P0016 on BMW: How to Diagnose & Fix

How to Fix

Install crank bolt capture plate over existing crank bolt (4-5 hours labor) as preventative measure. Upgrade to keyed/pinned crank hub assembly (Studio RSR, BimmerWorld). Spline-lock crank hub kits provide mechanical lock rather than friction. Essential for any tuned S55 or vehicles used on track.

How to Fix

Replace timing chain, guides, tensioner, and both sprockets as a complete kit. The repair requires removing the front of the engine and is labor-intensive. Updated guide materials are available. Preventive replacement at 80,000 miles is recommended for high-mileage N20 engines.

How to Fix

Replace with an upgraded aftermarket crank hub bolt (ARP or IND). The job requires removing the radiator fan, accessory belt, and harmonic balancer to access the bolt. Use proper torque specs for the upgraded bolt. This is a preventative maintenance item for any M4 owner.

How to Fix

BMW has issued no bulletin for S55 crank-hub slip. The owner-community and aftermarket remedy is a pinned or keyed crank hub (Pure Turbos, VTT, S55 Crank Hub Fix and others), which many owners fit as preventive insurance, especially on tuned or tracked cars; it is an aftermarket modification, not a BMW-specified repair. If the hub has already slipped, the engine must be re-timed with the correct locking tools and checked for valve damage before any hub is fitted. Installation requires crankshaft pulley removal and the exact service-manual torque procedure. Cost is roughly $1,200-2,500 installed vs. $20,000+ for engine replacement after a failure.

How to Fix

Replace the timing chain, tensioner, and all chain guides. BMW released an updated chain guide design for 2015+ production. On earlier models, use the updated parts during replacement. The job requires removing the front of the engine and is labor-intensive (8-12 hours). Some owners opt for preventive replacement at 60,000-80,000 miles.

How to Fix

PREVENTIVE REPLACEMENT: If you own 2008-2014 E71 xDrive50i with N63, replace timing chain guides and tensioners IMMEDIATELY at 60,000-80,000 miles ($4,000-6,000) BEFORE failure. IWIS timing chain kit 90001521 ($800-1,200) or Turner kit 11317594899KT recommended. Replace lower chain guide 11147574373 at same time. If chain has already failed: complete engine replacement required ($15,000-25,000). Check VIN with BMW dealer for extended warranty eligibility. 2015+ N63TU engines have improved timing components but still require monitoring.

How to Fix

Read all DME faults and compare requested versus actual boost under the BMW test plan. Pressure- or smoke-test the intake and charge-air path, verify vacuum supply from the pump and reservoir, inspect both banks' hoses and pressure converters, and test actuator movement before condemning a turbocharger. Identify the engine generation, failed bank, and exact hardware in BMW ETK/AIR. Check a 2010-2013 E70 VIN for the N63 Customer Care Package only as applicable; its published six-point scope includes air-mass sensors, injectors, vacuum pump, low-pressure fuel sensor/feed line, fresh-air turbo seals, and crankcase-ventilation lines, not an automatic wastegate replacement. No retail link is published until diagnosis selects a VIN-specific component.

Owner tips & cautions

• TipAsk the shop to identify the failed bank and show vacuum, pressure-converter, actuator-travel, and requested-versus-actual boost results before authorizing turbo parts.
• WarningDo not order a universal Garrett actuator from a rattle or low-boost message; E70 and F15 N63 systems use generation- and VIN-specific hardware.

How to Fix

Enter the VIN in BMW's official recall lookup and have an authorized BMW center complete recall 23V-707 if it is open. BMW's procedure is inspection-dependent: intact affected bolts are replaced; if bolts are loose or broken, the affected VANOS adjustment unit is replaced, and missing fragments must be recovered. The recall repair is free, so do not buy a solenoid or VANOS part first. If the VIN is outside the recall or a fault remains after the remedy, use BMW-capable diagnostics to test oil supply and pressure, wiring, sensors, control solenoids, adjustment units, and mechanical timing before selecting a part. If the engine runs roughly, makes unusual mechanical noise, loses power, or stalls, move out of traffic safely, stop driving, and contact BMW for transport guidance.

Owner tips & cautions

• TipCheck the VIN for recall 23V-707 before paying for VANOS diagnosis or parts; BMW performs an open recall remedy free of charge.
• WarningA VANOS or camshaft fault is not proof of a failed solenoid. The recall remedy depends on the bolt inspection, and non-recall faults require BMW-capable diagnosis before any part is ordered.

How to Fix

Check the VIN and service history with a BMW center, diagnose stored VANOS/camshaft faults first, and run BMW's ISTA timing-chain elongation test. If the result is 'Timing chain is OK,' do not replace parts on this claim. If it is 'not OK,' BMW SIB 11 16 14 directs replacement of both timing chains under the VIN-specific repair instruction, followed by the required oil/filter service, priming steps, programming, and shorter oil-service interval. A single tensioner 11-31-7-557-741 or a generic Cloyes kit is not the complete repair and must not be presented as what the owner needs. Tow the vehicle rather than driving it when severe mechanical noise, oil-pressure warnings, or loss of timing is present.

Owner tips & cautions

• TipFor a 2010-2013 E70 X5 xDrive50i, ask BMW to check the VIN and whether the N63 Customer Care Package/timing-chain check was previously completed; these were service actions, not recalls.
• WarningDo not buy a tensioner or timing kit from a rattle or code alone. BMW first diagnoses VANOS/cam faults and measures chain elongation; a not-OK result calls for both chain systems and VIN-specific associated parts.

How to Fix

Complete timing chain kit replacement including chain, guides, tensioner, and sprockets. Must be performed by experienced BMW technician. Preventive replacement recommended at 60,000-80,000 miles. BMW extended warranty to 8 years/100,000 miles under class action settlement. Upgraded reinforced chain kit available from aftermarket. Labor is 10-14 hours for X4 due to AWD and tight engine bay.

How to Fix

Turbocharger: Inspect oil feed and return lines for leaks. Replace turbo seals and lines ($800-1,500) or complete turbo replacement ($2,000-4,000 for i8 due to mid-engine labor). Carbon buildup: Walnut blast intake valves every 40,000-60,000 miles ($400-800). Timing chain: If rattle is present, timing chain kit replacement needed ($2,000-4,000 including labor). Preventive: Use 5,000-7,000 mile oil change intervals with high-quality BMW LL-01 approved synthetic. Run the engine to full operating temperature on every drive (15+ minutes minimum) to burn off moisture. Check oil level monthly.

How to Fix

Do not ignore a cold-start rattle on an N63. Pull the DME for timing correlation codes and check the chain wear with a scope before it jumps. The repair replaces the complete kit - chains, guides, tensioners and sprockets on both banks - because reusing any one worn part causes a repeat failure. The engine has to come out and be largely disassembled; it is roughly a 40-hour job, which is why quotes land in the five-figure range at a dealer. If the chain has already jumped, the valves may be bent and the heads need inspection.

How to Fix

Confirm the exact engine, production date and VIN eligibility, then have a BMW-qualified technician follow the current timing-chain and oil-pump-chain test plans. Replace a module only when the approved test result requires it. The historical seven-year/70,000-mile extension is not a recall or current coverage promise. ShowMeTheParts resolved the 2014 528i ENGINE COMPONENTS fitment but returned no timing-chain candidate, so no commerce link is approved.

How to Fix

Have BMW verify N63 production/VIN scope and previous Customer Care Package work, diagnose stored VANOS/camshaft faults first, and run the prescribed chain test. A failed result requires the specified chain repair. Complete the bulletin's programming, oil-service-interval retrofit, oil/filter renewal and verification requirements; this is not a recall.

How to Fix

MANDATORY preventive replacement with upgraded pinned or keyed crank hub. Pure Turbos, VTT, and S55 Crank Hub Fix all sell upgraded solutions with mechanical retention (pin or keyway). Installation requires crankshaft pulley removal and careful torque specs. This is considered essential maintenance for any S55-powered car, especially if tuned or tracked. Many M2 Competition owners perform this upgrade immediately after purchase.

How to Fix

PREVENTIVE REPLACEMENT: Replace timing chain guides, tensioners, and chain at 80,000-100,000 miles ($4,000-$7,500). Turner Motorsport timing chain kit 11317594899KT includes all necessary components. Individual parts: chain guides 11147574373, 11317574397, 11317592850, 11317592877; chain 11317598263. If chain has already skipped: engine damage likely requires $15,000-$25,000 engine replacement. CRITICAL: If you hear cold-start rattling, do NOT drive - tow to shop immediately to prevent catastrophic engine failure.

How to Fix

Complete timing chain kit replacement including chain, guides, tensioner, and sprockets. Must be performed by experienced BMW technician. Preventive replacement recommended at 60,000-80,000 miles. BMW extended warranty to 8 years/100,000 miles under class action settlement. Upgraded reinforced chain kit available from aftermarket.

How to Fix

Confirm the N63 engine, chassis, production date and VIN history, resolve stored VANOS or camshaft-position faults first, and have a BMW-qualified technician run the prescribed timing-chain test. Replace both chains only if the approved test reports that the chain is not OK. ShowMeTheParts resolved the exact 2012 650i ENGINE COMPONENTS fitment but returned no timing-chain candidate, so no commerce link is approved.