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Engine and transmission repair for BMW, luxury and exotic cars in South Florida.
BMR Auto diagnoses and repairs timing chains, fuel pumps, oil leaks, cooling faults, starters and gearboxes in its Dania Beach shop. On the 8HP automatic we also clone the transmission module, so a used unit works with your car. Before you approve anything, you know what failed and what the repair will cost.
5.0 from 151 Google reviews, as of October 30, 2026 325 W Dixie Highway, Dania Beach
At a glance
Engine and transmission work at BMR Auto.
- BMR Auto is an independent BMW, luxury and exotic car specialist at 325 W Dixie Highway, Dania Beach, Florida.
- BMR Auto diagnoses and repairs engines and transmissions on BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce cars and on the exotic makes listed below.
- BMR Auto quotes engine and gearbox work after a diagnosis, before any part is ordered.
- BMR Auto clones a used 8HP transmission module (EGS) or engine computer (DME) to your car.
- From the E70-era 8HP cars on, the BMW transmission module is part of the immobilizer chain, so a used one must be synchronized or cloned.
- On some BMW G-series models, a published Mitchell 1 bulletin fixes a battery that drains flat by reprogramming the transmission module.
- Recall repairs are free at the dealer, and BMR Auto will tell you when a fault on your car belongs there.
- BMR Auto is rated 5.0 on Google from 151 reviews, as of October 30, 2026.
How we decide
Repair, rebuild, replace, or send it to the dealer.
Every engine and gearbox job starts with a diagnosis. On a big job, we talk through what the car is worth to you and how long you plan to keep it before you decide.
In our shop
Diagnosis, software updates, adaptations, fluid services, transmission module cloning, timing chains, fuel pumps, leaks, cooling, clutches and starters. See diagnostics and module cloning.
Rebuilt, replaced or used
When an engine or gearbox has failed inside, we lay out the options for your car, from a rebuild to a replacement unit, with the cost of each. On BMW, Bentley and McLaren cars that can include a used engine, inspected and tested before it goes in.
To the dealer
Open recalls and repairs covered by the factory warranty or a maker’s campaign. They cost you nothing there. See recalls, warranty and the dealer.
Worth fixing?
When a repair would cost more than the car is worth to you, we say so before you spend the money.
A fair price on a big job
An engine or gearbox repair on a Rolls-Royce, a Bentley or an M car is a serious bill at any shop. KJ, who owns BMR Auto, prices that job the way he would for a friend who owned the car, and he explains it in plain words before you say yes. Owners who were treated that way come back with their next car, and many of our customers came to us on a friend’s word.
Timing chains and belts
Timing chains and belts.
Most engines on this page are chain driven, and a chain is replaced when its condition calls for it, at no set mileage. On the Mercedes M276 and Maserati V6 below, specialists report a rattle on a cold start as the first sign. Of the makes on this page, the belt-driven engines owners discuss are older Ferrari V8s.
BMW N20 and N26 four-cylinder engines
A class action alleged that these engines are “prone to premature failures of the primary and secondary timing chain assemblies,” and that a failed chain can cause “sudden catastrophic engine failure.” The cars named include the 2012 to 2015 X1, 2013 to 2015 X3, 2015 Z4, 2014 to 2015 228i and 428i, and 2012 to 2015 320i, 328i and 528i models.
The settlement in Gelis v. BMW reimbursed timing chain and engine failure repairs, including repairs at an independent shop, up to set limits inside a program of 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever came first. Even the 2015 cars are now more than 8 years old, so few if any can still qualify. If yours might, check before the repair and keep every invoice.
BMR Auto replaces N20 and N26 timing chains. Call with the model and mileage for a quote.
Mercedes M276 V6 and Maserati V6
An independent Mercedes specialist reports a cold-start rattle from the timing chain tensioners, mainly on early naturally aspirated M276 engines, with updated parts released around 2014 under a service bulletin. A Maserati specialist reports a similar cold-start tensioner rattle on the Ghibli and Quattroporte 3.0 V6.
Porsche and the IMS shaft
On the 2009 and later 9A1 engine the camshafts are driven directly from the crankshaft, and there is no intermediate shaft. Earlier cars are covered under Porsche.
Ferrari timing belts
The belt-driven Ferraris discussed by owners are the 308, 348, 355 and 360. Owners on FerrariChat disagree on the factory interval, some citing 3 years or 30,000 miles and others 5 years or 30,000 miles, so both figures set a time limit as well as a mileage.
If you do not know when the belts were last done, treat them as due. Ferrari specifics are under Ferrari.
Signs worth a call
- A rattle for a few seconds after a cold start.
- A check engine light with a misfire or rough idle.
- Oil leaks.
We read the cam and crank correlation data before anything is taken apart. See diagnostics.
Fuel systems
Fuel pumps, injectors and the fuel system.
A direct-injection engine has two fuel pumps: a low-pressure pump in the tank and a high-pressure pump on the engine. On BMW, the one owners hear about is the pump on the engine.
BMW N54 high-pressure fuel pump
A failed high-pressure pump can make the engine stop suddenly. BMW recalled 2007 to 2010 cars on October 26, 2010, and in the US extended cover on the pump and the piezo injectors to 10 years or 120,000 miles. Those extensions have now run out. The N55 that followed uses solenoid injectors in place of piezo ones.
BMW N63 V8 injectors and low-pressure sensor
BMW’s N63 Customer Care Package, bulletin SI B11 06 14, replaces piezo injectors, the fuel low-pressure sensor and its feed line as necessary, among other parts. See the BMW N63 section.
Mercedes M276 high-pressure pump
An independent Mercedes specialist reports high-pressure pump failures from about 30,000 miles, mostly past 80,000.
Porsche fuel pump
One owner’s Google review describes a Porsche fuel pump that went bad and was fixed quickly at BMR Auto. His words are in the reviews below.
In-tank pumps and filters
A failing in-tank pump usually shows as stalling and lost power. On McLarens, an Ontario specialist calls the fuel filter and charcoal canister at the 6th and 12th services “the single most-skipped item.” Fuel filters are covered on scheduled maintenance.
Getting a price
Pump and injector prices depend on the engine. Send the VIN and the symptom, and BMR Auto will diagnose the car and quote it.
Engines by make
What goes wrong on each make, and what we do about it.
The faults below are the documented ones. Where a fact comes from one specialist or one seller, we say who. Your quote comes after a diagnosis of your own car.
BMW
N63 and N63TU V8, N20 and N26, N54 and N55
BMW’s bulletin SI B11 06 14, the “N63 Customer Care Package,” published April 1, 2015, replaces as necessary hot-film air mass sensors, piezo injectors, the engine vacuum pump, the fuel low-pressure sensor and feed line, intake turbo seals and crankcase ventilation lines, and adds a battery where eligible. The bulletin says it is “NOT a mandatory Technical Campaign or Recall.” One parts seller also reports N63 valve stem seals that cause blue or white smoke on a cold start, turbo oil feed lines that coke from heat soak, and plastic coolant parts that crack at 70,000 to 120,000 miles. Timing chains on the N20 and N26 are under timing, and the N54 fuel pump under fuel systems. BMW service
Mini
Engines and electronics shared with BMW
Mini cars of the BMW era share engines and electronics with BMW, so the same diagnosis applies. Call us with the year, the engine and the symptom. Mini service
Rolls-Royce
Ghost I with the N74B66 twin-turbo V12 and ZF 8HP90, on the F01 7 Series platform
The Ghost shared the electric auxiliary water pump recall 18V248000, which carries a fire risk, with 2011 and 2012 BMW 550i, 750i, X5 and X6 models. One parts seller lists oil leaks, coil misfires and jerky shifts as common, with the shifts fixed by a fluid service or gearbox reprogramming. The Wraith and Dawn share much of the Ghost’s BMW engineering. Rolls-Royce service
Mercedes-Benz and AMG
M276 V6, M256 inline six with 48-volt starter-generator
An independent Mercedes specialist reports M276 high-pressure pump failures, carbon build-up on the twin-turbo engines past 100,000 miles and the chain tensioner rattle described under timing. The M256 and other Mercedes 48-volt cars have had recall 24V-207 for a loose 48-volt ground on the 2019 to 2024 GLE and GLS, including the AMG models and the Maybach GLS 600, and recall 19V-605 for a chafing coolant pump wire on 3,257 cars, the 2019 CLS 450 and CLS 450 4MATIC, so check your VIN first. BMR Auto repairs Mercedes 48-volt lithium batteries in the shop and by mail; see hybrid and EV batteries. Mercedes-Benz service
Porsche
M96 and M97 flat sixes; 9A1 from 2009
LN Engineering, which sells bearing retrofits, sets out the IMS bearing risk by year. The 2002 to 2005 996 and Boxster single-row bearing carries the highest risk and gives no warning, with failure rates up to 8 percent under warranty according to the Eisen class action, against under 1 percent for dual-row bearings. The 2006 to 2008 997.1, 987 Boxster and Cayman bearing is larger and “significantly better” but not immune. The 2009 9A1 engine has no IMS shaft at all. Porsche service
Bentley
Continental GT W12, 2003 to 2011
A PistonHeads buying guide lists coil packs and radiator corrosion on these cars. On high-mileage Bentley engines BMR Auto sees oil leaks, brittle cooling hoses, coil failures and turbocharger wear, and it does engine repairs and engine swaps on Bentley cars. Starters are under starters. Bentley service
Ferrari
458 Italia (F136); belt-era 308 to 360
An Ontario Ferrari specialist reports early 458 exhaust manifolds that crack at the collector welds, with a cold-start tick or hiss, brittle coolant hoses at the thermostat housing and lower radiator hose, and a water pump bearing that whines before it fails. Belts on older cars are under Ferrari timing belts. Ferrari service
McLaren
M838T V8 in the 12C and 650S, with the seven-speed SSG gearbox
An Ontario McLaren specialist reports that early coolant quick-connect fittings used a connector design that “hardens and cracks over time,” with slow coolant loss, a sweet smell and wet spots, tested at 1.4 bar for 15 minutes. The same specialist reports 12C gearbox oil cooler line leaks and, on the 650S, a gearbox input shaft seal that weeps pink coolant from the bellhousing: “a drip from the gearbox is never nothing.” McLaren service
Lamborghini
Urus, Huracán, Gallardo
One aggregator blog reports Urus wastegate actuator failures and Huracán gearbox clutch wear in city driving, and Gallardo e-gear shudder and limp mode. Call us with the model and the symptom. Lamborghini service
Maserati
Ghibli and Quattroporte 3.0 V6
A specialist blog reports cold-start timing chain tensioner rattle on the 3.0 V6, and some ZF 8HP shift complaints fixed by software. Call us with the model and the symptom. Maserati service
Aston Martin
V8 Vantage with Sportshift; DB9 5.9 V12; Mercedes-AMG 4.0 V8 from the DB11 V8
Aston Martin’s service bulletin SB-07-0315V4, of June 2017, says Sportshift clutches on the V8 Vantage were sometimes replaced unnecessarily, and that the clutch learn must be run regularly or the clutch drifts out of adjustment. Recall 17V-389 covered 2011 and 2012 V8 Vantage cars whose seven-speed Sportshift clutch settings were not taught again after a software update. On the DB9 V12, Octane names ignition coil packs as one of the more common issues, and Auto Express notes there is one coil per cylinder. Aston Martin service
Land Rover and Range Rover
5.0 supercharged V8 (AJ133); BMW N63 and S68 V8s in the current V8 cars
JLR revised the 5.0 V8’s timing chain guides and tensioners in 2011, moved to an 8 mm chain for the 2012 model year and revised them again in 2014. A Canadian specialist reports cold-start chain rattle on 2010 to 2014 engines, and plastic coolant crossover pipes, fitted to supercharged engines from 2011, that turn brittle and crack. The V8 versions of the current Range Rover and Range Rover Sport use BMW’s N63 and S68, described under BMW above. Land Rover and Range Rover service
Transmissions
Automatic, manual and dual-clutch transmissions.
Some shifting faults are fixed in software, as the Maserati and Rolls-Royce notes above show. Before a gearbox is opened, we read its software level and adaptations and check the fluid.
Signs of a transmission problem
- Delayed or rough shifts, or a lag when you accelerate.
- Shaking or shudder.
- A check engine light or a gearbox warning.
- Dark red fluid under the car, or a burning smell.
- Grinding or screeching noises.
On a manual car, a slipping or grabbing clutch is a repair BMR Auto does in the shop. See diagnostics for how a fault is traced.
The 8HP transmission module (EGS)
From the E70-era 8HP cars on, the EGS is part of BMW’s immobilizer chain, along with the access or body module and the engine computer. A used transmission module will not work until its data is matched to your car, by synchronization or cloning. BMR Auto clones the EGS and the engine computer (DME) in the shop, or by mail. See module repair and cloning.
A dead battery that is really the gearbox software
A Mitchell 1 bulletin for certain BMW G-series models (G01, G02, G05, G06, G07, G12, G22, G23, G26, G30, G32 and G42) covers a 12V battery drained completely because the car sporadically fails to go to sleep, with fault 80402F stored in the body module. It names a software error in the transmission control module (EGS) as the likely cause, and the fix is reprogramming that module with current BMW software. A new battery leaves the software fault in place. See battery recovery.
Transmission fluid change
BMW calls the fluid in the ZF 8HP a “lifetime fill.” A 2023 BimmerLife article reports that ZF and other makers recommend a service at around eight years or 50,000 to 75,000 miles, and quotes FCP Euro’s Gareth Foley: “100,000 miles is BMW’s definition of a ‘lifetime fill’.” The service is a new pan with an integrated filter, new bolts and ZF Lifeguard fluid.
BMR Auto does this service. Send the model and mileage, and tell us whether the fluid has ever been changed, for a quote. More on scheduled maintenance.
Ferrari and McLaren dual-clutch gearboxes
An Ontario specialist reports that the Ferrari 458’s seven-speed Getrag gearbox clutches typically last 40,000 to 60,000 km, with wear read as a percentage on the diagnostic tool, and that skipped fluid service is the most common cause of early wear. One buyer’s guide calls the clutch wear reading on Ferrari’s F1 and dual-clutch gearboxes “notoriously inaccurate.” The same Ontario specialist says McLaren’s SSG needs McLaren-specification fluid, or the clutches judder and the clutch pack is damaged.
Thinking of buying one of these cars? Book a pre-purchase inspection before you pay.
Starters and no-starts
When the car will not start.
What you hear when you press the start button narrows down the cause.
| What you hear | What it usually points to |
|---|---|
| A whir or buzz, a loud click, or grinding | A worn solenoid, poor current flow, a failing starter motor or an electrical fault |
| Nothing at all | A failed battery, a relay or a corroded connection |
| Smoke | Blown fuses or a short from an overheated starter. Stop trying to start the car. |
Bentley starter repair
BMR Auto repairs and replaces starters on Bentley cars. The battery and the connections are tested first, because the symptoms in the table overlap and a new starter will not cure a bad cable.
McLaren no-starts
An Ontario specialist reports that on the 650S a failed crankshaft position sensor can stop the car restarting after stop/start, so the starter itself may be fine. The same specialist reports a 12C battery going flat in 10 to 14 days parked, and modules that may need McLaren re-coding after a deep discharge.
Batteries and parked cars: see hybrid and EV batteries and lithium battery recovery.
Quotes
How to get a price on engine and transmission work.
Engine and gearbox prices depend heavily on the car and on what the diagnosis finds. Call or send the VIN with the symptom, and BMR Auto will quote your car. These are the jobs owners ask about most.
| Job | What it involves |
|---|---|
| 8HP transmission module (EGS) cloning | A used module matched to your car’s immobilizer, in the shop or by mail |
| Engine computer (DME) cloning | A used or replacement engine computer matched to your keys and coding |
| Transmission module reprogramming | A software update, for example the G-series battery drain fix |
| ZF 8HP fluid service | Pan with integrated filter, bolts, fluid and adaptation reset |
| N20 or N26 timing chain | Chains, guides and tensioners, by model |
| High-pressure fuel pump | Pump and the related seals, by engine |
| Clutch replacement | Manual cars, by model |
| Starter replacement | Starter, with the battery and connections tested first |
| Mercedes 48-volt battery repair | The lithium battery recovered instead of replaced, in the shop or by mail |
Florida law requires the shop to prepare a written estimate before any diagnostic work or repair on all but the smallest jobs, unless you waive it in writing; see your rights under Florida law.
Recalls, warranty and the dealer
When the dealer is the right place for the job.
When a repair belongs at the dealer, we tell you on the first call.
- Open recalls, which the dealer repairs at no cost. Rolls-Royce Ghost owners should check recall 18V248000 for the electric auxiliary water pump. Send us your VIN and we will check it for open recalls.
- Repairs covered by the factory warranty, or by a maker’s campaign for your car.
- BMW’s N63 Customer Care Package states that it is not a recall, so ask a BMW dealer whether your car is still eligible for any of it.
- The N20 and N26 timing chain settlement reimbursed repairs at an independent shop up to its limits, while a car was still inside the program.
Servicing your car at an independent shop does not by itself void the factory warranty. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act bars a maker from making its warranty depend on its own brand of parts or service unless they are provided free, and the FTC says a dealer cannot deny warranty coverage because routine maintenance or repairs were done by someone else. A maker or dealer can still deny coverage for a part damaged by a defective or badly installed outside part, but it must prove the outside part caused the damage. Work the warranty provides free can be required at the maker’s chosen shops, usually the dealer. Keep the written invoice for every job.
What owners say about BMR Auto
One Google review describes engine work, a Porsche fuel pump. No review so far names transmission work, and the other two below speak about the shop’s work in general.
“Brought my Porsche in after a friend recommended BMR auto, for a Fuel Pump that went bad. They fixed my car quickly and it’s running smoother than before. 🙏🏽 Highly recommend BMR and glad I found a reputable place to bring my c[a]r.”
Ricky N. · 5 stars · a month ago on Google
“The absolute most knowlegeble BMW and Rolls Royce shop. KJ and his staff are attentive and resolve problems small and large at a very fair rate. I have been using their services for many years on many cars I own.”
robert atanasov · 5 stars · 2 years ago on Google
“KJ and his team are experts at what they do. Working on Exotics and European cars. They are my go to for diagnostic, maintenance and repair on all of BMW’s. Thank you !”
Gabriel Samuels · 5 stars · 2 years ago on Google
If we have worked on your engine or gearbox, a Google review that names the car and the job helps the next owner. Leave a review or read every review.
Questions about engines and transmissions
My BMW rattles for a few seconds on a cold start. Is it the timing chain?
It can be. On the N20 and N26 four-cylinder engines, timing chain failures led to a class action and a settlement. BMR Auto reads the cam and crank data and listens to the engine, then quotes the repair. See timing chains.
Can I still get BMW’s N20 timing chain reimbursement if I use an independent shop?
Probably not. The settlement reimbursed independent-shop repairs up to set limits inside a program of 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever came first, and even the 2015 cars are now more than 8 years old. If you think your car may still qualify, check before the repair and keep the invoice.
My N63 V8 smokes when it starts. What is it?
One parts seller links blue or white smoke on a cold start to valve stem seals, mostly on first-generation engines. Oil burned through the crankcase ventilation is another cause. BMR Auto finds which it is with a diagnosis before quoting the repair.
Is BMW transmission fluid really lifetime?
BMW calls the 8HP fluid a lifetime fill. A 2023 BimmerLife article reports that ZF and other makers recommend a service at around eight years or 50,000 to 75,000 miles. BMR Auto does the fluid service; send the mileage for a quote. See transmission fluid.
Can a used transmission control module be fitted to my BMW?
Yes, once its data is matched to your car. From the E70-era 8HP cars on, the module is part of the immobilizer chain, so it has to be synchronized or cloned. BMR Auto does the cloning in the shop, or by mail.
My BMW battery keeps dying. Could it be the transmission?
On certain BMW G-series models (G01, G02, G05, G06, G07, G12, G22, G23, G26, G30, G32 and G42), a Mitchell 1 bulletin covers a battery that drains flat, with fault 80402F in the body module. The fix is reprogramming the transmission control module with current BMW software, so a new battery alone leaves the fault in place.
Does my Porsche need an IMS bearing retrofit?
It depends on the year. LN Engineering puts the highest risk on 2002 to 2005 single-row bearings, and the 2009 and later 9A1 engine has no IMS shaft at all. Tell us the year and model, and we will tell you which bearing your car has.
Do you rebuild engines and gearboxes, or replace them?
It depends on what failed and what the car is worth to you. After the diagnosis, BMR Auto lays out the options, such as a repair, a rebuilt or replacement unit, or a tested used engine on BMW, Bentley and McLaren cars, with the cost of each, and you decide.
Should recall work go to the dealer?
Yes. Open recalls are repaired free at the dealer. Send us your VIN and we will check it for open recalls.
Will having my engine work done here void my warranty?
Not by itself. The FTC says a dealer cannot deny warranty coverage because routine maintenance or repairs were done by someone else. A maker can deny coverage for damage it proves an outside part or repair caused, and work the warranty provides free is done at the dealer.
Send us the VIN and tell us what the engine or gearbox is doing.
BMR Auto is an independent repair shop and is not affiliated with or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer. Brand and model names are trademarks of their owners, used here only to describe the vehicles we service.