Timing chain replacement: BMW E60 4.8 (N62B40A, N62B44A, N62B48B)

🧭 Before you start

Drain the oil, remove the ancillaries, vibration damper, timing covers and sump upper section, and strip each bank down to the camshafts and, if required, the cylinder heads. Lock the crankshaft at TDC for cylinder 1 and the camshafts with the special tools, then renew chains, rails and tensioners as needed. Fit chains to the gearwheels, set the adjusters, tighten in stages with new bolts, turn the crankshaft two turns, recheck timing and rebuild.

• Opens: coolant, engine oil
• Timing position: the crankshaft or camshaft is set and locked during this job
• Special tools named: locking tool

Don't miss

• Never turn the engine opposite to its normal direction of rotation.
• Lock the crankshaft at TDC for cylinder 1 and both camshafts before loosening the gearwheels.
• Drain the oil from the chain tensioner, compressing it twice, before refitting.
• Use new bolts wherever specified, including the cylinder head bolts.
• Rotate the crankshaft two turns and check the timing with the tools before closing up.

Written for this job from the workshop steps below · TorqFix editorial.

🔧 Engine codes this applies to

📋 Procedure

Preparation and removal

1. Never turn the engine in the direction opposite to that of normal operation
2. Camshaft locking tool:
3. Drain the engine oil
4. Clean off the old sealant
5. Renew the crankshaft oil seal

6. Vehicles with automatic transmission
7. Cylinder head
8. Turn the crankshaft to TDC for cylinder 1
9. Check that the camshafts are locked
10. Loosen the exhaust camshaft gearwheel bolt
11. Drain the oil from the chain tensioner
12. Use the special tools
13. Secure the chain
14. Remove the cylinder head bolts
15. Right side
16. Remove the exhaust manifold
17. Remove the ignition coils
18. Remove the eccentric shaft actuator
19. Remove the air inlet manifold
20. Remove the cylinder head cover
21. Remove the right-hand timing cover
22. Lock the crankshaft pulley, using the special tool to lock the crankshaft
23. Check that the camshafts are locked
24. Turn the crankshaft to 45° BTDC
25. Drain the oil from the chain tensioner
26. Remove the exhaust camshaft timing adjuster
27. Secure the chain
28. Use new bolt(s)
29. Remove the eccentric shaft sensor
30. Remove the cylinder head
31. Remove the cylinder head gasket
32. Compress the chain tensioner piston twice to drain the oil
33. Remove the oil level sensor (if fitted)
34. Check the marks
35. Use new bolt(s)
36. Remove the cooling fan
37. Loosen the bolt
38. Use the special tools to lock the camshafts
39. Turn the crankshaft to TDC for cylinder 1
40. Lock the crankshaft pulley, using the special tool to lock the crankshaft
41. Disconnect the oil lines from the automatic transmission and the oil sump
42. Use the special tool
43. Remove the air-conditioning drive belt tensioner pulley
44. All vehicles:
45. Remove the oil sump upper section
46. Remove the crankshaft pulley
47. Remove the ancillary drive belt tensioner
48. Vehicles with automatic transmission
49. Lock the flywheel
50. Use the special tools
51. Remove the flywheel
52. Use new bolt(s)
53. Vehicles with manual gearbox:
54. Remove the flywheel
55. Remove the timing chains
56. Remove the guide rail(s)
57. Use new bolt(s)
58. Remove the chain tensioner rail(s)
59. Note: Located between the cylinder blocks
60. Check the marks
61. Use new bolt(s)
62. Loosen the bolt
63. Use the special tools to lock the camshafts
64. Turn the crankshaft to TDC for cylinder 1
65. Lock the crankshaft pulley, using the special tool to lock the crankshaft

Installation and checks

66. Stage 2:
67. Stage 1:
68. Refit the rear coolant cover to the lower timing cover
69. Stage 3:
70. Stage 4:
71. Stage 2:
72. Refit the alternator
73. Fit the coolant pump
74. Refit the coolant pump pulley
75. Refit the crankshaft pulley
76. Refit the oil sump upper section
77. Refit the air-conditioning drive belt tensioner pulley
78. Fit the cooling fan
79. Refit the front panel
80. Refit the lower oil sump
81. Refit the oil level sensor (if fitted)
82. Refit the chain tensioner piston
83. Renew the cylinder head gasket
84. Fit the cylinder head
85. Refit the eccentric shaft sensor
86. Tighten the chain tensioner piston
87. Fit the timing chain onto the exhaust camshaft gearwheel
88. Refit the exhaust camshaft adjuster
89. Tighten the camshaft adjuster bolts by hand
90. Fit the timing chain onto the inlet camshaft gearwheel
91. Tighten the camshaft gearwheels
92. Remove the camshaft locking tools
93. Remove the crankshaft locking tool
94. Check the timing
95. Refit the spark plugs
96. Refit the right-hand timing cover
97. Refit the cylinder head cover
98. Refit the eccentric shaft actuator
99. Refit the ignition coil(s)
100. Refit the exhaust manifold
101. Tighten the cylinder head bolts
102. Refit the guide rail(s)
103. Refit the eccentric shaft sensor
104. Fit the timing chain onto the inlet camshaft gearwheel
105. Refit the chain tensioner rail(s)
106. Fit the timing chain onto the exhaust camshaft gearwheel
107. Tighten the camshaft adjuster bolts by hand
108. Tighten the camshaft gearwheels
109. Remove the camshaft locking tools
110. Remove the crankshaft locking tool
111. Rotate the crankshaft 2 turns
112. Lock the crankshaft pulley, using the special tool to lock the crankshaft
113. Check the timing
114. Use the special tools
115. Remove all the locking tools
116. Fit the oil lines
117. Refit the ventilation pipe
118. Refit the spark plugs
119. Refit the left-hand timing cover
120. Refit the cylinder head cover
121. Refit the air inlet manifold
122. Refit the eccentric shaft actuator
123. Refit the ignition coil(s)
124. Refit the exhaust manifold
125. Refit the engine
126. Refit the clutch
127. Refit the gearbox
128. Refill the cooling system
129. Refill the engine oil
130. Reconnect the battery
131. Check for any fault codes

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