XSeries-forum

We all know the timing chain guides are a weak point on these beasts and can lead to a very expensive bill if they break and take the chain with them, so I'm wondering if anyone has replaced just the the guides as a precautionary measure.

I changed the guides on my sons 4.4 which was making a horrendous noise at 105k and had actually broken some bits of alloy of the inside of the covers. I considered him the luckiest person in the world that the chain hadn’t jumped any teeth. Mine were done a few k ago at 145k. No noise or running issues, discovered because I had taken the sump off and there was plastic guide bits in the sump. My thoughts are if you get to 100k/10 years do it as a precaution. I know that’s easy to say if you can do it yourself for £500 and that includes other bits that you will find wrong. When you’re paying someone £1500 then it’s a different decision.
Correct me if I’m wrong but I’m sure the N62 isn’t as prone to failure as the M62

Do you mean the guides or the whole lot at 100K, the guides are the bits that let go aren't they?
Does it still cost that much to replace just the guides?

That’s just the guides NOT chain, but you need to/should replace the tensioner, you need cam cover gaskets timing chain cover gaskets "o’" rings, there are a lot of other parts apart from guides, for example do you replace the vanos solinoid seals, water pump while your in there, serpentine belts, pulleys, tensioner. Do you want to go in there once every 100k or revisit on a regular basis as things break/leak/squeal. Are you going to keep the vehicle for another 100k or shift it on in 10/20k. Hard decisions

I seem to remember there being a really good write up on here, with pics, regarding the timing change replacement.
Any links to it, could do with some light reading on this very wet Sunday afternoon, lol.

Your best bet is to go on utube
bmw v8 timing chain guide replacement

I paid £1900 to have mine done after they broke.. 2 year warranty with that too. I thought about DIY but at that time I didn't have a spare vehicle or time (or the motivation..).
I didn't know it was a weak point until too late.

henrym3 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 03, 2019 4:38 pm Your best bet is to go on utube
bmw v8 timing chain guide replacement

I know you tube or google are the way to go for most searches or info, but you can't beat a forum member doing a good write up with pics.
Now come on, where are you, lol.
Never know, it might kick this place back into life again, can't believe how quite it is.

I did a write up ages ago about a full engine rebuild on my 4.6 after the guides collapsed completely blocking the oil pump suction filter up, which the original mechanic doing the guide change missed.
I think that the pictures have disappeared as the hosting site required a subscription.
So if you ever do have bits missing from the guides, take the sump off and check the suction filter....

Good advice this was mine, wasn’t even making a noise

So which guide fails, top or bottom?
I wonder if it's worth dropping the sump off to see if there's any evidence of guide material, might save an expensive engine rebuild job should the chain jump at speed, I know the chain replacement is not cheap, but cheaper than a complete engine rebuild.
The older these cars are getting the less chance it makes sense to rebuild as you would probably get more in parts.

I think it was the long guide that went on mine first, but as the guides are all of the same material they all go brittle.
If you are keeping the car for a few more years then it's (relatively) cheap preventative maintenance.
Of course once your in there then maybe you would want to do other stuff.
Main problem would be getting the crankshaft pulley nut off......

Can you just remind me again which engine you have

henrym3 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2019 4:49 pm Can you just remind me again which engine you have

4.6

If you drop the sump you will definitely see the bits of guide if they are gone. Once they break off they have a pretty straight passage down to the sump.