Fiddle sticks

[BreakMyWindow 1870]

On Thursday morning i went to start my car,(e39 540i with the m62tu, done 250k, nz-new) and decided to make an odd whirring/rattle sound. The sound seemed to originate from within the passenger side cam cover. I removed the oil cap which is on the drivers side cam cover this morning and noticed that the timing chain looks to have been rubbing against something else metal in the engine. (the chain is a golden brown colour, but the top of the chain is now shiny and bare metal looking.) The noise seems to quieten down slightly once the engine has been run, but at this stage im extremely reluctant to turn the motor over any more. I havnt noticed any loss in power or warning lights.

Has anyone else with the vanos 540i come accross this problem? My guess is that the chain guides have worn away, and that the tensioner is shot which is allowing the chain to rub against something metal. At this point I don't know what to do as the car itself cost me 10.5k in 2008, and to replace the required parts will be a BIG job... Glenn, your thoughts?

[*Glenn* 854]

The chain runs on guides and it will be shiney. It may not be anything serious. I would have to have a look and listen . The CCV valves been done on yours if I remember correctly ?

[BreakMyWindow 1870]

Crud.

So it turns out the U shaped guide (deflection plate i think its called) has had its nylon cover worn down allowing the chain to rub on the aluminum plate. Both timing cases need to be removed. $$$$.

higher milage m62tu owners/potential buyers, id strongly suggest the timing chains and guides are inspected for wear (a knocking/rubbing/whirring racket made from the timing chain area). Looking on the US forums, it seems the issue with wear is more predominant with the m62tu. Note the racket can also be caused by the VANOS cam transmission (gears within the intake cam sprocket that engage VANOS operation)

My next car was going to be an e39 m5.. but the s62 has VANOS on both intake and exhaust camshafts, and not to mention dual timing chains.....

[BreakMyWindow 1870]

Went to the shop today and discovered some interesting things. The engine looks suprisingly clean behind all the timing covers, no sludge build up. Not bad for 250,000kms

worn deflection plate ('U' shaped chain guide)

worn lower chain sprocket

And the most interesting part... a piece of plastic from the 'U' shaped guide stuck in by the intake cam on the passenger side cylinder head. This is what i imagine made all the racket.

5k to repair, including a new radiator, and transmission service.

[*Glenn* 854]

Just as well you didn't keep driving it.. Are you going to go ahead with the repair ?

[Guest Simon*]

Wow

What would be more economic - repair or drop another block in?

[BreakMyWindow 1870]

Yip going ahead with the repair.

Hard to find m62tu engines in NZ. in the USA there are plenty, but then you have shipping costs and no knowledge if all this work has been done. Better the devil you know i guess. Will be keeping the car for a while now.

[Guest Simon*]

Not second guessing you here but did you ask Ray? Honestly it would not surprise me .......

[BreakMyWindow 1870]

Nah I havnt, although im pretty sure he has a 540i m sport for parts. There is about 1500 - 2000 worth of parts that need replacing inside the timing case, so that on top of the cost of the engine, putting it in, recoding the dme etc etc wouldnt be worth it.

[BM WORLD 1264]

thats why i sold my 99 540iT , could see some big costs coming in the future . had heard of these issues with the later vanos v8 engine's

[Jo Blogs 11]

thats why i sold my 99 540iT , could see some big costs coming in the future . had heard of these issues with the later vanos v8 engine's

I have recently done this repair on a NZ New 535i at work, came in with a noise, and very very rough idle and loss of power, 205km from memory