N47 diesel engines

[Blitz]

Can anyone tell me what year they revised the N47 or do they all have issues?

[Andyboy]

Still being sorted - latest revision to chain tensioners was November 2012. Barry will know but the crank sprocket issue was sorted in 2010.

[bss325i]

In short, they are all effected and its best to check with BMW if its had the repair done.

Complaint
Scraping, grinding noise from the engine at engine speeds above approx. 1500 rpm, which is noticeable
inside the vehicle.
The noise can be clearly noticed as coming from the transmission housing or the oil sump.

Cause
Sharp edges on the chain wheels or the timing chain does not run evenly over the sliding rails.

Measure
>> Important: Before starting the repair work, it is essential to first ensure that the parts are available. <<

A distinction must be made between 3 cases, as follows:

Case 1:

For engines N47, N47DK0, N47S, production period 01.03.2007 to 05.01.2009.
In the event of a customer complaint, replace the following components with new ones:

- 11 21 7 803 479 exchange crankshaft with bearing shells.

Note: Use only crankshafts manufactured after 05.01.2009!
The production date of the crankshaft is stamped on the chain wheel. (See attachment, page 1.)
Meaning of the digits:
- The first two digits stand for the production line.
- The six following digits stand for: year (two-digit), month, day.
- The last 5 digits denote the serial number of the crankshaft.
The crankshaft shown in the attachment on page 1 has therefore been manufactured on 21 October 2009.

- 11 41 7 797 896 Chain for the oil pump drive.
- 11 31 8 506 652 Bottom timing chain.
- 13 52 7 797 906 Sprocket for the high pressure pump drive.
- 11 27 7 800 523 Gearwheel (idler gear for the balancing shafts).
- 11 27 7 802 575 Gearwheel (balancing shaft drive).
- 11 27 7 802 576 Gearwheel (balancing shaft drive).
- 11 31 8 510 014 Top timing chain.
- 11 31 7 797 899 Guide rail for top timing chain.
- 13 52 8 573 158 Guide rail for bottom timing chain.
- 13 52 8 573 159 Tensioning rail for bottom timing chain.

Note: Only use dampened tensioning rails and guide rails for the bottom timing chain. (See attachment,
page 2)
Only use the sliding rail without strengthening bars for the top timing chain. (See attachment, page 3)

Note: Precisely adjust the idler gear for the balancing shafts in accordance with Repair Instructions.
If the idler gear and balancing shafts are not sufficiently adjusted, the engine may produce noises even
if the crankshaft, etc. are new.
See Repair Instructions 11 21 500 "Replace crankshaft".

Note: On vehicles where the crankshaft has already been replaced as part of a previous repair:
Process these vehicles as described under "Case 2".

Case 2:

For engines N47, N47DK0, N47S, N47T, production period 05.01.2009 - 01.03.2011
In the event of a customer complaint, replace the following components:

- 11 31 8 506 652 Bottom timing chain.
- 13 52 7 797 906 Sprocket for the high pressure pump drive.
- 11 31 8 510 014 Top timing chain.
- 11 31 7 797 899 Guide rail for top timing chain.
- 13 52 8 573 158 Guide rail for bottom timing chain.
- 13 52 8 573 159 Tensioning rail for bottom timing chain.

Note: The screwed connection on the idler gear for the balancing shafts must no longer be undone.

Note: Only use dampened tensioning rails and guide rails for the bottom timing chain. (See attachment,
page 2)
Only use the sliding rail without strengthening bars for the top timing chain. (See attachment, page 3)

Note: On vehicles where the sliding rails without strengthening bars have already been fitted and both
timing chains have already been replaced as part of a repair: Process these vehicles as described
under "Case 3".

Case 3:

For engines N47T, manufactured from 01.03.2011, and where repairs have already been carried out
using the sliding rails without strengthening bars.
In the event of a customer complaint, replace the following components with new ones:

- 11 31 8 506 652 Bottom timing chain.
- 13 52 7 797 906 Sprocket for the high pressure pump drive.
- 11 31 8 510 014 Top timing chain.
- 13 52 8 573 158 Guide rail for bottom timing chain.
- 13 52 8 573 159 Tensioning rail for bottom timing chain.


Note: The reference construction status following the repair is shown on page 4 of the attachment.

[bss325i]

Still being sorted - latest revision to chain tensioners was November 2012. Barry will know but the crank sprocket issue was sorted in 2010.

Crank sprocket was sorted from 5/1/09.

The bottom guide rail and tensioning rail have just been revised again and have only just been released.

I stripped one down just before christmas only to find our parts department ordered in the old type and the latest ones were on back order till the second week of feb!

Luckily they came in a week and a half ago and the job is now finished and back with the owner.

All done under AUC warranty.

[Blitz]

So its best to have BMW warranty.

Thanks

Any issues with the earlier M47?

[bss325i]

100% have a BMW warranty! At least until it gets fixed.

M47's are more robust but have their own issues, turbos, injectors, swirl flaps.

[Andyboy]

Is it true you can sort the chain guides with the engine in but the box and flywheel removed?

[bss325i]

Is it true you can sort the chain guides with the engine in but the box and flywheel removed?

The official repair instructions state to remove the engine as the head and sump are meant to come off to remove the timing cover BUT the timing cover can be removed without taking either off.

You need to seal the corners with drei bond.

Box and fly wheel off to get to the timing cover.

[irish320i]

What mileage is this trouble showing up we look after quite a few e60 520d s and other than a few turbos the engine s have been ok

[bss325i]

70-80k they the noise seems to rear its ugly head.

I will add, BMW have repaired these out of warranty under good will but obviously with FBMWSH.

[irish320i]

Cheers
The warranty part will be no good to any of our customers as they are all serviced outside the dealer network. Is it guaranteed to happen at some stage or is it like some other manufactures that if they cross a certain mileage its unlikely to happen.

[bss325i]

Its hard to say for sure as there are thousands of these engines out there and not everyone notices the noise but its safe to say they all started off with the same parts that have been superseded.

If they dont get done when noisey they can snap.

Its a shame really as this problem aside, they are a fantastic engine.

[irish320i]

Its shit alright , when asked it very difficult to recommend anything recent. Every day we have have fresh cars with crazy expensive faults psa hdi engine, vag 2.0 tdi, merc diesel chain and gear issues .

[capri_rob]

Sorry to sound dumb but which cars was the N47 fitted to - 1 and 3 series ? 118 120d etc ?

By the sounds of it newer models ?

Just so I know more of what to avoid when they come down to banger money

[bss325i]

Pretty much everything apart from Z4's, 6's 7's, X6's and X5's.

[Andyboy]

vag 2.0 tdi

What a piece of junk they are as well. The oil pump dramas on these fitted to the Passat, A4, Superb etc are just crazy.

"Hans, I have a great idea. Let's fit an oil pump, running at engine speed, driven from a 6mm hex bar from the balance shafts!" Fucking crazy. Oil pump under massive stress, the hex sockets round out, no oil pump drive. That's if the plastic chain drive tensioner doesn't break and allow the chain to wear into the tenioner plunger and shag itself first. And that's unless the head gasket goes first, as they do. You have to wonder who designs this shit.
Take a tough, simple and reliable engine (EA827 1.9TDI and M47) and redesign it so that it's a bastard to work on, overcomplex and fucks itself in 80'000 miles.

The N47 is a good engine when running, but not much better really than the last 163 bhp M47's.