[chrisbmwcy]

Please report your year and milage and if you had any issues witht he known TIMING CHAIN on the N47 engine.

Lets see how long the N47D20 can last without Time Chain failing.

1. Mine is 7/2007 with 97.000 miles on mine and there is little noise on the timing chain.

[320dchris]

I have a 2008 with 120.000 miles on it, chain is making a ticking noise on start up!

[chrisbmwcy]

Originally Posted by 320dchris

I have a 2008 with 120.000 miles on it, chain is making a ticking noise on start up!

How long you had it for?

Mine does exactly the same thing on startup.

Only when its cold start. And the noise only lasts 1 to 1.5 seconds. Then it totally goes away.

I took it to my BMW Specialist - Mechanic and he said that my engine sounds fine. He also said that they have fixed already 2 cases. One 120d with only 17.000 o clock and one 320d, and mine does not sound like them. It was night and in a hurry when they checked it and i will take it again to check in a couple of weeks when i will do an oil service.

This did not appear now. I had it since i got the car more than a year ago and never noticed it untill i read some posts.

[320dchris]

Originally Posted by chrisbmwcy

How long you had it for?

Mine does exactly the same thing on startup.

Only when its cold start. And the noise only lasts 1 to 1.5 seconds. Then it totally goes away.

I took it to my BMW Specialist - Mechanic and he said that my engine sounds fine. He also said that they have fixed already 2 cases. One 120d with only 17.000 o clock and one 320d, and mine does not sound like them. It was night and in a hurry when they checked it and i will take it again to check in a couple of weeks when i will do an oil service.

This did not appear now. I had it since i got the car more than a year ago and never noticed it untill i read some posts.

I have it sine summer last year got it with 98 k on the clock. If I had to relies all the faults that can occur with these crap engines I never would have bought it!

[chrisbmwcy]

I had an oil change yesterday and instructed my meachanic to to try and listen again if there is any sound from the timing chain.

He said that there is nothing wrong with my engine, it sounds healthy and there is no problem with the timing chain. He adviced me to take it out of my head this obsession with the timing chain!

[FNQ]

Mine was replaced at about 125,000 kilometres. I had regularly taken oil samples, all coming back indicating excessive wear for the life of the engine. The chain, sprockets and guides were replaced and no further noise. Nothing could be seen visually. The only thing we noticed was that one of the links felt a bit stiffer. Other than that all components looked like new.
. BMW paid for parts and I paid for labour.

[chrisbmwcy]

Originally Posted by FNQ

Mine was replaced at about 125,000 kilometres. I had regularly taken oil samples, all coming back indicating excessive wear for the life of the engine. The chain, sprockets and guides were replaced and no further noise. Nothing could be seen visually. The only thing we noticed was that one of the links felt a bit stiffer. Other than that all components looked like new.
. BMW paid for parts and I paid for labour.

Is the noise totally gone?
What year is yours?

[320dchris]

Mine broke yesterday! It's going to cost 4500 to fix! Good eingne BMW!!!!!

[chrisbmwcy]

Originally Posted by 320dchris

Mine broke yesterday! It's going to cost 4500 to fix! Good eingne BMW!!!!!

Wow!

Already?

Sorry to hear that.

I need to get mine checked again from somebody else for a second opinion to prevent this from happening.

So it happened around 130.000 miles?

[chrisbmwcy]

Even a 2012 f30 N47 316d sounds like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEYSUZcO6WY

Is this noise normal?

Isnt supposed the new N47 engines to have already solved this issue? I am confused.

[chrisbmwcy]

Originally Posted by 320dchris

Mine broke yesterday! It's going to cost 4500 to fix! Good eingne BMW!!!!!

Sign this petition.

You might get something out of it.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/BMW_N47_engine_recall/?cMogJcb

[320dchris]

Originally Posted by chrisbmwcy

Wow!

Already?

Sorry to hear that.

I need to get mine checked again from somebody else for a second opinion to prevent this from happening.

So it happened around 130.000 miles?

Yeah at 130 I'm sick was on the motorway doing 120km and bang engine dead!

petition singed don't think it'll make any difference though!

[chrisbmwcy]

I just had it inspected today after work and here is a video with sound.
http://youtu.be/CMfPH9feHZw

Its from another BMW specialist and he said there is sign of the timing chain but its not critical and it can wait a few more miles. the sound of the chain is only noticeable once you go and right below the back of the engine.

I am now waiting for a quote and probably i will do it in the future.

[Gyrro]

Hey guys, a newbie in this N47 world...


Just purchased a 320D with this engine, to get me to know of this problem just after I got the car - now I am driving one ear on the dashboard, other wherever... it is just like Chris said, an obsession
Mine has covered 107 000 kms and I believe there is hardly noticeable noise from the timing chain! BMW guy who had it inspected (changing oils, filters, belts after I purchased it) said all is fine and there isn't any noises from the chain, but I believe there is... now time will show if it worsens

I still can not really figure out if all engines build in between 2007-2011 have the issue, or is it valid for certain range of chassis (VIN's) only?

I will keep you all posted how "my noise" progresses...

All the best!

[chrisbmwcy]

Originally Posted by Gyrro

Hey guys, a newbie in this N47 world...


Just purchased a 320D with this engine, to get me to know of this problem just after I got the car - now I am driving one ear on the dashboard, other wherever... it is just like Chris said, an obsession
Mine has covered 107 000 kms and I believe there is hardly noticeable noise from the timing chain! BMW guy who had it inspected (changing oils, filters, belts after I purchased it) said all is fine and there isn't any noises from the chain, but I believe there is... now time will show if it worsens

I still can not really figure out if all engines build in between 2007-2011 have the issue, or is it valid for certain range of chassis (VIN's) only?

I will keep you all posted how "my noise" progresses...

All the best!

Mine got worse after a few months.

Now i booked my garage to change it. Waiting for the parts to arrive. This problem is even on the new 2012 and 2013 engines as i got informed.

Hopefully it will get fixed on mine soon.

Chris

[Gyrro]

Originally Posted by chrisbmwcy

Mine got worse after a few months.

Now i booked my garage to change it. Waiting for the parts to arrive. This problem is even on the new 2012 and 2013 engines as i got informed.

Hopefully it will get fixed on mine soon.

Chris

Hi Chris,

Can you post a short clip to see how it sounds now? I still wonder how bad is mine?

Are you changing the crank as well? Or only sprockets, chains and guides? Did you manage to convince BMW to pay parts, as FNQ said above?

Your feedback will be much appreciated!

[Gyrro]

Originally Posted by FNQ

Mine was replaced at about 125,000 kilometres. I had regularly taken oil samples, all coming back indicating excessive wear for the life of the engine. The chain, sprockets and guides were replaced and no further noise. Nothing could be seen visually. The only thing we noticed was that one of the links felt a bit stiffer. Other than that all components looked like new.
. BMW paid for parts and I paid for labour.

Hey, FNQ

How is your cars after the chain change?I DO hope all is fine. How many kms after the servicing?

I am interested as I have heard of cases when the chain is destroyed in 30-40K kms after the servicing (hope this is not the case)

How did you convince BMW to pay for the parts? What year is your car? Crank not changed?

Thanks for your feedback.

[chrisbmwcy]

Originally Posted by Gyrro

Hi Chris,

Can you post a short clip to see how it sounds now? I still wonder how bad is mine?

Are you changing the crank as well? Or only sprockets, chains and guides? Did you manage to convince BMW to pay parts, as FNQ said above?

Your feedback will be much appreciated!

Will be changing everything, but not the Crank (its not necessarry).

Then fingers crossed that is going to last..

I will post a video when I get a chance to take one.

Chris

[Gyrro]

Originally Posted by chrisbmwcy

Will be changing everything, but not the Crank (its not necessarry).

Then fingers crossed that is going to last..

I will post a video when I get a chance to take one.

Chris

Hi, Chris! I will keep my fingers crossed that all goes well with you...

What is on the odometer now, before the chain servicing? What is the bill estimated to be? Are you doing this in official BMW service or no? Any

P.S. Video is no rush! Just if you have the chance!

Good luck with all, mate!

These are good cars otherwise! I quite enjoyed this weekend driving and traveling with the E90...

Gancho

[chrisbmwcy]

The work had been done.

The guides where broken and it was a matter of hours to have a catastrophic failure.

My very skilled Bmw specialist managed to replace the chains guides tensioners spockets and now the engine runs and sounds like new.

I couldnt be happier with the result. And the best of all it was not necessarry to take the engine completely out but the work was undertaken by removing gearbox exausts top engine cover camshafts and by lowering the engine and working from underneith and top of the car.

The milage is 100.500miles.

[amc440013]

Mine is a 2007, '57 320D SE (177BHP) Touring with the doomed N47 engine..

I was driving on the M40 on Tuesday in the fast lane when the engine suddenly lost power - luckily I was able to coast it onto the hard shoulder.. Turns out the timing chain has snapped.

It has quite a high mileage of 153,000 miles but has always been serviced at an official BMW garage.

I contacted BMW today who advised they would need to 'diagnose' the issue and they may well offer a goodwill payment. They seemed quite helpful but I don't hold out much hope because of the mileage (although it is a common fault and in theory - the timing chain should last a lifetime.

I obviously have to pay for BMW to diagnose the problem, but I'm worried they're going to just turn around and say they can't cover any of the cost because of the mileage.. (As they could tell me this before me shelling out for the diagnosis).. Has anyone else had any experience of this, or does anyone know whether they would consider a goodwill payment with such a high mileage?

If they aren't going to pay, I'd rather take it to a specialist for a rebuild as they are much much cheaper, but as the car has never been serviced outside the official network, I don't want this to harm my case just yet..

Any help, or advice would be much appreciated.

[chrisbmwcy]

Try and claim as much as possible from BMW as you kept loyalty with the official service and it should now pay back. Of course you are gonna get goodwill and you make sure you claim as much as possible before you start looking for a cheaper alternative.