Well....the inevitable happened today....UPDATED - IT RUNS AGAIN....eventually!!!
 

....@ 122850 miles...my chain guides failed and I now have an engine that sounds like a bag of spanners!

On Sunday evening I noticed a different whirring noise coming from the engine, a noise that you would usually associate with worn bearings in the alternator or power steering pump for example.

Video here...

https://youtu.be/-x12IE6o-tI

After some investigation with my stethoscope I concluded that the noise was coming from the behind the chain cover on the right hand bank (as you look at it) of the engine. This to me could only mean one thing....the right hand chain guide had failed or at least was failing. Unfortunately (and admittedly unwisely) I had no choice but to continue driving it until I could sort a different car out for using to work since I work 25 miles from my home. All my other cars happen to be off the road atm too unfortunately.

Anyway....120 miles on from Sunday evening on my way into work and the chain guides properly failed and now my engine has developed the full on death rattle. No video yet but I'm sure you can imagine what it sounds like! Fortunately it's still running on all 8 of its cylinders.

On the plus side....least I get to tear down alot of the motor and do all the jobs thats needed to keep it going for another 100k+ and give it a well needed clean up at the same time.

Off now to collect a list of parts required....anything else people would do at the same time? I remember reading something about a part for the CCV system?

Full timing chain kit including guides and tensioners and seals
Valley Pan Gasket Kit
Oil/Filter
Copious amounts of brake cleaner

Water pump, alternator & aux belt tensioner have already been replaced recently.

Sorry to hear brother. Let this be a lesson to all. If you can afford to do this work before the guides fail, DO IT!

Sorry to hear that. Engine failure is always sad.

Every time I see one of these posts, I am so glad I picked M54. I got 187k out of it before it really became un-drivable on a daily basis.

That said, if you can do the work and you have the tools, how bad really is the timing overhaul on the M62 or N62? What's the cost? Assume no cataclysmic valve/piston contact, is it that terrible? The timing overhaul on the M54 costs a higher percentage of replacement engine cost, I would think, given what M62s and N62s still go for in the secondary market.

I see a ton of 740s, X5s and even some Rovers with those engines for sale that say they have timing chain rattle, but the rest of the car is in good shape. They can be had for very cheap.

EDIT: I just watched the vid, that sounds awful.

Suggest you rebuild vanos as part of project.

That sucks. I must admit I worry with mine, had you changed chain tensioner at any point?

Believe me...it's a whole lot noisier than that now! But it's not the end of the world providing the chain hasnt slipped which I don't believe mine has - it's still happily...ish running on 8 it's just noisy. It's just a pretty time consuming job not to mention the cost of the parts required....oh and the proper tools which I've just purchased too.

That's a good shout thanks....need to dig out the part numbers for that kit then too.

Nope, hadnt touched it. I don't believe it's that thats failed though - I think the plastic parts of the guides have snapped off.

Yeah you definitely do not want to keep running it once you hear the slight sound of the timing guides with chain wear. Mine started with the slight whine which sounded like alternator or a/c compressor bearing. it was the beginning of the guide failure. Ripped it down and took care of it.

you sound like an intelligent guy and not afraid of jumping in. Just do it, take you time, don't cut any corners and you will be up and running in a week and you won't have to worry about it again in your ownership! Keep us posted.

Correct there pal or at least I'd like to think so (although knowingly driving with a potential bomb wasn't my best move albeit unavoidable!). I'm currently reshelling one of my other cars a E46 330d into a E46 M3 shell so not afraid of getting stuck in - kind of looking forward to this job on the X5 in a way as I'm sick of seeing all the oil and grime that's built up on the engine - it's affecting my OCD! Plus I do really like the car it's definitely grown on me. I've gone past the point of totting up what I've spent on it - it was only supposed to be a 'cheap tow vehicle' at the beginning. But then like every other car I've owned it started to get modified...then I was hooked! :rofl:

Think the hardest part of all of this is swallowing up the large parts cost. I've given my friend who works for BMW here in the UK a list of all the part numbers I believe I need so I can pick and choose what I get that's OE and then parts I could save some money on and get alternatives I can do. Tensioners ,guides themselves and chains are pretty much a given that I will probably stick to OE parts - gaskets etc however I maybe able to get Victor Reinz, Elring etc will be just as good just considerably cheaper.:thumbup:

Does anybody recommend a reputable brand for the Vanos repair kit - it seems BMW don't do the kit themselves although they are happy to sell you a full Vanos hub or 2!! :rolleyes:

Sorry to hear about this V8 00USH. :wow: :wow: :wow:

Here is a list of parts from Danny's timing guides rebuild

BMW Timing Chain - Iwis (OEM) 11311741746
BMW Camshaft timing chain - Iwis 11311747437 (x2)
BMW Center Crankshaft Bolt - Genuine BMW 11231736585
BMW Cylinder Head Oil Check Valve (E38 E39 E52 E53) - Genuine BMW 11121706921 (x2)
BMW Timing Chain Guide Upper - Genuine BMW 11311435028 (x4)
BMW Valve Cover Seal Washer - Elring 11121437395 (x16)
BMW Valve Cover Seal Washer - Reinz 11121721879 (x6)
BMW Camshaft Solenoid Gasket - Reinz 11141435023 (x2)
BMW Valve Cover Gasket Set Left - Reinz 11120034105
BMW Valve Cover Gasket Set Right - Reinz 11120034104
BMW Oil Dipstick O-Ring - Reinz 11431707164
BMW Distribution Housing Gasket Left (Cylinders 5-8) - Reinz 11361705579
BMW Distribution Housing Gasket Right (Cylinders 1-4) - Reinz 11361705578
BMW Water Pump Gasket - Genuine BMW 11511731372
BMW Timing Chain Guide Left Lower - Genuine BMW 11311745406
BMW Timing Chain Guide Rail - Genuine BMW 11311741777
BMW Timing Chain Guide Rail - Genuine BMW 11311741236
BMW Timing Cover Gasket Set Lower - Reinz 11141436978
BMW Crankshaft Seal Front - Elring 11141275466
BMW Timing Cover Seal Strip (Cylinders 5-8) - Reinz 11141741128
BMW Timing Cover Seal Strip (Cylinders 1-4) - Reinz 11141741127
BMW Coolant Pipe O-Ring - Reinz 11531710048
BMW Coolant Pipe O-Ring - Reinz 11531710055
Beisan Systems M62tu Vanos Kit
Beisan Systems Pick Tool Set (optional but extremely useful)
BMW Timing Chain Tensioner Lower - INA 11317531813
BMW Oil Pan Gasket - Reinz 11131436324 (540i/740i) | Elring 11137500261 (X5)
BMW Oil Level Sensor O-Ring - Victor Reinz 12611744292
BMW Seal Ring - Genuine BMW 11141736758
BMW Oil Filter Kit - Hengst 11427510717
Motor Oil - 8+ quarts (I used Mobil 1 0W40)
Coolant - 2+ gallons (I used a 60-40 mixture of BMW coolant and distilled water)
*
Things you may want to replace while you're doing this job:*

Oil Separator - Genuine BMW 11151705237
Valley Pan Gasket - Genuine BMW 11141742042
Intake Manifold Gasket - Reinz 11611433328 (x4)
NGK BKR6EIX Spark Plug (Iridium IX Resistor) - NGK 6418 (x8)
BMW Mass Air Flow Gasket - Genuine BMW 13711747985
BMW Vacuum Hose Silicone (Blue With Black Stripe) - CRP 11747797082
BMW Serpentine Belt - Contitech 7PK1635
BMW Serpentine Belt - Contitech 5PK1004

And here is his thread:

https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...ml#post1095737

Good Luck!

I'm not looking forward to this job on my 4.4 and hope that I have some life left in mine at just turning 100K miles.

Mike