Timing Chain time

P

peteinnit

Member
 Hastings East Sussex
Hi all,
I've got an E89 2.0i with the N20 engine. I have had 10 years and 93k trouble free mileage :D . Recently noticed the engine was sounding a little off, so took it a local non dealer BM specialist to have a listen, their verdict was the balance shaft bearings and timing chain and recommended a full rebuild, saying if you're doing that you may as well do it all, for around £5k. They generally rubbished the N20 engine too. Troubled by that verdict I took it to another non dealer BM specialist in Hastings, their verdict was the noise that I was hearing was from the high pressure fuel pump, which was quite obvious when I put my ear to it. Apparently these pumps are notoriously noisy. I left if with them overnight so they could also have a listen when cold and they did hear a slight chain rattle, but I'd already decided it would be prudent to replace it anyway, so I was prepared for the £1,600 estimate. I thought I may as well have the pump done at the same time as the noise gets on my nerves, I was not prepared for the £1,000 price tag for the pump kit!

I've read a few reviews online about the N20 and with the exception of timing chain issues the consensus seems to be pretty good, I'm wondering if anyone knows if there are other things it would be worth doing whilst they're in there doing the chain? And whether just doing the chain is likely to give it a decent life extension. I'm also wondering if anyone knows of an alternative the to BMW high pressure fuel pump? I'm not getting any fault codes and there doesn't seem to be any loss in performance, so I guess I'll have to live with the noise if not. Hastings garage did say they wouldn't charge me labour for the pump if done with the chain.

I'm intending on keeping the car until I can't get in/out of it, so don't mind investing a little in it. I was also thinking about a respray.
That was all a bit long winded, sorry. I guess I'm wondering if just doing the chain will be good enough, or whether I should maybe consider a rebuild.

Any advise is much appreciated.

Cheers, Peter
 
The cam chain subsystem, the oil pump drive and the matching crank sprocket fix most of the issues with the N20.

Earlier N20s HPFP was a bit weaker, especially with re-mapped cars..you can fit the later pump..you need to change the connector over as it was different ..not rocket science..the pump cam follower should be replaced with the HPFP..

There were rare cases where the crankshaft locating guide failed but they are rare.

Fresh oil and filters every 5k miles should see an N20 easily reach 250k miles..you of course have been doing that all this time…
 
peteinnit said:
Apparently these pumps are notoriously noisy. I left if with them overnight so they could also have a listen when cold and they did hear a slight chain rattle,
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The N20 is notorious for being noisy when cold and at tickover when warm; tappety and rattly and all manner of things. A cam chain will always rattle a bit especially when cold....it's a chain.
Changing a £1,000 HPFP because it is a little noisy and a £1,500 cam chain because it may or may not be more rattly than usual seems a weird IMO.

I had my daughter's Mini booked in to have the cam chain replaced because it was REALLY noisy. When they put it on the ramp it was actually the aux belt had shredded and was hitting stuff on the way round which sounded just like a ticky cam chain!
 
Thanks for the replies.
It's quite recently that I noticed the noise of the HFPF, £1,000 for parts only is ridiculous I agree and I won't be changing that unless there is a cheaper alternative to the BM part. I will learn to tune it out :) . At 93k miles though I thought it would be prudent to change the chain sometime in the nearish future.

I've been changing oil every 8-10k, so will reduce the interval in future.
 
The HPFP is not normally noisy..the primary rattly sound is the camshaft driven vacuum pump,..a new HPF`p is £150..a vacuum pump is £200..

The camchain makes more of a whining sound when worm.

Popping the cam cover for a visual inspection is the prudent thing to do..
 
I'v found that Bosch do a compatible HPFP for a coupla hundred :) . Now I know what it is I'm not too worried about it, but for a coupla hundred I''l get it done along with the oil pump drive chain when I do eventually do the cam chain. Thanks again for all your advice.

Cheers, P
 
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