BMW timing chain service

Icyseanfitz

Hi guys, I am after buying a lovely 11 320d efficient dynamics and even though I couldn't hear any rattles or engine weirdness when I test drove it I'm a bit paranoid over the notorious timing chain snapping issue with these cars, particularly as it's quite high mileage at 167k.

Are there any good BMW specialists around that do this service for reasonable money? Dealer is quoting 2500-3000 😭 located in Munster would be a real bonus for me.

car seemed immaculate tbh but I'd rather plan to fix it before it becomes an issue.

ofcork

Are you sure it wasnt done already.

PsychoPete

Probably a good chance it's been done already, if it isn't rattling then I'd leave it alone. Maybe keep a few quid aside if it does end up needing to be done in the future

Icyseanfitz

I must have a go through the service history again but my local BMW dealer ran the plates and said it's not on their system. You'd imagine in 167k it was probably done, although cars in great condition so maybe it was just really minded.

Whocare

Have 320d 2013 regular service with 130.000miles on it with no timing chain noise yet as like yourself I'm in Munster area too and would like to know who would do it .I thinking I want to get it done at latest 160.000miles as seen recently for sale 320d with 197.000miles with timing chain snapped

bazz26

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119468778#Comment_119468778

If BMW didn't cover the cost of replacing it then it's very likely it was done outside the BMW dealer network given the age of the car as BMW would have wanted eye watering money to change it.

Miscreant

A friend of mine had one done recently (in the last 6 months) at an independent "BMW Specialist" garage and it was €2.5k. BMW dealers wanted €5k minimum!

If yours isn't rattling, I would leave it alone TBH but keep a little money aside each month just in case.

Icyseanfitz

Yeah official dealer quoted me between 2500 to 3000 and a local independent mechanic quoted me 1500.

Icyseanfitz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119469303#Comment_119469303

I think from the little bit of research I've done it really comes down to how minded the car was particularly regarding regular oil changes at around every 8k Vs 20k that BMW state.

Whocare

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119470914#Comment_119470914

Definitely regular oil changes will prolong it's life and driving it handy I try and avoid hard accelerations but I guess at end of day would be good idea to get done if your going into higher mileage 160.000miles plus unless you're going to rise it and if do go scrap it

chicorytip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119469303#Comment_119469303

Why even think of getting it done if it's still functioning normally? A timing chain will not "snap" unlike a timing belt. It's a heavy metal chain after all. The tensioners can loosen causing it to rattle. It's in an unusual position in that particular model. The entire engine needs to be removed to fit a new one meaning high labour charges. They changed the design post 2014.

Whocare

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119476918#Comment_119476918

Because car is scrap if go plus I was to talking to garage on phone on 320d there lot Room in engine bay so around 1200euro is not that expensive. Plus there no point in sticking your head in sand too it know fault in that engine

PsychoPete

If the chain isn't rattling then let it alone. You can replace the main chain without taking the engine out, this is what some people do just as a quick fix but if you are going to get the chain done then your better off taking out the engine, replacing the 3 chains,tensioners and guides

Icyseanfitz

Yeah if it's not rattling I'll leave it be, but I'll have a little put away on the side for if it starts to rattle. Saying that I won't be spending 3k at a dealer to get the job done if it needs doing at some point.

jmreire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119476918#Comment_119476918

There are cases of them snapping/ jumping a toot, heavy chains or not. Abnormal wear on both chains and gears plus well worn tensioners will do that. And when it happens, engine is kaput. The BBC did a program on it. Car was driving down the motorway when the chain went, and with it the power steering and brakes, Luckily he managed to get it on to the hard shoulder without incident.

chicorytip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478813#Comment_119478813

You would wonder if that particular car had been maintained properly. I presume there would have been symptoms evident in advance of that happening like engine chugging, loss of power and warning lights on the dash.

Icyseanfitz

You really would wonder why there isn't a story like that every other day with the sheer amount of high mileage old n47 engines cars on the road 🤷‍♂️ I can't imagine people have rushed to do a 1500-3000 euro service job either.

bazz26

There was a few years back but the newest n47 engines in those cars are now hitting 7 or 8 years old at this point with the majority of effected engines built from 2008 to about 2013 cars. BMW did an unoffical replacement program for alot of them a few years back too if the car met certain criteria. Lots of specialists and independant mechanics replaced plenty of them too. People didn't rush to proactively replace them but rather did when they had to as a result of rattling or in worse cases replace a mangled engine.

These days most of those effected cars are old enough to be in bangeronmics price range so you just drive it on until the chain lets go and then replace the car.

jmreire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119478841#Comment_119478841

If a timing chain goes, it's effects are catastrophic and instantaneous generally. They can go without any warning or dash lights. But also, some will give a slight rattling sound just after startup , and if you hear that, shut it down and get it attended to. There are cases of cars which were perfectly serviced, and the chain still snapped. Personally, I would not trust a BMW car that had an N47 engine fitted, unless it was proven that the engine had been overhauled.

jmreire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119479016#Comment_119479016

From about 2008 onwards, the N47 timing chain failures started. It took a few years before BMW admitted there was a problem, and started a recall to fit modified chains, gears and tensioners. And in the case of engines which had been damaged beyond repair, a complete new unit. So, yes. I'm not surprised that by now there are lots of high mileage BMW's with the N47 engine on the roads. But there are still plenty of older BMW's with the M47 engine around, having done mega mileage, an no timing chain issues. Given a choice, I'd prefer a pre 2008 2.0 BMW with the M47 engine in it.

mk7r

Had a 2011 x-drive 2.0 in recently with snapped chain, it wasn't rattling before it snapped, 113k on it.

Icyseanfitz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119479209#Comment_119479209

Now that's scary, you'd hope for a bit of warning

jmreire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119479209#Comment_119479209

How much damage did it cause? Engine completely destroyed? I've seen other makes where the chain / belt (generally belt though) snapped, and they escaped with replacing a few bent valves, but generally, its major damage.

mk7r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119479917#Comment_119479917

It just needed head off, replace ment valves and guides and new chain kit obviously, but that's a fairly big undertaking

jmreire

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119480072#Comment_119480072

Got away fairly light so ( relatively speaking). Any cases of repaired N47 engine giving trouble a second time? Basically it was a bad design, using shoddy guides and tensioners. Far as I know, even the newer replacement for the N47 uses the same configuration, mounted at the rear of the engine.