2008 E87 Timing Chain warranty work?

[brian chim]

I'm sure its been mentioned over the years but the GF has a 2008 118d N47D20A with a rattling timing chain. We bought it in June last year and believe it has full BMW service history. The chain has started to rattle quite bad now and have phoned the local BMW dealer (Chester). I have asked if it is covered under a warranty repair but surprise surprise they wont commit to it. They have stated that if we put the car in for an exploratory inspection for £130 they will let us know the findings and if it is covered? Is this just a test to see if we take the chance? Surely they can tell me if its covered or not if that is the problem before I take it in.

My friend crashed his 1 series 2.5 years ago, a 57 plate M sport and while it was in getting the body work done they phoned and said they would rebuild the timing chain and any other warranty work they could do on it. He had new crank and pumps and chain. He hadn't had it serviced, never mind by BMW so they weren't bothered about service history etc. It had only 1 BMW service in 10 years and his Father in laws mate did the second service. He didn't even ask or know about any of this work they just sorted it out for him.

I am looking at doing the work myself if they don't do the work has anyone got a link to a "How To guide" that would help and maybe a list of parts please.

Many thanks Brian oh and the GF

[brian chim]

I don't think I will get it fixed under warranty and i understand that it is 11 years old. I've priced up doing the job myself as I'm competent to do this at around £300 inc a clutch and a days work but don't see why I have to. The thing is why did they do my mates and why charge me £130 to check this? All I asked was would it be covered under warranty with full BMW service history.

Its been in 2 months ago for a warranty job so they have shown willing to do a warranty job for free and there is enough documentation out there to prove that there is a fault and a safety issue. Its not my fault that we bought it with what was low mileage for a 118d at 100,000 and it now sits at 120,000 9 months later because she uses it for work.

[brian chim]

DailyHack said:

Wish I was competent to do an engine out cam chain replacement, like I said earlier I would get a second opinion on it, as it may not be the chain, there is lots of things that rattle on these engines, water pumps for one is a similar noise and sometimes misdiagnosed.

Its a good shout but the water pump is on the front of the engine and this is coming from the back by the gearbox. It doesn't change with depressing the clutch or not so it can only really be the timing chain. I could wait until May the 9th as my F30 is in for recall but worried it might give in by then.

Next question would be gearbox out or engine out? Have seen videos of people doing them with the engine in but think they were more the 3 and 5 series.

[brian chim]

My GF has just said to leave it till it dies and then we will buy a new car.

[brian chim]

Correct, just she drives 120 miles a day round trip sometimes across to the coast of wales and it won't be the best of places to snap a chain, but it's her decision.

[brian chim]

I've read somewhere that they designed the chain as a non service item so that it would last the lifetime of the car. That's why they put it to the back. They just put a crap chain on them, although I've. Done chains on most of my cars I've had from Japan imports to vw's.

[brian chim]

The chains do actually stretch too. I did my dad's vw polo last year and it was stretched a whole link when it was placed next to the new one. Kinda mad but explains how it was coming up with cam and crank sensor fault. These chains will all be the same crap.

[brian chim]

I did check when I bought the car and there was which it has been in for but they didn't tell us what it was they did. My misses asked for a break down of what they did which they said they would email it to her which they never did. I will have a look now.

No recall on the car now.

[brian chim]

One thing I have thought of is that the oil coolers seals went 2 months ago so I took the under tray off to clean it after I had done the seals but I've not put it back on. Wonder if the sound is louder with the cover off so making me think it's got worse. I only drive the car once or twice a month. My misses wouldn't notice a cow she had driven over under the car 😁.