BMW N47 Average Life

[F10RRSVR]

After hearing all the scaremongers about the N47 timing chain snapping, I haven't seen any threads on what mileage people are still driving about with this particular engine.

I've had mine under a year, it has just ticked over 144,000 on its original chain.

Hopefully, it'll do 200k plus with regular servicing, hoping to keep it for a while.

But another point, should I change the gear box oil? It has never been changed due to BMW 'Lifetime' policy but I'm sure ZF says to do it every 60,000 miles but the car has done over double that.

Edited by F10RRSVR on Wednesday 11th January 13:53

[helix402]

The gearbox oil change is a funny one. There is a lot of internet nonsense about it. ZF do recommend a service if the car is used in arduous conditions. I always change the auto box on my cars but who knows if it's necessary really. My current one had covered 220k when I changed the original oil and filter. It did not explode in a fireball afterwards.
If you want your N47 to last as long as possible I'd recommend an oil and filter change every 1 year/10k miles with LL04 oil.

Edited by helix402 on Saturday 7th January 23:19

[daemon]

helix402 said:

If you want your N47 to last as long as possible I'd recommend an oil and filter change every 1 year/10k miles with LL04 oil.

+1

My son had an 09 120d and we got it done as per the BMW recommended interval and then half way in between by our local mechanic

Also, well worth getting in to the habit of checking oil level weekly - ours would have taken a little regularly so worth topping up rather than letting it get low.

[Mr Tidy]

I bought my pre-registered 123d (N47 engine) in January 2008 with less than 20 miles recorded (had a car allowance and interest-free loan at the time as I was doing significant business mileage).

Had a new starter motor (£600) and AGM battery (£250) probably due to the stop/start malarkey and it was at 81K miles with no signs of cam-chain disaster, but my car usage had changed significantly and BMW hadn't yet started the "Quality Enhancement" programme so I sold it and bought a Z4 Coupe!

Straight 6 petrol was so much better that I also got an E46 325ti as a daily and haven't looked back!

But if you have got to 144K miles with a 520d you surely can't go too far wrong (if you like that sort of thing)!

[daemon]

Mr Tidy said:

But if you have got to 144K miles with a 520d you surely can't go too far wrong (if you like that sort of thing)!

Hes had it just under a year, so hes either been a very busy bunny or he bought it with high miles in the first place (i suspect the latter)

I think his concern is going forward, not how reliable the car has been thus far.

[Sardonicus]

daemon said:

+1

My son had an 09 120d and we got it done as per the BMW recommended interval and then half way in between by our local mechanic

Also, well worth getting in to the habit of checking oil level weekly - ours would have taken a little regularly so worth topping up rather than letting it get low.

Sensible fella

[F10RRSVR]

daemon said:

Hes had it just under a year, so hes either been a very busy bunny or he bought it with high miles in the first place (i suspect the latter)

I think his concern is going forward, not how reliable the car has been thus far.

Yep bought it with motorway mileage

Going forward since I've got it , I've done a full service and front set of tyres. Which is normal really.

I'm still undecided on the gearbox oil but what is that saying, If it works, don't touch it?

I thought if I did change it, it might upset some of the debris settled which may then affect the box... hmmm

Edited by F10RRSVR on Wednesday 11th January 13:54

[SebringMan]

helix402 said:

The gearbox oil change is a funny one. There is a lot of internet nonsense about it. ZF do recommend a service if the car is used in arduous conditions. I always change the auto box on my cars but who knows if it's necessary really. My current one had covered 220k when I changed the original oil and filter. It did not explode in a fireball afterwards.
If you want your N47 to last as long as possible I'd recommend an oil and filter change every 1 year/10k miles with LL04 oil.

Edited by helix402 on Saturday 7th January 23:19

From the little research I have done this seems to be the case.

Alot of the N47 chain failures seem to be down to BMW's extended service intervals. Going off my own research, sticking with 10,000 mile service intervals seems to massively help this issue.

As he said I'd also change the gearbox oil. In the few autos that I have had gearbox oil change made a nice difference .

[GTEYE]

A colleague has a 2012 E90 320d that is showing over 205k now....the only failure being the turbo at circa 180k.