Timing chain and guide wear
Attaches to N45B16 at engine level · Engine · carried by 1 variants across 1 chassis
Overview
Timing chain and guide wear is a occasional fault recorded against N45B16 at engine level, typically from 120–220k km. It shows up as a rattle from the engine for a second or two on a cold start, settling as oil pressure builds. Where it's documented, the repair runs €400–€900 (chain and guides at an independent, costs dated 2026-07), and it can be checked before you buy. 1 variants across 1 chassis in this database inherit it.
What happens
Symptom. A rattle from the engine for a second or two on a cold start, settling as oil pressure builds.
Cause. The plastic timing-chain guides and the chain itself wear, most on cars run on tired oil or used only for short trips. It's a slow-developing wear item rather than a sudden failure.
How to check it
Cold start
Arrive to a stone-cold engine and listen at the first start. A persistent cold rattle is the tell. A quiet start on fresh oil is a good sign.
You get one. If the engine is warm when you arrive, come back another day.
Every variant that carries this
| Variant | Chassis | Body | Years | Risk | Good buy | Cost as % of good buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 116i N45B16 | E87 | hatchback | 2004–2007 | R2 | €2,700 | 24% |
The last column is the point. The same repair is an inconvenience on one variant and a reason to scrap the car on another. A failure costing a quarter of the vehicle's value changes the purchase decision regardless of how rare it is.