Highest mileage N47 2.0d on original chain?
Discussion
There are no set mileages with the chain. It will need doing when it needs doing. Listen out for the tell tale rattling at idle.
The 190K examples, if still on the original chain, probably had <6K interim oil changes.
N47/57 uses a roller chain which is much more robust than a link chain when it comes to diesels, but too much soot in the oil acts like a grinding paste none the less, so ignoring the stupid 18K/2 year standard time/distance interval is key to long life.
If in doubt, buy a lower mileage one and keep on top of the maintenance. Or if the budget can stretch to it, the N57 is less prone to chain wear as the engine is more balanced. Less snatching on the chain between firing intervals.
The 190K examples, if still on the original chain, probably had <6K interim oil changes.
N47/57 uses a roller chain which is much more robust than a link chain when it comes to diesels, but too much soot in the oil acts like a grinding paste none the less, so ignoring the stupid 18K/2 year standard time/distance interval is key to long life.
If in doubt, buy a lower mileage one and keep on top of the maintenance. Or if the budget can stretch to it, the N57 is less prone to chain wear as the engine is more balanced. Less snatching on the chain between firing intervals.
S8QUATTRO said:
What kinda miles have owners got to before changing the timing chain?
I see lots of 190k plus 520d’s for sale and they seem good value.
If serviced every 10k, do all of these engines need a chain change?
My pals E92 320D M47 has done 216k miles on its original chain. His F31 320D has done close to 170k miles now, on its original engine. He changes the oil every 6months without failure. He does a lot of driving too and from Lancashire to Mid-Southern Germany & back…I see lots of 190k plus 520d’s for sale and they seem good value.
If serviced every 10k, do all of these engines need a chain change?
As said, oil changes are key as is being mechanically sympathetic to the engine/car…
Another pals daily is a 120d and that had the chains done at ACD in Manchester at 165k miles and it was still running fine, but got it done as he was having them remap it and sort the EGR/DPF too. They do work for each other, so it was at mates rates at £1k all in!
S8QUATTRO said:
Could be a small percentage of cars affected then if looked after well
It is...But it's the bad stories you hear, not the positive ones!
There are so many 4 pot BMW engines out there on high miles because they've been looked after & maintained well etc
But bad stories make the rounds
Don't believe all the bad hype you readThey don't all break.
But, they are far more prone than both the M47 before it and the B47 afterwards. It's certainly a common problem. About two years ago I went to a BMW place in Sheffield (Quarry Motors) to collect a gearbox and I got chatting to one of the techs. There were at least four broken N47's on the workshop floor (apparently they do one or two a week) and a skip full of buggered BMW engines, mainly N47's and the horrible 4 cyl petrols.
Regular oil changes are the key but these are getting on in years and how many have been maintained properly? I change the oil and filter every 7000 miles because oil is cheap - most owners can't be bothered alas.
But, they are far more prone than both the M47 before it and the B47 afterwards. It's certainly a common problem. About two years ago I went to a BMW place in Sheffield (Quarry Motors) to collect a gearbox and I got chatting to one of the techs. There were at least four broken N47's on the workshop floor (apparently they do one or two a week) and a skip full of buggered BMW engines, mainly N47's and the horrible 4 cyl petrols.
Regular oil changes are the key but these are getting on in years and how many have been maintained properly? I change the oil and filter every 7000 miles because oil is cheap - most owners can't be bothered alas.
My 2007 320d snapped its chain on 150k. The chain gave up on the motorway cruising at about 75mph.
There was no damage to the engine other than the snapped chain, so with a new chain and tensioners it worked perfectly again until I sold it
Then my previous car, now owned by a friend, a 2008 118d is still on its original chain at 245k miles
There was no damage to the engine other than the snapped chain, so with a new chain and tensioners it worked perfectly again until I sold it
Then my previous car, now owned by a friend, a 2008 118d is still on its original chain at 245k miles
I-am-the-reverend said:
They don't all break.
But, they are far more prone than both the M47 before it and the B47 afterwards. It's certainly a common problem. About two years ago I went to a BMW place in Sheffield (Quarry Motors) to collect a gearbox and I got chatting to one of the techs. There were at least four broken N47's on the workshop floor (apparently they do one or two a week) and a skip full of buggered BMW engines, mainly N47's and the horrible 4 cyl petrols.
Regular oil changes are the key but these are getting on in years and how many have been maintained properly? I change the oil and filter every 7000 miles because oil is cheap - most owners can't be bothered alas.
This ^ But, they are far more prone than both the M47 before it and the B47 afterwards. It's certainly a common problem. About two years ago I went to a BMW place in Sheffield (Quarry Motors) to collect a gearbox and I got chatting to one of the techs. There were at least four broken N47's on the workshop floor (apparently they do one or two a week) and a skip full of buggered BMW engines, mainly N47's and the horrible 4 cyl petrols.
Regular oil changes are the key but these are getting on in years and how many have been maintained properly? I change the oil and filter every 7000 miles because oil is cheap - most owners can't be bothered alas.
the N47 is more prone to chain woes no doubt about that but the owner can offset the risks .......... A Lot , I get fed up with telling owners this but in IME many owners dont deserve cars anyway so ....... 
an opinion from too many years in the trade sadly (lifestyle/priority changes whatever) more so in the last 20 years they dont even lift the bonnet Edited by Sardonicus on Tuesday 18th July 10:45
My 2012 F11 was pxd against a G31 having survived 200K miles on its original chain with just the standard 20K or 2 year oil changes. The chain was inspected at about 110k when the DMF was replaced and was fine. The chains were given a redesign post 2010 (?) which was supposed to greatly improve things and my independent that serviced my car said they didn't see many failures especially post 2010.
That said I'm a bit of a sucker for cars with chain issues. I had an X100 XKR 98 which had its chains done twice in its 145k life although as PM rather than failure and I now have an X150 XKR on 150k miles still as far as I know on original chains.
That said I'm a bit of a sucker for cars with chain issues. I had an X100 XKR 98 which had its chains done twice in its 145k life although as PM rather than failure and I now have an X150 XKR on 150k miles still as far as I know on original chains.
Hello, mine's on 223,000 miles and still going strong on original chain. Serviced by myself every 8k miles or 12 months. No flushes, no additives, just good quality oil and filter.
Only issues I had with the car so far are:
180k Clutch & Flywheel gone
210k crankshaft pulley snapped
215k AC condenser needed replacement
220k Alternator failed
some cosmetic issues fixed: driver side inner door handle melted off, handbrake cover cracked, air vents snapped etc.
Overall, I'll try to drive this car until something major happens, I thought about getting timing chain done as a precaution, but it appears a replacement second hand engine costs the same, so why not keep driving and if chain snaps one day, I'll get someone to fit a rebuilt engine.
Only issues I had with the car so far are:
180k Clutch & Flywheel gone
210k crankshaft pulley snapped
215k AC condenser needed replacement
220k Alternator failed
some cosmetic issues fixed: driver side inner door handle melted off, handbrake cover cracked, air vents snapped etc.
Overall, I'll try to drive this car until something major happens, I thought about getting timing chain done as a precaution, but it appears a replacement second hand engine costs the same, so why not keep driving and if chain snaps one day, I'll get someone to fit a rebuilt engine.
amalik123 said:
Hello, mine's on 223,000 miles and still going strong on original chain. Serviced by myself every 8k miles or 12 months. No flushes, no additives, just good quality oil and filter.
Only issues I had with the car so far are:
180k Clutch & Flywheel gone
210k crankshaft pulley snapped
215k AC condenser needed replacement
220k Alternator failed
some cosmetic issues fixed: driver side inner door handle melted off, handbrake cover cracked, air vents snapped etc.
Overall, I'll try to drive this car until something major happens, I thought about getting timing chain done as a precaution, but it appears a replacement second hand engine costs the same, so why not keep driving and if chain snaps one day, I'll get someone to fit a rebuilt engine.
That's bloody good going Only issues I had with the car so far are:
180k Clutch & Flywheel gone
210k crankshaft pulley snapped
215k AC condenser needed replacement
220k Alternator failed
some cosmetic issues fixed: driver side inner door handle melted off, handbrake cover cracked, air vents snapped etc.
Overall, I'll try to drive this car until something major happens, I thought about getting timing chain done as a precaution, but it appears a replacement second hand engine costs the same, so why not keep driving and if chain snaps one day, I'll get someone to fit a rebuilt engine.
My pal's Chris's F31 320D is now on nearly 200k miles now and it'll be over that when he comes back to Lancashire from mid Germany next month. His E92 320D hasn't moved as it blew its diff and he's simply not sorted it; so he'll get it fixed next month and pop it onto eBay to sell
I had mine changed under a quality enhancement, not a full recall. I do wonder how many of the higher mileage engines have had a new chain.
My 123d was done free of charge by Soper bmw under the QE. When I sold it (130k miles it was still going strong) but there was no paperwork supplied. It just went in. 2 weeks later I got it back.
My 123d was done free of charge by Soper bmw under the QE. When I sold it (130k miles it was still going strong) but there was no paperwork supplied. It just went in. 2 weeks later I got it back.
Not the original chain, but my 520d is currently on 252k.
I purchased it on 200k and decided to do the chain for peace of mind, it had been done before but had no log of the mileage.
Think the main killer for these engines is the EGR causing oil degradation.
The EGR was already removed on mine prior to purchasing, I change the oil every 7k and the inside of the engine is squeaky clean.
I purchased it on 200k and decided to do the chain for peace of mind, it had been done before but had no log of the mileage.
Think the main killer for these engines is the EGR causing oil degradation.
The EGR was already removed on mine prior to purchasing, I change the oil every 7k and the inside of the engine is squeaky clean.
amalik123 said:
Hello, mine's on 223,000 miles and still going strong on original chain. Serviced by myself every 8k miles or 12 months. No flushes, no additives, just good quality oil and filter.
That has all an awful lot to do with it, across the board, not just BMWs.Given how cheap oil is, it does no harm what so ever changing it way more frequently than specified.
What does remain a mystery though is how some neglected cars seem to get away with it, and some pampered cars still reward their owners' diligence with chain snappage regardless
Could just be inconsistent parts quality.rottenegg said:
Could just be inconsistent parts quality.
Very likely.For example, BMW have different suppliers for bearings - wheel bearings, diff bearings etc. Some are quite good (INA, FAG) and some are absolute s
t such as Koyo. Regardless of the name on the part, it's unlikely they were all made in the same factory. I've seen chains absolutely knackered at under 70,000 miles and it can't all be due to use/servicing.
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