Help needed! 2010 520d M Sport

[Trig707]

Hi Guys, need some help, I'm going to look at a very nice one owner 2010 520d this week (need something economical but with a good boot). However I hear internet horror stories about 520d engines destroying themselves with cam-chain problems! Is this a genuine issue enough to put me off or is it the internet making an issue.

I would really appreciate some buying advise. Not familiar with BMWs, just sold my discovery as Im going to be doing some big miles for a new job.

[helix402]

Yes, it’s a real problem. The 6 cylinder diesel is a lot more reliable though some are suffering time chain problems too.

[Richard-D]

Much less of an issue by 2010. It can happen of course (as with any car) but is much more common from '07 to '09.

[Elliot2000]

What richard said ^

Tbf- ur coming from a discovery which are not known as being the go to car if u want reliability- so a 520d is probably a step up in terms of that

[iSore]

Richard-D said:

Much less of an issue by 2010. It can happen of course (as with any car) but is much more common from '07 to '09.

Not true. Plenty of F10's with chain issues. Ask any main dealer mechanic.

A chain job with everything is about £1300 - money well spent really and by 100k it's probably worth doing. Some get to 150k, some let go at 100k.

[P700DEE]

Is an issue but likely to be far less problems in general than your Land Rover. Mines on 158K and chain sounds fine (62 plate) Told cost to fix is the same if you do as PM or if it snaps. The gamble is if it snaps at speed and damages the valves etc. Fingers crossed you get some chain noise as warning. I'll have another.

[Elliot2000]

iSore said:

Not true. Plenty of F10's with chain issues. Ask any main dealer mechanic.

A chain job with everything is about £1300 - money well spent really and by 100k it's probably worth doing. Some get to 150k, some let go at 100k.

It’s true to say from 2010 they can still snap, but it’s more in line with other cars where chain can let go, whereas early ones from 2007 were notoriously bad for chains snapping- it wasn’t unusual for a 30000 mile car to snap a chain, whereas I hardly ever saw chains on the later ones go under 120000 miles - and even them ones, some seemed to have happened a few thousand miles after flywheel or crank puppy being changed I.e someone using impact guns directly on the crank shaft rattling the chain