GUTTED! 320d timing chain rattle

325sport · 11-10-2011, 10:49 AM

Just had some very bad news my 2007 320d coupe has developed a rattle from timing chain.

BMW in their wisdom have put this at the back of the engine, so its an engine out job (£3000-4000 takes a deep breath). Unless anyone knows otherwise.

Have done some quick searches which suggest this may be a design flaw in this engine.

Anyone else had this problem, if so let me know as I am going to speak to BMW UK regarding the reliabilty of their German engineering and their design philosophy!

Tipper · 11-10-2011, 03:09 PM

Are you sure he said at the back of the engine? They're usually at the front.

AdrianSi · 11-10-2011, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tipper

Are you sure he said at the back of the engine? They're usually at the front.

Not on the N47 & N57 engine, which i assume your 2007 has? My N57 has just been in for this work but under warranty. Try for a BMW goodwill as this is a manufacturing failure, and the chain guides (upper and lower) have been modified. The earlier N47 & N57's seem to be effected by this fault. Mine got noisy around the 57,000miles region.

325sport · 11-11-2011, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdrianSi

Not on the N47 & N57 engine, which i assume your 2007 has? My N57 has just been in for this work but under warranty. Try for a BMW goodwill as this is a manufacturing failure, and the chain guides (upper and lower) have been modified. The earlier N47 & N57's seem to be effected by this fault. Mine got noisy around the 57,000miles region.

Gonna speak to them tomorrow, but dont hold out alot of hope

sergiompais · 11-12-2011, 06:44 PM

i just serviced my e81 for because of that noise...
although the noise wasn't very audible, i've been warned about the dangers of this issue. Chains get worn and the tensioners go over their limit leading to timing fault and bent valves; since the tension of the chains are not correct, they will rattle on the chain guides causing an annoying noise that seems like a 1000000km engine working...

I advise you to replace every chain (3), sprocket (3), chain guides (4) and chain tensioners (2)

it's almost two days of work because you need to take your engine out of the car and you need special tools to put the engine to the correct timing. When you start the car after the job is done, you may think that there's a new engine because of its renewed softness.

m1bjr · 11-13-2011, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 325sport

Just had some very bad news my 2007 320d coupe has developed a rattle from timing chain.

BMW in their wisdom have put this at the back of the engine, so its an engine out job (£3000-4000 takes a deep breath). Unless anyone knows otherwise.

Have done some quick searches which suggest this may be a design flaw in this engine.

Anyone else had this problem, if so let me know as I am going to speak to BMW UK regarding the reliabilty of their German engineering and their design philosophy!

The car is worth maybe £10k?

I wouldn't bother fixing it.
And opting instead for a good engine from a breakers at half the cost.

325sport · 11-14-2011, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m1bjr

The car is worth maybe £10k?

I wouldn't bother fixing it.
And opting instead for a good engine from a breakers at half the cost.

Have considered this but replacement engine is £2000, and only guaranteed for 6 months, no guarantee it does not have same problem

m1bjr · 11-14-2011, 03:31 PM

Buy a waranty ..... wait a few weeks....

marcenick · 01-14-2012, 01:50 AM

more info: (spanish)

http://www.bmwfaq.com/f151/nuevos-ca...guenal-578548/

phil200tdi · 01-14-2012, 03:00 AM

Trade it in without doing the work..

doughboy · 01-14-2012, 04:38 PM

If its out of warranty then don't take it to bmw!!!!

A good indy will do it for a fraction of that.

The indy I use does 335i engine out, turbos replaced and engine back in for 12 hrs labour, so about £600 plus vat and parts.

Its easier to drop out a 320d motor than a 335i, so shop around.

11-10-2011, 10:49 AM	#1
325sport New Member 2 Rep 25 Posts Drives: BMW 320d Msport coupe Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0) Garage List 2000 Porsche 996 turbo [0.00] 2007 BMW 320d Msport [0.00]	GUTTED! 320d timing chain rattle Just had some very bad news my 2007 320d coupe has developed a rattle from timing chain. BMW in their wisdom have put this at the back of the engine, so its an engine out job (£3000-4000 takes a deep breath). Unless anyone knows otherwise. Have done some quick searches which suggest this may be a design flaw in this engine. Anyone else had this problem, if so let me know as I am going to speak to BMW UK regarding the reliabilty of their German engineering and their design philosophy!
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11-10-2011, 03:09 PM	#2
Tipper Private First Class 9 Rep 127 Posts Drives: 2007 E91 320d SE auto Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Devon, UK iTrader: (0)	Are you sure he said at the back of the engine? They're usually at the front.
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11-12-2011, 06:44 PM	#5
sergiompais New Member 3 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 120d M Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Portugal iTrader: (0)	i just serviced my e81 for because of that noise... although the noise wasn't very audible, i've been warned about the dangers of this issue. Chains get worn and the tensioners go over their limit leading to timing fault and bent valves; since the tension of the chains are not correct, they will rattle on the chain guides causing an annoying noise that seems like a 1000000km engine working... I advise you to replace every chain (3), sprocket (3), chain guides (4) and chain tensioners (2) it's almost two days of work because you need to take your engine out of the car and you need special tools to put the engine to the correct timing. When you start the car after the job is done, you may think that there's a new engine because of its renewed softness.
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11-14-2011, 03:31 PM	#8
m1bjr LSD - No, you're not seeing things 72 Rep 3,302 Posts Drives: Baby F36 Gran Coupe Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Plymouth UK iTrader: (4)	Buy a waranty ..... wait a few weeks.... __________________
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01-14-2012, 01:50 AM	#9
marcenick New Member 0 Rep 15 Posts Drives: e90 Alpinweiss Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Madrid, Spain iTrader: (0)	more info: (spanish) http://www.bmwfaq.com/f151/nuevos-ca...guenal-578548/
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01-14-2012, 03:00 AM	#10
phil200tdi Colonel 112 Rep 2,621 Posts Drives: 335i M Sport E90 LCI manual Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Aylesbury iTrader: (1)	Trade it in without doing the work.. __________________ Car: e91 330d with Viezu map Gone but not forgotten: 2010 Jaguar XFR (Cat-back exhaust, pulley, intake mods and map), Highly Modified E90 335i LCI M Sport Manual (circa 480BHP/500lb ft)
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01-14-2012, 04:38 PM	#11
doughboy Major General 1545 Rep 8,970 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Comp 6MT Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (2)	If its out of warranty then don't take it to bmw!!!! A good indy will do it for a fraction of that. The indy I use does 335i engine out, turbos replaced and engine back in for 12 hrs labour, so about £600 plus vat and parts. Its easier to drop out a 320d motor than a 335i, so shop around.
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