2009 120d - keep or move on?
Discussion
ok, well my son has a 2009 120d M Sport which has 80k ish miles and a full BMW sh from new. Since he got it at 60K miles we've been servicing it in between the 12K miles he takes it back to the main dealers at. Its also checked every couple of weeks for oil level and topped up if required.
He does very low miles which is set to drop further - probably to around 3-5K per year at most.
Hes a tuning box on the car and when driven the car is driven with not much sympathy for the engine or the gearbox.
The car is driving exceptionally well, is in exceptional condition and no sign at all of timing chain rattle.
My "fear" is that timing chain problems could hit the car at any time, leaving him (ha, who am i kidding, me!) with a £3K bill. In theory, with a full dealer history BMW would contribute if there was a timing chain failure but it would still be a big bill.
Hes happy staying at around the £6K ish price point and doesnt want to put bigger money into a car (which he'd have to do via finance and hes never had finance on any car and doesnt want to start now)
Possibly options to change into are :- slightly older Golf GTI, Honda Civic Type R, or slightly newer Clio 200.
Should he keep what he has (better the devil you know, but risk of a large bill) or move into something else?
Are these 20d engines a big a time bomb for timing belt / turbo problems with age as i think they are?
He does very low miles which is set to drop further - probably to around 3-5K per year at most.
Hes a tuning box on the car and when driven the car is driven with not much sympathy for the engine or the gearbox.
The car is driving exceptionally well, is in exceptional condition and no sign at all of timing chain rattle.
My "fear" is that timing chain problems could hit the car at any time, leaving him (ha, who am i kidding, me!) with a £3K bill. In theory, with a full dealer history BMW would contribute if there was a timing chain failure but it would still be a big bill.
Hes happy staying at around the £6K ish price point and doesnt want to put bigger money into a car (which he'd have to do via finance and hes never had finance on any car and doesnt want to start now)
Possibly options to change into are :- slightly older Golf GTI, Honda Civic Type R, or slightly newer Clio 200.
Should he keep what he has (better the devil you know, but risk of a large bill) or move into something else?
Are these 20d engines a big a time bomb for timing belt / turbo problems with age as i think they are?
Hi mate.
I have heard the same but don't know enough to tell you one way or another.
The following looks like a great topic which might help
http://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=62400
I have heard the same but don't know enough to tell you one way or another.
The following looks like a great topic which might help
http://www.babybmw.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=62400
chriz1 said:
If your that worried why don't you get bmw driveline warranty £40 a month sorted!
I get your point, but quite charming of them to sell an insurance to cover their shonky engineering. Timing chains should either be life of the car or have a maintenance schedule, yet seem to have neither quality on this engine.At the mileage he's doing i'd be more concerned about the DPF and EGF clogging up which is most likely to happen sooner. The timing chain issues are completely hit and miss as far as i'm aware. Some go, some don't. Regardless, selling up and going into a petrol would be a good shout in general.
Any of the suggestions you've mentioned are decent. Get him to do some test drives and see which one he likes as all of them can be had in budget. A MK5 Golf GTI would be a good shout i would have thought and an easy enough transition from the BMW. German build, fast, turbo, easily tune-able and should be reliable. Also, they have cambelt so as long as they're changed accordingly by a specialist there should be no real worries there either.
Any of the suggestions you've mentioned are decent. Get him to do some test drives and see which one he likes as all of them can be had in budget. A MK5 Golf GTI would be a good shout i would have thought and an easy enough transition from the BMW. German build, fast, turbo, easily tune-able and should be reliable. Also, they have cambelt so as long as they're changed accordingly by a specialist there should be no real worries there either.
johnnyBv8 said:
Is there any preventative work that can be done if you're concerned. The Golf GTI is a nice car (I've owned one previously) but isnt without similar risks (e.g. cmabelt, water pump, cam follower).
Hes had it with BMW and the car isnt due any remedial work by BMW, so theres nothing that can be done at this stage.So really its wait until we hear the death rattle.
I take your point RE: a Golf GTi - and chances are he'd be in to an older car
Lozw86 said:
It sounds like it's worth keeping. I wouldn't get rid just on the off chance something goes wrong..
Agreed. Don't get rid " just in case" You will perhaps see it running around "A OK" afterwards. unless in market for nearly new, do not assume next car will be better. In the words of a seasoned VW fanatic and garage owner's son " you are just changing one set of problems for another".I had a 57 plate 123d with the same N47 diseasel engine from pre-reg mileage up to 81K and it didn't grenade, but it may have since I sold it!
When I unloaded it in 2014 BMW weren't offering the "Quality Enhancement" for cars with full BMWSH so I bailed out before it exploded and crippled me - another PHer had a 120d that did let go and he ended up scrapping it due to the estimated repair costs!
Given that your son doesn't do much mileage a petrol engine may be a better option! Since I got rid of the time-bomb 123d I have only had straight 6 naturally-aspirated petrol-engined BMWs and will never go back to diseasel!
When I unloaded it in 2014 BMW weren't offering the "Quality Enhancement" for cars with full BMWSH so I bailed out before it exploded and crippled me - another PHer had a 120d that did let go and he ended up scrapping it due to the estimated repair costs!
Given that your son doesn't do much mileage a petrol engine may be a better option! Since I got rid of the time-bomb 123d I have only had straight 6 naturally-aspirated petrol-engined BMWs and will never go back to diseasel!
Mr Tidy said:
I had a 57 plate 123d with the same N47 diseasel engine from pre-reg mileage up to 81K and it didn't grenade, but it may have since I sold it!
When I unloaded it in 2014 BMW weren't offering the "Quality Enhancement" for cars with full BMWSH so I bailed out before it exploded and crippled me - another PHer had a 120d that did let go and he ended up scrapping it due to the estimated repair costs!
Given that your son doesn't do much mileage a petrol engine may be a better option! Since I got rid of the time-bomb 123d I have only had straight 6 naturally-aspirated petrol-engined BMWs and will never go back to diseasel!
This one has been checked by the BMW dealer we use and its not scheduled for the Quality Enhancement as they say it doesnt need it? Its an 09 LCI car so presumably there were changes made there over and above the original design - well enough to stop BMW having to do anythingWhen I unloaded it in 2014 BMW weren't offering the "Quality Enhancement" for cars with full BMWSH so I bailed out before it exploded and crippled me - another PHer had a 120d that did let go and he ended up scrapping it due to the estimated repair costs!
Given that your son doesn't do much mileage a petrol engine may be a better option! Since I got rid of the time-bomb 123d I have only had straight 6 naturally-aspirated petrol-engined BMWs and will never go back to diseasel!
Edited by daemon on Sunday 7th August 17:30
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