I couldn't agree with you more here. My 320D E92 M-Sport has 144k miles in it and it's more alive than when I bought it at around 82k miles. I've changed the oil (LL04) and filter every 9k miles. I really can't say any bad of this engine and car. My most durable and wallet friendly car ever, it's my 4th one. It really is tough and lasting little big engine that has very respectable lifespan if we keep maintaining it every now and then. I think people should think more by themselves that no oil can last that long; oil change to diesel cars no more than 9k and 6k to petrol cars..
I have not long ago got myself one of these a couple of months back and it is a nice car with a very nice little engine. Mine is a 2011 car with 70k on the clock. Evidence of oil changes at 1 year or 9-10,000 miles. The chain seems ok at the moment, but I am hoping it will be fine if I keep changing the oil every 5-7000 miles of so. I did read somewhere that disabling the stop-start also gives the chain an easier life as it is under most load when the engine starts. I used Carista to set it to stay off when the engine is restarted if I turn it off, but you can disable it altogether. It is also worth remembering that there are literally thousands of these engines on the roads. Even a small percentage fail rate is going to amount to a lot cars and the vast majority of these engines will never have an issue.
I've also got a 2011 with 75k. I've changed the oil every 12 months with LL04 oil since 30K. So far so good. Like you I dont use stop start. I would consider a Terra Clean. I got mine done for about £150. Despite using BP ultimate diesel (hopefully less soot?) it did give a small but notitcable performance improvement.
Bought a 11' 320D ED touring. Guy was stating it had 100 k miles on it. Quick check made me realize it had 160 k on it. Since that is illegal in my country I offered him a considerably smaller amount of money for the car or a call to our local police station. Don't hate for this, he could've fooled somebody else who wouldn't maybe check that resulting in serious issues in the near future. He obviously chose my price (since it's a prison sentence here) which left me with enough money to do timing chain, DMF, and a remap. Plus the car has a panorama on it, big CIC, heated seats BMW Individual, and the only thing missing is the M package. Best car I've ever owned.
I have a 2013 320d with 125000 miles on the clock. I got the timing chain replaced free of charge under a goodwill gesture by bmw back in June. It hadn't been making any noise but while the car was in for an egr cooler recall I got them to check it and they said it needed changing. The engine is great if looked after and well serviced. I change the oil every 7/8k miles. Always wait for the engine to reach temperature before any enthusiastic driving and always disengage the auto start/stop as this can be sore on the chain.
Its not actually the timing chain, its the timing chain guides that brake more. They are only good for around 100k miles, that is then most go and they don't give you any warning before it happens. Usually they fuck up on the F10 5 series as the car is much heavier and puts more stress on the engine.
Got myself a 2011 120d with 121,000 miles on the clock and I love it. Yes I had to buy new fuel injectors because the previous owner didn’t look after it but apart from that it’s been amazing for my twice monthly Bournemouth to London trips.
I have this engine on a bmw x1 2014 20d xdrive. I bought the car 4 years ago with 14k miles. Now it has 97000 miles and I never had one problem. The thing is that I personally change oil and filters every 6-7000 miles. If you take care of this type of engine will go forever. Not even one problem in 4 years. Good consumption good power. One of the best engines produced 👌🏼
Can verify, frequent service and you won't have problems, also no sudden rapid revving a cold engine, no going above 2k rpm before optimal temp, a longer run every 2-3 weeks or so and you won't have problems.
Nice video, oil change every 5,000, 7,000 or 10,000 miles. Will never change oil at 20,000 on bmw. let alone on Toyota. I got the more reliable M47 engine, just need to do swirl flap delete this month. Keep up the good work, 👍👍👍👍👍
Im absolutely itching to buy a 520d 2012 model that ive seen here in Ireland, has 90 000 miles on it from an old man and in mint condition but this timing chain stuff that scares the shit out of me. I dont earn a lot so if there was a major failure id be in a serious mess. Im one for maintaining my cars though, always done oil changes way ahead of schedule.
If it's a well maintained car then the timing chain shouldn't ever be an issue! have a look on auto trader and see how many cars do well over 150,000 miles, that should put your mind at rest! just make sure you have some mechanical sympathy when driving and all will be ok:)
@@drivelife.channel Mechanical sympathy as in not drive it like i stole it! I believe there is info stored in the key as in miles and service history? Auto or manual?
@@mrbokke81 nah that's what you buy the car for! it just means allowing the car to warm up properly before driving it hard. The key stores the service info but I would suggest ignoring the indicators and change the oil and filter every 10,000 miles at most, then you should have no issue with timing chains :)
@@drivelife.channel I see some guys suggest that when you buy a 520d f10, change the timing chain straight away which is a little costly but then its done and then do oil changes every 10k from there onwards because how does a person know if its been well maintained.
I’d never touch a diesel bmw or even a modern petrol bmw. I had 3 E36 petrols on the trot then bought a newer 320d, the worst car I’ve ever owned, drank so much oil I ended up keeping 5 litres drums in the boot. Moved to Honda & never looked back
Hi, i have a 58 plate 1series 118d msport with 128k miles.. and it has like a tic sound in the engine bay..ive changed the water pump..so its not that..do you think it could be the chain? i don't have any power loss ..
Im about to buy one of these 1 series for my first car, should i totally avoid it and get a diff car? I have a price range of 3500 and in bournemouth they are around 100k miles for that price, any tips to look out for/ versions of the 1 series to avoid? Dont want to buy something and it break straight away as i dont have a lot of savings
If you only have enough money for a BMW with a n47 engine, please don't waste your money. Bought a 2014 316d with 88k and in 5k miles I had so many issues like head gasket failing, oil leaks and egr issues. I then made a 2.5k loss and bought a seat Leon 2013 2.0tdi with the rest and it's by far more reliable.
Hi mate I've just sold one of these to my nephew and it was on limp mode and all the garages put it through diagnostics and said it was abs and braking system but now the garage who I told him not to put it to has said they fixed the abs but it's the turbo and now want £600 ontop but wouldn't the turbo show up on diagnostics if it was ? And it's taken them 6 weeks to fix the brakes but now I'm thinking maybe they were taken parts of what's your thoughts may I ask ?
Hi mate, I would get the car back and see if it is in limp mode, the turbo would be showing on diagnostics. It may be that the garage may have under priced the abs fault repair and are trying to make some money back by persuading you to replace the turbo:)
I just replaced my timing chain around 2000 miles ago it was the original one and the mileage was 145500 (a bit over due) but bought it with 145000 miles
My 320d 2010 got 550.000 km. on it. Still runs great. The trick to get the engine to last is. 1) Don't drive short trips. 2) Do your oil changes. Only major things that I have done is change water pump, cleaning of DPF, and harmonic damper wheel + idler wheels. No problems with the chain. But I got the engine that don't have that flaw.
@@emusp Okay 👍 I bought a 320D N47D20C 2012 with 270 000km and im worried about the timing chain cuz there is no record of its change and oil changes have been done in 30 000 intervalls.
George would you say this a problem with all the engines in this generation both diesel and petrol? Really am liking the E90 325i with the 3 litre I6 for its power and good running costs
out of experience please do not buy a bmw with the n47 engine it is absolute sh~t id rather scrape the bottom of my pocket and buy a bmw with an m57 or n57 pleaseb dont buy the n47!
@@ciepularys because the n47 has the timing chain issue and it could be very costly! Sometimes even the engine I'd rather save the hassle and get a n57 which is a stronger engine and quick
@@ciepularys the n47s are more prone to go though.. I'm saying that out of experience my 530d I owned from new put 150k on and is still going my 520d i put around 77k miles and it snapped, they were both service regularly using castrol edge every 4.5k miles
@@bilaal1691 no they are not, your one personal piece of experience is not enough to form such statement. They use the same internals and there is not a single reason for N57 to be more reliable. Its the same engine with just 2 more cylinders stuck in the front of it. Its just a matter of more n47s being around, thats why you hear more about them and form wrong conclusions. Both n47 and n57 are good engines, just with bad timing chain design. Change the timing chain every 100k miles and you are good.
