2008 BMW 318D - to be avoided?

busterjones

I'm looking for a cheap but comfortable, low tax car with a bit of power - max price 5k.

I like the BMW 3 series - 2008

But I've read many horror stories in terms of problems - particular with the timing chain.

Opinions please - would you avoid or - as there are quite a few still on the road - if there's a good service history, decent mileage (e.g. 100k - 130k miles) and the timing chain has been done - would you consider one?

e.g.: https://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/bmw/3-series/used-2008-bmw-3-series-318-e90-d-dublin-fpa-201808179581177

Are there any variants that are better than others?

What are the main things to look out for when viewing?

Thanks!

PGE1970

I had the exact same car (but with leather) and sold it on 18months ago.


I bought it at 3 years old and had it for nearly 6 years. They only trouble that I had was a sensor when the brakes were changed but this wasn't a huge issue.


Other than that, it is a great car to drive, cheap to service & tax and very good on diesel.


There are timing chain issues and loads of info out there for you to research but it appears random as to what n47 cars are affected.


I loved mine and only changed due to getting a company car. If I was getting one, I'd get leather interior and possibly hang out for a m sport if you like the look of it.

busterjones

Also - forgot to ask... any way to tell for sure if the chain's been changed or not - bar a receipt/ stamp in book?

Leonard Hofstadter

Autos are much less prone than manuals due to the design of the gearbox and flywheel (however the gearboxes in those can have issues of their own but I'd still go for an auto).

No way of knowing it's been done unless there's a receipt to prove it.

They can fail as early as 20,000 miles but others can do big mileage without problems.

I would change the oil every 15,000 km or once a year regardless of what the service indicator says, it's no guarantee that you won't have a problem, but it will help reduce the chances of the chain going.

BMW changed the design of the chain twice (although any car with that engine can suffer from the problem no matter how new it is); 2008 is the first design before any attempt at fixing it was done, so it is the most prone and the most expensive to fix if it goes. I'd try and get a later car or else go for a 2007 car with the older engine - that engine is bulletproof and is good for 250,000 miles with regular and correct maintenance.

Cars with the older engine won't have 'Efficient Dynamics'. They have a matt exhaust pipe not a chrome one, and if it's a manual, there won't be auto start/stop.

busterjones

Were the petrol versions also effected or just the diesel?

Any other problems with the petrol version?

Thanks

Whatwicklow

My wife has a 09 520 with n47 motor and it's still going perfectly with 300k on it. Chain recall was done about 4 years ago.

busterjones

Thanks - when you say chain recall - was this an 'official' recall i.e. was it replaced by BMW, out of warranty but free of charge?
Tks

bazz26

BMW never officially issued a recall for the timing chain. They issued a quality enhancement on certain models with that engine, which was another way of saying there was an issue but it didn't mean they had to remedy every version of that engine. They were replacing chains on some models of certain years (mostly 2008 to 2010) up to about a year ago or so but then stopped as it was getting too expensive for them.

That car seems a bit on the cheap side to me given the age and cheap tax appeal, and as a BMW owner myself I'd be very wary of a cheap BMW, they usually end up being the most expensive ones to own.

busterjones

Did petrol engines have same (or other) known issues?

bazz26

The petrol engines of that era have their own problems, failing injectors and coil packs mostly.

rizzee

Have a 08 318D myself since March 2017 have put nearly 50k kilometres on it since. Flywheel and clutch were replaced(common problem), passenger door lock was changed last week, few niggley bits here and there. Gets regularly serviced, has full service history and is running absolutely perfect now, touch wood. I'd definitely get one inspected before buying. It's great on diesel (I get 5.7-5.9l/100km)

It's due in for a recall on wiring issues soon too.

Can't believe they're hitting that price mark now!

Whatwicklow

busterjones wrote: »

Thanks - when you say chain recall - was this an 'official' recall i.e. was it replaced by BMW, out of warranty but free of charge?
Tks

As bazz said it was a quality enhancement opposed to recall. It went away for a week came back with a full valet and nothing noted on book. What they said was tensioners were replaced acs cat is perfect. If fairness it has never skipped a beat

James Bond Junior

I bought one at 3 years old back in 2012. I sold it a year later to fund a mortgage and it had 100k. The man I sold it to lived locally and I met him recently. It had 190k miles and the chain was still the original and it was running perfectly.

busterjones

Thanks. Opinions on 318i versus 318D, based purely on reliability?

rizzee

There would be a long answer to that, but it comes down to whether you need a diesel.

busterjones

On a slight tangent... any major concerns with 07 Merc C180 (good miles, condition and history) in terms of reliability?

bazz26

They had problems with timing chains also but there was a new model launched in mid 2007 so not sure if the timing chain issue was resolved with that. If you want something reliable then a Honda Accord petrol is probably your safest bet. German premium cars are nice and all but reliability is not their strongest selling point.

galvo_clare

I think the programme only ran for a few weeks. Mine was borderline at less than 80k but I insisted they replaced the lot. Big bill for BMW but my car came back perfect and still going strong (08 520d).

Whatwicklow wrote: »

As bazz said it was a quality enhancement opposed to recall. It went away for a week came back with a full valet and nothing noted on book. What they said was tensioners were replaced acs cat is perfect. If fairness it has never skipped a beat