E90/F30 BMW 3 Series, E60/F10 BMW 5 Series – N47 Engine Problems – Timing Chain Failure ( 2007 – 2015 )

Introduction

BMW N47 Engine Problems – Engine Timing Chain – Premature Failure

Both the turbocharged 4-cylinder diesel variants of E90/F30 BMW 3 Series and E60/F10 BMW 5 series sedans from 2007 to 2015 are powered by the 1.6L/2.0L BMW N47 engine. The BMW N47 engine is known to be problematic due to its excessive timing chain wear and premature failures. The engine also faces issues due to the deployment of emission controlling devices such as the EGR and the DPF.

The first appearance of the N47 engine was on the E81/E87 BMW 1 Series in March 2007. The next model that weared the same engine was the E60/E61 BMW 5 Series from September 2007 on its facelifted version. After that, the E90/E91/E92/E93 BMW 3 Series facelift gets the same N47 engine that suffers from the same engine problem, premature failure of the timing chain. The problematic N47 engine continued to become available for the BMW X3, BMW X1, and other BMW series.

Also, the story of the problematic BMW E47 engine continued for a large range of BMW Models.

What BMW Cars Suffer From Premature Engine Timing Chain Failure?

Check the list below:

BMW N47 Engine – 1.6L:

• F20 BMW 1 Series 114d – 70 kW ( 95 PS / 94 bhp )
• F20 BMW 1 Series 116d Efficient Dynamics – 85 kW ( 116 PS / 114 bhp )

BMW N47 Engine – 2.0L:

• E81/E87 BMW 1 Series 116d – 85 kW (116 PS / 114 bhp)
• E90/F30 BMW 3 Series 116d – 85 kW ( 116 PS / 114 bhp )
• E81/E82/E87/E88 BMW 1 Series 118d – 105 kW (143 PS / 141 bhp)
• E90/E91 BMW 3 Series 318d – 105 kW (143 PS / 141 bhp)
• F20 BMW 1 Series 118d – 105 kW (143 PS / 141 bhp)
• F30/F31 BMW 3 Series 318d – 105 kW (143 PS / 141 bhp)
• E84 BMW 1 Series 18d ( sDrive / xDrive ) – 105 kW (143 PS / 141 bhp)
• MINI Countryman Cooper SD (R60) – 105 kW (143 PS / 141 bhp)
• MINI Cooper SD (R56) – 105 kW (143 PS / 141 bhp)
• MINI Cabrio Cooper SD (R57) – 105 kW (143 PS / 141 bhp)
• MINI Coupe Cooper SD (R58) – 105 kW (143 PS / 141 bhp)
• MINI Roadster Cooper SD (R59) – 105 kW (143 PS / 141 bhp)
• MINI Paceman Cooper SD (R61) – 105 kW (143 PS / 141 bhp)
• F22 BMW 2 Series – 218d – 105 kW (143 PS / 141 bhp)
• BMW X3 xDrive18d – 105 kW (143 PS / 141 bhp)
• E90 BMW 3 Series 320d Efficient Dynamics – 120 kW (163 PS / 161 bhp)
• E81/E82/E87/E88 BMW 1 Series 120d – 130 kW (177 PS; 174 bhp)
• E90/E91/E92/E93 BMW 3 Series 320d – 130 kW (177 PS; 174 bhp)
• E60/E61 BMW 5 Series 520d – 130 kW (177 PS; 174 bhp)
• E84 BMW X1 20d sDrive/xDrive – 130 kW (177 PS; 174 bhp)
• E83 BMW X3 20d xDrive – 130 kW (177 PS; 174 bhp)
• F22 BMW 2 Series 220d – 130 kW (177 PS; 174 bhp)
• E87 BMW 1 Series 123d – 150 kW (204 PS; 201 bhp)
• E84 BMW X1 23d xDrive – 150 kW (204 PS; 201 bhp)
• F22 BMW 2 Series 225d – 150 kW (204 PS; 201 bhp)
• F10/F11 BMW 5 Series 520d – 135 kW (181 hp) / 140 kW (188 hp)
• F10/F11 BMW 5 Series 525d – 150 kW (201 hp) / 160 kW (215 hp)

Top 8 Problems – E90/F30 BMW 3 Series / E60/F10 BMW 5 Series

1. BMW N47 Engine – Timing Chain Failure

The timing chain equipped inside the N47 engine of these cars is known to fail prematurely. Failure of the timing chain while its running caused the engine parts to go out of sync and can damage the engine severely. The timing chain is also placed at the rear end of the N47 engine sandwiched between the engine and the transmission which makes it very inaccessible to reach for a replacement.

To replace an aging timing chain, the engine has to be taken out of the bay completely and stripped down to its core. It is not an easy task and makes huge bills if the timing chain failure has caused other parts to go bad as well. It is advisable to replace the timing chain in this engine within 60-100k miles to avoid any dangerous failures during driving.

2. EGR (Exhaust gas recirculation)

The EGR valve is a system fitted to modern vehicles to reduce the amount of NO_x exiting from the vehicle’s exhaust. It does so by reburning a part of the exhaust gases reducing the overall amount of NO_x. But the NO_x sensor easily gets clogged up by soot overtime, which causes the valve to remain open more than it should be. This allows excessive exhaust gases to move in the intake manifold for a prolonged amount of time. The intake manifold, being made up of plastic, ultimately melts down and this causes holes in your intake manifold due to which you lose boost or intake pressure. It can even result in fire in rare cases inside your engine bay.

3. DPF Sensor

DPF is a device that filters out particulates or soot from the exhaust gases of a diesel engine. The sensor is prone to failure due to the DPF not working efficiently when cold. It usually occurs due to short journeys, where the DPF does not get warm enough to filter out the soot from the exhaust gases. This results in soot built up on your DPF sensor, glow plugs, and it even ruins your turbo.

4. Crankcase Breather Hose

The crankcase breather hose came in rubber in the early models, which as they got hot caused the hose to leak oil. This problem was addressed by BMW by replacing it with a plastic hose that stays strong even in hotter conditions.

5. Soot Built Up in Intake

Due to a faulty EGR sensor, massive amount of soot can easily build up on your intake manifold and your Anti-Shudder valve which can restrict airflow and result in reduced boost pressures.

6. Soot Built Up on Injectors

EGR gases cause the built up of soot on the injector’s bases, which restricts the fuel from squirting evenly inside the cylinder. This can result in your car’s rpm fluctuations.

7. Glow Plugs

Glow plugs also go bad earlier than they should due to soot built up from EGR gases. It results in difficulty in starting the car in winter mornings.

8. Power Steering Pump

The power steering pump attached to the engine is also known to fail earlier in this engine. Its failure can be diagnosed with power steering fluid leakage from the power steering reservoir’s cap.

BMW N47 Engine Recall

There is a petition and I recommend you to sign it if you own a BMW with the problematic BMW N47 Engine. All of us know that this is a manufacturing issue, a wrong design of the timing chain that will cause its premature failure, so… you will have to pay BIG bills. Shame on BMW because they do not take care of the customers! They get big money for premium cars, but what? They offer big problems to their customers’ cars. So, please sign the petition: https://secure.avaaz.org/community_petitions/en/BMW_N47_engine_recall/

Hope to see a recall AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

Conclusion

It is better to just avoid the cars equipped with BMW’s N47 engine. Or if you happen to own one then try to get rid of the EGR and DPF system completely from a competent mechanic. As most of the problems originate due to a faulty EGR and DPF systems. Other than that look out for any rattles from the engine from its rear side, and if you are over 80k miles and haven’t replaced the timing chain yet, don’t take the risk and get it replaced to avoid big bills in future.