E90 320d servicing costs.

[dyllindd]

So I saw a 2009 E90 320d A/T with 82000km on the clock I am really interested in at Pinnacle Cars in Bryanston. Unfortunately the Motorplan expired on the 29th of June. The car is really in a very good condition and the consumption is standing on 7.1L/100km.

Can someone perhaps tell me what the prices are for minor and major services at the stealerships as I would ideally like to keep the car serviced with BMW and maintain a good f.s.h. as well as have only geniune BMW parts on the car.

Or would it be better to maybe look for a a 2010/2011 model that has some mtorplan left and just extend it?

Thanks guys:thumbs:

Here is the link for the car: http://www.cars.co.za/viewVehicle.p...e=BMW-3-Series-320D-Auto-FL-2009#.U7RBifmSySo

 

[DieselFan]

So I saw a 2009 E90 320d A/T with 82000km on the clock I am really interested in at Pinnacle Cars in Bryanston. Unfortunately the Motorplan expired on the 29th of June. The car is really in a very good condition and the consumption is standing on 7.1L/100km.

Can someone perhaps tell me what the prices are for minor and major services at the stealerships as I would ideally like to keep the car serviced with BMW and maintain a good f.s.h. as well as have only geniune BMW parts on the car.

Or would it be better to maybe look for a a 2010/2011 model that has some mtorplan left and just extend it?

Thanks guys:thumbs:

Here is the link for the car: http://www.cars.co.za/viewVehicle.p...e=BMW-3-Series-320D-Auto-FL-2009#.U7RBifmSySo

The N47 engines have had problems with their timing chains which happens to be at the rear of the engine. So it may be best to buy one on MP. However that's not to say its going to happen to you.

Dealerships from my experience are absolutely useless. Find a good independent workshop and yes there are good ones out there, some are far better than dealerships.

Dealers normally have decent prices for oil changes but for everything else labour is R800 an hour. Which is daylight robbery.

You can except to pay on an oil change at an independent workshop. R450 for oil, R200 for OEM oil filter. R200 labour.

There are some parts which you can get away without using the crazy expensive OEM parts for instance, I bought a cabin filter R150 dealer price was R700.

If it was my money I would find a prelci 330d out of plan, and service it independently from the stealerships.

 

[S1NGH 911]

I've never heard of or seen a timing chain failure on the N47 in South Africa.

These cars are pretty solid, as long as they are maintained properly all will be fine:thumbs:

 

[dyllindd]

So I saw a 2009 E90 320d A/T with 82000km on the clock I am really interested in at Pinnacle Cars in Bryanston. Unfortunately the Motorplan expired on the 29th of June. The car is really in a very good condition and the consumption is standing on 7.1L/100km.

Can someone perhaps tell me what the prices are for minor and major services at the stealerships as I would ideally like to keep the car serviced with BMW and maintain a good f.s.h. as well as have only geniune BMW parts on the car.

Or would it be better to maybe look for a a 2010/2011 model that has some mtorplan left and just extend it?

Thanks guys:thumbs:

Here is the link for the car: http://www.cars.co.za/viewVehicle.p...e=BMW-3-Series-320D-Auto-FL-2009#.U7RBifmSySo

The N47 engines have had problems with their timing chains which happens to be at the rear of the engine. So it may be best to buy one on MP. However that's not to say its going to happen to you.

Dealerships from my experience are absolutely useless. Find a good independent workshop and yes there are good ones out there, some are far better than dealerships.

Dealers normally have decent prices for oil changes but for everything else labour is R800 an hour. Which is daylight robbery.

You can except to pay on an oil change at an independent workshop. R450 for oil, R200 for OEM oil filter. R200 labour.

There are some parts which you can get away without using the crazy expensive OEM parts for instance, I bought a cabin filter R150 dealer price was R700.

If it was my money I would find a prelci 330d out of plan, and service it independently from the stealerships.

Thanx for the heads up. Unfortunately im 21 and Outsurance didnt even want to quote me on a 330d. I got a quote from them on a 2009 320d A/T and their price is R2335 per month. And Ive had my license since matric with 3 years without any claims. I had an E46 318i in matric and we paid R2500pm and I am only paying R1000 on my 1.4 Corsa Utility.

Do the independant guys also read the key and do the services according to that? And if so will it show on the key that it has been serviced when done with them?

 

[DieselFan]

If you're going to go by dealer service intervals you're going to be in for a bad time. Oil and air filter every 10 000kms. Fuel filter filter every 30 000kms. Brake fluid should be done yearly. Wouldn't be a bad idea to do hydraulic fluid yearly too.

Independent workshops will not read your key they will read the car. The key is mainly for the big dealerships to be able to know what the car needs before they touch it. Which is pointless if your following proper maintenance procedures which motorplan DOES NOT.

And the timing chain failure is all over the Web. I have heard of them failing locally. There are even YouTube videos complaining about this fault.

https://www.google.com/search?ie=UT...ce=android-browser&q=n47+timing+chain+failure

The most ideal way is for your parents to purchase the car in their name. Get a decent insurer like mutual and federal where anyone can drive the car and it be covered. And on a 320d you're looking at around R400 a month for comprehensive. I would push for a 330d though if you like speed. The 320d is no slouch and responds well to software. But you'll get bored of the stock car eventually and software will only take it so far.

 

[Mrcloc]

I've heard about these timing chain issues, but I have never actually heard of one in SA that's actually true. The engine code is different to the N47 with timing chain issues (I think we have one that ends with O). Whether this makes any difference, I don't know, but I spoke to my service guy this morning (known him for years on a personal level), and he says the timing chain issues used to be with the older BMWs, and he's never heard of one failing on the N47. He also said you will hear the chain clearly, especially on start up and then when the oil heats up. So don't worry about the timing chain! Just listen for it on the car you buy before you buy it.

Don't take your car to BMW to service. Obviously in MP you must, but after MP services cost the same as any other car. The 320d (I can't speak for any other BMW) is stupidly easy to service. Just let an experienced guy do the bigger stuff.

All that said, the 320d is a high-maintenance vehicle. Very high! For example, I had my high pressure power-steering hose replaced last week. R6000. Thankfully BMW paid, but that's a long story. There are many parts which may fail, and all are expensive to replace/repair.

And you will be paying a large premium for insurance. It goes down quickly as you get older though.

The biggest problem with an expensive to maintain car is that if you don't budget to maintain it, very soon you end up with a car that has so much wrong with it, you may as well scrap it. I'm all for the 320d, but it costs a lot more than the monthly+fuel+insurance. If you think you can afford it, rather go for something half the price and wait until you can get a nice BMW with lots of MP. 10 years flies like you can't believe!

 

[DieselFan]

It doesn't matter whether you can hear it or not the problem is the timing chain is in the rear of the engine if it's fine when you buy it but 50 000 kms later it breaks you're in for a HUGE repair bill. There are too many complaints online about this issue for me to guy a n47. I'd rather buy a bullet proof m57

 

[Teezy_F30]

So I saw a 2009 E90 320d A/T with 82000km on the clock I am really interested in at Pinnacle Cars in Bryanston. Unfortunately the Motorplan expired on the 29th of June. The car is really in a very good condition and the consumption is standing on 7.1L/100km.

Can someone perhaps tell me what the prices are for minor and major services at the stealerships as I would ideally like to keep the car serviced with BMW and maintain a good f.s.h. as well as have only geniune BMW parts on the car.

Or would it be better to maybe look for a a 2010/2011 model that has some mtorplan left and just extend it?

Thanks guys:thumbs:

Here is the link for the car: http://www.cars.co.za/viewVehicle.p...e=BMW-3-Series-320D-Auto-FL-2009#.U7RBifmSySo

The N47 engines have had problems with their timing chains which happens to be at the rear of the engine. So it may be best to buy one on MP. However that's not to say its going to happen to you.

Dealerships from my experience are absolutely useless. Find a good independent workshop and yes there are good ones out there, some are far better than dealerships.

Dealers normally have decent prices for oil changes but for everything else labour is R800 an hour. Which is daylight robbery.

You can except to pay on an oil change at an independent workshop. R450 for oil, R200 for OEM oil filter. R200 labour.

There are some parts which you can get away without using the crazy expensive OEM parts for instance, I bought a cabin filter R150 dealer price was R700.

If it was my money I would find a prelci 330d out of plan, and service it independently from the stealerships.

Thanx for the heads up. Unfortunately im 21 and Outsurance didnt even want to quote me on a 330d. I got a quote from them on a 2009 320d A/T and their price is R2335 per month. And Ive had my license since matric with 3 years without any claims. I had an E46 318i in matric and we paid R2500pm and I am only paying R1000 on my 1.4 Corsa Utility.

Do the independant guys also read the key and do the services according to that? And if so will it show on the key that it has been serviced when done with them?

thats alot for insurance IMHO ... i feel the are very expensive with us drivers with licence for less than 5 years .. they quoted me R4500 for my gti .. i laughed at them .. i was 20 at the time .. paying about R1500 now .. and i think our corsas on business use is under R800 .. insured with Zurich .. have had some big claims with them and no issues with pay outs ..

 

[TOOFAST MP]

Don't worry about it when motorplans gone do it yourself, I did my F10 520d its on 101000 km it cost me R720. And 30min to do the oil change that was required ,the easy'st oil change. I have ever done.

 

[LPM320]

The only way one can safely say that South African n47 engined cars are not affected by the timing chain issue is if all the vehicles used as examples are over 220k km, as this is the mileage where total failures have been reported.

Reports indicates that the first sign of a chain rattle starts around 180k km, so saying at 140k km that a paticular car is free of this ailment due to lack of symptoms is not really indicative of much.

 

[Mrcloc]

It doesn't matter whether you can hear it or not the problem is the timing chain is in the rear of the engine if it's fine when you buy it but 50 000 kms later it breaks you're in for a HUGE repair bill. There are too many complaints online about this issue for me to guy a n47. I'd rather buy a bullet proof m57

This is the truth. And the M57 is great.

The only way one can safely say that South African n47 engined cars are not affected by the timing chain issue is if all the vehicles used as examples are over 220k km, as this is the mileage where total failures have been reported.

Reports indicates that the first sign of a chain rattle starts around 180k km, so saying at 140k km that a paticular car is free of this ailment due to lack of symptoms is not really indicative of much.

The affected engines were the N47D20A and N47D20D, produced from 2007-2009 (around May). There are reports of engines produced after this, but apparently very few. Check the engine code of the car you buy - BMW supposedly did a modification to the design. My 2010 (2009 manufactured) 320d has the N47D20O0, so I'm guessing the "O" is the designation of the newer "safer" version (the 135kW version is N47D20O1). The best way to increase the life of your engine and your timing chain is to do regular oil changes. I think the specification is every 15000km, but if you do it every 10000km your timing chain stands an even better chance. And this or every 12 months at least, whichever comes first.

An interesting note; I believe either the "D" or the "A" engines were 130kW, 350Nm, and the compression ratio was 16.5:1 (the other was the 125kW I'm guessing). The "O0" engine is also 130kW, 350Nm, but compression ratio is 16:1. The "O1" is 16.5:1. I'm under correction, but I believe the "D" and "A" engines' fuel economy was better than the "O0", which confirms the compression ratio (higher compression = better efficiency, all else being equal).

Regardless, it is probably worth getting the chain checked every 50000km (I think you can check it indirectly using a timing gun), and perhaps getting it replaced after 200000km. Maybe it's costly, but if you compare the cost to the cost of an extended MP, it's probably worth it rather than extending the MP (besides, if you extend the MP the dealerships service the car, which is not ideal).

 

[DeanoBlado]

The only way one can safely say that South African n47 engined cars are not affected by the timing chain issue is if all the vehicles used as examples are over 220k km, as this is the mileage where total failures have been reported.

Reports indicates that the first sign of a chain rattle starts around 180k km, so saying at 140k km that a paticular car is free of this ailment due to lack of symptoms is not really indicative of much.

I disagree, the timing chain failure can happen at any mileage. As per the overseas forums.