1 Series

[gookah]

Hello all
I have a budget of £10k to buy, possibly, a 1 series coupe. (not keen on the hatchback shape tbh)
so I was wondering if anyone has experience of these. (or the hatchback regarding the below concern)

Now I have heard horror stories of the N47 diesel engine variant and its timing chain placement/wear.
Has anyone experienced this, or know anyone that has?
There are numerous diesels on autotrader. (and that may be exactly why!) but there are not hundreds broken down on the side of the road, or even advertising that a 'fix' has been done or needed.

I have heard that the N47 engine has this issue between 2007 and 2009, but there is plenty of choice of after 2010 onwards. Did they fix it after 2009, or is it still liable to come back and bite.
Also shorter journeys (which we do) are probably not suitable for the diesel, unless you know / have experienced better (or worse)

Petrol variants are snapped up quickly but I am wondering if that is the way to go.
Or do I buy a Fiesta ST or Audi TT instead?

So please go shopping for me, and suggest some that I may have missed in my searches.

PS neither Zed's are going. The Abarth 595 went instead

 

[Paul Rice]

I have the 118 d sport hatch. No problem with cam chain yet but only has 21k on the clock, the petrol has a similar chain problem but with the diesel its an engine out job. Sometimes think i would have been better off sticking to petrol as do a lot of short journeys especially in winter and this does effect fuel consumption currently down to 47mpg, summer was always doing 55+ Cheapest car to run £20 road tax just over £200 to insure and never tire of the acceleration it has, handles well also. Plan to have it chipped when the warranty runs out for better mpg and even better acceleration.
As a compact car its the best i have had, would probably go for the bigger 3 series if i ever change this one.

 

[GazHyde]

@Mnbrennan can tell you a bit about the timing chain problems... I had a 2004 120D SE Auto as a company car for about 40k and I loved it, obviously the runflats have to be taken in to account for making it a little crashy.

I'm considering changing my Corsa for a newish 118D Sport at the moment, or possibly the A3 or Scirocco.

 

[mrscalex]

I think one of the practical car mags had an article recently on either the 1 Series or BMW engines from that era. It had useful info you should try to seek out.

I never remember what the dodgy engine is but for sure the problem is for real and it’s very badly regarded.

 

[Paul Rice]

The problem, although BMW deny it! was the quality of the chain / links.

 

[yocky z3 2.0]

Hi Pete I had the 520d n47 engine a mechanic friend of mine said the oil needs to be changed every 7 or 8 thou it is only when they are left to the 25thou service that they have trouble mucky oil causes wear mine had 125000 as smooth as silk and mapped as well cheers Tony.

 

[gookah]

From what I can gather they have not made the tensioners long enough to cope with all the chain wear, so when the tensioner reaches its limit and the chain wear carries on, it then comes off and basically destroys the engine.

also
to put a new chain and tensioner on means removing gearbox or engine and possibly crankshaft, as one of the sprockets that wears is part of the crankshaft itself. Even the preventative work is major money that's probably why I have not seen any for sale that have had a new chain fitted

. I dare say it would be a safe bet with a nearly new one with a BMW warranty remaining.however then we are not talking the10k price range.

Also I dare say that seeing one with proof of more regular oil changes is as limited as the petrol ones.
Ifyou owned the car from new and swapped before the warranty runs out why would you do it more often than the 25k interval especially at dealer prices.
so by the time these are 40 or 50 k miles in, that wear has already had a big impact

 

[Slam]

My son had a 2008 123d coupe 204bhp never had any problems in fact I would have bought it from had it been auto for the wife.

 

[hard top]

My son had a 2008 123d coupe 204bhp never had any problems

How long did he own it?

 

[gookah]

do you know what miles had it done, and was it serviced more often?
I can't believe they are all doomed to failure, but I am not sure about taking a risk.

 

[Slam]

How long did he own it?

About 18 months. It had 58k on it.

 

[Slam]

And now my nephew owns it and touch wood it's fine. Just had normal service history.

 

[gookah]

good to know

 

[Slam]

Controversial comment now , at the same time I had an s type 2.7 diesel jag and I much preferred it to the BMW , the jag was much more refined you did not know it was a diesel when driven.

 

[mktommo]

I had a 2010 118d M Sport Coupe. Owned it for 4 years from 3 years old and did 35,000 miles - I loved it but would buy a quicker version if I were to do it again.

The coupe was a little bit of a pain to get in and out of the back and only has 4 seats but it was enough for me. 18 inch alloys and runflats made for a hard ride but were very liveable with apart from when you hit a pothole - but there aren't many of those around are there ......

I had a bit of a freak failure - an ECU failed that required a new steering module too and cost £1,200 to replace. I wasn't particularly happy at the time but the major mechanicals including engine and timing chain were top notch...... I loved driving it and I'd thoroughly recommend - a great car for a great price.

 

[gookah]

Controversial comment now , at the same time I had an s type 2.7 diesel jag and I much preferred it to the BMW

Can you leave now please, and don't darken this place again.....

 

[gookah]

I had a 2010 118d M Sport Coupe. Owned it for 4 years from 3 years old and did 35,000 miles - I loved it but would buy a quicker version if I were to do it again.

The coupe was a little bit of a pain to get in and out of the back and only has 4 seats but it was enough for me. 18 inch alloys and runflats made for a hard ride but were very liveable with apart from when you hit a pothole - but there aren't many of those around are there ......

I had a bit of a freak failure - an ECU failed that required a new steering module too and cost £1,200 to replace. I wasn't particularly happy at the time but the major mechanicals including engine and timing chain were top notch...... I loved driving it and I'd thoroughly recommend - a great car for a great price.

View attachment 76095

Thats a lovely car.
I am looking for the M Sport variant, in white with red full leather seats, (not that I am narrowing it down)
As regards getting in the back. Those passengers will either be glad of a lift, or can walk.

 

[g8jka]

Controversial comment now , at the same time I had an s type 2.7 diesel jag and I much preferred it to the BMW , the jag was much more refined you did not know it was a diesel when driven.

Can you leave now please, and don't darken this place again.....

How can you say that when you said in the first post

Or do I buy a Fiesta ST or Audi TT instead?

There is a Z3M within budget or what about a Z4 coupe?

 

[gookah]

I didn't say they were better than a BMW.....

 

[gookah]

need more than 2 seats for the 'sensible' car