07 335i - Camshafts Replaced

[budman1]

Well, our 07 335i was just in the shop for about a week. I was driving on the highway and the reduced engine power light came on. The car acted pretty normal so we were able to drive it home. Well, dropped it off at the service center and waited for the news.

As it turns out, they replaced the camshafts due to abnormal wear. The service advisor said there was a service bulletin on the issue.

Wow, was surprised it turned out to be something internal this time. I was expecting another HPP or a plugged injector.

It runs fine now ... and BMW NA agreed to take the vehicle back from lease a month early. Mid October will be the end of this car for us. I love the car ... but the issues we have had with it makes me happy to be able to turn in the keys and walk. Maybe the 2010 335's are more sorted out :) Hmmnnn...

[Rosetta Stoned]

I'd love to see that service bulletin and wonder what percentage of cars it may affect. Hopefully it doesn't become as pronounced as the fuel pump issue.

[mryakan]

I'd love to see that service bulletin and wonder what percentage of cars it may affect. Hopefully it doesn't become as pronounced as the fuel pump issue.
If forum posts are any indication (since they seem to exaggerate the negative), this seems to be a very rare issue. Unfortunately there are no official statistics on each specific issue that a car exhibits. Maybe BMW has those #s but I am not surprised if they do not (want to?) publish them. In any case, using a forum to do statistical analysis is like going to the Sahara to deduce if there is global warming, I think you get my point.

[budman1]

I was really surprised at the camshaft replacement. If you take a look around here, there really is no mention of it.

I will just chalk it up to the black cloud that follows me around:)

[Beer Goggles]

If forum posts are any indication (since they seem to exaggerate the negative), this seems to be a very rare issue. Unfortunately there are no official statistics on each specific issue that a car exhibits. Maybe BMW has those #s but I am not surprised if they do not (want to?) publish them. In any case, using a forum to do statistical analysis is like going to the Sahara to deduce if there is global warming, I think you get my point.


IF there was a TSB about it...it IS more common than you think. They don't issue ANYTHING until they are pressured or see failures.

[mryakan]

IF there was a TSB about it...it IS more common than you think. They don't issue ANYTHING until they are pressured or see failures.

Dude, I am speaking in general terms. I would say the same if I were on the Ford or Hyundai forums. TSB or not, what you hear on forums is an exaggeration of the negative. People do not come here to say how great and trouble free their car is, but as soon as it develops an issue they jump online and complain or seek opinions, it is human nature.
And no, a TSB doesn't mean it is prevalent, it only means it was serious enough for the engineers to look into it. It could have been a few dozen incidents, what is that .0006% of cars? It could also be recall worthy, but don't deduce either from forum posts. Enough said.

[mblaucoupe335]

I was really surprised at the camshaft replacement. If you take a look around here, there really is no mention of it.

I will just chalk it up to the black cloud that follows me around:)

I had to have the camshaft bearing ledges replaced on my car about 3 months ago at about 25k. It was just in the shop to have the exhaust manifold solenoid replaced too. I haven't had the fuel pump issues yet (knock on wood), but it sounds like it is one thing after another with this engine! Did BMW even test this engine before putting on the market??? :mad

[duncan17]

Well, our 07 335i was just in the shop for about a week. I was driving on the highway and the reduced engine power light came on. The car acted pretty normal so we were able to drive it home. Well, dropped it off at the service center and waited for the news.

As it turns out, they replaced the camshafts due to abnormal wear. The service advisor said there was a service bulletin on the issue.

Wow, was surprised it turned out to be something internal this time. I was expecting another HPP or a plugged injector.

It runs fine now ... and BMW NA agreed to take the vehicle back from lease a month early. Mid October will be the end of this car for us. I love the car ... but the issues we have had with it makes me happy to be able to turn in the keys and walk. Maybe the 2010 335's are more sorted out :) Hmmnnn...
How many miles? Any track days? Autocrosses?

[Beer Goggles]

How many miles? Any track days? Autocrosses?


What would that matter, and don't admit that here! There have been a bunch of issues like that. I'd suspect a material hardness issue that's the problem....

But some people think BMW engineers are saints so they did it for pure performance. ;)

[Critter7r]

We've seen 3 or 4 of those cars in here in the past month or two.

[walters48]

We've seen 3 or 4 of those cars in here in the past month or two.
Were they all '07 335s with the camshaft/camshaft-related issues?
Were they all in the same approximate mileage neighborhood?
Having an '07 e90 w/ about 10.5k miles maybe I should start doing more frequent oil changes...

[Critter7r]

Were they all '07 335s with the camshaft/camshaft-related issues?
Were they all in the same approximate mileage neighborhood?
Having an '07 e90 w/ about 10.5k miles maybe I should start doing more frequent oil changes...


I'll try to remember to look tomorrow and see what years/engines are affected. More frequesnt oil changes won't help. The seal causing the problem is not really bathed in oil... it's a double o-ring seal at the end of the camshaft and the outermost seal is the one that wears into the bearing ledge. I think the inner seal keeps the oil more or less away form that outer seal and the lack of oil (not the condition of it) is the problem.