nick46

Hi all. Due to the fact that my mrs Mk1 focus is broken at the minute (see my thread 'Mk1 Focus starting problem' - which will be updated when we actually know what the fault is!), and is now getting a bit long in the tooth, we are thinking of replacing it. She likes the BMW 1 series, so that is what I have been looking in to. Our budget is gonna be 5K tops so for that kind of money we are looking at cars with a few miles on them.
Now, I've just been reading about timing chain failures on cars fitted with the N47 engine, which came into production in March 2007. Has anyone had any experience of this, and does anyone know how many engines have failed.
I have been looking at cars around 2007 - 2008, but with our budget we're looking at something with around 100k on the clock which after reading about the timing chain failures is a little concerning. Therefore, would it be wiser to go for a slightly older one with the M47 engine.

Any thoughts or information on this issue would be great.

Cheers guys, Nick.

James Porter

iTrader: (1)

They was failing around 60k if I remember right?

So one with 100k or proof that's it's been changed should be good.

I know people that had no issue at all as they was well looked after service wise, my guess with most failures was down to poor maintenance from the individual.

iansoutham

I work as a Parts Manager for a BMW dealership.

the answer is LOTS and there is no specific year range or mileage.

check for rattle on startup or can sensor fault code.

engine out job to do.

155lee

iTrader: (10)

My wife had 2 2.0's.
An 08 1 series 120d m sport written off at 75000 miles.
A 12 plate 520 d business (iirc) which went back at 55000 miles.
No problems with either car with anything except servicing,the 120 had run flats which made it feel nervous on bumpy/uneven roads.
She had a 118d 05 or 06 plate as her first company car,again that was around 75000 miles,that had a new diff,propshaft and numerous new alloys fitted under warranty,but never did we notice anything wrong,it was the dealership when it went in for servicing.
Would have another 120d coupe in a heartbeat,the engine issue makes me wary though.

Bailes1992

They don't go at any specific mileage or age. I know of one engine that done 190k on its original. I also know of a 3.0D X5 that had tensioner failure too.

I think the best thing you can do is half the oil changes to 10k/1year. The 20k/2year intervals are ridiculous and you can feel a huge change in the engine when it's had an oil change at a 20k interval, always much much smoother with fresh oil.

Worth noting however they give plenty of notice before they go. People complaining the engine has gone pop after the chain has jumped or slipped has obviously been ignoring or oblivious to a rattle for long time.

Gazzonator

iTrader: (9)

They don't always. Been out to a fair few of them and they showed no warning that something was up.

nick46

Thanks for the replies guys, keep em coming.
So given the choice would it be wiser to go for a 2007 registered car that was produced before 1-3-2007 which would have the previous M47 engine. I have read that these engined are pretty bullet proof apart from the swirl flap issue, but that's a cheap easy fix.
I'm assuming the engine code will be on the log book so I'll able to ask the dealer / owner what engine the car has as I'm guessing there are gonna be a number of cars that were registered after 1-3-2007 but were produced before then. Also were they produced in enough numbers that it's possible for a car that was registered in early 2008 to have been produced in early 2007?

nick46

This one looks nice but it's a 2005 model.

http://www.prestigecarsofbristol.co.uk/used-cars/bmw-1-series-2-0-118d-m-sport-5dr-st-george-201612300897093

Ideally I don't want to go for a car that old. But if it's gonna be a safer bet than risking a newer one with the N47 engine and similar mileage then it may be a wise choice.
I'm glad I discovered this issue with the N47 but it's now made the decision process much more difficult!

Marc sierra

iTrader: (1)

For this specific reason I bought a 320d with an M47 engine. I didn't want to risk these problems. Apparantly the crank also needs replacing if it is rattling, so even if you are in time it will be expensive.

nick46

Right boys and girls, I think I may have found a solution to the N47 issue. Cast your eyes over this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-120D-M...wAAOSw-0xYb~KP

Yes it has the N47 engine, but it is a brand new one and only has approx 1000 miles on it. I have spoke to the chap on the phone and he says he is a senior technichian at the BMW dealership in Coventry and he did all the work himself. He claims he bought the car from the previous owner due to the fact the timing chain snapped, with a view to repairing it and then selling it, although he is using it as his own at the moment. Apparently he has all the paperwork regarding the engine change along with all the history which he is going to send pictures of to me.
I am going to phone the BMW dealership in Coventry tomorrow to see if he is who he says he is and does actually work there. Surely if everything checks out, then this has got to be better than buying one with the M47 engine that has 100k on the clock. What do you guys think, and is it a legal requirement to have the V5 updated with the new engine number?

Oh yeah, don't any of you now go and buy it before I've had a chance to

Marc sierra

iTrader: (1)

Even with a new engine in it I still wouldn't buy a N47. If the first engine lasts less than 100k, why would the second be any better?

I bought my M47 with about 150k km on the clock and plan to drive it to at least 400k km (I do about 50k km a year). With an N47 I don't think it would ever make that and I would constantly be worried about it. If I'd buy a newer one I'd rather get a 325d or 330d with a N57 engine.

gcfcos

Bmw should stick to what their good at, petrol engines! I used to have an e36 318tds touring with old school injectors etc and it was bombproof. Got a later e36 last of the line 325tds and it was nothing but trouble must be heartbreaking when u have a really expensive car like a BMW and it goes wrong out of warranty. Must be like hitting the casino every time u drive it, I'd be constantly paranoid like I am in my Cossie lol

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

If you can afford to run a bmw you should be able to maintain them.

studabear

Loads of people on the road in them who can just afford the finance yet can't afford the service and maintenance, or even tyres.

Marc sierra

iTrader: (1)

Well a colleagae has a 325i that is running badly and apparantly that needs 6 new injectors of about 200 pounds each. So it's not like their petrol engines don't have problems. I guess both BMW petrol and diesel engines have problems. You just need to find out which engine types are reliable and which are not. In my opinion the M47 is reliable and the N47 is not.

3i Jim

I wouldn't touch one of these. Utter wank imo.

It's Czech Mate

Ive got a Jan 2012 n47 so 'should' be safe

I wouldn't touch a 1 series with a shitty stick

gcfcos

Yeah see this everyday. Had women break down in tears where their big posh Range Rover needs a couple of tyres and some brake pads 😭 the my gotta keep up with the joneses lol. Bloody sad state of affairs. We've got neighbours who we know for a fact haven't got much money but they have a Range Rover, a Mercedes estate, a Zafira and a 307 pug estate. The guy works 7 days a week just to keep up the finance repayments so his missus can bang pictures on Facebook everyday of all this stuff they have "bought" but yet they are always skint bloody sad if u ask me

Edited As iPhone predictive text mucked half that up!!

nick46

Well in the end I found I really nice 2006 120d msport with the older M47 engine. Private seller and was fairly local. Not a mark on it and only 88k on the clock with a full BMW history and absolutely shit loads of bills and receipts for everything. Only down side is I think the dmf is on its way out and it is due a service. Oh and I'm gonna get the swirl flaps removed. No problem though as a friend can do all the work for me and I managed to knock a fair amount off the price because of this. Only cost me 4k! With the work that needs doing and due to the fact my mate is gonna do it all, I'm still gonna be way under my 5k budget. Happy days!

gcfcos

Happy days matey!

furry

BMW issued a product enhancement on the effected models so try and find one that had the rework done. I had mine done even though it was on 160k and it's second engine. the N47 is a good engine apart from this issue (that was only a certain year range)

I had a 520d and returned over 1k to a tank of fuel with a tuning box that took it to just under 210bhp.