BMW 7 Series: N57/B57 Diesel Rear Timing Chain Failure

Both the N57 (F01/F02, 2008-2015) and B57 (G11/G12, 2015-2022) 3.0-litre straight-six diesels are documented for rear timing chain failure. The chain is driven from the rear of the engine (transmission-end), requiring engine or transmission removal for access, making this a disproportionately expensive repair. Failure is driven by chain stretch from cold-start oil starvation in engines run on extended drain intervals, combined with tensioner wear. A characteristic cold-start chain rattle that disappears once oil pressure builds is the primary warning.

• Cold-start timing chain rattle from rear of engine (disappears after 30-60 seconds as oil pressure builds)
• Rough running or misfires during cold warm-up phase
• Check engine light with camshaft/crankshaft timing correlation codes (P0016/P0017 range)
• Engine judder under load at low rpm
• In severe cases: catastrophic engine damage if chain jumps or snaps

1. 1

   Cold-start the engine and listen carefully for chain rattle from the rear — this is the most reliable diagnostic indicator on a cold morning.

2. 2

   Scan for camshaft/crankshaft timing codes.

3. 3

   Review service records for oil change intervals — engines run past 15,000 km intervals are significantly higher risk.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

$4,500 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.

• “Has the vehicle always had oil changes within recommended intervals?”
• “Have any timing chain, guide, or tensioner repairs been performed?”
• “Has the car ever produced a cold-start rattle from the engine?”

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.