[bigbeemer]

Hi, I have read many articles on here about issues with the 177 BHP 320d, are these problems still on the 184 bhp? i am buying a e92 with 19k on the clock i wonder what horrors ahead?

[rich1068]

Barely run in. Just make sure it's got history. My 320d just got better and better until it went back at around 12k.

[magic77]

Sorry to sound daft what kind of things have you read about the 177 engine. Mine is up to 46K with the Performance Pack and nothing major to report

[bigbeemer]

I read turbo failures etc.

Originally Posted by magic77

Sorry to sound daft what kind of things have you read about the 177 engine. Mine is up to 46K with the Performance Pack and nothing major to report

[AdrianSi]

Timing chain failure is a major failure of the N47 engine. Most BMW Indys will tell you this. Last week my local indy had an 08 plate 1 series with a snapped chain (smashed engine) and just finished a rebuild on a 520d too. Watch out for a rattle on idle that doesnt clear until after 2000rpm or so.

[magic77]

hmm thanks might carry the warranty on then with BMW in this case, then.

Anyone seen any youtube clips that ilustrate the rattle. Youd hope an 09 be ok plan to keep it until F30 LCI or 2 series are out so couple more years

[IanS100]

Originally Posted by rich1068

Barely run in. Just make sure it's got history. My 320d just got better and better until it went back at around 12k.

I bought my 184 with about 9k miles on the clock & have done another 10k & like Rich, it gets quicker & smoother as the miles go on, the first owner really missed out doing the first 9k before getting rid.

[MEGA]

Why do people keep getting the 164 and the 177 mixed up.

The post 57 plate 177bhp 320d with the Garret turbo is bullet proof from a turbo perspective. Just listen out for rattles due to the cam chain or get it changed every 50k if you are paranoid.

The 164bhp 2005-2007 320d has a small number of turbo failures, but not a terrifyingly high amount. This was the weaker Mitsubishi turbo also used in the E46 320d which suffered from the same thing.


The only issue with the 184 is that it can't be mapped without removing the ECU. Makes the remap process quite expensive, should that be a factor.

[magic77]

Thats what I thought still tempted by Jasons offer come spring get more juice out of thecar

[AdrianSi]

Originally Posted by MEGA

The post 57 plate 177bhp 320d with the Garret turbo is bullet proof from a turbo perspective. Just listen out for rattles due to the cam chain or get it changed every 50k if you are paranoid.

The issue with this is the cost... Due to its location this is an engine out job. I tallied up the proforma for my warranty dealer repair and it was in the region of £3000! That is without a service if you want to change the oil at the same time, else they'll just put your old stuff back in.

[DexGC]

[QUOTE=IanS100]

Originally Posted by rich1068

Barely run in. Just make sure it's got history. My 320d just got better and better until it went back at around 12k.

Same for me, my 184 has done 27k and gets smoother and feels quicker the more miles it does. No issues at all with mine so far (touch wood!)

[MEGA]

Originally Posted by AdrianSi

The issue with this is the cost... Due to its location this is an engine out job. I tallied up the proforma for my warranty dealer repair and it was in the region of £3000! That is without a service if you want to change the oil at the same time, else they'll just put your old stuff back in.

OUCH!

I must admit I didn't realise the expense was that much.

I still would have thought that an independant would be able to get it done for at most about a third of that. If the amount on the warranty invoice is X, almost halve that for a normal customer bill IMHO (Maybe that's too extreme, but we know an invoice to insurance is always somewhat inflated .. ) and then take into consideration the 140/h labour that could be 50-60 at most independantly.

Still. Ouch.

But I'd rather have a chain go than a turbo spit it's internals into the block, in terms of an expense without warranty. 164 > 177 for sure.

I've also seen upteen topics about the 164 turbo issues and this is almost the first I've heard of the timing thing. Surely a pretty rare occurance then ?

[AdrianSi]

Originally Posted by MEGA

OUCH!

I must admit I didn't realise the expense was that much.

I still would have thought that an independant would be able to get it done for at most about a third of that. If the amount on the warranty invoice is X, almost halve that for a normal customer bill IMHO (Maybe that's too extreme, but we know an invoice to insurance is always somewhat inflated .. ) and then take into consideration the 140/h labour that could be 50-60 at most independantly.

Still. Ouch.

But I'd rather have a chain go than a turbo spit it's internals into the block, in terms of an expense without warranty. 164 > 177 for sure.

I've also seen upteen topics about the 164 turbo issues and this is almost the first I've heard of the timing thing. Surely a pretty rare occurance then ?

The invoice was for £zero but I used online catalogues to try and calculate it at retail prices. Trouble is if a chain goes then it can be as terminal as a turbo failure. If you're lucky it will just bend the valves...if you are unlucky the valve heads snap off and then you're into piston and bore damage. There is no way that the chains (all 3 of them!) should require any work during the normal lifecylce of the engine...else they wouldn't have chose its location to be as it is. Looking at online catalogues there is a new part no for the chains but not for the guides. Maybe out of date catalogues.

I guess there isn't really a lesser of the 2 evils here... However there is this forum atleast to read and try and be aware of the shortcomings of the various engines