2015 318d has started making a noise...

[bavarianscrap]

Morning all. First time poster but I’d thought I’d see if I can get some assistance. I have a 2015 F30 318d just gone 69k with the infamous N47 engine.

In the last day or so I have noticed a continuous rattle sound coming from behind the engine. It is only at idle and not noticeable when I drive or rev the engine.

Any ideas what it might be? I am dreading the worst although I had thought timing chain issues were problematic for pre-2011 cars... any advice or help welcomed!

.

[Touring442]

Completely silent. Amazing!

[BFleming]

bavarianscrap said:

I have a 2015 F30 318d just gone 69k with the infamous N47 engine.

Are you sure? Being a 2015 I would have thought it would have had the infamous B47 engine.
Anyhow, not may of us can diagnose a photo of Estoril Blue; suggest bringing it to a garage of your choice, but I'm guessing all of therm will say "timing chain" as they suck through their teeth and think of a number between £1k and £2k. Except a BMW main dealer that won't say timing chain as that would be admitting there's a fault.

[Touring442]

The B47 replaced the N47 in June 2015 so an N47 is possible.

[mmm-five]

That's why I negotiated a 3 year extended warranty as part of the deal when I bought my June 2015 320D!

[bavarianscrap]

BFleming said:

Are you sure? Being a 2015 I would have thought it would have had the infamous B47 engine.
Anyhow, not may of us can diagnose a photo of Estoril Blue; suggest bringing it to a garage of your choice, but I'm guessing all of therm will say "timing chain" as they suck through their teeth and think of a number between £1k and £2k. Except a BMW main dealer that won't say timing chain as that would be admitting there's a fault.

Apologies, I uploaded a video if you click into it but the sound doesn’t work for whatever reason.

The car was built May 2015 and as far as I know has that piece of 5h1t N47. I put a post up on Facebook and straight away BMW “Indy specialists” were being tagged by their mates - even had one add me, quoted me £1500.

Do I bite the bullet and go to him, or, do I kick up a fuss with BMW and see what they’ll do (sweet fa) I guess is my question at this stage. Pretty annoyed that a supposed component that is meant to last a lifetime sounds like it’s on its way out after 69k miles

[thatdude]

Is it timing chain, or timing chain tensioner?

First thing, try an oil change - see if this helps. The diagnostic route regarding the timing chain would be to measure the "stretch" between a series of links; there should (will?) be a specification range for this.

[mmm-five]

Maybe it just needs the tensioner changing, as the combination of that and the sharp tooths on the sprocket causing the chain to jump or break.

This was mitigated somewhat in later cars with a less agressive sprocket, but it hasn't completely solved the issue.

It's also more prevalent on manual cars than autos - probably due to the extra strain on the engine from hard/high-rpm gear changes - which the auto doesn't allow.

However, some of the noise is simply due to the tensioner, which can be replaced much easier/cheaper - and would be my first step before spending thousands.

If you've got a complete service history, I'd also consider contacting BMW for a goodwill contribution - but anecdotal evidence seems to suggest they won't do anything if it's just noisy, they'll want a failure before they'll consider it.

There's a BMW technical (PUMA) document available that relates to the earlier versions of the same engine (pre 2011 I think).
http://bmw-n47.weebly.com/uploads/2/2/1/0/22105240...

Mine's only on 42,000 miles, and I'll be deviating from the CBS to do an oil change every 10,000 miles to protect other components too.

[Earthdweller]

mmm-five said:

Maybe it just needs the tensioner changing, as the combination of that and the sharp tooths on the sprocket causing the chain to jump or break.

This was mitigated somewhat in later cars with a less agressive sprocket, but it hasn't completely solved the issue.

It's also more prevalent on manual cars than autos - probably due to the extra strain on the engine from hard/high-rpm gear changes - which the auto doesn't allow.

However, some of the noise is simply due to the tensioner, which can be replaced much easier/cheaper - and would be my first step before spending thousands.

If you've got a complete service history, I'd also consider contacting BMW for a goodwill contribution - but anecdotal evidence seems to suggest they won't do anything if it's just noisy, they'll want a failure before they'll consider it.

There's a BMW technical (PUMA) document available that relates to the earlier versions of the same engine (pre 2011 I think).
http://bmw-n47.weebly.com/uploads/2/2/1/0/22105240...

Mine's only on 42,000 miles, and I'll be deviating from the CBS to do an oil change every 10,000 miles to protect other components too.

Thanks Tony

My 2015 X3 is on 60k and fine so far !

I extended the warranty when it ran out and like you am doing additional oil changes

[Huskyman]

bavarianscrap said:

Apologies, I uploaded a video if you click into it but the sound doesn’t work for whatever reason.

The car was built May 2015 and as far as I know has that piece of 5h1t N47. I put a post up on Facebook and straight away BMW “Indy specialists” were being tagged by their mates - even had one add me, quoted me £1500.

Do I bite the bullet and go to him, or, do I kick up a fuss with BMW and see what they’ll do (sweet fa) I guess is my question at this stage. Pretty annoyed that a supposed component that is meant to last a lifetime sounds like it’s on its way out after 69k miles

If you go the BMW route then see what they have to say first, keep calm and press your case. There is a proper method using a tool that screws into the hole for the tensioner that can measure chain stretch/wear and a BMW dealer/Indy will have this. A central pin in the tool will give an indication of this when the engine is turned over by hand, depends on how far it sticks out or goes in I think. Diagnose before spending ££££. A helpful chap called d_a_n1979 has reminded me of this.

[Touring442]

bavarianscrap said:

Apologies, I uploaded a video if you click into it but the sound doesn’t work for whatever reason.

The car was built May 2015 and as far as I know has that piece of 5h1t N47. I put a post up on Facebook and straight away BMW “Indy specialists” were being tagged by their mates - even had one add me, quoted me £1500.

Do I bite the bullet and go to him, or, do I kick up a fuss with BMW and see what they’ll do (sweet fa) I guess is my question at this stage. Pretty annoyed that a supposed component that is meant to last a lifetime sounds like it’s on its way out after 69k miles

Where are you in the UK?

[RUSSELLM]

mmm-five said:

That's why I negotiated a 3 year extended warranty as part of the deal when I bought my June 2015 320D!

Was that an AUC BMW warranty ?

[mmm-five]

RUSSELLM said:

Was that an AUC BMW warranty ?

Standard 1 year BMW AUC, plus 2 additional years of BMW Insured Warranty with £0 excess at a reduced rate (about 50%,).

Car only has 42k miles on it, and if I start working from the office again it'll be adding 30k miles a year to that!

[bavarianscrap]

Touring442 said:

Where are you in the UK?

Belfast.

Guys, thanks for all the input so far. The noise disappears immediately when I press the accelerator or while driving, it’s only at idling that it’s noticeable (if that makes any difference).