Oil Pump problems of the 2012 BMW 528

While driving my certified 2012 BMW 528i, which has an n20 engine, the "drivetrain malfunction, maximum output no longer available, drive moderately" warning light appeared on my dash and alerted me that there was a potential issue with my vehicle. Prior to the alert signaling my attention, I was driving on a heavily trafficked highway with speed limits ranging from 35 mph to 60 mph. I drove approximately 20 minutes / 13 miles to my destination before the "drivetrain malfunction" indicator light alerted me. Luckily, I was near a driveway to pull off into a parking lot when the warning light appeared. As soon as the warning light appeared my car immediately began to idle roughly, and my engine was not running at full capacity. I was only able to pull into a parking stall and moments following the "drivetrain malfunction" alert, an oil light also alerted me on my dash. My car is up to date on all required services. I have serviced my vehicle at my local BMW dealership. At all service appointments I requested current bulletins. My vehicle had no known problems, or warning indicators or alerts that I was made aware of. When I safely pulled off the road into a parking lot my car shut down completely, would not restart, and locked up. I was not able to put my car in neutral. My vehicle was towed to the BMW dealership where the dealership inspected the vehicle and alerts. The dealership diagnosed the vehicle and said that the timing and oil pump chain malfunctioned and the total cost estimate would be 13,651 + tax. After researching several online bulletins, BMW forums and news articles, the "drivetrain malfunction" has been an issue with other BMW customers, and BMW north America iswas aware of this issue and hazard. Experiencing this malfunction could have posed a risk to my safety and the safety of my passenger since the vehicle completely shut down and locked up.

Tl the contact owns a 2012 BMW 528i. The contact noticed that the vehicle was included in several technical service bulletins. He was concerned that BMW had several lawsuits regarding the timing belt. The manufacturer extended the warranties from 50,000 to 70,000 miles related to the timing chains, sprockets, oil pumps, tensioners, and guides. The contact was concerned that the manufacturer was not fully resolving the issue. The vehicle was currently at BMW of fairfax (8427 lee hwy, fairfax, va 22031, (800) 641-4873) for the timing chain. The contact stated that the timing chain was beginning to rub against other parts of the engine. The contact was concerned that the repair would cost $12,000 to $16,000 to replace the entire engine if the timing chain failed. The manufacturer stated that the contact's vehicle did not qualify for the extended warranty since it was already over 70,000 miles. The failure mileage was 83,000.

I was driving down the highway and my �low oil pressure� light came on so I pulled over to the side of the road immediately and shut the car off. I had the car towed to a certified BMW repair shop global imports. The BMW service center confirmed the failure was the drive chain causing the engine to seize and needing to be replaced. As I researched the issue I found thousands of similar internet stories elaborating on the design flaws in the engine that uses plastic flywheels for the drive chain/oil pump chain. BMW extended the warranty for this issue beyond their normal 4 year 48,000 miles to 7 years and 70,000 miles. I am at 76,000 miles just out of warranty. It is odd they extended the warranty years by 3 but only extended the warranty miles an additional 22,000 miles or an average of 7,333 miles per year. Who only drives 7,333 miles a year. BMW's other extended warranties usually offer an average of 12,000 miles per year on the additional years it is extended. The other extended warranties for this engine were extended 10 years and 120,000 miles. I was diligent in changing the oil long before the recommended change intervals issued by BMW. There is no reason an engine would seize at 76,000 miles when the regular maintenance was followed unless there was a major engine design flaw. BMW has already acknowledged the engine design issues by extending the warranty on the �timing chain and oil pump drive chain�, �engine oil feedline� to the turbo charger and the �fuel tank leak diagnostic module (nvld)�. With this being a known design flaw and the number of issues there should be a recall on this engine so the fly wheels can be replaced with a better part or at very least BMW should be forced to extend the warranty and miles as they do with other warranty extensions. This design flaw caused the engine to stop in the middle of the highway which is very dangerous.

Vehicle was starved of oil. No warning showed up in the instrument panel. The vechle died on a high speed roadway and could not be put into neutral to get it to a safe location off the road. The tow operators could not move it either. Cars were swerving and braking to avoid hitting my vehicle. BMW told me th oil issue was my fault. Come to find out there are 2 letters sent for warranty extensions for oil pump drive chain and engine oil feed line. Because I do my own oil changes BMW stated the oil issue was my fault. This is a safety problem and should not be a warranty extension but an official recall! there are dozens of complaints online regarding the safety issues when this car dies in the roadway. Something needs to be done about this!!!.