[cm335d]

Hello all, I have a 2011 335d with 94k miles on it. I recently had the harmonic balancer fail and successfully replaced it. A couple weeks after that I started noticing a weird clack (more than the usual diesel clack) at idle only. Once you rev it up slightly, the noise goes away. I'm thinking that this is a timing chain that is ready to let go. Has anyone tackled replacing the timing chain on their own? I've read through a factory manual that says you have to remove the motor and also remove the head to change it out. I'm fairly versed in most repairs, but this one is above my pay grade. I'm thinking if the engine needs to be apart that far, I might as well have the whole thing freshened up while I'm there (new rings/bearings/valve job, etc.).
I can likely remove the motor myself if need be. Do you all have any recommendations for a trusted motor builder/BMW repair shop in Southern Califonia (San Fernando Valley or close to it)? Thanks in advance for reading and your thoughts.

[Yozh]

Never seen a timing chain fail around here.

[Mus22]

Hi Mate isit a slapping noise usually the tensioners are crap that's why bmw did a recall and one stage. 335d chain changes are easy as the m57 engines the chains at the front its the n47's you need to be carefull with as they are the back of the engine.

http://prestige-german-engines.co.uk...chain-failure/

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by cm335d

...
I'm thinking if the engine needs to be apart that far, I might as well have the whole thing freshened up while I'm there (new rings/bearings/valve job, etc.).

There are many people with M57's at way more miles than you have; I (also) have not seen M57 timing chain problems noted on any forum I look at. I would be surprised if it's bad; would well be worth having someone check it out with a stethoscope to try to pin-point it exactly.

I would definitely not do a rebuild - even BMW gasoline engines go 200K or more without that; these diesels should go 300K easily. Really, it's not cost effective at that mileage.

[cm335d]

Originally Posted by Mus22

Hi Mate isit a slapping noise usually the tensioners are crap that's why bmw did a recall and one stage. 335d chain changes are easy as the m57 engines the chains at the front its the n47's you need to be carefull with as they are the back of the engine.

http://prestige-german-engines.co.uk...chain-failure/

---
Thanks for the link. The sound is hard to describe, but its like a loud diesel 'knocking' or slapping noise that goes away with just a slight increase in idle. I could see this being a tensioner problem for sure, perhaps the chain stretched a bit too?
So do you need to remove the engine and head as the factory manual indicates, or can you do it with the engine in the car?
Also, do you have any further info on the recall that BMW had for the M57? I'd much rather have BMW fix this one on their dime. Thanks Mate, I sure appreciate the help!

[cm335d]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

There are many people with M57's at way more miles than you have; I (also) have not seen M57 timing chain problems noted on any forum I look at. I would be surprised if it's bad; would well be worth having someone check it out with a stethoscope to try to pin-point it exactly.

I would definitely not do a rebuild - even BMW gasoline engines go 200K or more without that; these diesels should go 300K easily. Really, it's not cost effective at that mileage.

---

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it. I'm really surprised at this sound, and when I get under the car, the sound is the strongest at the harmonic balancer. I even rechecked to make sure that component was torqued and not loose (since I just replaced it). I'm planning to have a shop look at it this coming week to see what the verdict is.

[Miko226]

It is likely the belt tensioner as that has become worn with the mileage. I will be replacing my belt tensioner while i do the Harmonic balancer. Like one of the above said timing chain failure is highly unlikely and would not touch it.

[cm335d]

Originally Posted by Miko226

It is likely the belt tensioner as that has become worn with the mileage. I will be replacing my belt tensioner while i do the Harmonic balancer. Like one of the above said timing chain failure is highly unlikely and would not touch it.

---
I will check this out and see. I would much rather it be a drive belt tensioner. Do you know how to test it to confirm that is the defective part? Thanks!

[juld0zer]

We only get 330d in E9x here, which a 2011 model should have an N57 - which means chains at the rear.

Forgive me for asking (if your market gets a different motor) but what is an 'old' motor doing in a newish car when the E70 and F10 of the same era got the N57?

If it is indeed an N57 then the warning signs are the same as for the N47 - listen out for a cement mixer or chain saw type noise that is rhythmic and noticeable between idle up to about 1300rpm.

However, BMW in my region have recently updated the diagnosis test module for the N47 to state that the noise is normal and does NOT hint of eventual failure of the chain. So it is a bit of a tough situation at the moment. They are basically saying the noise is due to the insufficient noise prevention measures in the old chain guides. The new chain guides have noise dampening in them. So those who do complain will get new guides, but not chains.. I haven't had to deal with an N57 one recently yet to tell if the wording has also changed.

[cm335d]

Originally Posted by cm335d

---
I will check this out and see. I would much rather it be a drive belt tensioner. Do you know how to test it to confirm that is the defective part? Thanks!

Update: I started the car to watch the belt tensioner and idler pulley. They both seem to be tracking smoothly and no movement from the tensioner. Could loud clacking still be coming from these components?

[Mark M]

Vacuum pump has also been known to cause a racket.

[BB_cuda]

Use the auto stethoscope or cut off broom handle to locate source of noise. Auto zone sells them for $15.

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by juld0zer

We only get 330d in E9x here, which a 2011 model should have an N57 - which means chains at the rear.

Forgive me for asking (if your market gets a different motor) but what is an 'old' motor doing in a newish car when the E70 and F10 of the same era got the N57?...

The newer F15 X5 got the N57 (as did the F10 in around 2012 or so); the E70 X5 has the same M57 that the E90 335d has (except that it has a different EGR system.) The 2009, '10, '11 E90 in the US/CA have the M57D30T2 engine, with the latest DDE 7.3. In fact, the DDE was first placed on the US engines, as it was needed to control all the BluePerformance SCR/DEF stuff. BMW used the US/CA (speculation, but essentially confirmed) as a beta site for the emissions controls: all BMW diesels have BluePerformance.

To a large degree, the model and engine are purely a money decision. It costs at least $5M to certify a model in the USA/CA. Putting an N57 on an E30 335d would have cost BMW an additional $5M in addition to the original $5M for the M57 engine. That cost was already kind of high for 10,000 cars. New engines are only rolled into the US/CA market when really necessary, and usually only at new model introduction.

[Mus22]

In UK BMW was investigated by watchdog which is a tv program that investigates companies with major failures. The above mentioned link explains it all. Its not bad chains its bad tensioners which is why in the UK BMW had a recall on a lot of their engines. If genuinely the slapping noise is the chain this could be due to the timing chain being slightly stretched and slapping against the guides and the worry is guides are plastic and get brittle which can break and cause damage. At this stage if your issue is the chain a rebuild is unnecessary you can just by the kit and do the chain. Rebuild is for people who have jumped chains and seized engines due to chain snapping.

[ptpending]

335d never had N57 engine in e-series, it is old M57 even in 335d lci in europe
while 330D E9X and E70 3D and 4D got N57 engine instead of M57 in europe
every M57N2 from 2006MY have more weak chain then M57N
there are many chain failures on M57N2 registered in car shops in europe
the lifetime of the chain is 200-300 thousands kilometers depend on what type of the load is on engine (ie E70 and E65 and remapped 335d) have lower chain lifetime
so if you have 94k mileage and have heavy remapping you chain may fail earlier
but the other side is that indy mechanics in europe replace this chain without engine removal

[Andy198712]

I thought the recall in U.K. Was related to 2.0s? Not the 3...?

[Mus22]

its the petrol's with only 2s the 3s were on the diesels.

[ptpending]

recall was on N47 chain because it is started to break during warranty and because there are much more 316,318,320d cars in europe

[cm335d]

UPDATE:

Ok, I ended up having the car towed to a local shop (House of BMRs in Canyon Country, CA) and having the owner Mark diagnose it. He called me a day later with the news. Turns out the brand new aftermarket Vaico harmonic balancer that I had installed just two weeks prior had failed. It was about to grenade and the only thing holding it onto car was the four bolts. Check out the pictures and the wear. I will be sending this unit back to the folks at Pelican Parts where I purchased it (along with the four stretch bolts) for a full refund (they already issued me an RMA). Mark recommended a factory BMW part. I agreed with that and had him purchase and install it.
Here's a testament to not buy aftermarket harmonic balancers....
Anyhow, I just want to thank all of you that posted with thoughts and ideas to help me diagnose. This sure sounded like a timing chain, but thankfully it was not.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bws...ew?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bw...BBeTFyWl9UTkRB

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bws8k-QPBpZWMFplSzRVdHBRLThkanJ4YmR6NGkyZE11REF3[/url]

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bw...xuQkdsNnhjZjBr

[robnitro]

Glad you found the issue not severe as the chain.

Fyi, the febi harmonic balancer I got from fcpeuro was identical to the oem, just some numbers scratched off.

[Persian Whisperjet]

Originally Posted by robnitro

Fyi, the febi harmonic balancer I got from fcpeuro was identical to the oem, just some numbers scratched off.

Go figure. My Febi is going strong at 27K.

[cm335d]

Originally Posted by Persian Whisperjet

Go figure. My Febi is going strong at 27K.

Funny that I only ordered from Pelican parts because they were in California and I thought I'd get the part quicker because of that. I almost always order from FCPEuro. I did check with them and they only had the Corteco and the OEM available. Pelican didn't have the Febi available either, they were out of stock. Hopefully I'm good for at least another few years with this one.