BMW E87 timing chain tensioner and timing drive faults
Are the E87 timing chain and timing drive a weak point?
Yes, especially in the 116i and 118i petrol engines and the N47 diesels. The chain tensioner and the plastic chain guides wear or fail. Older 116i cars may be missing a timing drive chain guide, and the chain has jumped in several cars.
How can I recognise a timing chain fault?
A typical symptom is a screech or rattle at a cold start. The cause is most often the tensioner, whose failure can lead to the chain jumping. If the noise does not go away after replacing the tensioner, the fault may be elsewhere in the timing drive or, for example, in the alternator pulley.
Is it worth replacing the tensioner preventively?
Yes. An updated version of the tensioner has been released, and some cost around twenty euros. BMW has run a campaign for 116i cars whose tensioner was manufactured 3/2004–8/2007. Check with a BMW dealer whether the campaign has been carried out. Preventive maintenance is cheaper than engine damage.
When should the timing chain be replaced and what is renewed with it?
On the petrol 118i the chain should be replaced preventively at about 180,000 km, and the oil change interval should be at most 15,000 km. Timing drive service usually renews the chain, the lower sprocket, the guides and the seals. For the N47 diesel, confirm with a BMW dealer whether the timing drive service has been done.