Timing chain replacement?

[wiganz4]

Who, and when, or even are, are folk replacing their timing chains?
Mine's 2005 2.0i, 110,000 miles, serviced since new, Vanos and seals done at 90,000, oil and filter changed every 8,000 miles since 2017 (when I bought it with 53,000 on)
The car runs and drives perfect but I'm wondering if, and when the chain would need doing as I know BMW say it's a lifetime maintenance free component.

Any advice would be great.
Cheers

 

[feket663]

Who, and when, or even are, are folk replacing their timing chains?
Mine's 2005 2.0i, 110,000 miles, serviced since new, Vanos and seals done at 90,000, oil and filter changed every 8,000 miles since 2017 (when I bought it with 53,000 on)
The car runs and drives perfect but I'm wondering if, and when the chain would need doing as I know BMW say it's a lifetime maintenance free component.

Any advice would be great.
Cheers

Replace when it starts to make a rattling sound. Approx 220 k miles.

 

[enuff_zed]

Approx 220 k miles.

That's a tad optimistic for the 4-pot surely?

 

[wiganz4]

Who, and when, or even are, are folk replacing their timing chains?
Mine's 2005 2.0i, 110,000 miles, serviced since new, Vanos and seals done at 90,000, oil and filter changed every 8,000 miles since 2017 (when I bought it with 53,000 on)
The car runs and drives perfect but I'm wondering if, and when the chain would need doing as I know BMW say it's a lifetime maintenance free component.

Any advice would be great.
Cheers

Replace when it starts to make a rattling sound. Approx 220 k miles.

You'll do for me!
In all fairness the car is well looked after and always was before I got it so anything it needs it gets, and as I say it drives and rides smooth.

 

[feket663]

That's a tad optimistic for the 4-pot surely?

OOOOOOh, my fault... I did not take into account that it is a 2.0i.

 

[enuff_zed]

That's a tad optimistic for the 4-pot surely?

OOOOOOh, my fault... I did not take into account that it is a 2.0i.

However, I do agree with your advice. The chain shouldn't just let go without a fairly noticeable audible warning for quite a while beforehand.

 

[Robster68]

Who, and when, or even are, are folk replacing their timing chains?
Mine's 2005 2.0i, 110,000 miles, serviced since new, Vanos and seals done at 90,000, oil and filter changed every 8,000 miles since 2017 (when I bought it with 53,000 on)
The car runs and drives perfect but I'm wondering if, and when the chain would need doing as I know BMW say it's a lifetime maintenance free component.

Any advice would be great.
Cheers

Interested to find out about your n46 engine experience,you’ve obviously looked after it well and for a long time and put a fair few miles on it.My experience was I needed to replace the valve stem seals at 93,000 but didn’t do the timing chain as it seemed fine,recently changed the valvetronic motor because of a fault code,have now got a catalytic converter code,never ending problems with this engine.

 

[wiganz4]

Who, and when, or even are, are folk replacing their timing chains?
Mine's 2005 2.0i, 110,000 miles, serviced since new, Vanos and seals done at 90,000, oil and filter changed every 8,000 miles since 2017 (when I bought it with 53,000 on)
The car runs and drives perfect but I'm wondering if, and when the chain would need doing as I know BMW say it's a lifetime maintenance free component.

Any advice would be great.
Cheers

Interested to find out about your n46 engine experience,you’ve obviously looked after it well and for a long time and put a fair few miles on it.My experience was I needed to replace the valve stem seals at 93,000 but didn’t do the timing chain as it seemed fine,recently changed the valvetronic motor because of a fault code,have now got a catalytic converter code,never ending problems with this engine.

Check your cat code isn't a crack on the manifold. I've had that and got it repaired. Common fault on these and if it's done ASAP, and by someone who knows these engines, it'll be fine. When I said I had the seals replaced I meant all the serviceable ones, including valve stem. I use the car everyday, and for everything and treat it like I would any other daily driver. Course it'll have it's issues but what car doesn't. For it's age, milage and usage I can't fault it either on enjoyment or economy.

 

[Robster68]

Who, and when, or even are, are folk replacing their timing chains?
Mine's 2005 2.0i, 110,000 miles, serviced since new, Vanos and seals done at 90,000, oil and filter changed every 8,000 miles since 2017 (when I bought it with 53,000 on)
The car runs and drives perfect but I'm wondering if, and when the chain would need doing as I know BMW say it's a lifetime maintenance free component.

Any advice would be great.
Cheers

Interested to find out about your n46 engine experience,you’ve obviously looked after it well and for a long time and put a fair few miles on it.My experience was I needed to replace the valve stem seals at 93,000 but didn’t do the timing chain as it seemed fine,recently changed the valvetronic motor because of a fault code,have now got a catalytic converter code,never ending problems with this engine.

Check your cat code isn't a crack on the manifold. I've had that and got it repaired. Common fault on these and if it's done ASAP, and by someone who knows these engines, it'll be fine. When I said I had the seals replaced I meant all the serviceable ones, including valve stem. I use the car everyday, and for everything and treat it like I would any other daily driver. Course it'll have it's issues but what car doesn't. For it's age, milage and usage I can't fault it either on enjoyment or economy.

Crack on the manifold,I’d take that over buying a new onemy understanding was the cats get clogged by incorrect mixture including oil leaking past the valve stem seals,will look into this more.

 

[tug]

One thing you could do for peace of mind regarding the chain is replace the tensioner. If that fails and the chain skips a couple of teeth that could be catastrophic.

Also, on the emissions code, i have totally cured mine. I changed fuel from super plus / momentum to basic E10 95. 6 months ago and since then the light has never appeared again.

 

[Robster68]

One thing you could do for peace of mind regarding the chain is replace the tensioner. If that fails and the chain skips a couple of teeth that could be catastrophic.

Also, on the emissions code, i have totally cured mine. I changed fuel from super plus / momentum to basic E10 95. 6 months ago and since then the light has never appeared again.

What’s your mpg?

 

[tug]

Averaging around 29 MPG Mines never been very economic mainly because :driving:

 

[Robster68]

Averaging around 29 MPG Mines never been very economic mainly because :driving:

Interesting,maybe I shouldn’t worry then,will wait to see if catyltic converter codes return.
Just a bit annoying I was getting same mpg in my 318 e36 with a 5 speed box without all this valvetronic gubbins.

 

[tug]

Mate, you keep referring to catalyst code, do you mean the P40.. code "Catalyst below threshold bank 1" if you are, then absolutely nothing to worry about, there is nothing wrong with the cat. Mine was periodically throwing that code probably thousands of times over the last 10 years. :lol:

At one of these times i took my zed to my local BMW indie and had him put it through an emissions test. It came back normal and a PASS. "Clean enough to Breath in safely" i was told.

But using normal E10 has hopefully cured it, like i posted, no code for over 6 months now.

Now ive just got to replace another ABS sensor :roll: You're right, never ending. :lol:

 

[Robster68]

Mate, you keep referring to catalyst code, do you mean the P40.. code "Catalyst below threshold bank 1" if you are, then absolutely nothing to worry about, there is nothing wrong with the cat. Mine was periodically throwing that code probably thousands of times over the last 10 years. :lol:

At one of these times i took my zed to my local BMW indie and had him put it through an emissions test. It came back normal and a PASS. "Clean enough to Breath in safely" i was told.

But using normal E10 has hopefully cured it, like i posted, no code for over 6 months now.

Now ive just got to replace another ABS sensor :roll: You're right, never ending. :lol:

Codes are 29F4 and 29F5.

 

[tug]

That's probably post cat lambda's mate, best have them checked. If it is them at least they are easy to get to.

Hope you get it sorted Rob.

Cheers, tug

 

[Robster68]

That's probably post cat lambda's mate, best have them checked. If it is them at least they are easy to get to.

Hope you get it sorted Rob.

Cheers, tug

I replaced one of them before mate,after yes another code,want to get this sorted then will go down the e85 ethanol conversion and remap route which is pretty popular here in France,for a whopping 170bhp and an increase in torque.

 

[tug]

That sounds impressive mate, best of luck and hope it all turns out good for you.