Advice needed - potential purchase - Alpina D5 Biturbo (F10)
Discussion
Hi guys,
Porsche owner coming in peace!
I am looking at getting a fun daily to cruise the dreaded M25 for the couple of days I am in the office.
Now this example I am looking at is over 100k miles but doesn't have any record of timing chain being changed; so obviously I am looking for quotes and first one I received from a well known indy was £3200 - which felt - excessive.
I am aware the engine is coming out but my Cayman has had a belt change and that was £800 add-on to a service.
Others dealers have quoted £1800 - £2400 - is this more realistic? Anyone had any experiences with this?
Appreciate it!
Porsche owner coming in peace!
I am looking at getting a fun daily to cruise the dreaded M25 for the couple of days I am in the office.
Now this example I am looking at is over 100k miles but doesn't have any record of timing chain being changed; so obviously I am looking for quotes and first one I received from a well known indy was £3200 - which felt - excessive.
I am aware the engine is coming out but my Cayman has had a belt change and that was £800 add-on to a service.
Others dealers have quoted £1800 - £2400 - is this more realistic? Anyone had any experiences with this?
Appreciate it!
Lets not jump to conclusions with the chaingear. This is exactly the problem with internet misinformation.
Get it diagnosed with Laser tools 7034 first before wheeling the parts cannon out. https://www.lasertools.co.uk/items/pdf/products/70...
There was also an upper tensioner revision a few years ago, so chances are it will just need that and be on your way. Only abused/neglected N57s suffer from accelerated wear, which you would hope won't be the case with an Alpina.
If it does need doing, the entire engine and subframe can come down in less than 2 hours by competent and experience BMW techs.
Get it diagnosed with Laser tools 7034 first before wheeling the parts cannon out. https://www.lasertools.co.uk/items/pdf/products/70...
There was also an upper tensioner revision a few years ago, so chances are it will just need that and be on your way. Only abused/neglected N57s suffer from accelerated wear, which you would hope won't be the case with an Alpina.
If it does need doing, the entire engine and subframe can come down in less than 2 hours by competent and experience BMW techs.
mmm-five said:
Did they do the timing chain & tensioner pads on your Cayman, or just the serpentine accessory belts?
It's a lot more involved on the N57 engine, and whilst it can be done in situ (with the gearbox removed), some prefer to take the engine out to make the job easier (but longer).
Great question - don't know. It's a lot more involved on the N57 engine, and whilst it can be done in situ (with the gearbox removed), some prefer to take the engine out to make the job easier (but longer).
OPC confirmed 12 year belt change is due and I am on my way round to understand this etc.
rottenegg said:
Lets not jump to conclusions with the chaingear. This is exactly the problem with internet misinformation.
Get it diagnosed with Laser tools 7034 first before wheeling the parts cannon out. https://www.lasertools.co.uk/items/pdf/products/70...
There was also an upper tensioner revision a few years ago, so chances are it will just need that and be on your way. Only abused/neglected N57s suffer from accelerated wear, which you would hope won't be the case with an Alpina.
If it does need doing, the entire engine and subframe can come down in less than 2 hours by competent and experience BMW techs.
OK, so I have gotten quotes from three BMW specialist indies, various pricing. All confirmed all three belts etc. Get it diagnosed with Laser tools 7034 first before wheeling the parts cannon out. https://www.lasertools.co.uk/items/pdf/products/70...
There was also an upper tensioner revision a few years ago, so chances are it will just need that and be on your way. Only abused/neglected N57s suffer from accelerated wear, which you would hope won't be the case with an Alpina.
If it does need doing, the entire engine and subframe can come down in less than 2 hours by competent and experience BMW techs.
Are you suggesting diagnosis with a tool first?
Swine Enthusiast said:
rottenegg said:
Lets not jump to conclusions with the chaingear. This is exactly the problem with internet misinformation.
Get it diagnosed with Laser tools 7034 first before wheeling the parts cannon out. https://www.lasertools.co.uk/items/pdf/products/70...
There was also an upper tensioner revision a few years ago, so chances are it will just need that and be on your way. Only abused/neglected N57s suffer from accelerated wear, which you would hope won't be the case with an Alpina.
If it does need doing, the entire engine and subframe can come down in less than 2 hours by competent and experience BMW techs.
OK, so I have gotten quotes from three BMW specialist indies, various pricing. All confirmed all three belts etc. Get it diagnosed with Laser tools 7034 first before wheeling the parts cannon out. https://www.lasertools.co.uk/items/pdf/products/70...
There was also an upper tensioner revision a few years ago, so chances are it will just need that and be on your way. Only abused/neglected N57s suffer from accelerated wear, which you would hope won't be the case with an Alpina.
If it does need doing, the entire engine and subframe can come down in less than 2 hours by competent and experience BMW techs.
Are you suggesting diagnosis with a tool first?
If the engine doesn't make a loud clattering noise from the back of the engine after a cold startup, there is no reason to believe the chains need doing.
The tool can be used to verify the chain tension is still within spec before spending £1000s needlessly.
If it is out of spec, choose an indie that has done the job several times and does it with the subframe lowering method as it's a lot easier and cheaper.
See if you can get https://www.bmrperformance.co.uk/m-power/ to do a pre-purchase inspection, they are Alpina indie specialists in Surrey.
Edited by Collectingbrass on Thursday 27th March 18:14
Collectingbrass said:
See if you can get https://www.bmrperformance.co.uk/m-power/ to do a pre-purchase inspection, they are Alpina indie specialists in Surrey.
They have come back with £2500 - but £1400 of that is labour cost at circa £150 per hour - does that sound reasonable?Edited by Collectingbrass on Thursday 27th March 18:14
I had an N47 diesel which are absolutely renowned for chain fails, the internet would have you believe it's inevitable.
But I had one with 106k miles and did 35k miles and it was fine, only had two owners from new, the last owner was retied and he knew the first owner. A big fat folder of receipts and service history.
My suspicion with a lot of these cars having failed chains is because they were lease and people clocked them. i.e. they purchased a cheap 5k miles a year deal, did 12-15k or whatever and clocked it back to 4.9k just before the MOT / Service.
You then have engines driving around on old oil, probably not being driven very mechanically sensitively because they're a lease car. The result of this abuse is felt by the 2nd, 3rd or 4th owner when it hits 100k on the odometer but the reality is it's probably done 130-150k. The N47 engines also used the newer oils which were supposed to last longer and had 2 year / 20k mile service windows, this was BS if you ask me. Not sure if that's the case for N57 engines.
The pricing to replace the N47 on E90 was c£1.2k at an independent. £3k does sound toppy, perhaps more involved in the F10 / N57.
But I had one with 106k miles and did 35k miles and it was fine, only had two owners from new, the last owner was retied and he knew the first owner. A big fat folder of receipts and service history.
My suspicion with a lot of these cars having failed chains is because they were lease and people clocked them. i.e. they purchased a cheap 5k miles a year deal, did 12-15k or whatever and clocked it back to 4.9k just before the MOT / Service.
You then have engines driving around on old oil, probably not being driven very mechanically sensitively because they're a lease car. The result of this abuse is felt by the 2nd, 3rd or 4th owner when it hits 100k on the odometer but the reality is it's probably done 130-150k. The N47 engines also used the newer oils which were supposed to last longer and had 2 year / 20k mile service windows, this was BS if you ask me. Not sure if that's the case for N57 engines.
The pricing to replace the N47 on E90 was c£1.2k at an independent. £3k does sound toppy, perhaps more involved in the F10 / N57.
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff