N47 Engine Rebuild

N47 Engine Rebuild

Author
Discussion

stevepoulter

Original Poster:

46 posts

64 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
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Hi All,

Some of you may know that I had a timing chain failure on my 520d 2010 recently.

I am slowly but surely repairing the issue myself and currently I have removed the engine from the vehicle and it has now been completely stripped to its component parts. (Working full time is making the process very slow), anyways.....

I thought as I've got the engine out I may aswell re condition the engine. In regards to the timing chain failure, I think I've been extremely lucky. No broken rockers, No bent valves. The engine is in very good condition. I have cleaned everything (a horrible job) and all parts look brand new.

My question is in regards to what to replace when reconditioning the engine, I have never done this sort of work before but I am pretty good with my hands and extremely organised.

So far I have the following list of things to do:

Clean all engine parts DONE
Inspect all individual parts DONE
Re hone cylinders (lightly as they are in good condition)
Replace piston rings
Re seats all valves
Replace all stem seals
Replace ALL gaskets/Seals
Install new timing chain kit Inc Cam/Fuel Pump sprocket
Recondition fuel/oil pump


As I mentioned, the engine is in excellent condition, the Conrod bearing shells and crank bearing shells are spotless, without any scoring or minor scratches, I was shocked how new they look.

Would you recommend I replace ALL bearing shells now I've got the engine in pieces?

Is there anything else I should consider

Thanks all


DailyHack

3,122 posts

110 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
quotequote all
Sorry to hear about this, and good luck with the rebuild.

Just out of interest, what was your mileage and service history like on this prior to the failure?

stevepoulter

Original Poster:

46 posts

64 months

Wednesday 12th December 2018
quotequote all
Thanks

It's done 90k and has a full history. Oil change was done to manufacturers schedule. Some people recommend more frequent changes.

I have been extremely lucky though, no real damage apart from timing case cover scored, broken fuel pump sprocket and obviously timing chain broken. Everything else seems fine.

DailyHack

3,122 posts

110 months

Thursday 13th December 2018
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Thanks

stevepoulter said:
Some people recommend more frequent changes.
.
Yeah exactly this, 20k oil changes (BMW schedule) usually are a death sentence to the chain, in any vehicle not just BMWs

Al_85

20 posts

185 months

Thursday 13th December 2018
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Hi, sorry to hear about this! Was there any prior warning to the chain going? EML or similar?

I've got a '13 plate 520d, which apparently features a 'fix' for the timing chain problem. I only bought it two weeks ago, it has 89k on the clock and has just pinged up with an orange EML. Sounds and runs completely fine.

Garage are taking it back tomorrow to suss it out, but wondered if it was this?

DailyHack

3,122 posts

110 months

Thursday 13th December 2018
quotequote all
Al_85 said:
Hi, sorry to hear about this! Was there any prior warning to the chain going? EML or similar?

I've got a '13 plate 520d, which apparently features a 'fix' for the timing chain problem. I only bought it two weeks ago, it has 89k on the clock and has just pinged up with an orange EML. Sounds and runs completely fine.

Garage are taking it back tomorrow to suss it out, but wondered if it was this?
EML could be anything, my guess is emissions, maybe EGR valve - I had this ping up on my old 2008 N47 (get a plug in reader for ECU - best thing I ever bought for my 2012 318d)

13' plate shouldn't suffer chain snappage, but its only a car so anything can happen, keep up with the oil changes.

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Thursday 13th December 2018
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I’d leave the bearings if they’re fine.

helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Thursday 13th December 2018
quotequote all
I’d leave the bearings if they’re fine.

stevepoulter

Original Poster:

46 posts

64 months

Saturday 15th December 2018
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Al_85 said:
Hi, sorry to hear about this! Was there any prior warning to the chain going? EML or similar?
No warning, engine just cut out one day

stevepoulter

Original Poster:

46 posts

64 months

Saturday 15th December 2018
quotequote all
helix402 said:
I’d leave the bearings if they’re fine.
I've decided to replace the bearing shells both crank and Conrod. Thought I'd just regret it later on.

I am about confused about ordering new ones. Newtis states the shells must be replaced like for like, i.e. yellow, white, green.

Most places sell sets of shells and according to the print on my crank and crank case I require a mixture of yellow and green shells.

I have found them separately but they will more out significantly more expensive.

What is the difference between these colours? RealOEM shoes different types of each colour. I'm so confused.


UPDATE ON REBUILD:

All parts have been cleaned and today I started to polish the crank/cam journals. I have managed to get them sparking, if I say so myself, like mirrors.

Just awaiting the piston rings, and gaskets. The rings I ordered previously arrived broken.

Thanks all

dmarkovina

639 posts

82 months

Sunday 16th December 2018
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stevepoulter

Original Poster:

46 posts

64 months

Monday 7th January 2019
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Update:

Finally finished the complete engine rebuild. Took me only 2 months ! I was only doing an hour or 2 here an there mind you.

Yesterday I managed to install the shiny like new engine, which took about 4 hours. It was a complete arse to get lined up the gearbox. But got there in the end.

Today I filled her with oil and gave her a few cranks with the injectors disconnected just to get oil to circulate the "dry" engine.

However, there are two bits I can't seem to work out where they live. 1) Connector 2) Bracket type thing

How do I attach pictures to this message?

Any help appreciated


helix402

7,832 posts

181 months

Monday 7th January 2019
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Does it run?

pixiemum

7 posts

63 months

Monday 7th January 2019
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Hi I have just had a engine rebuilt N43 , 3 series 320i cost £3,600, bought it nearly 2 years ago at 36K , engine seized this summer at 55K.. I wish to take the dealership i bought it from to small claims court, under the Consumer Act 2015, I am sure the fault was there at the point of sale, the dealership is giving me a hard time,saying that as it has passed it's MOT's they deny selling me a car with a fault!

stevepoulter

Original Poster:

46 posts

64 months

Monday 7th January 2019
quotequote all
Haven't tried it yet, currently no coolant. I'm filling that tomorrow as I had to wait for the vacuum pump.

Going to plug it into ISTA before stating it just to bleed fuel, check pressure and cam/crank sync etc

Then it's the first fire up attempt.

Any idea how to attach pictures, maybe you could help find the home of these things




Edited by stevepoulter on Monday 7th January 22:25

stevepoulter

Original Poster:

46 posts

64 months

Monday 7th January 2019
quotequote all


Right

These two images. The second one is a plug, which I can't find what it plugs into.

First is some bracket with a black gasket down one end.

I can't remember where these were from. Any ideas anyone

stevepoulter

Original Poster:

46 posts

64 months

Tuesday 8th January 2019
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First picture bracket home found

Elliot2000

785 posts

175 months

Tuesday 8th January 2019
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Looks like either coolant temp sensor which is just below the rocker cover at the front or it’s the one that clips back over the top of the loom above the inlet manifold

stevepoulter

Original Poster:

46 posts

64 months

Tuesday 8th January 2019
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All found and homed

t400ble

1,804 posts

120 months

Tuesday 8th January 2019
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Dont worry about no coolant, will be fine for a minute