BMW N20 Timing Chain: How to Check a Used 328i or X3

If you are shopping a 2012-2015 BMW with the four-cylinder N20 or N26 engine (328i, 428i, 528i, X1 and X3 28i, 228i and others), assume the timing chain is your problem now, not BMW's. The 7-year/70,000-mile warranty extension and the class action coverage that stretched partial help to 8 years or 100,000 miles have run out on practically every car built before March 2015, because both were measured from the original in-service date. So you need proof the chain was replaced, or a price that leaves room to do it.

We read BMW's own bulletins on NHTSA's site and the settlement terms on November 8, 2026. The short version: BMW extended coverage, got sued anyway, settled without admitting fault, and the clock has now passed on all of it for cars in this group. What is left for a used buyer is homework.

What the problem is

The lawsuit, Gelis v. BMW, was filed over the timing chain and oil pump drive chain modules on N20 and N26 direct-injection turbo engines. CarComplaints.com summarized the claims in February 2021: owners alleged the primary chain assemblies could skip on the sprockets, which can let pistons and valves hit each other and cause the engine to stall or fail outright. BMW denied the allegations and said it stands behind its products. BMW's own settlement bulletin repeats that the plaintiffs alleged a defect that could lead to sudden engine failure and loss of power, and that BMW admits no wrongdoing.

Whatever the legal outcome, the practical point for a buyer is that an engine failure here is not a cheap fix. The settlement capped reimbursement at independent shops at $3,000 for the chain modules and $7,500 for engine failure caused by the chain, which gives you a sense of the money involved.

Which cars are in the group

BMW's 2017 bulletin, SI B11 03 17, and its 2021 settlement bulletin list the same family. By model: the X1 sDrive28i and xDrive28i, Z4 sDrive28i, 528i and 528i xDrive, 228i coupe and convertible, X3 sDrive28i and xDrive28i, X4 xDrive28i, 320i, 328i sedan and wagon, 328i Gran Turismo, and the 428i coupe, convertible and Gran Coupe. Production dates vary by model but run from 2011 up to February 2015. The settlement bulletin states that vehicles produced on or after March 1, 2015 are not included. Both bulletins say the model list is for information only and that dealers confirm eligibility by VIN.

Why the coverage is gone

The 2017 extension raised timing chain and oil pump chain coverage to 7 years or 70,000 miles from the original in-service date. The settlement, effective June 30, 2021, added partial coverage past that: BMW paid 75 percent between 70,001 and 80,000 miles within 7 to 8 years, 55 percent from 80,001 to 90,000, and 40 percent from 90,001 to 100,000, all under 8 years in service. After 8 years or 100,000 miles, the customer paid 100 percent.

Do the math on the newest car in the group. A car built in February 2015 and sold that spring passed 8 years in service in 2023. Even a car that sat unsold for a year or two is past 8 years by November 2026 unless its in-service date was very late, and the 100,000-mile cap applied either way. So treat any talk of "the timing chain warranty" as history and check the in-service date yourself. Our post on checking warranty status by VIN covers how to confirm what is left on any car.

There is one more detail in the settlement bulletin that matters to used buyers. Coverage was void if the car had been declared a total loss or sold for salvage, if the true mileage could not be determined, or if the covered parts had been replaced with used or salvaged parts. BMW even told dealers to use other resources, CARFAX among them, to check for those situations. So a branded title on one of these cars was already a red flag for the chain question, long before the coverage ran out.

How to check a used N20 or N26 car

• Ask for invoices showing the timing chain and oil pump drive chain modules were replaced, with the date and mileage. A dealer warranty claim under the extension or settlement should show up in BMW's records, so a BMW service desk may be able to tell you if it was done.
• Confirm the engine type. A 328i from 2012 to 2015 could have the N20 or the N26, and some 320i models used the N20 too. Our BMW VIN decoder helps match the VIN to the build.
• Listen to a cold start and get a specialist to check it. Our general guide on timing chain rattle before buying covers what a pre-purchase inspection should include.
• Price the risk. If there is no proof of replacement, factor a chain job into your offer.

For the rest of the car, see the used 3 Series guide or the used X3 guide.

What the history report can and cannot show

A history report can show dealer service visits, title brands, total-loss records and odometer readings, which is exactly what voided BMW coverage. Whether a timing chain replacement shows up depends on who did it and whether they reported it; we covered that in does CARFAX show timing chain replacement. Do not accept a seller's printed PDF as proof; fake reports are cheap to make. CARFAX's own single-report price has been around $39.99 to $44.99, with Edmunds listing $44.99 in June 2026. CarVins is a licensed reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian; guest reports have been about $5.50, members about $4.50, and a bundle about $6.75. Confirm at checkout.

Sources

• BMW SI B11 03 17: N20 and N26 timing chain limited warranty extension to 7 years/70,000 miles (via NHTSA)
• BMW SI B11 02 21: class action settlement, N20/N26 timing and oil pump drive chain (via NHTSA)
• CarComplaints.com: BMW timing chain lawsuit settlement final, February 2021
• Edmunds: CARFAX and AutoCheck pricing, June 2026