Ticking time bomb or worth a punt?

Soulcrew09

Hi all.

Looking at a 2012 BMW 320. Took it for a spin and loved it, everything seemed fine, priced under 20k (including VRT)

Only issues:
The garage selling it has had mixed reviews from people iv spoke to over the last couple of years, and the elephant in the room: milage.

97k Miles. Now it has a full service history and from what I can see its been looked after, so is it worth a chance or am I lining myself up for a kick in the balls fairly soon? Never owned a BMW but love this car.

Any opinions? Thanks
http://www.autoxpress.ie/used-cars/BMW/3-Series/320D-SE/200714521874317660/

Atlantic Dawn

Did you get a UK history report on it?

Soulcrew09

Vehicle make BMW
Vehicle model 320

Date first used 30 March 2012

Fuel type Diesel

Colour Red


MOT history of this vehicle

• Test date 27 February 2015
• Expiry date 26 February 2016
• Test Result Pass
• Odometer reading 76,667 miles
• MOT test number 8388 6835 5019

Soulcrew09

Gave it a right good look over again, 2 front tyres are bald, (no spare either) a few scratches and of course the tax & NCT would be due, another E5/600 needed off the price to cover that?

bazz26

Modern BMWs have run flat tyres from the factory so they dont come with a spare wheel.

the_syco

Soulcrew09 wrote: »

2 front tyres are bald

If the past owner couldn't afford two new tyres, I'd wonder what else they couldn't afford, engine wise?

Soulcrew09

the_syco wrote: »

If the past owner couldn't afford two new tyres, I'd wonder what else they couldn't afford, engine wise?

Good point, from what I could tell its running perfect but I have limited experience of the 3 series tbh. Pre sale inspection is the only way to go I suppose, might see what they say.

the_syco

Soulcrew09 wrote: »

Good point, from what I could tell its running perfect but I have limited experience of the 3 series tbh. Pre sale inspection is the only way to go I suppose, might see what they say.

If you're spending just shy of 20k on it, get an AA report done on it.

ezra_

Check to see if the engine falls into the bracket of those which had timing chain issues

I was looking at the 3 series diesels (e90 models, all of which had these issues) and went for a petrol engine as there a lot of reports of timing chain snapping. Local indie BMW mechanic also advised to stay away for that issue.

They did fix this with a new model engine, make sure that yours has this.

blueband

ezra_ wrote: »

Check to see if the engine falls into the bracket of those which had timing chain issues

I was looking at the 3 series diesels (e90 models, all of which had these issues) and went for a petrol engine as there a lot of reports of timing chain snapping. Local indie BMW mechanic also advised to stay away for that issue.

They did fix this with a new model engine, make sure that yours has this.

Yep, las in my job had this on his. BMW stripped it, said it'd need a new engine, and quote something like 11k.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eventually when he found someone over in Mayo who would recond the engine for 4.5k, they then said they took another look and could recond the engine as well for 7k.
Needless to say he got it transported to Mayo, but still cost him 4.5k
Big money if the engine has this issue and it goes.

Make sure you double and triple check this.

ezra_

When I was looking into this, 5-7k seemed to be the average price of the repair, depending on how bad the damage was.

Once the signs of the chain start to show, it is still a 1-2k job to get the chain and tensioner replaced.

blueband

ezra_ wrote: »

When I was looking into this, 5-7k seemed to be the average price of the repair, depending on how bad the damage was.

Once the signs of the chain start to show, it is still a 1-2k job to get the chain and tensioner replaced.

Two lads in here had these engines, one had it pre-emptively done with a Beemer specialist down on North strand somewhere, think it was near enough to 2k alright.

Other lad didn't get it done as there was none of the signs, and then it went.
So not necessarily the case that you'll see the signs before it goes.
Not a nice thought to be driving around with

grogi

ezra_ wrote: »

Check to see if the engine falls into the bracket of those which had timing chain issues

I was looking at the 3 series diesels (e90 models, all of which had these issues) and went for a petrol engine as there a lot of reports of timing chain snapping. Local indie BMW mechanic also advised to stay away for that issue.

They did fix this with a new model engine, make sure that yours has this.

All of N47 do, regardless of the year.
Those done recently are usually young enough not to show symptoms... yet...

bmwguy

Soulcrew09 wrote: »

Hi all.

Looking at a 2012 BMW 320. Took it for a spin and loved it, everything seemed fine, priced under 20k (including VRT)

Only issues:
The garage selling it has had mixed reviews from people iv spoke to over the last couple of years, and the elephant in the room: milage.

97k Miles. Now it has a full service history and from what I can see its been looked after, so is it worth a chance or am I lining myself up for a kick in the balls fairly soon? Never owned a BMW but love this car.

Any opinions? Thanks
http://www.autoxpress.ie/used-cars/BMW/3-Series/320D-SE/200714521874317660/

I have a BMW too, much older than yours but it has similar mileage. I bought mine at 9 years old with 90,000 miles in great condition for the princely sum of €2,450 it was an absolute steal. I am in no way comparing the 2 cars for price but mine has had age/mileage related work needed doing to it, nothing out of the ordinary just parts wore out and yours will too which will have to be paid for out of your pocket. NCT should be covered by a reputable garage in fairness they should either put it through or get a written guarantee they will do any work needed. Garages should not be selling 20k cars that are not ready for the road.

If you put any decent mileage on that car it is going to depreciate like a stone, there are so many of them you will be up against so many others trying to sell. Thats down to the popularity of the 3 series 2.0 diesel. Do big research on the timing chain issue too. Personally I will never touch a diesel car, I like the way they drive and the power delivery but my mileage does not warrant one.

But best of luck, shop around and play the dealers off each other for price, and get a good spec one

ezra_

grogi wrote: »

All of N47 do, regardless of the year.
Those done recently are usually young enough not to show symptoms... yet...

I thought they had made a change to the engine mid-cycle?

grogi

ezra_ wrote: »

I thought they had made a change to the engine mid-cycle?

Not once But every time it was announced that the chain problem are gone, they came back a few years later.

ezra_

Yeah, I went for the 318i over the 320d.

What I lose in MPG, I get back in not worrying that my car will decide to commit Hari-Kari on the motorway...

bazz26

3 Series 4 cylinder petrol engines are not unknown for having stretched timing chains either, just not as widespread or commonly knowledge as the diesel engines.

ezra_

bazz26 wrote: »

3 Series 4 cylinder petrol engines are not unknown for having stretched timing chains either, just not as widespread or commonly knowledge as the diesel engines.

Yes, but a stretched chain results in a replacement cost of 700 quid or so inc labour. The worst case for those engines is rosier than for their diesel cousins.

bazz26

ezra_ wrote: »

Yes, but a stretched chain results in a replacement cost of 700 quid or so inc labour. The worst case for those engines is rosier than for their diesel cousins.

Lesser of two evils yes but my point was really that the petrol engines are not without their problems either.

ezra_

What did you decide OP?

Soulcrew09

Hi Lads, thank you for all the replies, iv decided against it as I have heard one too many bad stories about the garage and its really putting me off.

There's a few other 2012 320s for sale in my budget that I will check out over the next couple of weeks.

Thanks again.

Leonard Hofstadter

grogi wrote: »

Not once But every time it was announced that the chain problem are gone, they came back a few years later.

QFT. They 'fixed' it in 2009 (but didn't), and 'fixed' it again in March 2011 (anything built after March 2011 is supposedly properly 'fixed'), BMW claims that cars after the second 'fix' (i.e. March 2011 onwards) do not suffer the problem. The reality is that ANY car with the N47 engine risks having the problem. The later models don't require so many parts to be changed, and thus it is less expensive to do the job. Some garages can rock the engine forward (before it was an engine out job because the chain is at the back of the engine) and it can now be done for €1,500, still very expensive of course, but nowhere near as much as it used to cost.

The B47 engine is a new design but it shares the same bore and stroke of the N47. It also has the timing chain in the wrong place, as well, so I'd be keeping an eye out for how these engines are getting on in a few years time, as then we'll know for certain if the problem has been solved. So far, there are no reports of B47s having problems - but bear in mind, they're only in production since 2014.