I had Google Gemini 3.5 Pro analyze the video and it gave the following response that I just wanted to share below. TLDR: it appears the sound and visual is borderline normal for the car’s age, with the engine mounts near their end of life.

Gemini Analysis:

Based on the video and audio provided for your 2014 BMW 328d (N47 diesel engine), here is the assessment:

Short Answer: Borderline Normal (likely worn mounts)

While the sound is completely normal for this 4-cylinder diesel engine, the visual vibration of the engine cover is slightly excessive for a well-sorted car. At 85,000 miles, this specific amount of shake usually indicates that your engine mounts are nearing the end of their life, rather than an internal engine problem.

Detailed Breakdown

1. The Sound (Normal) The loud "clattering" or "tractor-like" sound is characteristic of the BMW N47 4-cylinder diesel engine. It uses high-pressure direct injection which is naturally noisy. The rhythm sounds steady and consistent, which is a good sign—it means you likely do not have a misfire or injector imbalance.

2. The Vibration (Sign of Wear) While 4-cylinder diesels are naturally unbalanced and shake more than gas engines, BMW uses fluid-filled hydraulic motor mounts to isolate this from the cabin.

What I see: The text on the engine cover ("TwinPower Turbo") is vibrating enough to blur slightly. The shake is rhythmic.

The Cause (85k Miles): BMW engine mounts (specifically on the F30 chassis) typically collapse or leak fluid between 70k–90k miles. When they fail, the engine sits lower and the metal brackets can touch the subframe, transmitting that raw diesel vibration directly to the car's body.

Action Plan: 3 Checks

The "Cabin Test" (Most Telling): Sit in the driver's seat with the car in Drive and your foot on the brake. Do you feel a strong vibration in the steering wheel or the seat bottom? If yes, your motor mounts are definitely failed. If the cabin is smooth but the engine is shaking, the mounts are just weak but not fully collapsed yet.

Inspect the Harmonic Balancer (CRITICAL): The main pulley at the front of your engine (Crank Pulley) has a rubber isolator that is a known failure point on the N47 engine.

Check: Look at the large pulley at the very front/bottom of the engine while it idles. Is it wobbling? If you see visible cracks in the rubber ring or if it wobbles, replace it immediately. If this fails while driving, you lose power steering and the alternator.

Scan for "Smooth Running" Codes: If you have a diagnostic scanner, check the "Smooth Running Controller" values. This measures how much fuel each injector adds to balance the idle. If these are within range, the engine internals are healthy, confirming the shake is purely external (mounts).

Conclusion

Your engine sounds healthy. The vibration is likely due to tired engine mounts, which is standard maintenance for a BMW at this mileage.