# 2001 BMW 540I — ENGINE
> NHTSA complaint `1637168` · 2020-01-14 · BMW of North America, LLC
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** BMW
- **Model:** 540I
- **Year:** 2001
- **Manufacturer:** BMW of North America, LLC
- **Component:** ENGINE
- **Miles at failure:** 145,000
## Narrative
M62 V-8 ENGINES USED IN THE E-39 540 AND E-38 740 ARE NOTORIOUS FOR FAULTY TIMING CHAIN GUIDES. AT AROUND 125,000 THE PLASTIC CAN DISINTEGRATE CAUSING THE CHAIN TO SKIP A TOOTH. ONCE A TOOTH IS SKIPPED THE VALVES ARE CRUSHED AND THE ENGINE IS DESTROYED.  THE COST TO REPLACE THE GUIDES IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.  I WAS LUCKY IN THAT I REPLACED MINE AT 140,000 MILES
---
*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*