Just curious. I've seen cars with 100k miles needing timing chain guide service all the way up to 260k on their original guides.
Did later models m62tu's have a longer timing chain tensioner from the factory vs early models?
My project car has 250,000 miles and it might be the original chain. I bought it from a guy who bought it with 150,000 miles. He didn't ever do any maintinance on the car. So, they were either replaced before 150,000 or they are original. As much VANOS noise as it's making, I think its the original chain. I plan to replace it this spring as a precaution.
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Sounds exactly like mine. But I'm 220k miles on the clock with a vanos knock on my 2003 540i Sport. I've been changing the oil every 4000 miles religiously for a long time and I'm starting to think the cleaner the oil and the updated longer spring on the tensioner plays a part on the longevity of the guides.
Last edited by 89vert507; 01-26-2020 at 07:37 PM.
Had 200K on my 03 MSport when we did them, can't say they were terrible - some signs of aging, but that was expected. I did replace the spring in the tensioner when I got the car with 160K and I know PO did not treat her all that great. My friend's '03 MSport had a failure at 110K. Go figure...
164,000 miles on my original chain. swapped out the new TC tensioner at 143,000 when I first bought it and change oil every 5,000 religiously as well. hoping to not have to do the chain until 200k. Planning on doing the chain next year, though I have faith in it for a couple more 10 thousand miles ::knocks on wood::
191,000 miles still on original chain and guides. Replaced tensioner at 140,00, then installed longer/stronger spring on the tensioner at 160,00 and 185,000.
Regular oil changes at 6 months interval.
Out of curiosity, which tensioner and better/longer spring did you guys use? I'm at 143K and original guides with no issues.
I've read the M62 OEM BMW chain tensioner was updated with a longer spring. But not sure when it was updated.
175.7k miles was my failure point, and the failure was sudden. I am the second owner. First owners had the car for 16 years and maintenance was on schedule, but not above and beyond.
165K but OSV is being a PITA so gonna do em very soon . Did my tensioner some 7 years ago at 120k.
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Skip to 5:59. Talks about the updated timing chain tensioner spring.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpKleWRRfrI
M62 Non Vanos
150k on original guides and chain, just ordered a new tensioner as a precaution.
do you know what spring it is
OEM BMW Tensioner. Not aftermarket
Hi guys. One question related to this topic. I am going to buy new timing chain kit for N47 engine but I am wandering which one is better: FEBI, INA, DAYCO or SWAG? Do we have experience with some of these? Thanks.
180k, just replaced the tensioner with INA, just has morning startup rattles.
I've heard people speculate that earlier (older than 99) versions had more durable guides (guides are the problem, not the chains). I have no idea if that's true or not. I've also heard people say replacing the tensioner servicable from outside the cases as something that will prolong the life of the chain & guides. It might help by making sure the chain is properly tensioned but after seeing the grooves in all the guides on my 150k 2001 motor I'd be suspicious of that component having much of an effect on guide life. The primary chain goes a long way across other guide surfaces before it comes around to the spot that tensioner controls. Also I found pretty deep grooves just from the cam to cam chains which have nothing to do with that tensioner.
If you're wondering how long you can go before planning on this job be advised that several people here had thousands of mile of noise to warn them the chain guides were going. One post above mentioned less warning. My first (152k miles) gave me ~ 30 miles. The actual failure was like an avalanche. If you hear some extra chain noise (a stethoscope works nicely to pin point this) I'd suggest parking and ordering your parts.
You can always pull the oil pan and look for pieces of guides (my current 540i didn't show me anything here even though the guides were worn & cracked) or you can find a boroscope and snake it down the oil fill hole. If you do that try to send it towards the valley of the V, that's the place where the guides really crack and lose pieces. Good luck!
For another datapoint on warning time. My 2000 had zero miles warning. I drove to work in the morning, nothing wrong and no abnormal noises. Started the car at the end of the day to head home and was greeted with an immediate SES light and strange whining noise that got worse on my ~7 mile drive home. By the time I got home the noise was bad and the engine was rough. Runs great now, ~$2k and 60 hours later. (I did a lot of other stuff besides just the guides.)
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