N47 Timing Chain failure --- how common is it still?

[_Hoppers]

camel_landy said:

Ours has just failed (N47)...

• Owned from new.
• 100k
• Full BMW service history
• All recalls, etc...

Main dealer didn't even notice anything when in the workshops over Christmas.

Google has been showing me just how common this is!!!!

M

Just out of interest, how often was the oil changed?

[David2020]

It’s not something they look at as chain at rear of the engine if it been to dealerships would they not do the work under the timeing chain issue recall

[camel_landy]

The recall work was done a few years back.

...and as for oil changes, it was all as per the BMW service recommendations.

M

[_Hoppers]

camel_landy said:

The recall work was done a few years back.

...and as for oil changes, it was all as per the BMW service recommendations.

M

OK, just wondered if you had it done at more regular intervals than the recommendation.

[camel_landy]

_Hoppers said:

camel_landy said:

The recall work was done a few years back.

...and as for oil changes, it was all as per the BMW service recommendations.

M

OK, just wondered if you had it done at more regular intervals than the recommendation.

Nah, not on this one.

TBH - I'm not sure if more regular oil changes would make a blind bit of difference.

M

[Deep Thought]

camel_landy said:

The recall work was done a few years back.

...and as for oil changes, it was all as per the BMW service recommendations.

M

So every 18-20K miles? How often were you checking & topping up in between?

[Deep Thought]

camel_landy said:

Nah, not on this one.

TBH - I'm not sure if more regular oil changes would make a blind bit of difference.

M

They do.

The oil coming out at 18-20K miles will be like black water and contaminated with diesel. Every 9K miles is the way to go.

Also these cars can and do use oil, so checking and topping up regularly is a must.

[CousinDupree]

Deep Thought said:

They do.

The oil coming out at 18-20K miles will be like black water and contaminated with diesel. Every 9K miles is the way to go.

Also these cars can and do use oil, so checking and topping up regularly is a must.

Yep, diesels are dirrty buggers. I couldn't believe the state of the oil on the first change I did on one, even after 10k of motorway miles.

[JakeT]

It's the soot that gets caught up in the oil. You can service a diesel, run it for 20 seconds, and the oil will be black again when it comes out. Makes for easy oil checking, not nice when you spill it though.

[stevemcs]

If it makes you feel any better the mini we did before Christmas needed a turbo, all 3 chains and while it was apart there was a lot of play in the dmf.

[Deep Thought]

JakeT said:

It's the soot that gets caught up in the oil. You can service a diesel, run it for 20 seconds, and the oil will be black again when it comes out. Makes for easy oil checking, not nice when you spill it though.

Diesel residue also gets down through the bores and in to the oil, contaminating it over time.

Also, oil - particularly in a diesel car for the above reasons, breaks down over time.

[Speed addicted]

I bought a 420d 4 months ago, it's a 2015 car so I thought I'd avoided the N47 (everything I can find says the B47 was introduced in 2014). Due to this thread I've actually done the vin decoder check I should have done before i bought it. It's an N47.

I notice a lot of the failures are on older cars, pre 2011. Do the last of them have the same issues that just haven't shown up due to age/milage yet or was the engine improved by the time they replaced it?

Mines been serviced according to the BMW schedule and has 52k on it, so not a great deal of oil changing going on.

If it's just a case of changing the oil more frequently I'll buy a pump and do it myself in between services. If it's more of a ticking wallet bomb i may move it on sooner than planned as it's a good excuse to buy something with more power again.

[Deep Thought]

Speed addicted said:

I bought a 420d 4 months ago, it's a 2015 car so I thought I'd avoided the N47 (everything I can find says the B47 was introduced in 2014). Due to this thread I've actually done the vin decoder check I should have done before i bought it. It's an N47.

I notice a lot of the failures are on older cars, pre 2011. Do the last of them have the same issues that just haven't shown up due to age/milage yet or was the engine improved by the time they replaced it?

Mines been serviced according to the BMW schedule and has 52k on it, so not a great deal of oil changing going on.

If it's just a case of changing the oil more frequently I'll buy a pump and do it myself in between services. If it's more of a ticking wallet bomb i may move it on sooner than planned as it's a good excuse to buy something with more power again.

I'm still on a motor trade dealer auction site for one of the big dealer groups and theres a fair few 2011 onwards 520ds go through each week. I've definately seen comments like "timing chain audible" in their notes for some of the cars.

[camel_landy]

Speed addicted said:

If it's just a case of changing the oil more frequently I'll buy a pump and do it myself in between services. If it's more of a ticking wallet bomb i may move it on sooner than planned as it's a good excuse to buy something with more power again.

From what I've been reading, your "ticking wallet bomb" is probably the best description for the N47...

M

[Touring442]

I was discussing the current B38 2.0 petrol with a Sytner tech last night in the pub. So, 2 litre four with a turbo, long stroke (nearly 95 mm), 11:1 compression, rear mounted B47 style chains, all dragging along a car weighing almost 1.5 to 2 tons, and on extended oil change intervals.

That'll end well.

[Deep Thought]

camel_landy said:

Speed addicted said:

If it's just a case of changing the oil more frequently I'll buy a pump and do it myself in between services. If it's more of a ticking wallet bomb i may move it on sooner than planned as it's a good excuse to buy something with more power again.

From what I've been reading, your "ticking wallet bomb" is probably the best description for the N47...

M

Personally, i'd have no issues running one. Buy one with low miles, and change the oil every 9,000 miles and check it weekly and keep it topped up with oil and it will be fine.

Get the service done to BMW schedule if its under warranty, but have an indy change the oil and filter half way between.

[camel_landy]

Has anyone done a "How many left" check on the N47 cars, to get some facts & figures??

M

[CousinDupree]

Touring442 said:

I was discussing the current B38 2.0 petrol with a Sytner tech last night in the pub. So, 2 litre four with a turbo, long stroke (nearly 95 mm), 11:1 compression, rear mounted B47 style chains, all dragging along a car weighing almost 1.5 to 2 tons, and on extended oil change intervals.

That'll end well.

The B38 is a petrol 1.2/1.5 turbo three pot. Lovely motor, although it wouldn't be my pick in a 3 series or heavier.

[Touring442]

Sorry, B48. It's not a bad engine, if rather noisy.

[Deep Thought]

Touring442 said:

I was discussing the current B38 2.0 petrol with a Sytner tech last night in the pub. So, 2 litre four with a turbo, long stroke (nearly 95 mm), 11:1 compression, rear mounted B47 style chains, all dragging along a car weighing almost 1.5 to 2 tons, and on extended oil change intervals.

That'll end well.

I ran a new Cooper S for a while there. Yes, extended intervals, but i applied the extra servicing regime to it too and had a decent indy change the oil and filter @ 9,000 miles.

Had we kept it longer i'd have continued that. Would have been £100 a year well worth investing.