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CriticalCommonEngine

BMW 1 Series: N47 diesel timing chain failure (rear-mounted, catastrophic)

N47 diesel timing chain failure (rear-mounted, catastrophic) is a common engine fault on the BMW 1 Series on the 2007–2015 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $3,500 to $12,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 50 documented faults on the BMW 1 Series.

Vehicle
BMW 1 Series
Engine
N47
Years
2007–2015
Fuel
diesel
System
Engine

This page covers the BMW 1 Series as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All BMW 1 Series faults50 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

The front of a dual overhead camshaft engine with the timing cover removed, exposing the timing chain and sprockets.Example of the part — not this vehicle

The front of a twin-cam engine with the timing cover off — chain, sprockets and guides.

Logansenf · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What goes wrong

116d/118d/120d/123d models with the N47 engine (E87 from 2007, F20 until ~2015) can snap or strip their timing chain, which sits at the rear of the engine against the firewall — so even inspection requires engine-out labour. Failure bends valves and often destroys the engine; failures commonly occur between 80,000-160,000 km. BMW issued TSB SI B11 03 10 and a quiet 2015 'quality enhancement' goodwill scheme, long expired — buyers today carry the full risk.

What you would notice

  • Rattle/tinkling from the back of the engine at idle (like a bag of nails)
  • Rattle loudest on cold start or at ~2,000 rpm
  • Whining from the rear of the engine
  • Sudden non-start after a bang (chain gone)

How to check it

Where to look. Rear of the engine, between engine and firewall

With the engine idling and bonnet up, listen at the windscreen end of the engine (rear) for a metallic rattle — use a phone against the bulkhead if unsure. Ask for proof the chain has been replaced; on an original-chain car over 100,000 km, budget $3,500-5,000 for preventive replacement (engine-out or gearbox-out job).

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$3,500 to $12,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the timing chain ever been replaced (invoice, not verbal)?”
  • “Any rattle from the engine when cold?”

Now check the BMW 1 Series you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

  • BMW TSB SI B11 03 10 (N47 timing chain noise)
  • babybmw.net N47 timing chain failure megathreads
  • BBC Watchdog N47 timing chain campaign (2015)
  • BMW 2015 N47 quality-enhancement goodwill scheme

BMW 1 Series buyer questions

Is n47 diesel timing chain failure (rear-mounted, catastrophic) serious on a BMW 1 Series?

We rate it critical and common on the BMW 1 Series. 116d/118d/120d/123d models with the N47 engine (E87 from 2007, F20 until ~2015) can snap or strip their timing chain, which sits at the rear of the engine against the firewall — so even inspection requires engine-out labour. Failure bends valves and often destroys the engine; failures commonly occur between 80,000-160,000 km. BMW issued TSB SI B11 03 10 and a quiet 2015 'quality enhancement' goodwill scheme, long expired — buyers today carry the full risk.

How much does it cost to fix on a BMW 1 Series?

$3,500 to $12,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which BMW 1 Series years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2007–2015 BMW 1 Series. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

With the engine idling and bonnet up, listen at the windscreen end of the engine (rear) for a metallic rattle — use a phone against the bulkhead if unsure. Ask for proof the chain has been replaced; on an original-chain car over 100,000 km, budget $3,500-5,000 for preventive replacement (engine-out or gearbox-out job). Look here: Rear of the engine, between engine and firewall