BMW 116/118/120d for ~5k

[Lukas239]

Afternoon all

I'll save you all the preamble and get to it; for no more than 6k, are these too much of a risk?

I've done my research as with any potential new purchase and the N47 is clearly vilified across the country. As far as i'm aware the timing chain issue is said to disappear after the 2009 reg cars (although there are arguments to the contrary). A reasonable 2009 plate car would just squeeze into my budget.

I'm also aware that the nature of reporting car faults has some bias to it, so i'm not sure how trustworthy some horror stories are when it comes to this engine.

Looking for straight up help and advice if possible.
Ta

[sasquartch]

I know two people that had the timing chain go (a 120d and a 320d) so I dont think it's just a tiny number of affected cars

The main issue is the crazy CBS (condition based servicing) that means a car with 60k miles might only have had 2 oil changes in it's life

If you can find one that has had more regular oil changes that might bode well

I think BMW will do a check for you and replace the tensioner and / or chain at no cost (a friend had his 123d tensioner replaced foc) but whether that would apply to older cars I dont know.

Of my friend's that had the chain go the 320d was replaced under warranty (although there was still 500 quid or so excess and extra charges), the 120d cost around £2.5k for a rebuilt engine at an engine specialist (not BMW)

[helix402]

Post 2009 chains still fail. If you want a reliable engined diesel one series get one with an M47. Or go up a size and get an M57 engined 330.

[Lukas239]

sasquartch said:

I think BMW will do a check for you and replace the tensioner and / or chain at no cost (a friend had his 123d tensioner replaced foc) but whether that would apply to older cars I dont know.

i've heard stories of BMW doing 'goodwill' fixes but i doubt they'd touch a used car which will most likely have 100k or near enough on it by the time i own it. Cheers for the reports as well.

[Lukas239]

helix402 said:

Post 2009 chains still fail. If you want a reliable engined diesel one series get one with an M47. Or go up a size and get an M57 engined 330.

Funnily enough, it's the M47 i'm leaning towards now. And i must say, your 330d threads have a large part to play in that

[va1o]

£5 - 6k would just about get you into an F20 1-Series. They're probably a safer buy as I think most the engine issues had been resolved by 2012

E.g. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201... or https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[smashy]

va1o said:

£5 - 6k would just about get you into an F20 1-Series. They're probably a safer buy as I think most the engine issues had been resolved by 2012

E.g. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201... or https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Still issues with new shape 2012 cars to be fair remember babybmw posts ..just walk away from that idea OP

[PTF]

That budget gets you a 130i with a much more reliable N52 engine

It might be a bit worse on fuel but will feel more special, and might not depreciate as much

Just a thought...

[phil_cardiff]

helix402 said:

Post 2009 chains still fail. If you want a reliable engined diesel one series get one with an M47. Or go up a size and get an M57 engined 330.

When did the M47 cease in the 1/3 series? My parents have a 57 plate 320d and I'm wondering if they're in trouble. My googling skills have deserted me today sorry.

[SebringMan]

The 130i shouldn't be much worse on fuel.

On a long run around Spain I was getting 31-33MPG from an E46 M3. My friend in an E89 Z4 30iSDrive was doing 35MPG average. I reckon he was touching 40 on a few occasions.

[smashy]

phil_cardiff said:

When did the M47 cease in the 1/3 series? My parents have a 57 plate 320d and I'm wondering if they're in trouble. My googling skills have deserted me today sorry.

My 57 plate N47 scrapped at 105k and BMW couldnt have cared less

[PTF]

SebringMan said:

The 130i shouldn't be much worse on fuel.

On a long run around Spain I was getting 31-33MPG from an E46 M3. My friend in an E89 Z4 30iSDrive was doing 35MPG average. I reckon he was touching 40 on a few occasions.

Seeing 34mpg out of my 130i. My E91 325d used to do about 43mpg with the same driving.

The way i see it, it's an extra £10 or so every time i fill up, probably once per week. I'd piss that away easily on something meaningless. It's buying me a car i actually like, that's more reliable, and should limit the depreciation so i'll earn that back later.

[sasquartch]

For anyone that's interested this is the top page of the BMW document (couldnt find a way of attaching the PDF)

[Lukas239]

N47 off the cards then. I'll start looking at alternatives including petrol 1s and 3s. Cheers all

[helix402]

phil_cardiff said:

When did the M47 cease in the 1/3 series? My parents have a 57 plate 320d and I'm wondering if they're in trouble. My googling skills have deserted me today sorry.

I think the N47 was introduced in 03/07.

[phil_cardiff]

helix402 said:

phil_cardiff said:

When did the M47 cease in the 1/3 series? My parents have a 57 plate 320d and I'm wondering if they're in trouble. My googling skills have deserted me today sorry.

I think the N47 was introduced in 03/07.

Uh oh. Oh well, I told them not to buy a diesel with the mileage they do.

[Mr Tidy]

phil_cardiff said:

helix402 said:

phil_cardiff said:

When did the M47 cease in the 1/3 series? My parents have a 57 plate 320d and I'm wondering if they're in trouble. My googling skills have deserted me today sorry.

I think the N47 was introduced in 03/07.

Uh oh. Oh well, I told them not to buy a diesel with the mileage they do.

Yes, it was introduced in the 1 Series along with the facelift some time in early 2007 - if you are looking for a 120d the M47 had 163bhp, but the N47 had 177bhp and a lower CO2 banding so cheaper RFL!

But they don't all blow up! I bought a September 2007 123d with the N47 and had it for more than 6 years and 81K miles (mind you that may have been one of the reasons I sold it).
I