Thanks for your helpful suggestions. Kind regards Harry
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Now that the car has been inoperable since 20 May we have received the latest quote. It started at $21000 now $4600 but only for timing chain replacement. If they find other issues following chain replacement then they want to charge further. This is like an open checkbook. Everything seems to point to engine damage from what I read so maybe the first quote of $21000 might be possible. The decision I need to make is do I spend $4600 and see if the chain replacement fixes the car or at that time if faced with larger costs do I scrap the car and say goodbye to the $4600 plus the purchase price paid just 3 years and 12000kms use.
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You appear to have discounted a user engine but read on.
Disclaimer: I know nothing about diesels but using petrol design as a basis for my comment I assume similar design applies.
There are two variations of engine design important to understand the ramifications of timing chain failures. Each can be discovered from the manufacturer/dealer as well as from myriad resources or a competent shop.
The safer but less popular less efficient older design never âallowsâ the valves and pistons to hit each other unless a connecting rod or valve stem breaks. eg if the timing chain breaks and the camshaft stops while the pistons are moving they will not âinterfereâ (eg not impact).
The more common higher performance more efficient design allows the valves to hit (âinterfereâ with) the pistons if the timing chain breaks and the valves stop. That is usually catastrophic because valves, pistons, and probably other bits such as connecting rods, bearings and cylinder walls get damaged. It is likely your engine is an âinterference designâ, but. You should be able to find that out without an engine tear down. Some interferences could result in a bent valve and others a âtotalâ.
Any mechanic should have a snake/endoscopic camera to insert in each cylinder and have a look at what is obviously damaged and provide a written report. Even with that it can be a âhow long is a piece of string problemâ once it is disassembled and âhiddenâ problems found. A bent piston is obvious from the top but a bent connecting rod is not in the camera view unless they go from the bottom - all adding diagnostic costs that are probably relatively small in your overall situation.
A wild card is finding the cause (why did it break) rather than just the symptom (it broke and the engine is toast). The timing chain could fail or stretch or a guide could have failed or worn or âsomething elseâ so everything related needs to be replaced while it is apart.
For perspective we once had a 1990s Mitsubishi V6 where the alternator kept failing prematurely (and was replaced many times under warranty) without the dealer caring about why. After it went to an independent who cared they found the casting where the alternator bracket mounted was not machined right, leading to the alternator being out of alignment âjust enoughâ to cause premature bearing failure, over and over and over. Also had a 1960s Renault that blew the head gasket a few times and each time the head was inspected with all normal treatments; it turned out to be a warped or improperly machined block and a bit of machining fixed it. Odd things happen.
Since the engine failed at a young life the odds are it was either not maintained well or might be subject to a similarly rare manufacturing anomaly. Since finances are obviously important weigh up the known and potential costs of repair, and a rebuilt/re-manufactured engine, and a âselectâ used engine against the warranties that come with each (if any) to make your decision. Being a senior cutting your losses might be high up your value system but what else could you buy with the cost to resurrect your X1?
I hope my thoughts are helpful.
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Thank you for your suggestions
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Is that in response to the letter you sent?
It might be worth giving Brintech Customs in Castlereagh a call, theyâre very capable BMW specialists and if they canât help you directly they might know who can. At this stage the best value for your dollar might be to get a second opinion but replacing a timing chain is usually a big and very expensive job on any car let alone a BMW, no matter who does it.
The carâs value seems to be about 20k based on Carsales figures, some of those will have had the timing chain fixed and some wonât but it means spending anything at all is going to be a questionable proposition as youâre unlikely to get a good return on your investment. Donât agonise too much, thereâs not necessarily a right or wrong way to go even if analysis allows you to get a definitive quote, and then Iâd fix and sell as the cost of maintaining an older BMW that isnât a classic is always going to be a retrograde value proposition as theyâre just eye wateringly expensive to fix.
Yes itâs a known problem so if itâs been serviced at BMW they shouldâve checked it at every service and there are tell tale signs. Whatâs the service history like?
BMW wonât want to play so it might be worth strapping in for an NCAT hearing, and pending the outcome sell it for a Commodore or Falcon both of which are stupidly cheap for the capability they bring.
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One value proposition, assuming one is happy with a large sedan and the higher fuel consumption. Offset by the lower servicing costs of not being a BMW and cheaper 91 petrol, even if one uses slightly more.
Or âŠ. if preferences are a smaller more fuel efficient car for the city, and possibly an SUV style or hatch. Are there any obvious choices?
In no particular order and considering there are other manufacturers. Mazda, Toyota and Hyundai have all sold large numbers of popular models that would match the X1 for size, utility and comfort. Reliability might be the one significant point of difference. Not in BMWâs favour.
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It is a lot of money to spend to find out, if by very good fortune, no other damage has been done to the engine. I would assume the worst and that $4600 would just be the start.
And even if fixed, would you ever trust the car again?. My car was never quite the same again after the timing belt gave way and repairs done, and I traded it in quickly.
The timing chain problem isnât the only issue that BMWs are noted for. What fails next and costs a lot of money to fix?
Might be better to put the money towards a replacement, and get what you can for it in the current condition. Could be that a professional workshop may pay you more for the car as is, knowing the repairs needed, than what a wrecker would pay.
Thank you for your suggestions. The latest email from BMW is that they have found multiple rocker damage. They are about to dissemble the cylinder head to investigate further.
âRocker Damageâ!
Noted the engine is an over head cam design (OHC). IE no rocker arms as in a traditional design to damage. The BMW N47 uses a roller cam follower. Assuming itâs just a loose use of terminology (many call both designs a rocker arm) itâs pointing to serious damage. Any chance you might be able to share the exact wording of the advice from the dealership service staff to clarify?
Edit - note also:
Itâs suggest the B47 engine which progressively replaced the N47 from 2014 can also suffer similar problems.
âBMW B47 Engine Rebuild- Dieselheads - 2.0 Diesel Reconditioning
That is as the service guy said. When they come back with more I will share. Thanks a million Harry
