Timing Chain Tensioner

Tue Jul 12, 2005 2:27 pm

How would I tell if this is on it way out on my M42 engined 318iS?

It definately has the tappet sound, which is nearly always around whenat idling speed, and seems to smooth out at speed.

Is it a pain to do DIY if so, or cheap enough to get a pro to do??

Tue Jul 12, 2005 2:30 pm

It's dead easy to do yourself.

http://www.esatclear.ie/~bpurcell/318is ... ntensioner

Just unbolt the old one, put in the new one, and hey presto!

Maybe not quite as easy as that, but it's pretty straight forward.

Giles.

Tue Jul 12, 2005 2:34 pm

Has the tensioner been changed at all?

What mileage is your engine on?

Does it rarrle from the front of the engine?

do you own a 19mm socket or spanner? If so that's all you need to change it!

Use the E36 M3 one, costs about Ãƒ”šÃ‚£25 from memory, takes 2 minutes to change

Instructions come with it fom BMW.

Tue Jul 12, 2005 2:41 pm

Only had the beast for 6 months, no idea if it was done before I got it! It was meant to have had a rebuild at 90k... Done 146k now.

It rattles, and cos the engine sits quite far back it's ALL at the front were the ancillary bits seem to be!

Edit: why is the E36 M3 jobbie any better? I've been quoted Ãƒ”šÃ‚£28 + vat btw for the original item...

Tue Jul 12, 2005 10:07 pm

Just what i as going to ask, why the E36 M3 one, thinking of doing mine soon, i seem to have a bit of a rattle!

Tue Jul 12, 2005 10:23 pm

Does anyone now how easy it is to do this with an M10? would a e36 m3 one work? Mine rattles....

Tue Jul 12, 2005 10:25 pm

I thought the M10 was belt driven?

Tue Jul 12, 2005 10:30 pm

Kedge wrote:I thought the M10 was belt driven?

No single row chain.

I dont know if the E36 M3 one fits??? I think mark means E36 M44 one which is the correct one to use anyway. Things is BMW recommend you take the rocker cover off stick a screw driver in and release the tentioner before you start the engine and run it to 3k RPM for 20 seconds to let the tensioner fill up with oil.

A

Tue Jul 12, 2005 10:32 pm

Is the e36 m3 (s50) not belt driven?!

M42 have dual chains then?

If when somebody does change there m42 one, would they be able to send it to me so i can compare it with an m10 one? Pretty please?!!

Tue Jul 12, 2005 10:37 pm

Yep the M42 has a twin chain, i might be able to sort you out but i'm not sure whne i'm going to be changing it.

Tue Jul 12, 2005 10:41 pm

Gwynleym10 wrote:Is the e36 m3 (s50) not belt driven?!

M42 have dual chains then?

If when somebody does change there m42 one, would they be able to send it to me so i can compare it with an m10 one? Pretty please?!!

I got two old ones.

A

Tue Jul 12, 2005 11:06 pm

Andrew... didn't you that BMW advised you to do this. Sounds like a good idea as I nearly died when I changed mine... thought all the tappets were going to jump out of the rocker cover! Bloody loud and scarey!

Definitely the E36 318iS tensioner, not the E36 M3. Where didi you get that info from...?

Wed Jul 13, 2005 9:03 am

Yeah BMW told me to do that, but i cheated, i released the tensioner before i put it in, its not that strong and if you have a spanner you can get the cap on really easy, saves taking the rocker off. (but dont do this unless you know what your doing)

A

Wed Jul 13, 2005 9:10 am

I released mine, and it shot out across the garage! :lol:

Had to go get another one as I wasn't convinced I had found all the parts for it to go back together again... was really mad with myself!

Wed Jul 13, 2005 9:14 am

Someone on the E30 yahoo group didn't release the tensioner recenty.
Currently fitting a fresh engine!

Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:10 am

Brianmoooore wrote:Someone on the E30 yahoo group didn't release the tensioner recenty.
Currently fitting a fresh engine!

Thats the thing with the internet, theres alot of good information, but at the same time if someone told him to put it in and start the car then hes no wiser appart from his new engine.

A

Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:12 am

I was initially just going to stick it in and let the 'slapping' of the chain release the tensioner, as described on a certain website that gives out information about 318iS's... Glad I didn't.

Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:09 am

Geeman wrote:I was initially just going to stick it in and let the 'slapping' of the chain release the tensioner, as described on a certain website that gives out information about 318iS's... Glad I didn't.

that's what i did last week on the iS i just sold. Worked OK for me! Guess i was lucky i didn't blow the engine

As soon as i turned the key i heard the tensioner 'pop' out, ran it @ 3K for 20 seconds, job done.

Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:13 pm

Right, i've gone from thining this is a dead easy job to do, to now thinking i might be best to get someone else to do it!

What exactly do i need to do to prevent damaging the engine?

Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:16 pm

Nothing!

It IS easy.

Just make sure the tensioner is released before you put it back in the block. It's just a case of un-doing the old one and pulling it out (there'll be a bit of oil follow it out) and then put the new one back in it's place.

Nothing to worry about. Honest.

Guest · Wed Jul 13, 2005 5:21 pm

I let the oil do it for me. Took out the old one (expanded) put in the new (compressed) one, started the engine, winced at the sound it made, ran it a 3k rpm for 20-30 secs, and all was right with the world again. Took it for a burn and the nasty kssssshhh sound when changing up while declutching was gone...result !