Clouds on the horizon.......

[GCR]

We are starting to see timing chain rail failures on a frequent basis now on M62 engines. If you are lucky, they won't jump time, sometimes, if ignored, they will and lots of bent valves is the result. Have seen this occur now on both clean and sludged engines so I don't believe oil changes (or lack of) is neccessarily the cause. My own theory is that the plastic/nylon rails are deteriorating just like the fan shrouds and radiators with age. Way to go, BMW........



Pieces of rail in the oil pan........

All that was keeping the chain from walking off the rail (plastic guide was gone........) The chain was rubbing on the lower cover.

[ArmySweitzer]

wow, kinda makes me want to rip apart my motor just to see if it looks like that!!!

thats insane.

[NY Bimmers]

aren't the m62's non-interference motors???? meaning no bent valves or damaged pistons???

[bimmerfiver]

Eeks. That's like bad pron. This thread should be *NWS*.

[Wolfen]

When i first got my E39 there was evidence of such sludge too. I used a good synthetic oil right away and changed it every few thousand miles. So much sludge kept coming off the engine i was blowing filters. Unbelievable.

I really do see the sludge and varnishing from the oil eating away at nylon runners. that sludge also has abrasive particles in it. When i has my valve covers off i scraped and cleaned all varnish deposits under it. they were very loose and abrasive. I found the same deposits on my CCV. They ate away at the folds in the ccv's diaphram and it burst.

Im a very firm believer that an engine should be spotless inside. All surfaces should look like polished brass. Clean and reflective.

After 2 years of running AMS through my car, i don't even get a "tick" that i always got on startup in the winter. Even in 8 degree weather here in NJ, i start the car and it's silky smooth.

I just fail to see how people don't get it, when it comes to keeping the engine insides super clean. They Must be. It does matter. It does add up.

[GCR]

aren't the m62's non-interference motors???? meaning no bent valves or damaged pistons???

I have a head on the bench with 8 bent exhaust valves........

When i first got my E39 there was evidence of such sludge too. I used a good synthetic oil right away and changed it every few thousand miles. So much sludge kept coming off the engine i was blowing filters. Unbelievable.

I really do see the sludge and varnishing from the oil eating away at nylon runners. that sludge also has abrasive particles in it. When i has my valve covers off i scraped and cleaned all varnish deposits under it. they were very loose and abrasive. I found the same deposits on my CCV. They ate away at the folds in the ccv's diaphram and it burst.

Im a very firm believer that an engine should be spotless inside. All surfaces should look like polished brass. Clean and reflective.

After 2 years of running AMS through my car, i don't even get a "tick" that i always got on startup in the winter. Even in 8 degree weather here in NJ, i start the car and it's silky smooth.

I just fail to see how people don't get it, when it comes to keeping the engine insides super clean. They Must be. It does matter. It does add up.

The engine that I have apart in the shop (160k miles) is squeaky clean inside, no sludge anywhere. The rails are in little pieces.....

[willamD]

aren't the timing chains supposed to be replaced every 150k miles?

[GCR]

I have not seen any 150k mile replacement recommendation. The rails are failing, not the chains.

Here is the second victim, 160k miles and clean inside......

[jamesdc4]

We are starting to see timing chain rail failures on a frequent basis now on M62 engines. If you are lucky, they won't jump time, sometimes, if ignored, they will and lots of bent valves is the result. Have seen this occur now on both clean and sludged engines so I don't believe oil changes (or lack of) is neccessarily the cause. My own theory is that the plastic/nylon rails are deteriorating just like the fan shrouds and radiators with age. Way to go, BMW........



Pieces of rail in the oil pan........

All that was keeping the chain from walking off the rail (plastic guide was gone........) The chain was rubbing on the lower cover.

Is that sludge from running mineral (dino) oil?

[Fiziks]

ewwwwwwwww

[BKphoto]

after 160,000 miles i'd have to say "time to buy another car" if this was happening at 80,000 i would have a problem...

[GCR]

Is that sludge from running mineral (dino) oil?

BMW 5W30 Synthetic.

[Orxan4ik]

I change my oil once in 7500-8K miles. Im effed lol

[GCR]

after 160,000 miles i'd have to say "time to buy another car" if this was happening at 80,000 i would have a problem...

The dirty engine has 130k miles, the clean one 160k. Sad thing is, my E28 535i has 275k with no internal issues at all, original chain, rails & tensioner, original head gasket....

[BMRSEB]

Nasty! Any (similar) issues with M52TU's?

[Orxan4ik]

Sad thing is, my E28 535i has 275k with no internal issues at all, original chain, rails & tensioner, original head gasket....

thats a good thing lol

[Jason5driver]

The dirty engine has 130k miles, the clean one 160k. Sad thing is, my E28 535i has 275k with no internal issues at all, original chain, rails & tensioner, original head gasket....

Can this happen on the M54 engines?

Thanks!
Jason

[GCR]

Can this happen on the M54 engines?

Thanks!
Jason

Have not seen it yet, or on M60 engines.

[Jason5driver]

Have not seen it yet, or on M60 engines.

Is it still a good idea to replace the rails at a certain mileage/ as preventive maintenance?

Thank you Sir!

[GCR]

Going to do mine before 120k. Lots of labor & it does require special tools.....

[Ned Ryerson]

Design flaw/cheap parts/ both? Cripes.

[Jason5driver]

Design flaw/cheap parts/ both? Cripes.

Isn't that the story with BMW and marketing?

The thought of the expendable $40k car comes to mind again...

[Wolfen]

Crap, i guess theres no preventing it. Good thing they go later on in the cars life.

[GCR]

Design flaw/cheap parts/ both? Cripes.

Little bit of both, I think. The nylon sliders aren't bonded anymore, they clip onto the aluminum rail and are "loose" out of the package. The remaining pieces of broken guide laying in the oil pan are soft and can be crumbled by hand. Methinks there are a lot of time bombs driving around. I'm still of the opinion that this is an age related failure because I have one customer with 310 k miles on his 03 X5 4.4 that has not had any issues yet. Both of these engines were 99's......

Taken at last oil change....

[Michael Star]

What about later models? Since both are 99s do you think later ones were improved upon?