High mileage N47 without problems (120D, 320D, 520D etc)

[La_vida_diver]

I have recently purchased a 320d E91 2008 with 175000 on the clock recent turbo and I’m clearing a backlog of errors and what appears to be late servicing. No chain problems that I can detect. BMW have just done two minor recalls for free at the local dealers.

[Lum1]

I’ve got a 120d XDrive (2013) with the XDrive. Had no troubles with the timing chain; but I’ve changed my oil every 10k. Currently on 117k and climbing.

Had the clutch, flywheel and release bearing done at 95k though; now hoping it’ll plod on to 200k plus!

[nottyash]

My local BMW specialist has done a few chain failures and said all had full BMW history. They recommended changing the oil yearly and not following the long schedules. They just had one in with 170k on the clock yet only 5 stamps in the book

[IINexusII]

On 112k now on my 2014 F10 520d with the N47T engine, oil changed regurlarly every 8-10k (i do around 20k+ per year)

[BFleming]

Genuinely not sure if I have replied to this thread before now; however in the family we have...
2013 525d (2.0 N47) currently with 142,000 miles & the original chain
2010 320d ed (N47) currently 160,000 miles & the original chain

Failures on these are few & far between - but well publicised when they happen. By contrast I also have a 114i with the N13 engine. 67,000 miles, and it's on it's second chain (and probably not its last).

[Gaffo]

For anyone who wants to know, I’ve a 2010 bmw 318d touring It has the n47d20c engine with 147000 miles it has not had the timing chain replaced, there is a small noise from it but change the oil regular

[Touring442]

Gaffo said:

For anyone who wants to know, I’ve a 2010 bmw 318d touring It has the n47d20c engine with 147000 miles it has not had the timing chain replaced, there is a small noise from it but change the oil regular

Spooky!

This one just coughed.

[JakeT]

Still some lotion motion in that!


... If the HPFP hasn't filled the fuel system with metal filings.

It's a shame because the N47 is a really frugal engine, but if the chain does snap it's game over for a lot of vehicles now. Chain replacements are getting much cheaper though. I think a course of action for me would be a new chain and HPFP upon purchase followed by over servicing, and a fuel treatment with more lubricity like Archoil. But that's added a boat load of cash on top of buying the thing and overcoming whatever other neglect previous owners have done to the thing.

[stevemcs]

I'm playing the autotrader game looking at E61's and F11's, the number of F11's being advertised with recent chains seems to increase on a daily basis. I'm after a 530d really but in reality a E61 520d is all i'd need. I just find it off putting knowing that at some point its likely to need the chains doing.

[helix402]

Why bother with an N47 when you can have an M57? It’s not as if the cars with an M57 cost a lot more.

[stevemcs]

Its finding them ...

[Touring442]

Pre 2010(?) 325d, detuned 3.0 M57N. So you can have the LCI that doesn't look like a £700 Facebook banger and an engine that doesn't hold a gun to your head. Win-Win.

[JakeT]

Feb 2010 is when the E90 325d got the N57 I believe. A nice 58/59 plate car is what you need.


Some poor sods are driving around in a pre facelift E90 with the N47/N43.

[Zener]

Still got a customer 1 owner car with a N47 1 series currently up to 275k miles original chain but service schedules are far shorter when I told him some time back and car in its youth did lots of motorway miles all I have seen fail on his engine is the swirl flaps (caught in time) and EGR replacement , everything else as it left the factory

[Touring442]

JakeT said:

Some poor sods are driving around in a pre facelift E90 with the N47/N43.

ES spec in grey. Is anything less desirable?

[TDi154]

Ive just aquired a 2008 E92 320d M Sport with 331k on the clock. Unsure if its ever had a replcement chain, but it was a one owner + Ex-demo car.

[Nick efficientdynamics]

Hay inhave a bmw 320d efficientdynamics 2010 and that has a n47 engine it is noisy but mine has 157k all services are done regularly and I haven't had a problem with mine at all she runs beautifully she all standard and is having a stage 1 remap bit as a standard she made a mokory of a z4 on its bum uphill all the way couldn't leave me at all allnim all n47 engins are good they just need to be loved

[Mattiebmw]

The chain on my 2011 320D snapped a couple of months ago on 114k.
Full Bmw history to 80k, with it being serviced more often than needed, the services every 8-10k there after.
£1500 from local specialist to sort.

[6cylGolf]

Touring442 said:

JakeT said:

Some poor sods are driving around in a pre facelift E90 with the N47/N43.

ES spec in grey. Is anything less desirable?

Children.

In my opinion Bmw got it wrong with the e9x facelift. Big stodgy mirrors and half cut rear lights, whats the obsession? The rear end reminds me of diy 90s bad boy effort.

If I was handcuffed to an n47, id rather it be in a pre lci.

[Touring442]

The LCI was styled to look more like the upcoming F10. The front is a huge improvement - the original with that awful slither of chrome on the bonnet for the grilles is just gopping.