BMW Timing Chain Faults
WHAT IS A TIMING CHAIN?
Now offering UK wide collections (chargeable) – call for a price!
A timing chain or timing belt is an important part of a vehicle’s engine as it controls the opening and closing of the valves. If the tension of the chain is wrong, it is prone to fail. When the chain fails it allows the inlet and exhaust valves to collide with the pistons, this will inevitably cause substantial damage to the engine, likely resulting in bent valves; damage to rocker housing, camshafts and rocker arms.
A chain with inadequate tension can develop slack, while a chain with excessive tension can increase friction and heat, stopping the engine running smoothly.
A regular inspection will help find faults in your vehicle’s engine before they become major problems, and our expert mechanics can fix them immediately, offering you a less costly preventative cost before catastrophic damage occurs.
COMMON SIGNS OF A FAULTY TIMING CHAIN
Timing chain guide failure occur usually upwards of 70k mileage, though can happen earlier than this. The failure of the timing chain will cause the engine to suddenly stop running and may cause consequential or catastrophic damage to your engine. The more obvious warning sign that your vehicle’s timing chain is not functioning is a quite distinct rattle on start up from a cold engine, this rattle usually lasts around 5 to 10 seconds.
Some other common signs of a timing chain fault include: Engine misfires; Non-start Engines; Engine rattles, or metal shavings found in the oil. If you are unsure then call us, prevention is always cheaper than repair!
WHY IS IT SO EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE A TIMING CHAIN?
Replacing a timing chain on a BMW engine is a complex and labour-intensive process .
The first step is to remove the necessary engine components to gain access to the timing chain. This may include removing the valve cover, timing cover, and other parts. Once the engine components are removed, the old timing chain can be removed. This may involve removing the timing chain tensioner and guides.
Now we’re ready to install the new timing chain, along with new tensioners and guides. It’s important to make sure the timing marks on the crankshaft and camshaft are properly aligned. Once the new timing chain is installed and everything is checked to be aligned correctly, we can reinstall the engine components (including the valve cover, timing cover, and any other parts that were removed). The final stage is to test and adjust, we’ll start the engine to ensure that it’s running smoothly and that the timing is properly set. This process generally takes two, or three days start to finish.
Replacing a timing chain on a BMW engine requires specialized tools and expertise, and should only be performed by a qualified mechanic with experience working on BMW engines
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP FIX FAULTY TIMING CHAIN?
In order to avoid timing chain faults, it is recommended you change the engine oil at regular intervals.
Preventative maintenance is always the cheapest option, so if you are unsure about the health of your engine then give us a call or drop in so we can run an inspection and suggest helpful solutions.
If the chain fails, we are able to offer a full timing chain replacement service, and where necessary we will also rebuild the engine components. We have replaced hundreds of timing chains, and do these on a weekly basis. We’re experts at getting you back on the road in as little as two or three days.
