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

[DailyHack]

Deep Thought said:

Regular oil changes are KEY. Every 9,000 miles, and check the oil level weekly and top up as necessary.

Yep! My 318d 2012 is as tight as a drum, doesnt use any between its 8k service intervals I do - 122k now

Oil is cheap, my 20L drum from Smith & Allan direct, LL04 online for £48, will last me X3/4 oil changes easy

Edited by DailyHack on Monday 28th October 12:35

[jonesy471]

Hi Guys im looking at buying a f31 318d with 52k on the clock having read the threads would I be wrong in thinking the earlier models of the n47 were problematic or would this be the case even for the later models?

any advice appreciated Thanks!

[stevemcs]

It still affects the F series, look for engine code B47 to be safe. To be honest its not too bad of a job, 5 series can be done in situ, not sure what the space is like on the F series but budget around £1500 if all 3 chains need replacing and the engine needs to come out.

[Deep Thought]

Prevention is better than cure. Check it in advance and make sure theres no noise from the car you're buying. Service it every 9,000 miles, check the oil weekly and top up as and when required.

Edited by Deep Thought on Monday 27th January 20:17

[Josho]

We are doing about 4 a month in Kent.

[_Hoppers]

Josho said:

We are doing about 4 a month in Kent.

Are you doing any later models, e.g. From years 2013-14 and newer?

[Ninja59]

stevemcs said:

It still affects the F series, look for engine code B47 to be safe. To be honest its not too bad of a job, 5 series can be done in situ, not sure what the space is like on the F series but budget around £1500 if all 3 chains need replacing and the engine needs to come out.

Everyone keeps saying go B47, the sad reality is a lot of the timing system is exactly the same as the final N47 engines.

The only real differences between them is the lower chain (not the bottom oil chain) is different and a few guides. The rest of the entire system is exactly the same down to the part number level.

I now know of a few failed B47 timing chains as well and in one case at 28000 miles.

[stevemcs]

The oil chain usually survives, its usually the middle chain that fails on the ones we have seen.

[Mattiebmw]

I check the oil on my 2010 320D once a week religiously and have had it serviced every 10k or so. Was told that’s a must if you want it to do big miles.
Strangely, it has a dipstick, my 2007 1 series didn’t and you had to do it electronically. Not that it bothers me.

[smashy]

jonesy471 said:

Hi Guys im looking at buying a f31 318d with 52k on the clock having read the threads would I be wrong in thinking the earlier models of the n47 were problematic or would this be the case even for the later models?

any advice appreciated Thanks!

As mine went I am quite offay with all this,basically the guides were changed in 2011 and as far as I can tell after that all that has really happened is a bit noisy so 2012 onwards to be safe

[Touring442]

Ninja59 said:

Everyone keeps saying go B47, the sad reality is a lot of the timing system is exactly the same as the final N47 engines.

The only real differences between them is the lower chain (not the bottom oil chain) is different and a few guides. The rest of the entire system is exactly the same down to the part number level.

I now know of a few failed B47 timing chains as well and in one case at 28000 miles.

A mate who works at a local BMW specialist has done a couple of B47 chains. They're just getting old and leggy enough.

[rallycross]

Touring442 said:

A mate who works at a local BMW specialist has done a couple of B47 chains. They're just getting old and leggy enough.

The answer still remains the same, f you want a BMW diesel buy a 6 cylinder model and enjoy a smooth powerful reliable engine, just make sure to avoid the post 2008 4 cylinder st-box engines from BMW (petrol or diesel).

[Mattiebmw]

I ran a 2008 120i from around 70k to 225 as my work horse. Certainly wasn’t the most exciting drive ive ever had but it wasn’t a st box. maintaining them is the key, with very frequent oil changes.

[Touring442]

If that's an N43 120i (2008 is almost certain) then you've basically won the internet. That's very good going for one of those!

[Mattiebmw]

Yea it was a 57 plate, march 2008 I believe. Just looked after it. Only reason I changed it was the diff was going and I made a big mistake in letting Halfords change a rear bulb for me... completely cocked it up, allowing water into the boot and sending the electrics crazy but that’s another story...
It broke down twice in my ownership, once on 128k, fan went due to some corrosion around the wires and it overheated and then a spring went bang when I was parked up at work one time so I had to have it recovered. Was on about 180k then.

[Touring442]

That car deserved the Iron Cross for getting to that mileage! Not many get past 150k, engines or diffs.

[rallycross]

Touring442 said:

That car deserved the Iron Cross for getting to that mileage! Not many get past 150k, engines or diffs.

It’s the later engines that are really bad a 57 plate 2.0 has a better engine than the later n43 direct injection crap engine ( although I have had one n43 that was still sweet running at 165k but it’s history showed it had gone through multiple sets of injectors to try and get it to run smoothly / which in fact needed new chips on the ecu to resolve - A £250 fix which needed no further injector changes).

[Touring442]

57 plate is either an N46 or an N43, it was the changeover period. They're both generally pretty crap but there are those that do very well. They were popular when new as they went quite well and were good on fuel.
The original N42 will be 20 next year. I drove a 318Ti Compact as a new car upon launch and thought it was a really good engine.

[Mattiebmw]

Dunno I thing It’s like anything. If you maintain it then it should be ok, a mate has a 120D that’s been serviced every 20k, it’s now on just over 100 sounds knackered. My 1 sounded fine having been serviced every 8-10.

[camel_landy]

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