NHTSA Complaint #11390492 — 2011 BMW 328I

CYLINDER HEAD BOLT DETACHMENT FROM FACTORY PRODUCTION CAUSING MASSIVE OIL LEAK ON ENGINE BLOCK. MY VEHICLE RAPIDLY LOST 1 QUART OF OIL IN 2.1 MILES OF DRIVING. WHEN I TOOK IT TO A CERTIFIED BMW SERVICE CENTER, THEY FOUND THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLT WAS COMPLETE SEVERED FROM THE BOLT STEM CAUSING OIL TO SPRAY OUT OF THE ENGINE. THIS DETACHMENT CAUSED OIL TO SPRAY OUT OF THE ENGINE, RAPIDLY DEPLETING OIL FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS OIL SPRAYED RAPIDLY ONTO THE ALTERNATOR, BELT AND OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE BAY. THE CERTIFIED BMW MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS ISSUE IS SEEN FREQUENTLY WITH BMW FROM THE FACTORY PRODUCTION METHODS AND TORQUE SPECS IN FACTORY PRODUCTION PROCESS. THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLT BECOMES SEVERED FROM THE BOLT STEM/THREADED PORTION OF THE BOLT (SEE PICTURES INCLUDED). ACCORDING TO CERTIFIED BMW MECHANIC, THIS BOLT WOULD ONLY BE MANIPULATED DURING FACTORY PRODUCTION. I WAS ABLE TO CATCH THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE OIL DRAINED COMPLETED OUT OF MY VEHICLE OR BEFORE THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE BAY BECAUSE OF OIL SPRAYING. I AM CONCERNED THAT A MAJOR ENGINE COMPONENT ON MY VEHICLE FAILED. THIS FAILURE POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND QUALITY ISSUE. THIS IS A PART INTEGRITY/QUALITY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY BMW IMMEDIATELY.