Engine Seizure

Yup, the news I didn't want to hear has come down the line.
Broke down the other day driving to work, nothing abnormal on the run, bit of vibration in the clutch pedal which I was discussing in another thread (thought it might be the flywheel) but it would seem that oil has not been distributed around the engine. Plenty in the sump, nothing moving round. So guessing the oil pump has failed. Could also explain it being extra noisy and wobbly through the pedal.
It is currently in Kent, near Maidstone....has anybody got any ideas of a good mechanic who can get it back to life?
I'm pretty gutted and well aware it is gonna cost many monies. Time to pull out the Mastercard.

What engine I'd it? I'm guessing it's a TD4 as K series seizure is very unusual. TD4 can suffer crank shaft failure sometimes.

You are correct, TD4. How would I tell if it's crank shaft failure?
When I take the oil cap off and look inside the engine, I can see the bottom half turning on ignition, but the top half is not...

I dunno about td4 exact arrangement but sounds like the timing chain or the pulleys have broken on the top end so the starter motor spins the bottom half but the top half is not mechanically connected so doesn't spin

sounds as though you timing chain has snapped although I have never heard of this before on a td4 but anything is possible

we both said the same thing, Flat, at the same time

does sound like the chain if the cam shafts aren't moving during cranking

i had this with a 3 litre BMW diesel engine - i changed the engine for a second hand one - repair is probablly not an option - do a search on www.bimmerforums.co.uk

Seen some used 2.0 Diesels on eBay for few hundred quid, which isn't too shoddy!
Just left a message with Kent 4x4 Centre for some advice, so hopefully he'll get back to me soonish.
I've never heard of a chain going before...but I guess these things happen! I suppose, at the very least, it makes me feel a bit special

It may be repairable - depends what exactly broke - will need stripping to find out

Oil pump could have failed causing the cam shafts to seize which put immense strain on the chain, wobbly clutch could be the main bearings went first

Was the oil warning light on ?

redwood said:

Was the oil warning light on ?

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Nope, didn't come on until after we ground to a halt

If you have cranked the engine over then damage has been done so you can do a couple of checks yourself. Take a look that the alternator belt when cranking the engine. If it's rotating then the crank is probably ok. If you don't see any rotation, the crank has failed. If the crank is ok, the timing chain could well have gone. In this case you may get away with a top end rebuild, depending on damage caused.

timing chain issue on bmw n47 engines .. vehicles built between 2007 and 2009 :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/art...ngine-failures-are-due-to-manufacturing-fault

1st answer here puts it potentialy down to oil changes and turbo cooling period prior to engine shutdown :
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=105799
( surely a bit of carbon from the turbo oil path would end up in the sump ?
( and if it got past the sump / oil pump .. would end up at the oil filter ..
( or have i got that wrong ???????

according to other web sources .. it were a design fault in the n47 engine
within a timespan of manufacturing dates ..

( info for LZ newbies : .. hippo td4 uses the bmw m47r lump )

Oil Strainer before oil pump

redwood said:

Oil Strainer before oil pump

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There's no practical way that carbon chunks can get into the oil system. The chunks would need to be under 1mm to get past the strainer and on to the pump. Small lumps could then go through the pump but wouldn't get past the filter unless they are less than about 3 microns across. At this size, they aren't going to damage the engine.
However a turbo bearings can be starved of oil if the engine is continually shut down with high turbo temperatures. This, over time bakes the oil in a bearings, eventually blocking oil completely.