03-17-2024, 02:23 PM | #1 |
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N57 timing chains around Nottingham?
Hey all, just picked up my first BMW - a 2015 335d Touring. It's pretty much average on miles, 9 years old and just ticked over 94k. The service history is present, but it's done to the dealer standard rather than the "correct" standard so I'm looking to tick off some of the big maintenance items and set myself up for a few years motoring, including timing chains and starting interim oil services.
I've been told BM Mini Tech are great for timing chains - which I'm sure they are, but they're 3.5 hours away and appear to work to an 8am start...so if there's any more local recommendations in Nottingham/Derby/Leicester then I'm all ears |
03-17-2024, 03:41 PM | #2 | |
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Are highly recommended; but again not on your doorstep Personally with an N57 I really wouldn't worry about the chain; I'm in the same mindset re N47s... Looked after, well maintained and with decent oil & filter changes; they'll run well for high miles
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03-18-2024, 04:19 AM | #3 |
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Cool, appreciate the response - Stockport is much closer to me so they're definitely worth a look into.
I see what you're saying about not worrying about it and I would say the car has an "OK" service history, but only by the book standards. A lot of places including ADC seem to suggest oil changes every 10k/12 months which this car definitely hasn't had (14, 11, 19, 18, 19 and it's now covered 13k since that last one). There are no metallic noises or anything to suggest there's a problem, I'm really looking at it as preventative maintenance more than anything else and then I'll probably do no more than 8-9k/year in it so it'll just get an annual oil change while I own it. Same with the transmission, I know the ZF8 oil is a "lifetime" item from BMW but then I read their definition of lifetime as 100k/5 years and that ZF themselves suggest 60k for servicing, so I'll probably look to get that done at the same time so I know the car will be reliable. Prevention is usually better than cure |
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03-18-2024, 04:39 AM | #4 | |
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Just peace of mind and oil/filters are cheap enough; it makes sense And agree re the ZF8; mines overdue (100k miles and ZF recommend 60-80k miles); but a few health issues have gotten in the way. I'll be getting it booked in ASAP
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03-18-2024, 07:20 AM | #5 |
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According to Real OEM, the lower chain has been updated twice on the N57. Once in 2017 and again in 2019. Also worth noting the upper chain tensioner was also revised in 2019, which also covers the N47. No updates on the upper chain (N57 & 47) which is odd as that is the one that wears out!
This suggests BMW acknowledged an issue with the chain gear, but that isn't to say you will definitely get a problem with the factory fitted stuff. There's only 3 things you can do: 1) Ignore it and just keep on top of the maintenance and listen out for noises. 2) Sell the car before it becomes an issue. 3) Start saving for a 100K+ preventative maintenance exercise. Chains, rod bearings, oil pump and crank pulley. That's a good 3 or 4 grand I reckon. |
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03-19-2024, 05:07 AM | #6 | ||
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Number 2 isn't happening, I've only owned it two weeks and to be fair, I deliberately bought one of the cheaper ones on AutoTrader because there wasn't anything with a significantly better service history up for sale even for more money at the time so I'm not averse to spending a little money on it to avoid bigger issues over the next few years. Number 3 is likely - if I DIY it now, it hits 100k in 6,000 miles which (with my mileage) is likely to be the end of the year, so I may well then go with the big bang of preventative work in 2025. I hadn't read anything about rod bearings and oil pumps until reading the ADC website (it's not something BM Mini Tech mentioned on the phone, or that I've read on other websites) so that's a little unexpected and as you say, it's knocking on 4 grand for everything (including a gearbox oil change). Appreciate the advice |
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03-19-2024, 05:08 AM | #7 | |
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I've just done this on my F31 a month back; takes 20mins etc
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03-19-2024, 06:43 AM | #8 |
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Yep, just had to do a quick Amazon order for a 27mm socket and a 25Nm torque wrench, and an Opie Oils order for a filter and 7L of Millers LL-04 compliant oil. So I guess I know what this weekends job is assuming it's not chucking it down...but less than £100 all in, and £35 of that was for the tools, seems like a no-brainer just to keep things fresh while I decide which of the other big jobs to do first.
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03-21-2024, 04:19 AM | #9 | |
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There is also Laser Tools #7034 which you can wind in to see where you stand. There is a rod inside it that protrudes a certain amount when the chain is in spec, which I believe is 5mm on the N57. No protrusion at all = knackered chain. |
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03-21-2024, 04:47 AM | #10 | |
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edit - I just realised I was thinking about it wrong. The tensioner is an external part which you'd remove to use the Laser tool you linked, so it doesn't necessarily mean that the entire engine is coming out, you could remove the tensioner, use the tool, and if it looks good install a new tensioner which would be much cheaper (all depending how accessible it is) That seems like a really cool little tool, if only I had the right equipment to actually get to the back of the engine I might give my local BMW specialists a shout though to see if they have one, I'm not sure I'd want to trust them to actually do the chain itself but this looks like it'd give a good indication whether it's necessary - thanks for the pointer! Last edited by gac; 03-21-2024 at 08:26 AM.. |
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03-21-2024, 05:35 PM | #11 | |
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