[gac]

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

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by gac

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

https://www.adcbmw.uk/

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

[gac]

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

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by gac

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

I'm changing the oil in my F31 every 6 months; I only did 4k miles last year; but the changes are what I did with all my previous E39s (inc x2 Jap import ones) and my various 7 series etc...

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

[TurboWeasel]

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.

[gac]

Originally Posted by TurboWeasel

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.

But is it possible that the chain itself isn't the issue, but the way the top tensioner wears which causes the chain to be slack because the tensioner is wearing away beneath it? I don't think it's impossible that the new upper chain tensioner helped avoid the need to revise the chain itself, but as I said in my first post it's my first BMW. I'm aware of chain issues as a friend has had a 530d for a couple of years and has looked into this kind of stuff a lot more than I have so I'm kind of taking his lead on it.

Originally Posted by TurboWeasel

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.

Number 1 is a good start, I have a Pela extractor in the garage and after discovering this car does have a dipstick (I thought it was electronic iDrive oil level only on these) I'll probably do a DIY oil change on it shortly. I'm no mechanic but I've used it before and I'm confident there's nothing unusual about this engine apart from the sheer amount of oil (I don't think the extractor I have will hold it all in one shot). So at least I know there's no unusual noises now and it'll be on fresh oil and filter slightly ahead of time for a change.

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

[danb1979]

Originally Posted by gac

But is it possible that the chain itself isn't the issue, but the way the top tensioner wears which causes the chain to be slack because the tensioner is wearing away beneath it? I don't think it's impossible that the new upper chain tensioner helped avoid the need to revise the chain itself, but as I said in my first post it's my first BMW. I'm aware of chain issues as a friend has had a 530d for a couple of years and has looked into this kind of stuff a lot more than I have so I'm kind of taking his lead on it.



Number 1 is a good start, I have a Pela extractor in the garage and after discovering this car does have a dipstick (I thought it was electronic iDrive oil level only on these) I'll probably do a DIY oil change on it shortly. I'm no mechanic but I've used it before and I'm confident there's nothing unusual about this engine apart from the sheer amount of oil (I don't think the extractor I have will hold it all in one shot). So at least I know there's no unusual noises now and it'll be on fresh oil and filter slightly ahead of time for a change.

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

DIY oil, changes with a Pela pump are easy; just get the 27mm socket for the oil filter housing etc

I've just done this on my F31 a month back; takes 20mins etc

[gac]

Originally Posted by danb1979

DIY oil, changes with a Pela pump are easy; just get the 27mm socket for the oil filter housing etc

I've just done this on my F31 a month back; takes 20mins etc

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.

[TurboWeasel]

Originally Posted by gac

But is it possible that the chain itself isn't the issue, but the way the top tensioner wears which causes the chain to be slack because the tensioner is wearing away beneath it? I don't think it's impossible that the new upper chain tensioner helped avoid the need to revise the chain itself, but as I said in my first post it's my first BMW. I'm aware of chain issues as a friend has had a 530d for a couple of years and has looked into this kind of stuff a lot more than I have so I'm kind of taking his lead on it.

It certainly won't hurt to install the revised chain tensioner as it's only 55 quid from your stealer. It's right at the back of the engine on the driver's side though, so access isn't the easiest.

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.

[gac]

Originally Posted by TurboWeasel

It certainly won't hurt to install the revised chain tensioner as it's only 55 quid from your stealer. It's right at the back of the engine on the driver's side though, so access isn't the easiest.

I guess at that point though it also makes sense to just do the chains anyway cos looking at the pictures of ADC/BMW Mini Tech doing a chain, clearly there's a lot of labour costs getting the engine out so you wouldn't want to risk doing it twice?

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)

Originally Posted by TurboWeasel

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.

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!

[Panchoa]

Originally Posted by gac

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

Try RS automotive in Leicester. Not used them myself but get decent reviews by all accounts.