Should I worry about 2008 BMW diesels?

Is the engine issue with BMW diesel cars from 2008 a real concern?

Paul Dolan (Dublin)

Mar 2017 Filed under: diesel

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Expert answer

Hi Paul,

Yes, it can be. The N47 2.0-litre diesel engine had an issue with its timing chain, which had a nasty habit of snapping, and which was located right at the back of the engine, against the firewall, making it hard to access or inspect. BMW claims to have fixed the issue, which affected engines produced between 2007 and 2011, but it’s wise to tread carefully, make sure you buy only cars with full BMW service histories, and keep that service history up in case the problem occurs. 

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Advisor
@neilmbriscoe