2011 120d, repair or walk away?

[SideshowCecil]

Evening folks, I posted on here a little while ago asking about 325is and 330is in my search for a car. Due to needing a car slightly more urgently than I originally thought (and the fact theres next to no manual 330is up norf anyway), I had to expand my search to the dreaded N47 era of BMW.

I came across a 2011 120d in what looked like really good condition with a nice interior and tidy bodywork. With it being a post 2009 N47 I thought the timing chain issues weren't so severe and so it was worth a punt. Unfortunately it didn't have any service history and was on 126k miles so I did my due diligence and took it to a local bmw specialist, who have a very good reputation on this humble website.

They found a fair few issues on their check with it up on the ramps and from the test drive, which I will now list for your pleasure...

•Front crankshaft pulley/vibration damper cracked, starting to separate
•O/S/F and N/S/R shock absorber leaking
•N/S/R shock absorber slight leak
•Both driveshaft reluctor rings corroded and touching ABS sensors
•Front brake pads low
•Front tyres worn on edges
•Front brake backing plate loose
•Brake vacuum sensor faulty
•Fault listed for EGR flow rate
•High pitched noise on engine, suspected belt tensioner or pulley bearing

So... essentially everything except the timing chain.

Now, I was told this would cost around £1200 to sort, thought no way at first but now I'm thinking... I could have a fully sorted car that I know is sorted for around £4k all in. I could even 'man maths' the tyres and brake pads that they would need doing anyway.

My question to you dear reader is whether this actually makes sense or not or if it sounds like some bits could be left out or some things could be done cheaper etc. I'm swaying between doing this because 'any car of this age will have issues' or getting a six cylinder car (eg 525d etc) that would probably be an auto because they're meant to be more reliable. Sorry if this doesn't make much sense, do ask away if there are any questions, and thanks in advance for any advice

[Mr Tidy]

Personally I wouldn't consider anything with an N47 engine, but it's your call.

I bought a 2007 123d in 2008 and obviously there were no reported camchain issues for several years, and for a diesel it drove pretty well. But in 2014 I didn't do enough miles to justify a diesel (it was on 81K miles) so I replaced it with a Z4 Coupe and a shed. Fell in love with straight 6 petrols and replaced the shed with an E46 325ti!

A year or so after I sold my 123d BMW were running a Quality Enhancement programme (basically pickup up the tab to fix camchains that were failing) but that stopped a while ago.

I do like RWD which tends to mean it's pretty much BMW only as I don't like Mercs! If I really needed to run a diesel again I'd go for a pre-facelift 120d with the M47 engine or a 325/330d.

Just my thoughts FWIW.

[g3org3y]

With a lack of SH showing regular oil changes, I suppose you are at risk that you can spend the £££ to do all those items and still have a timing chain failure.

[survivalist]

If you’re going to keep it for ages / run it into the ground then it might be worth it. If you sell it in any time soon I guess people would be put off by the lack of history.

How much extra would it be to replace the chain along with all the other work?

[Touring442]

You'll need four dampers on that - they will all be scrap.

£1200 plus £1000 for the chain job - so up to £2500 all in. You *should* be ok after that.

[voram]

It's generally better to buy a car in the condition you want rather then chucking money at car that "needs a bit of work". IMO that usually translates as "generally neglected".

[SideshowCecil]

Some very good points here, thanks for keeping me grounded ! At the end of the day, it's an old high mileage diesel which has a notorious fault and no service history. Need to give my head a wobble and get back to looking at the 6 cylinders. Just a shame it's impossible to buy a car in these covid times that isn't 300x over priced!

[Mr Tidy]

For £4K you could probably buy my 55 plate manual 330iSE with 115k miles, but it's down Souf!

[Court_S]

I’d avoid too. There will be a better option than that if you’re patient.

There are a couple of nice looking 130’s up for sale at the mo (a grey one in BabyBMW looks good).

[SideshowCecil]

As if by magic, a 2007 330i manual turned up about 15 mins drive away today. FSH, 1 owner, 120k miles. Only issue is no v5. Is this a huge issue as there is service history and only one owner etc or is it best avoided?

[Court_S]

Any idea why there is no V5?

If it’s super close, I’d go and have a look at it to sus the seller out, pay for V Check to make so there is no dodgy history and go from there.

[g3org3y]

Court_S said:

Any idea why there is no V5?

If it’s super close, I’d go and have a look at it to sus the seller out, pay for V Check to make so there is no dodgy history and go from there.

Yes, bit odd especially if this is a one owner car and a private sale.

[Mr Tidy]

It sounds like it was meant to be - get round to see it quick!

If there is a sensible explanation for the V5 being missing I wouldn't worry too much. A V5 isn't proof of ownership.

[SideshowCecil]

Been to see it today, great car, regular services with stamps in the book, regular oil changes etc. He is effectively a part time driveway trader but is a customer of the firm I'm doing some work for at the minute so I know he's legit. Said he got the car at auction (so it will have already been hpi checked) and didn't want to add an extra owner onto a one owner car when he's selling it on straight away. Seems a reasonable excuse to me and he did come across very genuine (I know they all do etc etc). I'll still be prudent and get my own v5/hpi check and then go from there I think!

[InitialDave]

SideshowCecil said:

With it being a post 2009 N47 I thought the timing chain issues weren't so severe

I know you've already sensibly dodged this bullet, but just to comment - no, they're still crap, my workmate's 2012 1 series lunched itself last year.

A six cylinder petrol is absolutely the way to go if you want a BMW.

[Court_S]

SideshowCecil said:

Been to see it today, great car, regular services with stamps in the book, regular oil changes etc. He is effectively a part time driveway trader but is a customer of the firm I'm doing some work for at the minute so I know he's legit. Said he got the car at auction (so it will have already been hpi checked) and didn't want to add an extra owner onto a one owner car when he's selling it on straight away. Seems a reasonable excuse to me and he did come across very genuine (I know they all do etc etc). I'll still be prudent and get my own v5/hpi check and then go from there I think!

I’d seriously buy a V Check. They’ve unearthed some pretty heavily crashed cars on a thread on BabyBMW.

Sounds like potentially a good car.

[SideshowCecil]

Court_S said:

I’d seriously buy a V Check. They’ve unearthed some pretty heavily crashed cars on a thread on BabyBMW.

Sounds like potentially a good car.

Dumb question - is a V Check different to a hpi? I'll get a v check or both done before purchase just to be on the safe side.

[Court_S]

SideshowCecil said:

Dumb question - is a V Check different to a hpi? I'll get a v check or both done before purchase just to be on the safe side.

It seems to go a bit further because it trawls through the salvage history as well as the usual outstanding finance, thefts etc.

[voram]

SideshowCecil said:

He is effectively a part time driveway trader but is a customer of the firm I'm doing some work for at the minute so I know he's legit. Said he got the car at auction (so it will have already been hpi checked) and didn't want to add an extra owner onto a one owner car when he's selling it on straight away.

I'd be running away at full speed. There's nothing "legit" about any of that.

For instance - what's he shown you to prove he owns the car at all?

[SideshowCecil]

Court_S said:

SideshowCecil said:

Dumb question - is a V Check different to a hpi? I'll get a v check or both done before purchase just to be on the safe side.

It seems to go a bit further because it trawls through the salvage history as well as the usual outstanding finance, thefts etc.

Did it last night, seems pretty useful! Passed on everything (no salvage auctions, stolen, write offs etc) only strange thing was that this said 2 owners, the second one starting in 2010, so I will push him on that.

As for how I know he owns the car, if you buy a car without a v5 you need a full receipt with vin, mileage etc on so you can identify the car. He was more than happy to produce this and everything matches up.

Still trying to agree a price so we shall see what comes of it.