[320dchris]

Hi guys the timing chain has broken at 120k on my 2008 320d!
I'm being quoted €4500 to fix it.
It needs a new engine has anyone ever gotten anywhere going after BMW for this known fault?
Any advice would be helpful!

Thanks
Chris

[xenon]

If it has a full BMW service history you might get something because it should have been inspected at around 90000 and changed if required. No FBMWSH I'd say no chance.

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by 320dchris

Hi guys the timing chain has broken at 120k on my 2008 320d!
I'm being quoted €4500 to fix it.
It needs a new engine has anyone ever gotten anywhere going after BMW for this known fault?
Any advice would be helpful!

Thanks
Chris

Did you get any warning signs / noises from the engine? Any rattles from the chain before it snap?

[320dchris]

I had a slight tick when starting it cold that's it! Was Running fine!

[cyrano]

In my sec car, 318d timing chain produces noise for about 50k mls now and still nothing Its rulette - since almost every n47 have timing chain noise even f30 and f10 i assume its just normal and need to live with it.

My friend replace engine for n47d20C from X1 20d after rearended ( engine with replace cost him about 2000pounds LOL ) but after 20k mls again timing chain noise.

[CarAbuser]

I've got the same ticking noise on mine, started at 50k miles.

I think a lot of 20d engines have it, just most people don't notice it as diesels are noisy beasts.

I was told it would cost about £600 to replace the guide and chain. Decided to just risk it for now and not hold into the car past 80k.

[320dchris]

So my only option is to put a 6 cylinder in it ;-) I'm shocked my chain lasted until 120k but it's still sicking having to pay out that much money!

[cyrano]

Putting 6pot there will be pricy as hell, but consider putting 2.0bi-turbo from 1er or Alpina , you left everything stocku just replace engine module plus whole motor

[shortie]

So the 320i is being sold back to the dealer next week, i was looking for a 320d but now i do not think i want one of them either.

So much for BMW's quality motors!!! lol

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by shortie

So the 320i is being sold back to the dealer next week, i was looking for a 320d but now i do not think i want one of them either.

So much for BMW's quality motors!!! lol

Go for 330D. They are bullet proof.

[marklemac]

MY 123d 2 weeks ago started rattling at 52k so I chopped it in for a 335d

[savgeax]

I bought a 520d with a ticking sound. Done 15k then did research and knew it was the timing chain. Took out a bmw warranty, 1month later walked into bmw and got it all done on warranty.

Dealer said they never heard of the problem before and never taken out a 5 series engine before!!!!!

[shortie]

Originally Posted by makkan00

Go for 330D. They are bullet proof.

Does the 330d not suffer with the timing chain issues? What problems does it have?

Is the 325d the same engine as the 330d but just detuned?

Originally Posted by savgeax

I bought a 520d with a ticking sound. Done 15k then did research and knew it was the timing chain. Took out a bmw warranty, 1month later walked into bmw and got it all done on warranty.

Dealer said they never heard of the problem before and never taken out a 5 series engine before!!!!!

Glad you got it sorted reasonably cheaply. Im surprised they had never heard of this problem lol. Then again, they denied all knowledge of BMW's being able to be stolen via the OBD port.

[AdrianSi]

Originally Posted by shortie

Does the 330d not suffer with the timing chain issues? What problems does it have?

Is the 325d the same engine as the 330d but just detuned?

See my N57 thread regarding the noisy chain:-

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=608330

The 330d engine change over from M57 to N57 is the at LCi introduction. For the 325d this differs. Lci 2008-2010 was still in majority the older M57 engine. 2010 saw the 325d got the N57.

The N57 engine shares engine components with the N47 engine, including the chains (all 3 of them) and the guides.

The official stance from BMW UK is that the guides only 'distort' and are not in actual fact wearing. I dont believe this for a slpit second. The rattle noise is due to slack in the chain and therefore must be rattling against something... i.e the guides! I had this lengthy argument as BMW UK refused to renew the engine oil as it wouldnt have been contaminated.

Mine was noisy at sub 60K... and with the amount of noise it was making i wouldnt have thought the engine would have saw 100K.

[shortie]

Originally Posted by AdrianSi

See my N57 thread regarding the noisy chain:-

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=608330

The 330d engine change over from M57 to N57 is the at LCi introduction. For the 325d this differs. Lci 2008-2010 was still in majority the older M57 engine. 2010 saw the 325d got the N57.

The N57 engine shares engine components with the N47 engine, including the chains (all 3 of them) and the guides.

The official stance from BMW UK is that the guides only 'distort' and are not in actual fact wearing. I dont believe this for a slpit second. The rattle noise is due to slack in the chain and therefore must be rattling against something... i.e the guides! I had this lengthy argument as BMW UK refused to renew the engine oil as it wouldnt have been contaminated.

Mine was noisy at sub 60K... and with the amount of noise it was making i wouldnt have thought the engine would have saw 100K.

See, that puts me off BMW even more at the moment, i want a car i can rely on. I understand turbo's / hoses / batteries / alternators etc etc wear and go but i dont want a car where i end up worrying about catastrophic engine failure / damage due to components failing.

I need to regain my faith lol

[AdrianSi]

I think i may have said in that thread that it's a bloody good job that it is such a great car to drive and the overall package/spec is so good, otherwise i would be really disappointed. And that it was in warranty! When I brought a 2.5yr old BMW, i didnt imagine for a minute that the engine and gearbox would need to come out of it for a timing chain repair!

I still love BMW products tho

[coopersim]

I read your post a couple of times, but couldn't work out if 325d's with M57N engines were affected?

[AdrianSi]

Nope the M57N wouldnt be effected as its a completely different engine design. The M57 is essentially the same as that fitted right back to the E46 330d but with revised inlet/swirl flaps etc. It has a front mounted timing chain, whereas the N57 has rear mounted timing chains (inbetween engine and gearbox).

I guess the idea of this is that the timing chain should last the life-time of the engine so being in this location shouldnt be an issue... however as i found out should you need to do any work on the chains, its an engine and gearbox out job!

M57 engine:-
http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1131056579

N57 engine:-
http://speedydaddy.com/wp-content/up...sel-Engine.jpg

Note front location of the timing chain on the m57 and differences in engine cover.

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by AdrianSi

See my N57 thread regarding the noisy chain:-

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=608330

The 330d engine change over from M57 to N57 is the at LCi introduction. For the 325d this differs. Lci 2008-2010 was still in majority the older M57 engine. 2010 saw the 325d got the N57.

The N57 engine shares engine components with the N47 engine, including the chains (all 3 of them) and the guides.

The official stance from BMW UK is that the guides only 'distort' and are not in actual fact wearing. I dont believe this for a slpit second. The rattle noise is due to slack in the chain and therefore must be rattling against something... i.e the guides! I had this lengthy argument as BMW UK refused to renew the engine oil as it wouldnt have been contaminated.

Mine was noisy at sub 60K... and with the amount of noise it was making i wouldnt have thought the engine would have saw 100K.

Thanks for sharing the link.
I always thought that 330d was bullet proof but that was not the case.
As shortie said, if you were to buy bmw 3 series, which one to buy?

[makkan00]

Originally Posted by shortie

See, that puts me off BMW even more at the moment, i want a car i can rely on. I understand turbo's / hoses / batteries / alternators etc etc wear and go but i dont want a car where i end up worrying about catastrophic engine failure / damage due to components failing.

I need to regain my faith lol

Shortie
I have been v lucky as my 320i has developed only one fault. And that was a sensor.
Other than that, I have changed few O rings,CCV and coolant for maintenance purposes.
I thought to buy 330d at some stage but clearly that is not as good as I thought.
335d comes with its own issues....

[coopersim]

Originally Posted by AdrianSi

Nope the M57N wouldnt ..........snip

Thanks for the info and useful links

[shortie]

Originally Posted by makkan00

As shortie said, if you were to buy bmw 3 series, which one to buy?

Thats my dilemma. Is there a BMW E9x series or E6x series between 2007 and 2010 that does not have serious issues????

Knowing all i do now, i am not sure if when spending my money, it is wise to stand by BMW???????????????????