Skip to content
KickTyres
CriticalVery commonEngine

BMW 5 Series: N47 Diesel Timing Chain Failure

N47 Diesel Timing Chain Failure is a very common engine fault on the BMW 5 Series on the 2007–2016 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $4,500 to $9,500 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 58 documented faults on the BMW 5 Series.

Vehicle
BMW 5 Series
Engine
N47
Years
2007–2016
Fuel
diesel
System
Engine

This page covers the BMW 5 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 5 Series faults58 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

The N47 2.0-litre diesel positions its timing chain at the rear of the engine at the flywheel end, contrary to most engines where the chain is at the front. The chain stretches and plastic guides disintegrate, frequently causing catastrophic engine failure with little or no warning. Engine removal is required for replacement, making repair exceptionally expensive. This fault was the subject of a Federal Court class action in Australia and formal complaints to the ACCC.

What you would notice

  • Rattling or clattering from rear of engine on cold start
  • Engine stalls without warning or fails to restart
  • Check engine light with camshaft or crankshaft position fault codes
  • Loss of power followed by complete engine failure

How to check it

Where to look. Rear of engine block at flywheel end

  1. Listen for timing chain rattle at the rear of the engine on a cold start.

  2. Scan for fault codes P0016, P0017, or DME timing correlation codes.

  3. Request full dealer service history and check for any BMW service bulletin work related to timing chain.

  4. Have a BMW specialist assess chain stretch and guide condition via rear inspection port where possible.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$4,500 to $9,500 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 been inspected or replaced by a BMW specialist?”
  • “Is there documented BMW dealer service history showing any timing chain bulletin work?”
  • “Does the engine make any rattling noise on a cold start before it warms up?”

Now check the BMW 5 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 published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

BMW 5 Series buyer questions

Is n47 diesel timing chain failure serious on a BMW 5 Series?

We rate it critical and very common on the BMW 5 Series. The N47 2.0-litre diesel positions its timing chain at the rear of the engine at the flywheel end, contrary to most engines where the chain is at the front. The chain stretches and plastic guides disintegrate, frequently causing catastrophic engine failure with little or no warning. Engine removal is required for replacement, making repair exceptionally expensive. This fault was the subject of a Federal Court class action in Australia and formal complaints to the ACCC.

How much does it cost to fix on a BMW 5 Series?

$4,500 to $9,500 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 5 Series years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2007–2016 BMW 5 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?

Listen for timing chain rattle at the rear of the engine on a cold start. Scan for fault codes P0016, P0017, or DME timing correlation codes. Request full dealer service history and check for any BMW service bulletin work related to timing chain. Have a BMW specialist assess chain stretch and guide condition via rear inspection port where possible. Look here: Rear of engine block at flywheel end