Possible timing chain bad?

Tiny
LAXMAX313
  • MEMBER
  • 2014 BMW 320I
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • TURBO
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 147,356 MILES
Just bought a used BMW 320i with 147k miles on it. Have had it for about a week. I notice rattling on startup that sounds like a loud clicking sound but it goes away in first 30 seconds about. The engine has a clicking noise to it however I know the n20 engines tend to have that type of noise anyway. I revved it and heard a slight whine between 3-5k rpm. I’ve been driving it fine it drives great and smooth however it just worries me with the known issue and noise. I’ve include 3 videos one of me revving it. One of it idling. And one of the timing chain and guides from what I can see.
Friday, August 15th, 2025 AT 2:21 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
LAXMAX313
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  • 5 POSTS
Here’s those videos
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Friday, August 15th, 2025 AT 2:25 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,137 POSTS
It looks like the engine was well taken care of, very clean inside. To me it sound like the high pressure fuel pump is causing the noise, they do that when there are going out, I would remove the pump and check the camshaft lobe that runs it. Release the fuel pressure slowly, here is what it looks like. Thanks for the videos, they help. Check out the images (below). Let us know how it goes
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Saturday, August 16th, 2025 AT 9:26 AM
Tiny
LAXMAX313
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So from what you can tell it’s probably not timing chain/guides?
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Saturday, August 16th, 2025 AT 12:48 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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It doesn't sounds that way to me, to be sure you can remove the valve cover to check the tension which might be a good idea, but you hear how fast the noise is? The engine is not spinning that fast but the high pressure fuel pump has 4 lobes on the camshaft and the sound is consistent for that kind of issue.
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Saturday, August 16th, 2025 AT 7:29 PM

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