Timing chain BMW: problems by model and engine

Documented faults, from most to least important

Severity × frequency. Below each one, the BMW models it appears in.

- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequentBMW N47Rear timing chain stretch and breakageYes: the N47 has its timing chain at the rear of the engine, next to the gearbox, and on a very high proportion of units, especially those built between 2007 and 2009, it stretches or breaks prematurely because of an inadequate tensioner, with a risk of destroying the engine.Repair (garage): €1,590–€3,000Appears at around 50,000 km
In Serie 1 E87, Serie 1 F20, Serie 3 E90, Serie 3 F30, Serie 5 E60 and Serie 5 F10 and 3 more models
- Critical severityFrequency: CommonBMW N57Rear timing chain wearThe N57 inherits from the N47 the timing chain at the rear of the block, next to the gearbox, which complicates any repair. Unlike the N47, there is no documented campaign or wave of mass claims, and cases of serious wear appear mainly above 200,000 km.
In Serie 3 E90, Serie 3 F30, Serie 5 F10, Serie 7 F01, X3 F25 and X4 F26 and 4 more models
- Critical severityFrequency: CommonBMW N20Timing chain guide and tensioner wear (2011-2015)Yes: on BMW N20s built mainly between 2011 and 2015, the timing chain guides and tensioner wear out early; if the chain jumps teeth it can put pistons and valves out of sync and cause catastrophic damage. BMW revised the design in 2015, without a formal recall.Appears at around 129,000 km
In Serie 1 F20, Serie 2 F22, Serie 3 F30, Serie 4 F32, Serie 5 F10 and X1 E84 and 2 more models
- Critical severityFrequency: CommonBMW N43/N46Wear and breakage of the timing chain guidesYes: both the N43 and the N46 can stretch the timing chain and wear its plastic guides and tensioner. On the N43, English-language Wikipedia documents that a broken guide can release fragments that block the oil strainer and cause serious damage through lack of lubrication.
In Serie 1 E87, Serie 3 E90, Serie 5 E60, X1 E84 and Z4 E85/E86
- Critical severityFrequency: CommonBMW N13Timing chain and tensioner wearYes: in 2013 BMW issued a technical bulletin on timing chain and tensioner wear on the N13, an engine related to PSA's 1.6 THP. The chain proved more durable than on the N43 it replaces, but the German workshops we consulted still point to it as a weak point.
In Serie 1 F20 and Serie 3 F30
- Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW N62 / N63N63 timing chain stretch and guide breakageOn the N63 the timing chain can stretch and the sliding guide can break, leaving plastic debris in the sump and risking serious engine damage. We have found no European recall for this reason.
In Serie 5 F10, Serie 5 Gran Turismo F07, Serie 6 F12/F13, Serie 7 F01, X5 E70 and X6 E71
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW B47Timing chain wear (improved, but is it really at the front?)BMW improved the chain's tensioner, guides and oil supply compared with the N47, and failures take much longer to appear. But a specialist workshop insists the chain is still at the rear of the block, not at the front as is often claimed, so repairing it still means removing the engine or the gearbox.
In Serie 1 F20, Serie 1 F40, Serie 2 F22, Serie 2 Active Tourer F45, Serie 2 Active Tourer U06 and Serie 3 F30 and 11 more models
- High severityFrequency: RareBMW B48 / B38Timing chain on the early units (2014-2018), redesigned in the B48TUWe have found no documented cases of timing chain breakage on the B48. The one concrete fact that does exist is that BMW redesigned the chain as a single piece in the 2018 B48TU update, which points to an area for improvement in engines built before that date.
In Serie 1 F20, Serie 2 F22, Serie 2 Active Tourer F45, Serie 3 F30, Serie 5 F10 and Serie 5 G30 and 4 more models
- High severityFrequency: RareBMW B57Timing chain wear on the gearbox sideDasercars states that the B57 does not repeat the N47's premature chain wear, but that the chain is still on the gearbox side, so any work on it is expensive. A brief rattle when cold should be checked soon.
In Serie 3 G20, Serie 5 G30, Serie 7 G11, X3 G01, X3 G45 and X4 G02 and 3 more models

By BMW model

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Engines and gearboxes involved

Parts for your BMW for faults with the timing chain

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Timing chain kit
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Frequently asked questions

What faults with the timing chain do BMW cars have?

In 36 models from BMW there are 9 documented faults with the timing chain. The most important: rear timing chain stretch and breakage, rear timing chain wear and timing chain guide and tensioner wear (2011-2015). Each fault has its own page with the affected years and versions, the symptoms and the repair cost.

Which BMW models have the most problems with the timing chain?

BMW Serie 5 F10 (6 faults), BMW Serie 3 F30 (6 faults), BMW X3 F25 (5 faults) and BMW Serie 1 F20 (5 faults).

Which BMW engines have faults with the timing chain?

BMW B47 (1 fault), BMW B48 / B38 (1 fault), BMW B57 (1 fault), BMW N13 (1 fault) and BMW N20 (1 fault).