[wunderkind]

Has anyone gotten their dealers to proactively fix this issue before their warranty is up?

My free maintenance period ends in March 2017 and I'd love to have them repair the timing chain in advance.

Is there some magic word I need to say to get the dealer to be proactive here so I'm not stranded out on the highway in about 20K miles? (am currently at 34K).

You can always open up your oil cap and take a look inside. You can see the timing chain and plastic housing. If they look to be scored and cracked, then you know who to call.

 

[wunderkind]

The original housing is brown while the revised one is white. Not sure of material robustness....

 

[wunderkind]

This chain breaking issue reminds me alot of bicycle chains that stretches over time and then breaks. I remember the couple of times when such events occured, it was when I was mashing the pedals on an uphill. That sudden power stroke stressed the already compromised chain that resulted in it breaking. Which led to "drivetrain malfunction".

It would be illuminating to read the data logs of the bmw right before the timing chain broke.

 

[wunderkind]

and did you crash?
Me, When I notice the rear changes not so crisp (SRAM red and force 22), I proceed to measure the wear using a chain gauge and if it is more than 50%, then I replace it; in this manner, I have never had a 'drivetrain' malfunction. Only if BMW did the same with our N20 engines!!!! :dunno:

PS: a pic of my nicest ride; I also own a trek madone 4.5 for rainy days and trainer use

I'm just cranking out the wattage boo-yeah! :rofl:
One of the time when my bike chain broke I was on a Trek hardtail climbing a technical single track. Wasn't going fast naturally so just stopped. It's really anti-climactic feeling.
The second time was on the way to work on my commuter Norco, starting off from a stop. Had to push the bike to the office.

Nice madone. I once built a custom roadbike with Ultegra and Dura Ace bits that I sold. Now I'm a "steel is real" cyclist.
If only changing the timing chain are that easy as bikes!

 

[wunderkind]

well you can always try and complain about noise from the engine from the timing chain area and hope the SA will help you get that resolved. Are you a real pal with your SA?

 

[wunderkind]

I think BMW will not order a general recall. As some have noted, the n20 is used in many bmw models. Recall cost aside, the news of the recall will hurt BMW's reputation and future revenue. It is in BMW's interest to provide discretionary repairs unless this issue gets on the evening news.

IIRC the plastic guides are also found in the B-whatever engines as well.