Hybrid Rav4. No muddy paws on my seats allowed. Seems a VANOS valve replacement is not simple. It involves a cylinder head gasket kit and shaft seal. Anyone had experience with third party extended warranty from a company called First Extended Service Corp?
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02-26-2018, 03:01 PM	#10
XutvJet Major General 5556 Rep 5,372 Posts Drives: 2011 Cayman Base, 2016 M235 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Kansas City iTrader: (-1)	The Vanos valves are mounted to the front of the motor. They have two o ring seals. That's it. They're removed by simply removing one bolt, a bracket, and pulling them out. They're in a tight spot and usually requires removal of the radiator fan assembly.
	Appreciate 0 Quote