BMW 2 litre diesel timing chain

Could well do depending on the engine code number and date of production as the issue was addressed sometime in 2010.

Should be able to yes. The general engine affected is known as the N47 but there are numerous varients of it so your engine code will be something like N47xxx.

Just do a google for BMW N47 timing chain issue and it will point you to forums where the engine codes effected are listed. I'd say ringing a BMW dealer will be fruitless as they probably will toe the party line and deny the problem even exists.

This site is handy for finding BMW part numbers also:

http://realoem.com/bmw/

The following models have the problem:

- E81/E82/E87/E88 116d/118d/120d - LCI cars built before 01/03/2011 only
- E90/E91/E92/E93 316d/318d/320d built between September 2007 and 01/03/2011 (anything with Efficient Dynamics could have the problem if it's built before 01/03/2011)
- E60/E61 LCI 520d built after September 2007 (models with Efficient Dynamcs, LCI 520ds built before September 2007 do not have this problem as they didn't change the engine until a few months after the LCI model was introduced)
- F10/F11 520d with a build date of before 01/03/2011
- E84 X1 18d/20d/23d with a build date of before 01/03/2011
- E83 X3 2.0d built after September 2007
- F25 X3 xDrive20d with a build date of before 01/03/2011

Models built between 05/01/2009 and 01/03/2011 do not require as many parts to be changed as those built before those dates.

There is no problem with N47 engines built after 01/03/2011 (for now).

From Piston Heads:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=28&t=1211330&d=0&nmt=

PUMA 13588845-03 incidence recorded by BMW and its repair

Diligence-number Item
43863106-03 N47, N47S, N47T, rustling sound in the engine, timing chain rubs.

Approval date (day.month.year) Status Organization
Approved 14.12.11 Germany, automobiles

Vehicles affected
E Series Motor Body
E60 E61 E81 E82 E83 N47 N47DKO N47S N47T E61 E60 E81 E82 E83 N47 N47S N47T N47DKO
E84 E87 E88 E90 E91 E87 E84 E88 E90 E91
E92 E93 F10 F11 F25 E93 E92 F10 F11 F25

Feedback Comment production interval Feedback
(From / to) on the production interval diligence (day.month.year) to (day.month.year)
/ 01.03.11 / 01.03.11

Complaint
Sound of friction drag on the engine from about 1500 rpm, which is visible from the inside.
The noise can be perceived in area of the gearbox housing and the oil pan.

Cause
Excessively sharp edges on the sprockets, the chain does not flow evenly over the guides.

Measures
We must distinguish two cases:

Case 1:

For engines N47, N47DKO, N47S, interval from 01.03.2007 to production 05.01.2009.

In case of customer complaint must change the following parts:
(See Annexes, Figures 1 to 7.) - Nov. 21 7803479 Sutitución the crankshaft bearings.

Caution: Use only crankshafts with a production date back to 5. 1. 1. 2009 2009
The production date is printed on crankshaft sprocket (see page 2 of the Annex)

Meaning of the figures:
The first two indicate the assembly line.
The 6 following year (two digits), month, day.
Last 5 indicate the reference number of the crankshaft.
Thus, the crankshaft shown on page 2 of the annex was built on October 21, 2009.
41 -11 7,797,896 chain oil pump.
11 31 8 506 652 Timing Chain bottom.
13 52 7 797 906 sprocket for driving the high pressure pump.
11 27 7 800 523 sprocket (intermediate for balance shafts).
11 8,510,014 31 Supply Chain superior.
-11 7,797,899 31 Timing Chain Guide above.
-13 7,797,904 52 Timing Chain Guide below.

Note: Adjusting the intermediate gear shafts accurately balanced according to workshop manual. In case this intermediate sprocket and the balance shafts are not sufficiently fit, the motor can still giving rise to noise despite the new crankshaft.

See November 21 workshop manual 500 "crankshaft replacement."

Note: In the case of vehicles to which a previous repair and they replaced the crankshaft:
Proceed with these vehicles as detailed in "Case 2".

Case 2:

N47 engine, N47DKO, N47S, N47T production interval 05.01.2009 - 01.03.2011

In case of customer complaint replace the following parts:
(See Appendix, Art 8 to 10)
-11 8,506,652 31 Supply Chain bottom.
- 13 52 7 797 906 sprocket high pressure pump.
- 11 31 8 510 014 Supply Chain superior.
-11 7,797,899 31 Timing Chain Guide above.
-13 7,797,904 52 Timing Chain Guide below.

Note: There is no need to release the binding thread of the intermediate toothed wheel balancer shafts.

Note: As of March 2011 there are new guidelines. These guidelines do not bring reinforcing ribs.

(See Appendix, pp. 7 and 10.)
In this way the inner surface of the guides is smooth throughout its length and the timing chain runs easily on them.
They have not changed the references.

Note: During the repair make sure guides are mounted without lateral veins (in the Annex, Art 7 and 10.)

Attention:
No repairs are allowed in vehicles with production date after 03/2011 and vehicles in which all existing measures have already been made. The sound now is the moment, the normal state of this world! No risk of broken chain!

Not allowed engine change because of this claim!

Claim
Location of the defect: Defect Type: Circumstances of default:
Guide part incorrect

Crank Noise
Wheel motor
Distribution

Worn crankshaft
Wheel motor
Distribution

Motor Noise Motor Power

Get it serviced with the correct grade oil at least every year or 16,000 km, whichever is the more frequent.

It's not actually the timing chain that is at fault, it is the sprockets and the poorly made crankshaft that result in the problem developing.

The problem is further exacerbated by BMW's ridiculously long service intervals - there is no way any engine, especially a high tech modern diesel engine, should be going up to 30k km on the same oil, 'long life' oil or not.

More frequent oil changes will help ensure that the engine will be able to go further before it develops the problem. At least if your car has a build date after January 2009, then the problem isn't as costly to fix should it happen to you compared - not that it excuses BMW's lousy engineering in any way, shape or form.

If its a 2.0 litre diesel engine then it is a N47 engine, however if you ring BMW Ireland with the reg and VIN, they will tell you if your car is affected.

Thanks a mill lads, but it can't b true that the post 2010/11 bmw 5 series still has timing chain probs!!! Captain seed seems to have serious detail above that if u get a car that came out of the factory post 01/03/2011 then it is ok. If not it's an absolute disgrace and i'I'll have to stick to torturing myself to the Cork Sligo round trip in my high roof manual gear stick primastar! What nightmare lads ..........somebody please tell me it's ok to buy a 2012 automatic bmw 5 series

keithrman wrote: »

Captain seed seems to have serious detail above

Yes he does, but you can see his post is 3 years old and back then the extent of the problem wasn't fully known and it was thought '11 cars were ok (they are not)

I wouldn't touch any car with an N47 engine myself unless it was either an automatic with a verifiable history of yearly / 10k mile oil changes (good luck finding one of those) or if it came with a lengthy warranty from a BMW dealer (you'll pay thousands more for this than a private sale - that wouldn't really appeal to me either )

BMW did recognise the problem earlier this year when they quietly issued a service bulletin - not a recall, note.
They would either replace the chain guides for cars with less than 75k and replace the top chain for cars over 75k. If there was any sign of wear they would replace all chains.
They stopped the programme after a number of weeks because it was costing them too much!
I got the lot done on my 2008 E60. 80k miles and serviced every year (approx 10k km per annum).
I'm told this is a permanent fix. We'll see, but at least I should be grand for a while.
Despite being babied from new, my chain was showing the first signs of wear.

captainspeed wrote: »

I completely agree with you. The post I made stating that cars after March 2011 were fine is from almost three years ago! At the time there weren't any reports and BMW said it was completely fixed. To this day BMW still doesn't recognise there being a problem with these engines (as far as I know), but like you say engines built even after the supposed second 'safe' date can suffer from the problem.

N57s are less prone than N47s because they are a much smoother running six cylinder engine and almost always being automatic (it is my understanding that manuals are more prone to the problem), but they too suffer - like the current 3, 4 and 6 pots being a modular design the N47 and N57 are also modular (as were the M47 and M57 incidentally, and likewise with the M41 {E36 318tds for those who remember} and M51).

That's a terrible situation to be in and reflects badly on BMW.
I've had my car from new and with the five year service pack, it was serviced on or before schedule with the BMW dealer.
Ironically, since the service pack finished, it's getting serviced more regularly as I won't let a year go by without changing the oil. I get it done at an independent BMW specialist.
At the time the work was done, I had two services carried out by the independent garage and there didn't seem to be a problem with that.
I'm very surprised a manufacturer won't stand over their own repair.

Harcrid wrote: »

A colleague of mine had the "recall" work done in a BMW dealer about 4 months ago on his 2008 520D. Just three weeks ago his chained snapped wrecking the engine. BMW refused to take any responsibility for it and would not even entertain looking at the car as it did not have a full BMW history even though they supposedly fixed the chain. Awful situation and should really be more embarrassing for BMW.