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2011 X5 E70 timing chain

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2020 5:34 pm
by Karlparris7
I just been for mot and garage have said that engine in making a bit of noise when reved and suspect it to be timing chain.
I’m not sure of cost yet as waiting for quotes to come back but been told engine & gearbox have to come out to do this job ,I think it’s gonna cost a pretty packet.
Has any one else had to have there’s done is so how much and how long did it take?

Re: 2011 X5 E70 timing chain

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2020 5:51 pm
by mr angry
I picked up a 2010 x5 40d for a friend a few weeks back and it had a receipt for new chain fitted a few months earlier. If I recal it was around £1500 for parts and labour at a local indie. You are correct, the engine has to come out as the chains are at the rear.

If it is noisey I wouldnt use it until repaired as replacement n57 engines are expensive.

Re: 2011 X5 E70 timing chain

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2020 6:10 pm
by X5Sport
What’s the mileage on the car? Just so owners know when they also need to be aware of it. It would be useful to know if it was a result of a tensioner issue - as happens on V8s too.

The timing chain is at the back of the engine for some reason that only BMW could explain! That’s why the engine and box have to come out.

Re: 2011 X5 E70 timing chain

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2020 6:59 pm
by Karlparris7
Mileage is 97000

Re: 2011 X5 E70 timing chain

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2020 8:53 pm
by neil50
I would be wary of driving it until sorted because if the guide is involved this could get damaged and throw pieces into areas that you do not want and cause more damage. Worse case is the chain coming lose, jumping teeth and trashing the engine.

If the engine comes out, I would also take the opportunity to have a look at engine/gearbox mounts and also gearbox and transfer box oil change at the same time.

I won an auction for an E70 but to give them their due, the seller on t'internet notified me it had started to rattle on revs and gave me the option to pull out. I did some research at costs etc. as they also offered a big discount but with engine out etc. I decided against it. They told me it would be a couple of weeks until the car would be sorted if I still wanted it but I am sure it wouldn't take that long as a dedicated task from a garage.

Re: 2011 X5 E70 timing chain

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2020 9:35 pm
by Leslie
That's a very disappointing mileage for that to be happening :(

Re: 2011 X5 E70 timing chain

Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2020 4:01 pm
by X5Sport
Leslie wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2020 9:35 pm That's a very disappointing mileage for that to be happening :(
I was thinking the same. That’s no mileage at all for a diesel, or a timing chain to be honest.

Re: 2011 X5 E70 timing chain

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2020 6:22 pm
by Karlparris7
I’ve had the first quote back ...... £ 2300 :( :( :cry: :cry:

Re: 2011 X5 E70 timing chain

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2020 6:54 pm
by X5Sport
Have you had a second opinion? As in has it been confirmed that there is an issue with the chain?

Re: 2011 X5 E70 timing chain

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2020 7:12 pm
by mr angry
To be honest the parts arent that much its the labour costs involved. Shop around and even a bit further afield to get a decent quote

Re: 2011 X5 E70 timing chain

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2020 7:32 pm
by neil50
I think that may be the going rate, the car that I was going to buy until they found it had a rattling chain could have been mine with the chain issue as they agreed to knock off £2K from the price if I still wanted it. This would have been the cost to them to get it fixed.

Re: 2011 X5 E70 timing chain

Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2020 11:12 pm
by Leslie
Is the original thread car with 97k about a 40d as well ? Karl how long have you had it / miles in your ownership , is it town driving or motorway ?
I notice crusing along at say 50 my revs will be like very low say 1300 rpm which is far from ideal / too low wonder if this is bad for chains ?

Re: 2011 X5 E70 timing chain

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2020 8:47 am
by X5Sport
Low rpm is a diesel characteristic. The torque is all at the bottom end. Petrol engines rev higher because the power bands are different. Why would low rpm be bad for a chain?

Re: 2011 X5 E70 timing chain

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2020 9:49 am
by mr angry
As I understand it, the cause of these failures is thought to be the extended intervals between oil changes.

Re: 2011 X5 E70 timing chain

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2020 5:14 pm
by Karlparris7
I’ve had the car just over 4 years, it had 65000 when I got it and 90% of the miles I’ve done have been around town