E70 N63 timing chain and guides

[CaptHerb]

So just a quick question I haven’t found a concrete answer for. Can you change the chain and guides without dropping the motor?


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[andrewwynn]

I've heard of in car vss but not timing chains.

https://youtu.be/aEgWA5GZ5Kw

This guy pulls n63 out the top in one hour flat. It's a sedan but I think it should be the same with X5.

Do you have chain guide failure or thinking of preemptive replacement.

For the earlier motors, chain tensioner wear is the root cause of chain guide failure. Change every 60,000 you can get almost any bmw motor chain guides to last 300,000 miles.

The m62 was famous for chewing up chain guides with the one chain solution.

N62 was better with two chains but should be replaced by 100,000

The 6 cylinder motors are much longer lasting tensioner I rarely ever hear of chain guide failure but I think I'll be ordering a Tensioner on my next fcp order.

Update: found example video in car:

https://youtu.be/Bva5f2CU-9A

[CaptHerb]

Thank you that might be a good option. No it’s not preventative I found pieces of the guides in the pan. But I kinda knew what I was getting myself into.

I sold my 958.2 turbo when prices were really high ( kinda regret it) and got this temporarily for a good deal with a timing code. It’s since gotten worse. I was just thinking if I take the motor out I might as well put a new one back in. It’s got 110k and the valve seals were done at 80. I still need to reach out to the dealer to see if there is anything they can help out with too. Or just get rid of it haha


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[andrewwynn]

I spun a rod bearing on n63 at 96k. I would do anything preventive you can and if you already have guide parts it's over due. BMW has improved things a lot with chain guide repair but n63 being in the car upside down I think it might be impossible to do chain guides with motor inn the car.

[fixingstill]

Those chain guides are brittle after 100K or so and turn from white to dark brown in color. U can see the color thru oil fill cap. Front timing cover needs to be removed to change guides. The cover is pinched between the cylinder heads (2 bolts per head thru head gasket) and upper oil pan (4 bolts thru the metal gasket). Even u can somehow pull the cover off, there will be oil leak from the gaskets after everything is put back. To remove cylinder heads and upper oil pan, you are better off taking the engine out first. You can pull engine out from top and u don't have to take the tranny out with it. Do remove the tranny mount to give it more freedom to move and be separated from engine, also give u access to remove the 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock top bell housing bolts.
While engine is out, mind as well change the valve stem seal and front and rear main seals.
Oh, u can remove the lower oil pan (surprisingly easy for this engine) and check for chunks of chain guides.