318i M40 cam belt change...

[JJbRacing]

ello chaps,

so just about to bolt a head back on one of the cars after sorting it out a bit... so need to sort out the timing. Any tips as best way to do it? no timing marks on the crank pully on the front like the m20's... hoping i can do it without going down the locking tool route etc?

thanks for any help!
jez.

(ps. formely known as JezBraker on here - but lost my login - top job with the new site though folks!)

[Brianmoooore]

Haynes covers this fairly well, including a method of setting the tension that works. It's not actually neccesary to make the locking tool - just be aware how it fits and check after fitting the belt.

[MBEngineering]

HI I have the tools & info you require.
I am in south cumbria, but travel down to banbury/ oxford & across to the M1 . any good???

regards MIKE

[JJbRacing]

cool - thanks for the tool offer matey! i'll have a crack at making one but if nocando i'll bug you for a loan ;)

so i'm just missing one silly bit of info before chucking it all back together... as you say mr haynes gets it all down... but one bit is a little cloudy...

"The M40 engine does not have any timing marks at the front of the engine,
but instead has a timing hole in the flywheel which must be aligned with a hole in the rear flange of the cylinder block. On this engine, turn the crankshaft until the distributor rotor is approaching the No 1 TDC position, then continue to turn the crankshaft until a suitable close-fitting drill can be inserted through the hole in the cylinder block and into the flywheel."

... so where the heck is this hole i've looked around my flanges and so see owt to poke a drill into.

can never find a whole in a flange when you want one huh? block is pretty skany so may be full of crud so any pointers on where to probe would be much appreciated!

cheers!
jez.

[Ant]

its hidden on the passenger side, low down on the flywheel/gearbox support webbing.

There should be a red plug in the hose but thats not always the case dude.

look along the sump flange and you should spot it easy Jez.

Welcome back BTW

[MBEngineering]

HI the timing hole is under the starter, pos' without the plug in it, the hole in the block is bigger than the hole in the flywheel(or is it auto????), if it is a auto' box you could hit one of the balancing holes in the drive plate, remove on' 1 plug & turn the engine over slowly with a thin screw driver down the plug hole to feel the piston on TDC, then check the timing hole.
The rocker cover will have to come off, & no' 1 cam lobes pointing up, at the front of the cam is 2 flats which should be squarewith the rocker cover face on the head with a angle square, with the cam gear loose on the end put the belt on.
any more info i can fax/post you the BMW instructions of that is any good????????.

DO NOT FORGET TO TAKE THE PIN/DRILL BIT OUT OF THE FLYWHEEL BEFOR STARTING, it has been left in befor & it dos' not start well

regards MIKE

[JJbRacing]

cheers lads! top stuff.

ill bug you again if i get stumped but sounds easy enough to find. the head is already off so should make life simpler findint tdc to get holes aligned ;)

Jez.

[Brianmoooore]

Make sure you get both bottom end and the cam in approx the right positions before you put the head on , or you'll bend the valves as you bolt it down.