E91 N47 for the long haul....
Discussion
Running my 318d 2012 E91 for the long haul, hoping for 250k+ at least in terms of mileage.
Great car, does all I want it to do - could swap it but don't see the point, its a very well known quantity.
It has been very well looked after (like all my cars) since I purchases it at 50k two years ago, now on 115k.
- Its has its oil changed every 8k, sometimes earlier (LL04 spec, whatever is cheapest at the time)
- It is on its 2nd gearbox and diff flush, usually annually 25/30k (many don't see any intervals)
- Fuel filter swapped around 25/30k
- It has had X2 new driveshafts (PITA rusty relucutor rings forced "the belt & braces" approach)
- New flexipipe around 90k (common issue)
All in all its been pretty good solid car, now I know there is a few more things on the potential horizon
- DMF/Clutch
- EGR
- DPF
- Turbo (hoping early and plenty of oil changes will help with longevity here)
- injectors maybe? (I know it had X2 back in its history, under warranty from BMW, so caught some dogdey ones)
- No knocks from suspension, so no reason this cant go the whole hog
All of which I will cross if/when I get to this bridge.
The big elephant in the room is the timing chain/tensioners, what do you guys recommend a service interval for this?
With my over-servicing attitude - I was planning to get this done "preventatively" around 190/200k (so couple more years yet)
Great car, does all I want it to do - could swap it but don't see the point, its a very well known quantity.
It has been very well looked after (like all my cars) since I purchases it at 50k two years ago, now on 115k.
- Its has its oil changed every 8k, sometimes earlier (LL04 spec, whatever is cheapest at the time)
- It is on its 2nd gearbox and diff flush, usually annually 25/30k (many don't see any intervals)
- Fuel filter swapped around 25/30k
- It has had X2 new driveshafts (PITA rusty relucutor rings forced "the belt & braces" approach)
- New flexipipe around 90k (common issue)
All in all its been pretty good solid car, now I know there is a few more things on the potential horizon
- DMF/Clutch
- EGR
- DPF
- Turbo (hoping early and plenty of oil changes will help with longevity here)
- injectors maybe? (I know it had X2 back in its history, under warranty from BMW, so caught some dogdey ones)
- No knocks from suspension, so no reason this cant go the whole hog
All of which I will cross if/when I get to this bridge.
The big elephant in the room is the timing chain/tensioners, what do you guys recommend a service interval for this?
With my over-servicing attitude - I was planning to get this done "preventatively" around 190/200k (so couple more years yet)
I'd do the chain sooner than later, or at least do the tensioner now. Since it's a known issue on these, I'd rather it done sooner than later. Since the gearbox needs to come off for that, you could leave it until a clutch/flywheel needs doing. Then there's no duplication of labour. Nowadays if I bought an N47/57 BMW with over 100k on I think I'd have the chain done for the peace of mine.
One thing to do might also to be do Ceratec in the diff oil. E90s have undersized diffs, so fresh fluid would probably be a good plan. I plan to change the fluid in the diff of my 330i at the next service (150k), and put some Ceratec in there too.
Otherwise it sounds like you're on top of it nicely.
One thing to do might also to be do Ceratec in the diff oil. E90s have undersized diffs, so fresh fluid would probably be a good plan. I plan to change the fluid in the diff of my 330i at the next service (150k), and put some Ceratec in there too.
Otherwise it sounds like you're on top of it nicely.
JakeT said:
I'd do the chain sooner than later, or at least do the tensioner now. Since it's a known issue on these, I'd rather it done sooner than later. Since the gearbox needs to come off for that, you could leave it until a clutch/flywheel needs doing. Then there's no duplication of labour. Nowadays if I bought an N47/57 BMW with over 100k on I think I'd have the chain done for the peace of mine.
One thing to do might also to be do Ceratec in the diff oil. E90s have undersized diffs, so fresh fluid would probably be a good plan. I plan to change the fluid in the diff of my 330i at the next service (150k), and put some Ceratec in there too.
Otherwise it sounds like you're on top of it nicely.
Yes, I have done a few gearbox and diff flushes, never thought about adding ceratec, it was completely black when I first got it (50k) comes out golden every 30k now One thing to do might also to be do Ceratec in the diff oil. E90s have undersized diffs, so fresh fluid would probably be a good plan. I plan to change the fluid in the diff of my 330i at the next service (150k), and put some Ceratec in there too.
Otherwise it sounds like you're on top of it nicely.
Interesting, never thought about getting tensioners done when/if clutch or DMF is due, could be another few thousand yet, so could be around 190/200k anyway - with it being all motorway miles, unless the DMF decides to rattle itself to death like they do...
BFleming said:
I got quoted £1795 for a chain renewal recently; this was from a specialist. Not that either of my N47 engines cars have needed one yet (155,000 and 134,000 miles respectively on them now) but it's good to know these things.
Seems a it steep that imo, I got a quote a few years back and it was £1100/1200 if that, and that was a BMW specialist also...prices must vary alotAdd Ceratec to the engine (your chain and chain gear will be thankful), gearbox as well as the diff (it's not LSD so no problems with that low friction). And you need not rush with the chain change if it is silent at the moment (it will go super silent after Ceratec treatment) - you need 6% of the filling capacity. I am a long-term Ceratec user, now approaching 270k/280k miles in my E39/E38 both with petrol inline sixes and can't praise it highly enough. The engines (M54/M52TU) are so silent that my friends (both with 320d) though the engine was off when it was idling - windows open and moderate street noise. The engine pulls better, and you will notice reduced engine breaking effect due to lower internal friction. Add with every oil change, contrary to what's written on the packaging.
naturalaspiration said:
I am a long-term Ceratec user, now approaching 270k/280k miles in my E39/E38 both with petrol inline sixes and can't praise it highly enough. The engines (M54/M52TU) are so silent
But most old BMW's will do that with care. Highest I've seen is 400k on a 1999 523i. It was sweating oil a bit but it ran like a watch. A pity it was written off when it clobbered a central reservation sideways because it was heading to half a million. The key is regular oil changes, every 6-8000 miles. But, the timing chain on the M52 looks like it could be used to haul an anchor it's that chunky. The N47 chain is a bit Elizabeth Duke in comparison.On a 320d N47, I'd be pressing the stop start button off as well.
BFleming said:
I'm not quite sure what that means, but if anyone has any recent comparison quotes, feel free to quote them. The £1795 one was from Bartlett BMW Specialists in Huntingdon.
tbh that is about right, looking at my old quote £1640, so give or take pending on what the garage specifies - Not too bad really in the grand scheme of running a car (save up all the cam-belts it would of had if belt driven) should have money to go Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff