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Timing chain OEM Audi or OEM BMW
Mate, this is probably the timing chain and tensioner.
You’ve already got **P0016**, stalling at idle, worse with start stop, and some cold start noise. That’s all early timing issues on these.
Pros: early timing issues
Cons: stalling at idle
Vehicle:
Audi Q3
timing chain still had a lot of tension and no wear on bearings… crankshaft and everything still in spec. The timing chain was even better in the e60 pre facelift models, along with more reliable solenoid type injectors.
Pros: long lasting, good tension, no wear, reliable
Vehicle:
BMW
Mileage: 500000 km
I bought an e61 520d in 2020 with 201k miles, replaced timing chain at 204k and had it until 2023. Sold it with 233k miles to a breaker exporting to Lithuania. Other than the timing chain, it was bullet proof. Only ever replaced the oil, filters and tyres
Pros: bullet proof
Cons: timing chain replacement
Vehicle:
BMW
Mileage: 201000 km
I still have original timing chain on mine and it has 185,000kms on it. Hasn’t skipped a beat yet
Pros: long lasting, reliable
Vehicle:
BMW
Mileage: 185000 km
I have 635d with m57 at 200k miles on the original chain
Pros: long lifespan, original chain
Vehicle:
BMW
Mileage: 321868 km
I bought my E91 N43B20 with 120.000km in 2017. Now its 2025 and 250.000km I had to replace the timing chain and the NOX sensor once, but other than that I had no problems with the engine. Still the same injectors, ignition coils, high pressure fuel pump etc.
Pros: proper maintenance is key
Cons: low-performer
Vehicle:
BMW
Mileage: 120000 km
Thanks for this very interesting and informative post! I wish I had found something similar before purchasing my F07 (which, at 300k kms, is costing a lot to maintain) and my F30 (in which the timing chain let go and caused engine rebuild).
Pros: interesting and informative post
Cons: costing a lot to maintain
Vehicle:
BMW
Mileage: 300000 km
I decided against the allroad due to the ea888 engine issues. I can deal with some problems but was not willing to deal with the flawed and fragile timing chain/guide failures along with the low tension piston ring problems. It’s a shame because I love these allroads. I ended up buying a 2020 Volvo xc60 which thus far has been problem free but it’s not a forever vehicle and I’ll probably dump it when it gets close to 100k on the clock. It’s a real shame that Audi doesn’t seem capable of building a solid engine anymore. The Audi timing chain service will set you back $3-$5k and even more if the piston rings get clogged and stuck. Audi has known about both problems for many years and does nothing to improve this engine. Volvo had piston ring issues for a few years but addressed the problem in 2017 and up engines. I prefer a timing belt vs a chain. The Volvo timing belt interval is 150k miles and not terribly expensive. My ea113 VW timing belt is super easy to replace and has a 110,000 mile interval. From an engineering perspective the belt is superior with less weight and more teeth per area. If Audi would put the good old ea113 in an allroad I’d buy it. Keen Audi fans will note that when the tts came out Audi dusted off the ea113 to use in that highly boosted model because they knew it was a much stronger engine.
Pros: superior design (timing belt)
Cons: flawed, fragile, low tension, expensive service
Vehicle:
Audi A4 allroad
What I did not know is that the Audi timing chains are *designed* to stretch. Yes you read that right. They stretch. They use both metallic *and* interlocking plastic components and will slowly over time reach a point where your timing is subtly off (and the sensors "designed" to warn you of this do NOT warn you soon enough). This, combined with my wife largely driving it like a grandma, slowly and silently destroyed my catalytic converter required a massive overhaul of both the exhaust system and timing chain, pulleys, etc.
Cons: designed to stretch, caused catalytic converter damage, expensive overhaul
Vehicle:
Audi Q5
Mileage: 80000 km
The timing chain broke at 185k km(115k miles) while driving and had to rebuild the engine since it messed up many things.
Cons: premature failure, engine damage
Vehicle:
BMW
Mileage: 185000 km
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Which timing chain to choose — OEM Audi or OEM BMW?
If choosing timing chain across many manufacturers, check the part ranking. If your choice is down to two brands, the PartReview part comparisons help.
We compare timing chain across these categories:
- PR Score.
- Overall ranking.
- Vote balance.
- Average rating.
- Number of reviews.
- Feature ratings.
- Car owners’ choice.
Which timing chain are better — OEM BMW or OEM Audi?
In March 2026 on PartReview, timing chain OEM BMW were overall better than OEM Audi.
- OEM Audi received a PR Score of 58 out of 100, and OEM BMW scored 65 points.
- OEM Audi ranked 3 in the overall ranking, and OEM BMW ranked 2.
- The average rating is higher for OEM BMW (3.5) than for OEM Audi (3).
-
Timing chain OEM BMW have better feature ratings than OEM Audi:
- Warning light - owners believe, that this property for OEM Audi is better than OEM BMW.
- Starting - drivers claim, that this property for OEM Audi is outperforms OEM BMW.
- Rattle - reviews suggest, that this property for OEM BMW is preferred to OEM Audi.
Which timing chain are more popular — OEM Audi or OEM BMW?
In March 2026 on PartReview, timing chain OEM BMW were overall more popular than OEM Audi.
By vote balance, timing chain OEM BMW surpassed OEM Audi:
- For OEM Audi, the ratio of positive (20) to negative (14) votes is 6 votes.
- For OEM BMW, the ratio of positive (32) to negative (17) votes is 15 votes.
By number of reviews, timing chain OEM BMW surpassed OEM Audi:
- For timing chain OEM Audi there are 11 reviews: 6 positive, 1 neutral, 4 negative.
- For timing chain OEM BMW there are 16 reviews: 10 positive, 1 neutral, 5 negative.
Which timing chain do car owners prefer — OEM Audi or OEM BMW?
In March 2026, according to PartReview, timing chain OEM Audi and OEM BMW have not taken top places in car-specific ratings. You can help by adding your review about these manufacturers.
Other comparisons of timing chain
If this comparison didn’t fully answer your question, there are many others on PartReview.
For example, comparisons of timing chain OEM Audi with: OEM Volkswagen, OEM FORD.
Also available: comparisons of timing chain OEM BMW with: OEM Volkswagen, OEM FORD.
You can also see who is better among other timing chain manufacturers: OEM BMW or OEM Volkswagen, OEM Audi or OEM Volkswagen, OEM Volkswagen or OEM FORD, OEM BMW or OEM FORD, OEM Audi or OEM FORD.