bmw timing chain

[Ricardo Amaro]

Hi there mate!
I have a knocking timing chain on a bmw 123d coupe bi-turbo 204hp year 2008 with a N47 engine.
Do you have a video for sale with a full replacement of the timing chain kit?

Thank you!

Topic

[Chris]

I searched this term on You Tube. “Timing chain replacement BMW N47 engine” It looks like there might be a common problem with these timing chains. Sorry. IDK if Eric has a vid specific to your motor.

[Ricardo Amaro]

Hi there!

Yes, is a common problem. With less than 100k miles, is been changed 3 times!
Now is knocking again, and i would like to chang’it my self. I’ve changed many timing belts but never tryed chains! and in this particular engine we need to realy take of the engine to have acces to the chain. There is many info on web, but i cant find nothing about the points to block! (sorry my english is verry bad)

If i could have some info will apreciate!

Thanks

[Chris]

I understand. I have done a belt and a chain and they are substantially similar. Basically set TDC and don’t move the motor.
I think you suggested you have to pull the motor out of the car to get at the chain. If so the only thing I can think of, you will get other replies if they have more, is to find a Factory Service Manual or whatever BMW calls their service manual.

[Ricardo Amaro]

I have the service repair manul from haynes, but they dont show anything about the chain, because for bmw the chain is to last for life…ehehe liers. ehehe
I already have take of the motor and i will try to do it! hope everything will go fine!

Thanks for your time mate!

[Chris]

Haynes is a repair manual not a Service manual. It won;’t have the detail you are looking for to do the job. The factory service manual is what the dealer mechanics use. Even so the one for my Dodge does expect me to know somethings when it describes how to.
Good Luck.

[Bluesnut]

If you’re going through chains that fast the chains are not the problem. There’s another issue which is killing the chains.
It could be low oil pressure, engine sludging, or something along that line.

Chains are durable as long as they run in reasonably clean oii and with the correct pressure.

[Ricardo Amaro]

The problem is not the chain it self, is the tensioner that go off due a strange vibrations on the motor! Is a well known problem on N47 motors, and bmw just don’t care about! 🙁

[Chris]

Give this a watch. This poor victim has done some work to help everyone in getting BMW to correct the design flaw. Looks like the recall on the tensioner is a cop out by BMW to avoid taking responsibility for the design flaw. Here is the note under the vid
“Published on Jul 23, 2015
The timing chain design fault on the BMW N47 diesel engine whereby the teeth on the camshaft sprocket are excessively sharp and eventually cause the chain to snap. The damage to the engine runs to thousands of pounds and it’s everybody’s fault but BMW.”

[Author]

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