Hello.
Hope someone may help me out if possible.
I think the cambelt has just broken on my partner's 316 Touring when I was driving it. We had been away for the weekend, and the car had stood for nearly 3 days, which is a first as it generally gets used every day.
Anyway, I was driving the car and just about home when I began to change down to turn right into a T-Junction. As I put the car into 3rd from 4th, there was a kind of grinding noise with the car straight away not running with the dash warning lights all on.
The car would not restart, though makes a grinding noise towards the rear of the engine, nearer to the windscreen end.
Car will not 'bump start' down the hill either. Makes the same noise when in gear or in neutral.
I had a cambelt break on an E30 318i about 11 years ago. That seemed as if it had run out of petrol, and no 'noise' coming from the engine, unlike today's grinding, as if something is stuck.
However, I'm also thinking alternator, though all lights etc work fine.
Assuming that the cambelt was 'weak' before we left it for 3 days, it seems likely that it staying in the same place has stretched it and made a weak point somewhere. This has now broken.
Or am I barking up the wrong tree?
It happened at just after midnight and I could not see a great deal. Nothing obvious broken though. Just looking for answers.
The car has not run out of petrol. The grinding noise is where I am confused.
My lovely lady liked her Touring, though it may have had its chips.
Also, not sure when cambelt last done. You'd think I would learn from when it cost me £1000 11 years ago, though car was just overdue then and I'd had it booked in to be done.
If anyone has any ideas then let me know.
Thanks in advance.
